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Category Archives: Home Improvement

Interior and Exterior House Painting FAQ

Interior and exterior house painting jobs can disrupt workflow when you choose the wrong timing or hire a bad painter. As a property owner, you want to improve the aesthetic value of your property and have that important layer of protection. There are certain factors to consider when considering a painting project. These include budget, season, paint types, and weather conditions. It is thus important to put certain things into retrospect before repainting your building.

Check out the most common questions interior and exterior house painting professionals get about planning a painting project.

When is the best time to plan a painting project?

If you are considering giving your property a facelift by repainting, it is advisable to start planning ahead of time. Contact your painting company in advance to assist with the planning process. These experts will work closely with you to choose the right time for the painting project.

Which is the best season to paint: summer or winter?

The answer depends on the type of painting project you want to undertake. Summer months are a great time to repaint your exterior, thanks to the warm weather. Interior painting can be done at any time of the year.

What is the right temperature for the paint to dry?

The recommended temperature ranges from 50 to 90 degrees. However, there are exceptions to this. One of the determining factors is the paint formulation. Specific paint products are formulated for even lower temperatures.

When not to consider exterior painting?

While the summer months are considered the best time for exterior paint jobs, a good painting contractor will always consider the temperature. Painting an exterior surface at a temperature level above 90 degrees can make the time, and resources in the painting project worthless. Outdoor painting in hot weather makes the paint dry a lot faster, making it vulnerable to damage.

What happens if you paint in hot weather?

Painting a surface in hot weather will not make the paint adhere to the surface. The paint will show signs of damage months, weeks or even days after job completion.

Is it OK to paint your exterior in winter?

Winter season presents chilly weather which makes it an unfavorable time for exterior house painting. Consider exterior painting under warm weather conditions

What happens if you paint in cold weather?

The paint takes more time to dry in cold weather, which can result in cracking, blushing, color differences, and an unappealing look. The paint will not adhere to the surface in the cold.

Are there weather-resistant paint products?

Of course, the market is saturated with lots of high-performance paints. In this case, you need the expertise of a professional painter to help choose rightly. These paints are designed to withstand even the harshest elements. These paints make your interior and exterior appealing when applied correctly and under the right weather conditions.

What are tell-tale signs that it’s time to change the looks of a building?

Common signs include cracks, stains, bubbles and sagged paints. When you notice these obvious signs, then its’ time to consider interior and exterior house painting project

4 Reasons Why Calling One of the Local Emergency Restoration Services Fairfax VA Makes Sense

Unanticipated events can lead to a lot of damage. From rain to wind damage to fire, what was a comfortable home can become an unsafe place to live. If you want to get your home back, the most practical thing to do is contact one of the emergency restoration services Fairfax VA and find out what can be done. Here are some reasons why you should call one of those services now.

The Damage Seems Overwhelming

When you look at the current state of the home, it’s hard to imagine how things could ever be the same again. Everywhere you look, there’s nothing but damage. Is it even possible to restore the place? You’re really not sure how to answer that question.

What seems to be an insurmountable job may look different to the trained eye of a restoration professional. Where you see a hopeless mess, that professional sees situation that can be reversed. By hiring a restoration service and listening to what the experts have to say, you can begin to see that maybe the home can be restored.

You’re Not Sure Where to Begin

How do you manage a restoration after some sort of emergency situation? It’s hard to figure out where you should begin. There’s so much to do, and you’re not sure if starting at a particular point won’t create more problems as you go.

Professionals who have dealt with other disaster situations understand how to proceed. To that end, they will arrange the restoration into a series of tasks. Each task paves the way for the next one in the sequence. This ability to bring order to the chaos is one of the most valuable assets that they bring to the project.

Or How Long the Restoration Will Take

As you look at the damage, it’s hard to project how long it will take to get things back to normal. In fact, you can envision months before all traces of the emergency are gone. Is that really the way things have to be?

While you’re not sure how to project the time frame, the same is not true for the crew from one of the local emergency restoration services Fairfax VA. Thanks to their past experience, it’s easier to come up with a plan, have an idea of how long each phase will take, and arrive at a general idea of when the home will be habitable again.

