Key Driveway Renovation Tips to Preparing Your New Driveway Makeover

Curb appeal is something all homeowners strive for, but achieving that look can be time-consuming, confusing, and just plain expensive if you don’t have an effective plan. One of the best places you can spend money where curb appeal is concerned is giving your driveway a makeover. By freshening it up, you’ll completely transform how your house looks. With that in mind, we’ve put together a few key driveway renovation tips that you can use for your driveway makeover. Let’s take a look. 

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2. Experiment with Different Materials

If you’re considering giving your driveway a makeover, it’s also recommended that you think about using different materials. Just because you have asphalt at the moment doesn’t mean you have to stick with it. Maybe you’re ready for a big change such as poured concrete or something even more intricate such as interlocking brick. Now is the time to check out the various materials and pick one that amps up your curb appeal and achieves the look you’re going for.

Additionally, it’s a good time to think about the layout and size of your driveway. Depending on where you live, regulations, and the by-laws, you may also be able to expand the size of your driveway. This could warrant a makeover right there! Perhaps, you’ve always dreamed of that circular driveway, or one that allows for more parking. Now is the time to think about the configuration and make your design changes before you begin any drive renovation.

2. Sealing Your Driveway

If your driveway is still relatively new and isn't in really rough shape, then you're lucky because your options are less expensive as you can give it a pretty cheap and simple makeover. In order to get the most bang for your buck, you'll want to look into resealing the driveway. You can do this on your own or hire a professional to come in and do it for you. Keep in mind, that any cracks or holes must be fixed before you apply the sealant.

Why seal your driveway?

First of all, it will instantly improve the appearance of the asphalt. Because these sealants are a thick black material, it will bring it back to new condition as far as looks go. As an added bonus, it also helps to reduce cracking in the future, which will allow it to look good for a longer period of time. These sealants actually close the pores that are in driveways and prevent water from seeping in and causing damage.

3. Keeping the Concrete?

If you happen to have a concrete driveway that has seen better days, but you’d really rather not change it, then there are ways you can get it back to new. One of the most unsightly things that can happen with concrete driveways is cracks. They can be quite small or rather large and deep. These cracks will age your entire exterior and give it a rundown feel.

While it would be great to avoid these cracks all together, unfortunately it's just not possible. Cracking occurs when the ground freezes then thaws. Obviously, if you are in a climate that experiences cold winters and hot summers, this will be extremely difficult on your driveway. The cracks usually start off small and just keep expanding from there.

One option to fix this is by placing a new layer of concrete on top of the old one. When doing this however you need to cover the entire driveway otherwise you’ll have patches of new concrete on old concrete. If you do want to just seal the holes with new concrete you could then work on painting over the driveway in one colour. This will help to even out the look and make it all one colour, hiding the new concrete and blending it in better.

4. Resurfacing Asphalt

Another way in which you can give your driveway a makeover is to resurface the asphalt. During this process, a professional takes the top layer off your driveway and then replaces it with a brand-new layer. This is much faster, easier, and cheaper to do then ripping up the entire driveway and starting from scratch. What’s great is that you won’t see any patches and the driveway will be nice and level/even once again. It will look like a whole new driveway when the process is finished.

5. Choosing to Re-Pave the Driveway

In the worst-case scenario, you’ll be looking at re-paving your driveway completely. Usually, this is reserved for driveways that are 20 years or older, have been sealed numerous times over the years, have large cracks, potholes, and are uneven. At this point, the driveway has basically reached its maximum lifespan. If you’re looking to repave your driveway, you need to start by:

Choose your new pavers and get them positioned and secured into place using a layer of concrete to push them into.

 

• Pulling up the old pavers to make way for the new pavers.
• Evening out the ground to ensure its level for the new pavers to be placed down.
• Work out the square meterage you need to ensure you have enough pavers for the job.

It’s important to remember that you mustn’t drive on your driveway for a few days as this can create the pavers to become loose or move into awkward positions.

What If You Don’t Have Money For A Professional?

