Why Choosing A Residential Lift For Your Home Raises Multiple Questions

Having a residential lift installed in your home is not an everyday occurrence, in fact, for many of us, it will be a once in a lifetime project.

Because of this, the choices you have when considering your new residential lift means that some questions are raised, and subsequently have to be answered.

Apart from the obvious question “Do you want to have a lift installed, yes or no?”, there are several other questions that will take you to the point of having chosen your new lift, and given your lift installation team the green light to proceed with the install.

To give you further insights into the process of choosing a residential lift, here are some of those questions.

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How Long Should Professional Tile Installation Take? Timeline Expectations

How Long Should Professional Tile Installation Take? Timeline Expectations

Garry Brownlie

When buying tiles, order more than required. A few will likely crack or break during transit or while offloading, that way you have extras and proceed with your project uninterrupted.

Do not destroy the broken tile bits as they will come in handy when you need to cut up some tiles to fit into asymmetrical spaces.

Tiling can be easy to the point you get to DIY or complex and requires a professional Perth tiler to help with the installation.

Detailed in the article as important pointers worth having in mind before getting started.

What tools and materials are required for tiling?

  • Tools: tape measure, spirit level, drill, serrated adhesive trowel, tile saw, plumb line, dry or wet tile cutter, rubber grouting float, goggles and gloves, hammer and bolster chisel, screwdriver
  • Materials: screws, tile spacers, soft dry cloths, battens, sandpaper, tiles and tile adhesive

General process overview—timeline

Demolition

It’s a no-brainer that you cannot build tiles on top of existing tiles. However, there are a few cases where this is not possible such as the ancient homes where tiles were laid on cement. In such cases, if you break them off the walls, the entire house caves in.

In the case of a renovation, ensure there are no tiles, wallpaper, or past residue on the surfaces. Take out those old tiles using a hammer and bolster chisel. Crack the tile till it pops off. Should you need to cut out brickwork replaster the walls before tiling it further. This is best done through professional help.

Use sandpaper to dust down the walls then apply a sealer. This helps the surface to stay moist for you to apply tile adhesive. Shopping for the right adhesive can be challenging given the multiple varieties on the shelves. A tiling expert can offer guidance here or visit the local supplier with a sample of the tile you intend to use.

Dark adhesives go well with terracotta-styled tiles while lighter-colored ones are suitable for white tiles. For cork tiles, use a different adhesive that acts as glue and dries instead of sticking.

Cutting tiles

Use a tile cutter or drill to cut your tiles to size. Wet cutters have diamond wheels and blades that go into the water and are suited for cutting porcelain. Dry tile cutters can also cut through straight edges with intricate shapes and work on tricky angles using powered wet cutters.

Tiling around the sockets

Switch off your electricity supply from the mains. Then unscrew the wall sockets that are hanging. You want to fit the tiles so they remain tucked behind the sockets without leaving any gap around them. Measure 2cm inside the edge of each socket.

Grouting

Grout is the substance applied between tiles as a sealant. As an adhesive, grout tiles are dried fully in between 24 to 36 hours afterward. The best grout is waterproof and resistant to mold. A good number are retailed pre-mixed. The rubber-faced tool, grout float, is applied over large areas. Spread the grout over your tiles so that it goes across the gaps between the tiles at right angles (like making a cross). A damp sponge helps remove excess but the drying grout helps polish surfaces when using dry cotton rags.

Floor tiles

It’s quite difficult to find red terracotta ceramic floors. Times have changed, and now there’s a wide variety of aesthetic tiles in retail that can achieve any indoor or outdoor design. Anything from rubber, ceramic, and natural stone tiles such as slate, limestone, and marble.

To lay the tiles, you need tile adhesives, tile spacers, tile cutters, toothed spreaders, cloth, sponges, and colored or white grout. Since wooden floors can move, opening up joints in the grouting, a rubber base adhesive is required. If the floor is in really bad shape, use plywood to screw it in place before applying the adhesive.

Before you permanently attach the tiles with adhesive, you arrange them on the floor without any glue or mortar. This will help in:

  • Planning the layout—get an idea of how the tiles will look at the end, identify areas where cuts are required, and ensure the tiles are aligned symmetrically.
  • See if they fit—check if all tiles fit in the spaces, particularly around the corners, edges, and obstacles such as columns or fixtures.
  • Make adjustment—where imperfections are found, and identify any issues with the floor or tiling plan early.
  • Reducing waste—by searching for cuts and planning to use your tiles efficiently

After the dry run, make corrections before the actual installation.

