Renovating | Southern Shores

How to Select the Best Concrete Mix for Your Outdoor Projects

Date August 14, 2024 Category Renovating

Hey there, DIY enthusiasts and home improvement heroes! Grab your hard hats and let’s dive into the world of concrete. Whether you’re planning to pour a new patio, build a sturdy retaining wall, or create some funky garden sculptures, choosing the right concrete mix is crucial.

So, let’s roll up our sleeves and get our hands dirty (metaphorically, of course – always use the right building supplies and wear gloves when working with concrete!)

Why the Right Concrete Mix Matters

Before we jump into the nitty-gritty, let’s talk about why choosing the right concrete mix is so important. I remember my first concrete project – a simple path from my back door to the garage.

I thought, “Concrete is concrete, right?” Wrong! I ended up with a crumbly mess that looked more like a rocky road than a smooth path.

The right concrete mix can mean the difference between a project that lasts for decades and one that crumbles faster than a cookie in milk. It affects everything from how easy the concrete is to work with, to how strong and durable the final product will be.

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Heritage Home Renovation Specialists: Blending Old and New

Date August 7, 2024 Category Renovating

If you’re lucky enough to call a heritage home your own, you know it’s more than just a house – it’s a piece of living history. But let’s face it; sometimes, those charming old dames need a bit of TLC to bring them into the 21st century. That’s where heritage home renovation specialists come in, masters at blending the old with the new.

Let’s dive into the world of heritage renovations in Perth and discover how to breathe new life into these architectural treasures.

The Heritage Home Renaissance

I’ll never forget the day I first stepped into my mate Dave’s newly renovated Federation home in Subiaco. His builder, Northside Developments, had done a masterful job. The ornate ceiling roses and jarrah floorboards whispered of days gone by while the sleek modern kitchen and bathroom sang of contemporary comfort. “It’s the best of both worlds,” Dave grinned, running his hand along the restored original fireplace.

That’s when I realized – heritage home renovations aren’t just about preservation; they’re about evolution.

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Must-Have Items for a Bathroom Upgrade

Date January 19, 2024 Category Renovating

Bathrooms, like anything, have an expiry date. They may not go off like milk in your fridge, but they get to a point where they are no longer serving their purpose correctly. If your bathroom is at that stage, it’s a good idea to start looking at a bathroom renovation to change things like shower screens, faucets, paint schemes, and tiles.

However, even though you might know your bathroom is past its used-by date, you might not know where to begin. How could you start a bathroom upgrade without knowing what it needs? Read on to discover what building materials and items should appear in your new bathroom.

Shower Screens

There’s nothing dowdier or dated than a shower curtain. They stick to your body in the breeze of a ventilation fan, harbor mold and mildew, and often aren’t the prettiest. They may shield your body from prying eyes while you clean yourself, but that’s where the benefits stop.

Shower screens, however, provide both protection and privacy most stylishly yet. They are custom-fitted to your preferences and requirements and come with many benefits. They are easy to clean, can be framed or frameless, and could even have foggy glass for privacy. The best part is that something as simple as a shower screen can add a touch of contemporary elegance you may not have thought was possible.

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How To Choose The Right Solar System For Your Home

Date March 18, 2023 Category Home Maintenance, Renovating

When writing, the worldwide market for solar systems that generate electricity is over 270 billion AUD. For us here in Australia, we can take particular pride in knowing that no other country in the world has a greater percentage uptake of domestic solar systems, with over 30% of residences already having had a good sense of installing solar panels.

If you have not yet joined the many Australian homeowners who already benefit from solar energy but wish to, continue reading which will help ensure a seamless selection of a solar energy system for your home.

Seek Recommendations And Reviews

Start your search by asking for recommendations from your friends and family because, as we have already mentioned, around a third of those you know are likely to have migrated to using solar power. They can provide you with feedback on the benefits and drawbacks of their various systems and identify solar panel companies they recommend. This way, you can avoid solar energy systems unlikely to meet your requirements.

In addition to seeking recommendations from those you know, you can also research online. Review websites such as Trustpilot and the websites of local solar panel companies will provide lots of information and feedback. Only consider solar panel systems and installation companies with multiple positive reviews.

Consider The Various Types Of Solar Systems

Solar panels fall into three main categories, each with specific pros and cons. Understanding each type is crucial to you making the right choice, so here are the main types to consider.