If you want to renovate your driveway but you don’t have the funds to bring in a professional here’s some things to think of:

• Add flowerbeds beside the driveway to help give it colour and beauty throughout the year. The flowers should be those that are able to withstand different weather changes and be exposed to the elements. They should also be low to the ground growing (unlike roses) to ensure your car won’t get damaged if they get too big and rub against the car.
• Depending on your driveway, you can also add a layer of smooth rocks or pebbles on top of the current driveway (if it’s dirt related) to give it more texture and appeal. Pebble driveways look great and are a cheaper alternative to hiring a professional.
• Repaint the driveway if it’s a little outdated or if you want to upgrade the look and don’t have the money. Many people opt to repaint the driveway to help give it a more modern look without the expense attached.
  

Don’t Be Afraid to Step Outside the Box

When it comes to a driveway makeover the best advice is not to be afraid to step outside the box. Start by setting your budget, then think about what look you’re going for and the practicality. Before you know it, your new driveway will add the curb appeal and usefulness that you’ve long desired.

Jimmy Stanley

Jimmy Stanley founded PSI Paving in 2004. Their expert team of paving contractors are considered the best in the business. Honesty is a hallmark at PSI Paving, so you can rest assured that our team will take great care every step of the way to give you the outcome you want.

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/04/key-driveway-renovation.html

Advantages Of Using Engineered Oak Flooring

There are many advantages to using engineered oak flooring. For example, a walnut finish floor can be quite beautiful. A high gloss engineered oak floor can change the interior of the entire home. You are sure to receive many compliments on a high gloss engineered oak floor. 

Engineered wood flooring has a unique and feel. Anyone looking at your floor for the first time will certainly notice the beauty and elegance. An engineered wood floor looks absolutely authentic and it certainly will add great beauty to just about any home. If, in fact, you are seriously considering engineered oak wood flooring, it would be best to find one of the trusted suppliers of oak flooring in Melbourne like Market Timbers.

Another huge advantage of having an engineered wood floor is that the floor will never expand or contract. Hard wood floors will easily expand and contract depending upon the temperature within the home. For example, the cold winter months can cause real wood to actually expand. In addition, the warm summer temperatures can cause a wood floor to contact. Hard wood flooring actually can shift a bit due to changes in temperature and overall weather conditions. You should not run into any of these problems with an engineered oak wood floor.

Flooring made from different types of treated plywood offer much more durability than traditional wood flooring. Traditional wood is not very durable and it tends to become more of a problem if you spill something directly on the floor itself. Therefore, clean-up is so much easier with an engineered oak floor.

Another great advantage to having engineered oak flooring is that you can easily sand the floor and refinish quite easily. Wood floors can be sanded and re finished however, it may be more of a chore to refinish as opposed to an engineered wood floor.

If you plan to install the new floor yourself, you can count on the fact that an engineered floor is a great deal easier to install than a traditional wood floor. In addition, the fact that this type of floor is easier to install it will certainly be less time consuming to complete the job.

Cost Effective & Stylish

Possibly the most attractive feature of an engineered oak floor is that it is far less costly than wood. For anyone on a budget, an engineered wood floor is far less expensive and it will not drain your bank account.

If you plan on selling your home, a new engineered wood floor will certainly add value to your existing home. Therefore, you may find that replacing an existing floor with an engineered oak floor will increase the overall re sale value of your existing home.

Having engineered oak flooring installed within a home offers a number of advantages to the homeowner. There are so many styles of engineered wood flooring in which to choose from. Always remember, any improvements you make within the interior of the home will certainly be beneficial for a variety of reasons in the long run.

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/04/oak-flooring.html

Interior design tips for first-time homeowners in London

Choosing your first home is one of the biggest decisions you can make, and it can be even tougher to decide how to decorate it because it is this process that will make it go from a house to a home. Decorating and furnishing a whole house from top to bottom is a tough task but these tips and some careful planning should make it easier.

Stick to a budget

The first thing you need to do when it comes to decorating is to know how much you intend to spend. As it’s your first home, it can be easy to get carried away with new furniture and decorations that you think will look good in your home but this can often mean you’ll end up spending more than you have. Always shop around for deals and discounts before you commit and if you have some spending money left over once you’ve got the essentials, you can always treat yourself with something on your wish list. 

