Author: Renovation Network

How to Spruce Up Your Home for an Open Home

Around half a million homes are bought and sold in Australia every year, which means most people you meet in life will have at least some experience with the property market. According to residential and commercial cleaning experts Gleam Clean, what many people struggle with, however, is the best cleaning and ‘sprucing’ process for an open home. How do you make your property look as attractive as possible to prospective purchasers? Read on to find out.

Focus on the Kitchen and Bathroom

Kitchens and bathrooms can make or break a property deal. They tend to cost the most to renovate, and can dramatically increase or decrease your property value. Therefore, if you’re going to put some effort into cleaning, then don’t skimp on these areas.

Scrub your kitchen from top to bottom, including appliances, and don’t be afraid to get your hands dirty with the oven, too. While it sounds a little cliche, a little bit of baking before the open home can offer an unbeatable aroma for visitors.

In the bathroom, opt for that “less is best” approach. Get rid of the cemetery of empty shampoo bottles in your shower tray, and polish any stainless steel until it’s hotel quality. Get the whole family involved in the cleaning process because, as they say, many hands make light work.

Quick Fix Tips for Animal Lawn and Garden Damage

Most people love their animals dearly. They are faithful companions, make you smile, and will never be unhappy to see you. But what they can also do is damage your lawn. While it’s not the end of the world to have a little bit of lawn damage, it would be helpful if you could repair it without too much hassle.

Whether your dog is to blame, or the neighbour’s cats lack boundaries, you are sure to find some helpful lawn care tips below from The Lawncare Man. You’ll be on top of lawn repairs in no time.

Burnt Lawn

One of the sacrifices you often have to make for the love of dog ownership is burnt patches on your lawn. These are usually caused by urine, especially with high levels of nitrogen and salt. While encouraging your dog to drink more water is one way in which to reduce the instance of burnt patches, it’s not a sure-fire way to solve the problem. Especially as you can lead a dog to water, but you can’t make it drink.

If your burnt lawn problem is particularly bad, it’s a good idea to tie off the area so that your dog can’t access it. You can then start the lawn healing process by scraping off the dead lawn, aerating and watering it, and resowing it with grass seed. A layer of black plastic over the top of it can help to warm the seeds and ground for faster germination.

Glass Pool Fence Installation

Top Tips For Glass Pool Fence Installation

If you have or are planning on getting a swimming pool, then you need a pool fence. Australian law requires all pools to be surrounded by a fence that meets certain size and quality specifications, otherwise you could be liable for large fines from your local council.

As you can imagine, the fact that pool fencing is a legal requirements means that you have to be particularly careful when putting your fence up to make sure that it’s done right. If you’re not, it might not meet the relevant standards.

Glass pool fencing has fast become one of the most popular fence styles. It is attractive, affordable, and relatively low maintenance. With this in mind, we’ve put together a short list of tips to help you install your new glass pool fence quickly and efficiently:

Buy a DIY kit from a professional supplier:

Many fencing companies offer a range of DIY glass pool fencing kits. These kits usually come complete with the necessary instructions and everything else you will need to put your new fence up. In most cases, they are designed with simplicity in mind, which means that the average person shouldn’t have any trouble building them.

Carpet Cleaner

Hiring A Carpet Cleaner

Carpet cleaning companies are not created equal. At first glance, a professional carpet cleaning company may look wonderful by presenting seemingly great deals, professional looking technicians, and cheap prices. But do you know most of these companies are out to milk profits from vulnerable clients?

The professional look of the technician won’t guarantee superior service and cheap prices may lead to mediocre results. So how do you pick the best from the chaff? The following tips will help you sift the good from the bad.

Training and Certification

What type of industrial training do the company’s technicians hold? A credible carpet cleaning company should hire technicians who hold at least a carpet cleaning technician certification by the IICRC (Institute of Inspection, Cleaning, and Restoration), Australia.

This is an illustrious institution in the country and it’s well-known in the cleaning industry. They give extensive hands on carpet cleaning training and all their graduates are rigorously tested.

If the company doesn’t employ IICRC certified technicians look elsewhere.

Plumbing Problems

Wet Wipes and Plumbing Problems

We like to compare great inventions by saying ‘best thing since sliced bread.’ Antibacterial wipes, or wet wipes as we call them in Australia, are up there in high favouritism for parents with babies. They have gained in popularity with all ages so they are no longer exclusive to parents with toddlers. The problem now, for plumbers in particular, is that they are used as an alternative to toilet paper. Some of these products are being marketed (incorrectly) as being flushable and as a result are causing some major problems with wastewater systems.

The fact that they are not suitable to be disposed of in our toilet systems has been backed by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Regardless of the bad press they are receiving from plumbing services and councils, there is still one in four people in the metro area flushing these wet wipes down the toilet. Sewer blockages in cities are because of the wet wipes.

There are a few reasons why you should not flush wet wipes down the toilet:

They present a significant environmental hazard.

  • Blockages, Problems, Costs
  • Number 1 for Blockages
  • Environmental Hazard
Flagpoles

What Sort of Flagpoles Should I Be Using?

People throughout Australia and the world are including flagpoles in their outdoor design every single day. Flagpoles are versatile, can be used to display pretty much any flag you want – from that of your favourite sporting team to your country of birth – and they look great as well!

However, choosing the right flagpole for your needs isn’t always easy, especially if you’re not really sure what you want. Luckily for you, the experts at your local flagpole supply center will be able to help you choose the perfect pole. The following should give you an idea about what sort of flagpoles are on the market, and how you should choose the right one.

Different flagpoles are made from different materials

Traditionally, flagpoles have been made from things like wood. However, the invention and increased availability of more durable materials means that most flagpoles are now made of either fibreglass or aluminium.

Aluminium – Aluminium is the most common flagpole construction material in the modern world. It is durable, corrosion resistant, and it can be powder coated with any colour you would like.

Fibreglass – Fibreglass flagpoles are becoming less common, but they are still available from some retailers. Some would argue that fibreglass is even tougher than aluminium due its hard gel coating. However, fibreglass flagpoles can start to look worn after a few years as the gel coating cracks from UV exposure.