Safety and Emergency Restoration

The last thing that you want is for anyone to be injured or harmed as a result of the restoration effort. That includes yourself. Given that this is a situation that you’ve never faced before, it’s understandable that you’re not sure how to go about the job safely.

Professionals know how to utilize the right approaches to remain safe throughout the restoration. It’s not just about managing tasks without injuries. They also understand how to protect themselves from any type of exposure to biological waste, and even avoiding any airborne contaminants. You can rest assured they will take all the appropriate measures to be safe.

Don’t spend time wondering how to move past the damage. Call in a professional restoration team and let them evaluate the situation. The process of cleaning up and restoring the home may be simpler than you anticipated.

Fun and Easy DIY Projects For Your Home This Autumn

Looking outside at the golden trees, it’s clear that autumn has not only arrived but is in full swing too. Now that the weather is chillier, you might catch yourself spending more time snuggled up at home with a book and a hot beverage rather than being outside. That is completely normal, but if you are an outdoors person, you may find the time spent indoors to be a bit boring sometimes. If that is the case, you are in need of a bit of fun and what is more exciting than a DIY project on a gloomy, cold autumn day?

Autumn is also well known to be the spooky season, making it the perfect time to craft some home decorations for your home just in time for Halloween. Whether you are into scary décor or you are after a simple and cozy aesthetic, there are plenty of projects you can do yourself while it is raining outside. Here at House Sales Direct, we have compiled a list of fun and easy DIY projects which you can begin during this spooky season to kill the time and at the same time create some interesting home décor for your house.

Leaves, Leaves, Leaves 

One of the things most associated with the autumn season are definitely leaves. It’s a clear sign which reminds us that summer is gone, and the seasons have changed. Once the leaves turn golden you should know it’s time to bring out sweaters and boots because the weather is about to get chilly. Autumn walks in the park are a great activity for the warmer and nicer days and that is where you would get the opportunity to gather some leaves and get creative at home. Once you have a good selection of interesting ones, you can begin creating anything with them. Some examples are preserving them with a leaf press and creating beautiful and colourful artwork which can then be framed. Leaf wreaths can also be an amazing piece of decoration for your home during autumn where you can add not only leaves but some branches, pumpkins and dried fruits. Drying out the leaves and using them in all sorts of decorations around the house is going to bring those autumn vibes inside so that even when you don’t want to go outside in the cold, you can still enjoy the best parts of the season.

Homemade Candles

There are many heartwarming scents which you can incorporate into your home, especially during autumn times, such as cinnamon, star anise, orange and pumpkin. You can easily add these smells to a candle which you could create yourself. Candles are strongly associated with the colder weather when people start spending more time at home and start paying more attention to creating a cozy atmosphere so what’s better than adding a nicely smelling candle? All you’ll need is a used jar, some essential oils, ground spices, a wick and some wax. Mixing up the wax with the essential oils and spices will already give your whole house an incredible aroma which will last for a long time.

Pumpkin Decorations

Surely there are plenty of pumpkin-themed décor in the shops already but how cool would it be if you created something unique and on your own? A great and very common activity for killing time at home is pumpkin carving, however, there are many additional things you could do with the pumpkin. For instance, you could create clay bowls in its shape and colour which you could potentially use to store candy afterwards. What’s more, you could upgrade some of your already bought and artificial pumpkin decorations by painting over them in a colour that suits your home aesthetic or making a candle in any pumpkin-shaped glass jars you might have laying around. Let your mind get creative and you will end up making much more interesting pieces than you’d expect.

Crochets

Since the pandemic, many of us have embarked on new hobbies and a popular one seems to be making crochets. It’s an engaging activity which can keep you occupied all season. You could easily learn how to crochet and start making autumn themed items such as little knitted pumpkins or clothing. Since you are decorating your home, you might want to create a garland rather than clothing pieces so that you can display your work proudly at home. Whatever you choose to do, this activity will soothe your mind and keep your brain engaged and healthy.

 

The good thing about DIY projects is that a single one can take you all day to do, giving you a lot of opportunities to create multiple things every time you have a day off for yourself. These projects will keep you busy during the chilly autumn season, especially when it’s a stay-at-home kind of day.