Start with neutral tones

Sticking with neutral colours can be a good starting point for any first home design. Colours such as white, cream, black and grey are easily dressed up with splashes of colour here and there in things such as rugs, cushions, and throws. If you’re struggling for inspiration when it comes to neutral colours, asking help from a professional service such as Kia Designs, interior designers based in London, could help you create a starting point for each room.

Be frugal at first

This tip ties with the idea of sticking to a budget and can be another difficulty for first-time home buyers. You’ll probably have the overwhelming desire to buy everything all at once, but more often than not it’s better to start with very little and before you expand. If you know, you can do without a sofa for a while, wait until you’ve shopped around a little more to get the best deal. Sometimes it’s better to live in your house for a while to figure out exactly what you’re going to need.

One room at a time

By treating your home as a large project and working on the design of one room at a time, you’ll be able to have a clearer idea of exactly what you want to achieve without the stress of thinking about other rooms. Break tasks down into smaller, more manageable parts and this way you’ll be a lot less overwhelmed with the amount of work you have to do.

Stay focused on your ideas

Creating mood boards can have advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is something that we’ve already covered, the fact that you’ll probably want to buy everything all at once, but an advantage is that it will keep you focused on what you have in mind for each room in your new home. Compile photos, paint colours and fabric samples that you can take with you when you’re finally buying your furniture.

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/04/interior-design-tips-london.html

8 Top Tips to creating a luxurious living room

Want to know how to create a luxurious living room? Then read on to discover our top tips for creating a sumptuous haven for your family. Whether you want to revamp the whole room or simply add a few luxurious accents, there are lots of options available to you.     

1. A touch of velvet

Create luxury in your living room by introducing a range of textures and fabrics. Velvet strikes a particularly luxurious note, and velvet sofas in jewel-like colours have been cited as a top style trend for 2017. If you don’t want to replace your sofa, then think about adding a plush throw, or a few scatter cushions to your interior design scheme.      

2. A chandelier

For an opulent feel add a chandelier to your decorating scheme. You’ll find examples aplenty from affordable versions on your local high street to vintage examples in antique shops and at your local auction house. Lighting fixtures are often the element of a decorating scheme that gets forgotten, but with a chic chandelier, you’ll achieve an opulent look in your living room.     

3. Art deco

Art deco style abounds in interior design at the moment, and it lends itself well to creating a luxurious feel, from angular mirrors to occasional tables with marble tops. Strong colour contrasts are evident too, as in the dining room of the Courtauld House at Eltham Palace, where black and gold reign supreme. Add key design motifs of the Deco style from the stepped profile to the Egyptian-inspired key design, sunrises, zig zags and stylised flowers. Here too shiny decadent fabrics are evident, just right for the luxurious feel you’re trying to create.  

4. Fireplace

Fireplaces create a striking focal point in a living and can add a luxurious note depending on the material and style employed. Look to Victorian or Georgian styles in carrara marble, limestone or granite to help create your luxurious living room. If you don’t have an open fireplace, there are plenty of gas or electric alternatives which echo vintage styles.     

5. Furniture that’s a cut above

Quality tells, and it’s worth splashing out on well-crafted furniture for your living room to help create that luxurious look. Oak has long been associated with quality when it comes to furniture and French oak strikes just the right note for a luxury feel, so seek out some stylish examples for your home. Whether you want a cabinet to hold your TV, to create a dining area or to add some valuable storage to your home, there are a plethora of pieces from which to choose.     

6. A rug

Nothing speaks of luxury like a rug, whether you choose a jewel-like colour to complement your sofa or a striking geometric pattern to echo the Art deco influence we’ve mentioned. There’s sure to be an example to suit every style and budget, with a plethora of options available online, on the high street or in your local antique shop. The texture, style, size and colour of a rug can transform a room, and there are some things you should consider before buying one. Firstly, consider what you want the rug to do; draw attention to the main focal point of your living room or become the focal point of a room. Size is also an important consideration; go for a small size to highlight a bijou but exquisite piece of furniture or larger size to pull together your whole interior design scheme. A rich colour, deep texture or ornate pattern is most likely to create a luxurious feel. If your living room is currently, plain, pale and smooth, it will break up the monotony and add some warmth to your interior.            

