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Category Archives: Home Improvement

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.

4 Practical Reasons to Consider Residential Mold Testing Port St Lucie FL Now

It’s not unusual for property owners to give mold much thought until something unusual happens. Even then, there may not be much of a sense of urgency when the events can easily be attributed to something other then mold in the home. To be safe, the most practical thing to do is arrange for residential mold testing Port St Lucie FL if any of the following applies in your case.

Your Older Home Has Never Been Tested

It won’t be much longer until you pay off the mortgage. That means you’ve lived in the house for years. At no point did you ever thing about having the place checked for mold. To the best of your knowledge, the previous owner never had this type of testing done either.

While mold can be found in homes of any vintage, there is an increased potential for mold to be found in homes that have been around for more years. With that in mind, it won’t hurt anything to have the home tested. Should any signs of mold be found, it will be easy enough to arrange for remediation and get rid of the problem.

Something Doesn’t Smell Right

Have you noticed that the house has developed an odor that was not present in the past? It’s hard to pinpoint where it’s coming from. What you do know is that no amount of cleaning or use of air fresheners seems to overcome it. That must scent seems to linger in spite of your best efforts.

The origin of that odor could be mold. It may be in the air ducts, underneath the floor, or around the ceiling joists. By having the home tested, you will find out if there is any mold and where it’s located. From there, you can arrange for it to be removed. After that, the house should smell a lot better.

You’ve Experienced Some Recent Health Issues

For some time now, you’ve not felt like yourself. Perhaps your energy level is a little low. Maybe you’re not sleeping as well as you did before. It could be that you’re having headaches or nasal congestion more often. All of these can be due to mold exposure.

Arrange for residential mold testing Port St Lucie FL and find out if there is mold in the home. If so, it won’t take long for a professional to isolate and get rid of the mold. Once it’s out of the way, you should begin feeling a lot better within a matter of days.

Mold Was Recently Found Next Door

There’s no rule that says old found next door automatically means that there will be mold in your home. Even so, the presence of mold so close by could mean there is some increased risk. The only way you will know for sure is to have the home checked.

In the best-case scenario, there will be no mold. That’s great. On the other hand, if a few small pockets of mold are found, be happy that it was caught so early. Given the damage that mold can do to your home and your health, remediation now is much better than remediation later.

If you have any suspicion that there may be mold in the home, now is the time to take action. Call a local remediation company and have the home tested. Once the results are in, you will know what needs to happen next.

Drywall Problems To Look Out For

If you are experiencing drywall issues and are looking for lasting solutions, leave it to the professionals. There is no such thing as handyman small jobs when it comes to drywall repair services. Despite being a popular construction material, drywall are designed to help enhance the aesthetic value of your décor, lighting and whatever you would like hanged on the walls. A properly and professionally installed drywall sheets provides a smoother surface, laying the base for your style and design to thrive.

Just like every other construction materials, drywall is susceptible to wear and tear. However, the damage might come sooner than expected when your contractor makes common construction mistakes like installing the sheets too close together. During drywall repair and installation, a 1/8 inch gap should be in between each sheets to prevent cracks when the normal expansion and contraction of wood joints occurs.

However, there are certain drywall problems that installers cannot control. These could be as a result of normal wear and tear or pest damage

The most common problems of drywall include

Pest Damage

A fine example is termites. Termites are destructive unwanted pests. You should not allow these destructive pests anywhere near your building as they can do more than damage wood. A termite infested drywall will leave holes on it. Other signs of termite damage include

  • Paint bubbles

  • Disintegrating baseboards

  • Hollow walls

Fixing pest damage on drywall is easy. However, before contacting a drywall repair contractor, contact a pest control specialist. Fixing your drywall without resolving the root cause is a wasted expense.

Once the termite or pests are completely removed, then you can forge ahead with the drywall repair.

Cracks

Most drywall cracks can be overlooked. Drywall cracks, especially in a new house, stems from settling. Sometimes, it takes around 24 months for a new property to settle. Within this space of time, the home can shift slightly, causing damage to your drywall.

Older houses with drywall cracks could be a result of poor installation or exposure to moisture. Not leaving gaps in-between drywall sheets during installation can also lead to drywall crack.

Professional contractors can help with drywall repair. Depending on the cause, you might also need to call a plumber to fix water issues.

Furniture Damage

Your drywall is at risk of cosmetic damage when it comes in contact with furniture. Your furniture can scratch, knick and create holes in drywalls. The good thing about this is that the damage is mostly cosmetic and often surface. Fixing cosmetic drywall damage is easy. However, it is advisable to hire a professional contractor.

Drywall repair jobs often show signs of imperfections. An Ill-qualified drywall contractor might not deliver the result you want, leaving your drywall with rough edges. The roughness makes it easier to detect the affected area. This is not the case with a professional contractor. These professionals have the right tools and equipment to provide a perfectly blended drywall repair job. Regardless of the age of the building, drywall damage is repairable.