 

This article was written by an online estate agent House Sales Direct. If you wish to sell house fast and for free, then head over to the House Sales Direct website for more property related information and enquiries.

 

Disaster Repair Services Get Your Family Members Prepared

Natural disasters can catch us unawares. In this situation, do you know the right steps to take? Can your kids take care of themselves in times of emergencies? If your child happens to be home alone when disaster strikes and doesn’t know what to do, they could most likely get hurt. This disastrous incident can leave them traumatized for years. Teaching your kids what to do in the event of an emergency will not only protect them but also prevent property damage that may amount to costly disaster repair services.

Teaching kids the right ways to protect themselves is not the sole responsibility of the parents but also requires community involvement. With everyone doing their bit in sensitizing our youths, they will remain calm even amid a natural disaster, simply because they are already prepared.

Steps to Getting Youths Prepared for Emergencies

Nobody likes to think about the adverse effects of disaster on their families or communities. Regardless of the type of disaster, be it a tornado, hurricane, or wildfire, being prepared can save lives. Disasters are unfriendly and unwanted guests, but being ready can protect you and your property from costly damage

Here are some useful tips to get help your youths stay prepared for emergencies and disasters

  • Educate your kids on the dangers associated with disaster and what they should do.

  • Stay updated with online platforms and resources that share disaster-related information. You can subscribe to these services to receive regular updates and alerts. This will help you and your kids stay informed

  • Teach them what to do in the event of a fire. Examples include feeling doorknobs for heat before opening them or getting low to avoid smoke. Create a fire escape plan for the family and make it accessible to everyone.

  • If you reside in an area prone to natural disasters like tornadoes, or hurricanes, teach your kids the different warning signs and the safest place to go.

  • Educate them on the importance of emergency numbers. They shouldn’t hesitate to dial 911 on their mobile phone in emergency situations. More importantly, they should be able to describe clearly their exact location using specific landmarks if possible

  • Decide on a family member or close ally that everyone can run to in an emergency situation where everyone is separated.

  • Practice! There is no other way to determine whether or not the information sticks than practicalizing. Go for swimming lessons for flood-related cases and have fire drills. This drill should center around disasters that are common within your area. To make it interesting and engaging for the entire family, try making it a game.

Get a Family Disaster Kit

Get your family disaster kit ready well in advance. In the heat of the moment, you may not be in the right state of mind to put together these essentials. So get it ready ahead of time and make it accessible to everyone. A family disaster kit should include the following:

  • A first-aid kit

  • Water

  • Light source – flashlight, chargers, and batteries

  • Spare clothes

  • Supplies

  • Medications

  • Non-perishable foods

Crab Pots

 

You may have enjoyed the best crab dinner at a restaurant, and you feel that you need to learn more about them. As you learn, you must know the best way to catch crabs. The crab pot functions using the crabs’ instincts to trap them. It lures the crabs to enter the cube-shaped mess of the wire. The crab gets into the strategically placed openings that they enter and cannot escape.

The cube-shaped mess of wire has some small holes that allow the crabs to get in and fail to leave. The cube-shaped mess is ideal for trapping crabs used in calmer waters such as canals and dams. Your pot opening size should be approximately 60 cm in circumference or smaller. The pot opening is flexible with a barrier. The crab pot should also have a bait that attracts crabs. Krabbeteiner should be heavy enough to ensure they sink to the bottom of the canal.

Drop your crab pot at night if you want to catch the maximum number of crabs. You can put crab baits since they come out of the mud to feed early in the morning. Avoid crabbing in the middle of the day since crabs hide during that time. There is a high likelihood that you may not catch any crab at that time of the day.

The other important thing is to be careful to avoid crab bites. You should have protective clothing such as thick gloves. But the best way to avoid crab bites is to be careful. Also, ensure that you have pincers for holding them from behind. A scoop is good for transferring crabs from one place to other. The scoop protects you from having crab bites. After catching crabs, you should release the small ones into the water to allow them to mature. When cooking, drop them into hot water gently to avoid scalding your skin.