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5 Steps That Will Enhance Your Construction Company’s Return On Investment From Pay Per Click Advertising

Date October 20, 2021 Category Renovating

One of the quickest ways to generate increased traffic to your construction company’s website is through paid advertising, particularly pay-per-click advertising such as Google Ads or Facebook Ads. However, you must approach the use of pay-per-click advertising with a plan and ideally follow the five steps that an expert digital marketing company advises.

We presume you want a good return on the investment you will make in paying for pay-per-click traffic, and by following the five steps outlined below, you have a much greater chance of realising that return. If, instead, you create a pay-per-click campaign with none of these steps being part of that process, then you are almost certainly not going to see a significant return, and worse, you could even see much of your advertising budget wasted. Here are the five steps:

Spy On Your Competition

We are not talking about you emulating James Bond but instead giving yourself a chance to emulate the success your competition might be having with their pay-per-click ads. By spying, we mean for you to look for ads on Google and Facebook relating to your business sector and determine what is good and what is wrong about them. Read through the ad copy and look at any images used for ideas about the standard you should aim for.

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5 Alternative Features You Can Create Using Millboard Decking

Date March 23, 2021 Category Gardens & Landscaping, Renovating

By it its very name, it would suggest that what you use millboard decking for is …to create decking. It will not shock you to learn that is exactly what the vast majority of people use millboard decking for, albeit there will be a multitude of different ways that is done, and different types of property it is used on.

Some will be small decks that maybe only cover a dozen or so square feet for an outdoor patio area, or they could be massive installations on multiple levels in a large garden. Beyond domestic settings, millboard decking is also used in business and municipal properties to create practical, but visually appealing walkways and features within outdoor spaces.

So, we have multiple decking possibilities in lots of different settings, but it is also important to know that millboard decking can be used for more than simply creating decks. There are a number of other structures, features, and projects it can be used for and so let us briefly outline some of them.

Sidings With a Difference

Regardless of the material that is currently on the outside of the walls of your home, or any other structures around your property, you can transform it by using millboard decking as siding. This can be done in a small way such as on one garden wall or as part of a comprehensive refacing of your home.

The benefits that millboard decking provides in terms of durability, stability, and longevity mean it can be an attractive and long-term solution for revamping the exterior of your property.

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Are You Thinking About Getting a Pool? Here’s Why You Should Be

Date March 14, 2019 Category Renovating

When many people get their landscaping plans underway with their landscapers in Dalkeith, particularly with a generously sized yard, they may begin to imagine a swimming pool taking pride of place in the fenced section. However, as quickly as you come up with the idea, many naysayers start to talk it down.

The truth is, building a swimming pool in your yard has so many benefits – many of which you may never have thought. All you need is expert help and a bit of enthusiasm, and you can get the process underway. Here are a few of the many reasons why it might be time to get a new swimming pool.

Good For Your Health

Swimming is one of the most advantageous forms of physical activity, and only an hour of it every day can burn as much as 500 calories. If you don’t have much time or love for pounding the pavement, add a swimming pool into your landscaping plans. You will be surprised at how much slacker those pants feel around the waist!

Increase Your Home’s Value

The average temperature in Australia in summer is 30 degrees-Celsius, and even the average low temperature of 15 degrees isn’t all that cold. As a result, it’s clear to see that no matter the season, swimming pools are going to be in demand. Many homeowners want them, and many homeowners-to-be seek them out. You may find the market for your pool increases your property’s value.

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How to Start Fencing as Business

Date June 10, 2018 Category Renovating

If you are the kind of person who is tired of the 9-5 rat-race, you may have considered starting up your own business. If you have handyman skills and love working outside, you may do well as a fencing contractor. As long as there are people purchasing homes, suburban blocks will need fencing. In rural districts where larger properties are being subdivided there are also plenty of fences to construct.

So how can you start up such a business? First of all, register for an Australian Business Number (ABN) and make sure you know how to keep records and accounts. You may need the following equipment, depending on the kind of fences you are building.

A ditch digger for digging out a trench for footings
A vehicle suitable for carrying such equipment, plus the materials for the fence
A license to drive it
A concrete mixer
Small fencing tools such a hammers, crow-bars, shovels and wire strainers
A wheelbarrow
A tractor and posthole digger or post driver if you are in a rural area
Sturdy boots, work clothes, gloves and a hat
Business cards/brochures. These can easily be done by anyone with a few computer skills.