7. Crystal

Though the cut glass vase and punch bowl might not have the best reputation and have been out of favour for some time, an element of crystal in your living room can help create the luxurious feel you’re seeking. Look a little deeper, and you’ll see that the designs can be  much more cutting edge than you might at first anticipate. From the wow factor of a chandelier to a pair of candlesticks to top your fireplace or a mere door knob to put the finishing touch to your interior design scheme – there is bound to be something to suit you. From a piece of vintage Lalique to a contemporary design by the likes of John Rocha or Jasper Conran, the options available are many and varied.       

8. Window dressing

A crucial factor to consider when creating a luxurious interior design scheme is the treatment of the windows in your living room. Choose a heavy fabric such as a damask or velvet to add to that opulent feel and consider the added extras such as coordinating pelmets and tie backs.

So there you have our eight top tips for creating a luxurious living room, from quality keynote furniture to opulent fabrics, vintage elements and crystal accents. We hope you’ve found it helpful and that you’re well on the way to creating the opulent living room you desire.      

 

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/04/creating-luxurious-living-room.html

6 key resources to have before investing in a property

6 key resources to have before investing in a property

Property investment can be fun and financially rewarding, but also – especially if you are just starting out – daunting. Buying a property for the first time will require the outlay of a significant amount of money that you could find hard to come by. Furthermore, naivety on your part leaves you risking shooting yourself in the shoot. Here are 6 vital resources for helping to prevent major issues arising.

A well-regarded online repository of advice

If you lack knowhow about the property market, then you can take heart that the Internet includes a treasure trove of detailed advice from property investment gurus. However, certain online sites will inevitably be more reliable than others; therefore, we would advise you to stick with a popular and respected property investment blog like Property Investments UK.

Your own knowledge of the market

Whatever trustworthy advice you learn online, you can augment with whatever you know about the particular property market that you are eyeing. The Property Speculator observes: “Many property investors specialise in a particular market because they know it well.” You could benefit from following this route if, for instance, you know the ins and outs of a nearby city with a buoyant population of students. You could then have their needs in mind as you choose property.

Money to spend investing in your chosen property

If you will be a first-time investor, you might need to first have a large pool of monetary savings at hand – even if you will be seeking a mortgage. Many lenders expect investors in your situation to use a lot of their own cash to fund their first buy. Furthermore, once you do have enough cash saved up, you should still meticulously compare different mortgage deals as you seek the best one for you.

Construction materials for use in developing the property

Chances are that, over time and as you see fit, you will progress beyond mere property investment and become a property developer, too. In other words, you could utilise some DIY skills as you add more physical features to an acquired property or give it a thorough refurbishment. For all of this, you will need suitable build materials; thus, remember to factor in the costs of these.

Further advice from a mentor

Even well-known entrepreneurs such as Richard Branson and Karren Brady have recommended mentoring for use in reaching better fulfilment and success. Your own mentors could come in the form of property investment consultants at Flambard Williams. These people can assist you in identifying fresh and promising opportunities for extending your success in investment.

Later, returns from a large portfolio of properties

Once you are amassing a steady income from one property, you could use some of the returns to help fund another property purchase and so grow your revenue and profits even more. However, The Property Speculator warns: “It takes a portfolio of quite a few properties to produce a regular income of sufficient size to live on.” Your savings from just one property could, thus, be meagre.

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/04/resources-investing-property.html

How to make cabinet doors using matched rail and stile router bits

It is not uncommon for doors made from glued or entirely wood to expand, contract and warp at different climatic conditions. Such changes are problematic and can deny homeowners the comfort of having doors that can fully function regardless of the prevailing climatic setting.

Rail and stile doors are considered an ideal solution to the problem of wood movements (warping, expansion, contraction) since they can firmly hold wooden door panel and prevent unnecessary movements that are caused by seasonal weather changes. Rail and stile doors are also incredibly good-looking, and the strength they add to doors make their installation a huge bonus for homes.

Making rail and stile doors is simple as long as you have all the necessary working tools and some “know how” on how to engage in tasks such as fitting the components to have a working door as the outcome. 