Project timelines for a tiling project

We shall inspect the estimated timelines for typical tiling projects while looking at different scenarios:

Small projects—laundry rooms, bathrooms, etc

Bathroom renovation timeline

  • Demolition: 0.5-1 day
  • Preparation: 1-2 days
  • Waterproofing: 1 day (including drying)
  • Tiling the floor: 1 day
  • Wall tiling: 2-3 days
  • Grouting: 1 day
  • Seal and finish: 1 day
  • Total Duration: 7-10 days

Kitchen area

  • Floor prep: 1 day
  • Tiling the floor: 1-2 days
  • Installation: 1 day
  • Grouting: 1 day
  • Final details: 0.5 days
  • Total duration: 4-6 days

Living areas

  • Floor prep: 1-2 days
  • Large format tiling: 2-3 days
  • Pattern work: 1-2 days
  • Grouting with finishing: 2 days
  • Total duration: about a week or more if the task is more complex

Estimate project timelines—estimated ranges in totals

  • Small backsplash: 1-2 days (preparation and grout included)
  • Small bathroom floor (5-8 sqm): 2-4 days (preparation, tiling, and grout included)
  • Standard bathroom floor and walls: 7+ days (preparation, tiling, and grout included)
  • Large kitchen floor and walls: 4-6 days (preparation, waterproofing, tiling, and grout included)
  • Large kitchen floor (20+ sqm): 5-10 days (depending on project complexity, preparation, and type of tiling)
  • Outdoor patio (30+ sqm): 7-14 days (highly dependent on weather, preparation day varies)

Factor influencing the timelines

  • Condition of the site: if the surface is damaged, uneven, or requires waterproofing, the preparation stage will be longer.
  • Climate factors: Outdoor projects in Perth can be subjected to interruptive weather (especially in wet winter) which delays the work significantly. E.g extreme heat, heavy rains, etc.
  • Project complexity: If the designs or patterns are complex it extends the time taken for complete installation.
  • Material in use: materials such as natural stone will require special adhesives or cutting techniques.
  • Availability of tiling experts: The best tilers are often pre-booked and will require scheduling, further adding to the lead times.

What are the common causes of delay?

  1. Workmanship: sometimes tilers are hard to book, especially during peak times, or unexpected occurrences such as illness.
  2. Site conditions: Sudden flash floods, damaged flooring or frost issues will require more work before proceeding with the tile installation, modifying your initial estimates.
  3. Material delays: inconveniences from shipping delays, backorders, or select tiles running out-of-stock.
  4. Client faults: here clients may abruptly change the types, layout, or patterns on the tiles while adding extras after the project starts.

If you are planning a tiling project (small or large) and need a reliable professional to do the installation while working within your budget—get in contact with Perth tiling pros. Our local experts have built a reputation based on timely scheduling, military precision on quality control, and utmost professionalism.

How to Save on Water Bills: 10 Simple Plumbing Tips

As someone who owns a property for more than fifty years now, I am fully aware that water bills can easily add up if you are not being careful.

However, some practical adjustments can lead to significant savings. Of course, getting some help from a licensed plumber can also make a difference. But if you practice smart habits, you’ll surely notice real savings.

So, let me guide you to saving money on your water bills. With these plumbing tips, you’ll eventually notice a significant drop in your monthly bills.

  1. Address Leaky Taps and Toilets Without Delay

In my line of work, I get to interact with other plumbers, such as Plumb It Right, where we’ve discussed about different plumbing issues.

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Understanding Your Renovation Timeline: A Professional Builder's Guide to Project Planning

Understanding Your Renovation Timeline, A Professional Builder’s Guide to Project Planning

With 16 years in construction and my experience running Northside Developments, I have learnt that successful renovations rely on careful timeline planning and management. I will let you in on a few secrets and insights about project planning based on real experiences and proven results.

Setting Realistic Expectations

Let me start with Lisa’s comprehensive renovation experience, which demonstrates our commitment to timeline management she said,

“We did a large renovation on our home with NSD and they were flawless in all aspects of the job. We added on a bedroom, ensuite and walk in robe. We also renovated the old kitchen, laundry and bathroom including taking out walls to open it all up… all the time frames we were given were met, the quality of workmanship was extremely high.”