You will need to think of a name for your business and you could even have a logo designed for it. However, the latter is an extra cost that is not essential at the beginning, especially if you are starting on a slim budget.

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5 Benefits of Adding a Carport to Your Home

Date October 24, 2016 Category Renovating

If you don’t have anywhere to house your car, adding a patio or carport to your home will have many benefits, not least being the fact that your car will be protected. Leaving a car out in the weather is the best way to see it degrade over time, with that nice mirror finish soon looking less than pristine and rust forming in places you probably can’t see.

However, it is not only the car that will benefit from having shelter. You will find when taking out car insurance that one thing you will need to fill in is whether you keep the car out on the street on if it has a locked up garage. If the former is true, your car insurance is likely to be more expensive. Even if you keep the car locked in an open yard, it is still liable to vandal damage as well as damage from the weather.

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6 Kitchen Renovations to Die For

Date July 17, 2015 Category Renovating

If your kitchen is badly in need of renovating it is essential to know what kind of renovations are possible and what would best suit your lifestyle and tastes. A company like Kitchen Professionals will tell you that not everyone has specific tastes in kitchen renovations so it is wise to get some ideas and jot down those that appeal to you most. However, you also need to ensure that your kitchen becomes more functional as well as more attractive, while at the same time fitting in with the decor the rest of your home displays.

Finding kitchen renovations to die for is not difficult; you only have to Google the topic to find many wonderful pictures of lovely kitchens. What becomes difficult is incorporating the different elements so that they work together and don’t look odd with the rest of the home. For instance, you may really love exposed beams, but unless they are featured somewhere in the rest of the home they won’t look very attractive on their own in the kitchen.

If you are serious about having the best kitchen renovation possible but know that you could use some advice, it is wise to consult a professional kitchen renovator, one who specialises in doing kitchens only so that they can give you the benefit of their advice – and won’t try and talk you into renovating the rest of the home as well.

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Tools and Equipment for Home Renovations

Date February 25, 2015 Category Renovating

When you are planning on home renovations of any kind, it is essential to have a checklist of the tools and building supplies you will need to complete the job. Most DIYers think in terms of cordless drills, hammers, saws of various kinds, a ladder, screwdrivers and so on, but more may be needed, depending on the job you are going to do.

For instance, if you plan on adding another room or a deck, foundation work will be needed. This means you need more than a shovel and crowbar; very likely you will need an excavator or a bobcat and depending on the layout of the block it could be a tiny one or a larger one that is needed. But wait! Can you even operate one of those things?

When it comes to renovations most people have no experience with operating an excavator and it is not the kind of thing you should learn as you go. Could be you might dig up something that was meant to stay down there, like the foundations you wanted to keep, or some plumbing work or even phone lines. Luckily, when you hire equipment such as a bobcat or excavator, it usually comes with a skilled operator.

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What to Expect When You Hire Equipment for Home Renovations

Date August 17, 2012 Category Renovating

Whether you are renovating a property or doing any similar job that needs large plant hire equipment to do it, the best way to get that equipment is to hire it. It is almost impossible to purchase high ticket equipment such as a bulldozer, excavator or bobcat due to the cost tying up your finances.

Such equipment is really expensive and if you need a loan to buy it, you will be paying probably over double the purchase price due to the interest on the loan, so hiring equipment is the best way forward. But what can you expect when you rent equipment?

You can expect the equipment to be in good condition with low work hours on the clock.
You can expect that the equipment to be delivered to your work site without you having to supply a truck to cart it.

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Stress-Free Kitchen Renovations

Date April 16, 2011 Category Renovating

Renovations in the house are often stressful, but when it comes to the kitchen it can be even more so. The kitchen is one room that is used throughout the day to get meals and snacks and if it cannot be used to its full potential due to ongoing renovations this is sure to cause a great deal of stress. Since stress is not good for your health, it is important to find ways and means to cut it out of your life, especially during renovations.

Good organisation is key

For some reason, many homeowners think they can renovate the kitchen on their own. But when it comes down to doing it, they get into strife because they haven’t organised the various trades to come on the right day – or at all – and so those renovations drag on for weeks, creating a stressful atmosphere in the home.

It is far better to have the whole renovations done by professional kitchen renovators who are used to working out exactly what is needed. If you are doing it yourself, you don’t really have much idea about how long each task will take. If you allow too long, time is wasted waiting for the next portion of the job to be done. If you don’t leave enough time, tradesmen are sitting around doing nothing while they wait, which costs you money for nothing.

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