Picking the right working tools

The first thing that will be required of you in this woodworking process is to pick the best router bit and stile collection. 2-piece set is highly recommended since it delivers flexibility regardless of the cabinet door you may wish to work on. They also come in different profiles, and you can pick a piece that can perfectly blend with your cabinet door. The fact is that you would also wish for your cabinet door to have durability and that is an aspect that can be determined by the features of the rail and stile router bits you pick. 

Thick micro-grain carbide based cutters are ideal since they enhance longevity while CNC-machined router bits can create anti-kickback geometry that adds a lot to their safety whenever they are used. Router bits with the non-sticking coat are also incredibly simple to clean, and the non-sticking coat also enables the routers to operate without excessive friction. Many rail and stile router bits have a 1/4" shank that improves their cut quality and durability. The bigger shanks prevent the bits from unreasonable vibrations or flexing and also helps in creating tight joints. 

The shanks also have a laser-etched mark that clearly identifies the part to be used for stile and rail cut profiles. You must get such specifications right since any wrong pick can lead to unintended product outcomes. For convenience, you will need a good router table that can make any woodwork process to be managed. That is because some tasks involved may be so uncomfortable to be handled on hand-held routers. Assuming that you have got all the tools and specifications right, your next step will be how to make cabinet doors using matched rail and stile router bits, and the following steps can be of great help.

Procedure 

• Determine the dimensions of your cabinet door and decide on the width of the stiles and rails. Most kitchen doors have 18”x24” and this dimension typically requires 2-1/14” rails and stiles. 

• Plane your door frame to have uniform thickness - Rails and stiles on cabinet door frames always have the same thickness. Any deviation in thickness produces mismatched joints, and that would not be a good thing if you favor “cope and stick” joinery. Be sure that you plane your door parts to a uniform thickness. You can have some stocks as test pieces just to ensure that you get to have stiles that have matching dimensions. 

• Measure your cabinet door with accuracy - Always remember to verify any dimension you get after measuring the width and length sections of your cabinet. The approach will ensure that you avoid errors which can otherwise prevent you from having the much-needed convenience and precision in your work. Here is how you can determine the length of the rail you intend to use: Subtract the width of 2 styles from the door opening width and add the outcome to the length of a rail joinery. 

• You can adjust slot-cutting width if working on doors with plywood or glass panels - some cope-stick bits models are adjustable so that the slot width can vary as the door opens. That feature is helpful when using plywood or glass cabinet doors that have not more than ¼” thickness. Insist on checking the instructions on the router you are using to see if they provide for slot width adjustment. Sometimes, it may be necessary to remove or add washers between slot cutters or consider replacing slot cutters with undersized cutter sets. Insist on having these adjustments before applying routing to any rail and stile joinery. Again, sticking the cutters and coping needs some modification since the required profiles must match. 

• Insist on coping the rails first since this procedure can offer you unimagined convenience. You can use a board to prevent any possible tear after you are done coping the rails, and any splintering can be well taken care of by making cuts in the subsequent tasks. Remember not to create any situation that causes the rails to flip or cause a mismatch in the cope orientations.

• Make a matching joint cutter using a routed workpiece – “cope and stick” joints ever needs to have an exact fit. If you are done with coping the ends of the rails, and your attention is now focused on the sticking cutter, you don’t have to measure to get the right cutter height. Instead, rely on the coped profile to make some judgment on the right height to use. Once you are done with lining up the necessary profiles, be certain to have some tests before resolving to mill the door’s frame parts. 

• If you are raising the door panels, first start by cutting across the grains, then cut along the grains – this procedure is necessary so that you can avoid unnecessary splinter which can induce some minor damages to the beautiful work you may have done. 

• Raise the panels in a progressive manner – panel raising often comes out as a challenging milling operation. To get clean results and also work safely, it is advisable to mill the panels in series, preferably not removing more than 1/16” for every milling series. 

Author Bio:

My name's Danny L. Montgomery. I'm the founder and owner of the blog zukzik.com. I love all things DIY & Home Decor. I hope I will be able to share my experiences with the interested readers

from Home My Heaven: Home Improvement Blog http://www.homemyheaven.co.uk/2017/04/how-to-cabinet-doors.html