This project showcases several crucial timeline elements like

Multiple room coordination
Structural modifications
Service relocations
Trade scheduling
Quality maintenance

Professional Planning Process

My background supervising crews of up to 30 workers has taught me the importance of detailed planning. Jordan G emphasizes our communication approach he said,

“Northside have been upfront with all decisions since day one and carefully explain the process to ensure we understood the work that was involved, why it was happening and the costs associated… communicate fantastically, hearing from James several times a week.”

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Plumber

Interesting Stuff to Know about Plumbing

Call a plumber when a water line breaks or the sewage is backed up. These days, plumbing has become a reasonably primary industry and requires more qualifications than carrying a couple of wrenches and a pocket screwdriver. It’s a profession or a trade that has qualified people performing critical tasks.

What do plumbers actually do?

Becoming a Plumber

Perth-based plumber Plumb It Right offers us the following information;

To become a plumber, you need to do a trade apprenticeship, which will include the theory of piping systems and practising the use of tools, standard and specialized, and a course in troubleshooting.

A trade apprentice works with a licensed plumber or plumbing service and gets on-the-job training in real-life experiences that may crop up on daily jobs.


There are many different fields in which a plumber can become involved.

Commercial plumbers – install, maintain, and repair systems such as heating, food conveyance piping, and large commercial hot water systems. Plumbers involved in hospital and medical centre facilities or food manufacturing need to know about bacteriology and sanitation controls that prevent contamination of systems that deliver food to people. If the plumbing work involves steam fittings, further equipment and safety training are required.

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Home Theater Installation in Perth: A Guide to Budgeting Your Dream Entertainment Space

In Perth, where the skyline meets the ocean and life bustles with energy, residents are embracing the luxury of home theatres – a trend rapidly transforming living spaces into hubs of cinematic joy. If you’re contemplating this upgrade, understanding the cost landscape of audio-visual installation in Perth is critical. Let me guide you through it with insights from those who’ve made this dream a reality.

The Factors That Shape Your Home Theater Cost

Embarking on the home theatre journey, it’s essential to consider what shapes the cost:

  • Room Dimensions: The size of your theatre room dictates the scale and type of equipment needed.
  • Choice of Tech: Opting for high-end brands or the latest technology will naturally affect the budget.
  • Installation Complexity: Desire hidden wires or custom-built features? These details, while enhancing the experience, also add to the cost.
  • Personal Touch: Custom seating or thematic designs make your space unique but require a more significant investment.

Tales from Perth Homeowners

Take it from Suzanne Ward, who embarked on this journey with excitement, “We were expecting a hefty quote, but the affordability and quality we got were beyond our expectations.” Stories like Suzanne’s highlight how budget-friendly options can still offer excellent results.

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7 Essential Qualities To Look For When Choosing Landscapers In New South Wales

If anyone living in New South Wales decides to upgrade their garden with landscaping, they have multiple decisions to make. Of them all, it is the decision as to which landscape design company is going to be employed to facilitate the new garden which is arguably the most important. Get that decision right, and you will have the garden of your dreams. Get it wrong, and it could be more of a nightmare.

Now, we have to say that most landscaping companies in New South Wales are highly competent, professional, and dedicated to what they do. Hence, the chances of hiring someone who does poor work are slim. However, there may still be differences in the services they offer, the timescales they can work to, and their pricing, which are just three factors that differentiate them.

This means doing all you can to select the right landscapers for your garden is paramount. As such, you want to look at each landscaping company you are considering and evaluate several essential qualities to ensure they have them and to what extent. Below are seven of the most important qualities we have just referred to.

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7 Little-Known Hacks For Keeping Carpets Clean

The cleaning of carpets, just as every other cleaning task you can think of, has more than its fair share of secret hacks, tips, and tricks, many of which are well-known by those who work as professional carpet cleaners. That is not to say professional cleaning companies such as Perth Home Cleaners will always use these hacks, as they will more likely rely on tried and tested professional carpet cleaning methods.

However, for everyone else, the carpet cleaning hacks which exist can be handy because not only can they help you keep your carpets cleaner than otherwise, but they can also be the difference between a stain ruining a carpet and you being able to remove that stain, or at least minimising its effect until you can call in a professional carpet cleaner to obliterate it.

