Brian's House Building Blog

  • The Curb Appeal of Your Home Starts with an Appealing Roofing System

    27 February 2018

    When it comes to home improvement, most people focus on landscaping, repainting the home, and even installing a new kerb. Homeowners rarely think about the roof and the role it plays in improving the curb appeal of the property. The truth is, the roof is the largest exterior structure, and it is among the first things that people see as they approach your home. Improving the curb appeal of your roof can help in sprucing up the house and giving it a fresh, new look.

  • Creating a sensational kitchen splashback for your home

    8 January 2018

    The splashback is the centrepiece of your kitchen, and the first thing most people notice when walking into the room. When designing your splashback, take your time to get it right. Your choice of colours, materials and styles will dictate the look and feel of your space. The splashback began as a utilitarian stretch of tile designed to protect the stretch of wall behind your sink and hob from splashes, but trends in interior design have elevated this humble kitchen essential to the focal point of the room.

  • Commercial Concreting Options for Your Indoor Market

    5 December 2017

    Farmers markets are becoming increasingly popular as more people move to sustainable and natural living. Many markets are finding that having an indoor option is best and gives more versatile shopping options including comfortable off season shopping and extended hours shopping options. If you are thinking about creating an indoor market option for your organic or farmers market business, here are some ways that commercial concreting can help. Stained Concrete

  • Skylight Windows: Three Crucial Installation Guidelines for Optimal Performance

    29 November 2017

    If you are interested in improving the flow of natural light in your home, you should think about installing skylight windows. These units will ensure that you have sufficient sunlight while filtering out harmful radiation. Other benefits of these structures include ventilation, improved energy efficiency and the addition of home value. However, it is essential to remember that the advantages gained through skylights will depend on the quality of installation. If the unit is poorly placed, you will experience unexpected leakages and poor performance.

  • Above and Beyond: Why You Can — and Should — Definitely Trust a Land Surveyor

    25 October 2017

    If you're considering making a land purchase anytime soon, then you'll know exactly how sizeable such an investment can be. If you're putting that amount of money into something, you should be absolutely certain that it's the right thing to do. When buying land, one way to confirm this is to utilise the services of a land surveyor. They can tell you everything you need to know about your upcoming purchase, including any potential problem areas that you should know about.

  • 5 Features to Add to Your Custom Entertainment Centre

    17 May 2017

    If you want to have a residential carpenter create a built-in entertainment centre for your home, there are all kinds of designs you can choose from. Ideally, you should work with the carpenter to create a design that's right for the style of your interior and your family's lifestyle. Here's some features you may want to integrate. 1. Gas Fireplace With a built in entertainment centre, the TV usually acts as the centrepiece, but that's certainly not the only option.

  • 6 Ways Construction, Land and Property Surveys Are Essential If You Are Building a Shed on Your Land

    17 May 2017

    If you are planning to build a shed or workshop on your property, you may need to hire a professional to do a construction survey before you start. Here's why you need one, and a look at why you actually may need more than one survey before the process is complete. 1. Figuring Out Boundaries First and foremost, a property survey can help to ensure that you know where the property lines are and that you put the shed within your property.

  • Improve the Stormwater Drainage in Your Vegetable Garden

    21 April 2017

    When you have a vegetable garden, it needs watering, but if it gets too much water, the plants may become waterlogged and die. If a lot of stormwater tends to pool in your garden, you should take steps to improve the drainage. Depending on your situation, there are several things you can do. 1. Add Hummus to the Soil In some cases, stormwater may be sitting on your vegetable garden because the soil isn't absorbing the water.

  • Tips for Polishing Concrete With a Floor Grinder

    21 April 2017

    If you have concrete floors that have been looking a bit dull, it might be time to polish them. Concrete grinders allow you to remove the top layer of the concrete slab in order to be smoothed and polished. Here are some tips for polishing your concrete floor with the help of a concrete grinder. Use Sand for Abrasion Concrete grinders work great on their own to polish your concrete floor, but if it needs a little more help removing the top layer and polishing it smooth, you may want to add a little more abrasion in the form of sand.

  • How to Encourage More Walking in Your Community

    21 April 2017

    To foster a healthy community, you may want to work with a town planner to create more opportunities for exercise for your citizens. In particular, there are key things you may want to do to encourage more walking. Take a look at these ideas. 1. Add More Walking and Biking Paths People in your community will tend to walk more if they have access to places to walk. Consider working with a town planner to figure out the best places to put trails.