There are carpet cleaning hacks for all kinds of carpets, and many relate to specific stains. We will list several of them and note that we have not put them in any order of preference or effectiveness. Read through them, and report any that appeal to you.

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7 Benefits Of Adding Shade Sails To Your Property

7 Benefits Of Adding Shade Sails To Your Property

Anyone whose property receives a lot of sunshine during the day and who wishes to find a solution that will create shaded areas around that property should seriously consider shade sails or even pergolas. Of all the possible solutions you could use, they are one of the simplest and most cost-effective, plus they can add some colour and style to the exterior of your home.

Shade sails have several benefits for those who add them to their property, and if you read on, we will outline in some detail no fewer than seven of those benefits.

Benefit #1 – Protection From The Elements

The elements we are referring to are sun, wind, rain, and even snow if you happen to live in an area that has snowfall. The sun’s rays are not only harmful to your family if they receive too much, but the sun also causes damage to the exterior of your property such as fading the paintwork. Shade sails are the ideal way to create shade and protection against the sun, wind, and rain.

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10 Tips To Get The Most Out Of A Storage Unit

10 Tips To Get The Most Out Of A Storage Unit

Renting secure storage spaces for your business, like this one from www.brilliancestorage.com.au – can be a great solution if you need more space to store equipment, inventory, or extra office furniture. However, renting a storage unit alone may not be enough to be of help if you do not effectively maximise the space available, organise it properly, and from the outset, ensure that the storage you are renting is suitable for your business needs.

To ensure you get not just those three points correct but take further steps to get the most out of your business’s commercial storage unit, in this blog post, we are going to outline ten tips you can follow to achieve these.

Tip #1 – Choose the Right Size Storage Unit

Choosing the right size storage unit is crucial because, if you select a unit that is too small, you won’t have enough space to move around or add more items later. Conversely, if you rent a storage unit that is too large, you will be paying for storage space that you do not need.

The best way to choose the right size unit is to create an inventory list of everything you plan to store and select a unit size based on that. The staff at the storage facility you plan to rent from will be more than willing to advise you on storage unit size selection.

Tip #2 – Protect Your Inventory

While your items are in storage or being transported there, it is important to protect them from damage. Make sure to use appropriate bubble wrap or packing paper to protect fragile items and items of high value. If you are storing items that are sensitive to temperature and humidity changes, it is best to invest in a climate-controlled unit.

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Air-Con-Unit-Service

Why You Need To Have Your Air Con Unit Serviced Regularly

An air-conditioning unit that is functioning well can save you a lot of discomfort in hot and cold weather. Just like a car, these units must be serviced regularly to get the best bang for your buck and ensure they last as long as they are meant to. Major servicing should only be done by a professional. Between this, you can clean out the filters and ensure there are no grass stems, bushes or any other rubbish growing up around the external part.

Cleaning the filters is not difficult; it is reaching up to them that is the hardest part. Use a safe ladder and always wear shoes that fit well, not house slippers, when you get on the ladder.

  • For ducted systems, slide the filter out of the grille in the ceiling after you pull it down. Then wash it in warm water and allow it to sun-dry.
  • For split systems, open the fascia and remove the filter. Then vacuum the dust off it.

Even though you may not see the need for professional servicing, things can happen of which you are unaware. For instance, with the ducted air conditioning system found on many homes’ roofs, insects, mice, rats and possums can get into the ceiling cavity and cause damage. They can eat through or tear the ducting from the unit to each room. This allows air to escape, making your unit work harder than it needs to and reducing its efficiency, so you must turn it up. This costs more to run.

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Using Pantry Labels To Help You Properly Organise Your Pantry

Using Pantry Labels To Help You Properly Organise Your Pantry

In most homes, the pantry will be in one of three states of order: entirely unorganised, somewhat organised, or well organised. For many of those managed well pantries, it is pretty pantry labels that have contributed massively to that level of order being possible.

For anyone wondering what pantry labels are, they could not be any simpler as they are durable, easy to apply, and can be used to label just about anything you can think of in your pantry. Whether your pantry is tiny or so big you could almost classify it as an additional room in your home, pantry labels are an ideal resource to help you keep that pantry tidy and organised.

If you have never used a labelling system before to organise anything, including your pantry, you might be unsure how to use them. Fear not, as we are about to explain the best ways you can use pantry labels to help organise your pantry correctly and keep it organised so that whenever you need to retrieve something from it, you can find it almost instantly.

Decide How You Want Your Pantry To Be Organised: Whilst you are more than welcome to follow our suggestions, you will be using the pantry, so you are free to organise it in a way that suits you. Whether you do it by food type, how they are packaged, or even alphabetically, as we know some people prefer, the important point is that you use an organisation and pantry labelling system that you understand and can follow.

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5 Tips For Choosing The Right Glass Balustrading For Your Home

5 Tips For Choosing The Right Glass Balustrading For Your Home

It is a fact that when you mention glass balustrading to some people their eyes glaze over because they have genuinely never heard of it being called by that name. That being said it is almost certain they will have seen it given that it is used a great deal in homes, offices, and commercial properties in every town and city you could name.

Glass balustrading might be seen often in public places, but its use in domestic properties is also widespread. It has many benefits such as enhancing both the appearance and the practical aspects of a home, but how you choose and select your glass balustrading can impact how much they are enhanced. If you have been considering glass balustrading but are not quite sure where to start, here are five excellent tips for choosing wisely.

Tip #1 – Carry Out Proper Research

No matter what significant changes you plan to make to a home, the outcome will always be all the better if you have done proper research to start with. That especially applies to installing glass balustrading. You should research what options for glass balustrading there are, where it can be used in and around your home, and what styles are available.

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A Beginner's Guide To How Solar Panels Work

A Beginner’s Guide To How Solar Panels Work

Solar systems to generate electricity in homes are becoming increasingly popular with homeowners, not just for the financial benefits but also as the focus intensifies on the desire for increased use of renewable energy sources. However, many people still need to learn how solar systems work, mainly how solar panels can transform light from the sun or any other source into usable domestic electricity.

In this beginner’s guide, we will discuss the basic principles behind solar panels and how they can be used to produce electricity for homes. Fear not; we will not make it so technical that you would need a solar energy or electrical engineering degree to understand it.

What Are Solar Panels?

Let us start with the absolute basics: answering the question, “What are solar panels?” just in case anyone reading is unaware of them. Solar panels are devices within a solar power system that convert sunlight into electricity and can be used for residential and commercial properties. They comprise numerous photovoltaic (PV) cells, composed mainly of silicon and some other materials.

When sunlight hits these PV cells, it causes electrons to move, creating an electrical current. At this stage, the electricity produced is direct current (DC), akin to the electricity supplied by the battery and alternator within your car, so it has to be converted into alternating current (AC) for use in domestic properties.

How Do Solar Panels Work?

The whole process of converting sunlight into electricity has three functions: collection, storage, and usage, and these require four components: solar panels, charge controllers, inverters, and storage batteries. Solar panels act as collectors, and they work by transforming sunlight into direct current (DC) electricity.

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5 Ways To Get Rid Of Weeds From Your Landscape Garden

Whether you are into landscaping, rock gardening, vegetable gardening, or indeed any other kind of gardening, there is one blight on the landscape which every gardener must face up to, and that is weeds. Weeds are a phenomenon that grows just about anywhere you can think of such as growing out of brickwork, through your stone cladding from www.meteorstone.com.au, and of course, in just about every garden on the planet.

It might seem wrong that we give weeds such a hard time as, after all, they are a natural entity, in the same way our plants, flowers, and grasses are, however, that is like saying we should treat poisonous snakes in the same we treat our pet dogs. Weeds are no friends of the living plants in our gardens, and here are some reasons why.

  • Weeds Hide Our Beautiful Plants
  • Weeds Are Unsightly
  • Weeds Compete With Our Plants For Nourishment
  • Weeds Promote, House And Nourish Bugs, Pests, And Diseases
  • Weeds Can Hinder The Germination Of Other Plants
  • Weeds Make Harvesting Edible Pants More Difficult

In the spirit of even-handedness, we must point out there are some gardening enthusiasts who claim that weeds are actually a positive presence in gardens as they protect the soil from the sun, and in doing so aid the insects and other organisms on the ground by shielding them from too much sunlight.

If you agree weeds are not a problem, then there is no need to read on. However, if you are one of the millions of gardeners who are fed up with their garden being ruined in multiple ways by weeds, then here are 5 ways you can control and get rid of weeds, some of which you might find surprising.

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