Understanding Your Financial Situation Before you even think about investing, you need a clear picture…
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3 mins read
Water Butts For Septic Tanks Are Affordable and Easy to Find
Water butts for Septic Tanks are containers used as storage for rain harvesting. It is 200 liters in capacity and made of lightweight material. It can be carried easily anywhere you would want to place it. Most often it is situated at the back of the house near the garden where stored rain from the butts is used for gardening. Instead of using hose getting water from the main water line water butts are useful source of watering the garden. You can install one or more containers connected together by storage connector available at the hardware store. Connecting five 200 liters water butts is much cheaper than building 1000 liters storage tank capacity.
Water storage are useful especially in arid areas for storing rainwater and used for domestic purposes. Rainwater from water containers can be used for washing the clothes, watering the plants, flushing the toilet, cleaning the cars and other household use. Butts must be covered to prevent it from breeding ground for larvae since any clean water is what mosquitoes prefer for their breeding grounds and also to prevent it from being contaminated. Water are usually installed above the ground and the material is usually opaque to prevent sunlight exposure thus decreasing the bloom of algae.
Butts have been around for some time. They are durable and dependable. Installation of butts in other areas is mandatory especially if there is a community wide program for conserving water. Since it is affordable and simple to install any household can easily have it. They position the butts in houses’ downpipes for collection of rainwater. Water butts are provided with taps and they will give you direct access to all the rainwater you harvested. The complete kits for water butts include water butts itself, stand for water butts and rain diverters. These are all easy to fit and once the butts are connected to your downpipes they are ready to use and to collect rainwater right away.
Water storage is really essential for small to medium scale storage for rainwater harvesting. They are compact and will not require a large space. They are also durable since water containers are made of high grade quality materials and can be used for long life. This is a good remedy if you have a small patio and you need to save on water. Recycling water for future use is a great solution when there is shortage of water and butts is the simple obvious answer. Water butts are hard wearing and resilient that is why it is most desirable for storage of rainwater.
Water butts for Septic Tanks are a good way to save money. People nowadays are aware of the importance of saving and you can start it by saving water by means of butts. This is very practical approach and also time and energy efficient since you will only need to place the water butts from the source of your rainwater. This is also a very good solution in preparing especially if …
2 mins read
How To Choose A Wheelchair Accessible House Plan
Nowadays it is very easy to get handicapped accessible house plans online from different architects and home designer websites. However, with so many options available, it is important to know how to choose the ideal house plan to meet all your needs, both physically and financially.
Firstly, the wheelchair accessible home plans should be designed by professional and experienced architects preferably ones trained in universal home design. Get professionally designed home plans for the sake of safety and value for money.
Secondly, get all the little details about the house plan’s accessible design. Look at how the home is designed from the front porch space to the master bedroom features. If possible, view the house design in 3 dimension, either as a physical model or CAD software. A 3D view will enable you to have a better sense of how the home will look like when complete, along with how the design is adapted to the handicapped or elderly individual.
Thirdly, do find out from the designer whether it is possible to customize the default handicapped accessible house plans. Remember that the home is designed with a general idea of a handicapped individual’s needs, but only the person in need of the accessible design knows exactly what they require. Maybe the ramps are curved and you prefer them straight, or the placement of the laundry area needs to be changed. Suit the home design for the highest efficiency and convenience to the residents, not simply stick with the given house plan as it is.
Fourthly, get as many copies of the home plans as possible. The standard practice is to get about five to eight sets of the desired home plan: A copy for the home owner, the contractor, the mortgage lender, the local building department, and the sub-contractors. Get these important documents in different formats, including PDF files for soft copies. You should also get a list of the building materials required for the plan from the architect since it will give you a good idea of the cost of building the home.
Keep in mind that once you purchase a home plan, along with its blueprints, you will not be able to return it. Copies of blueprints can be made quite easily, so to avoid losses, designers and architects do not allow returns for any dissatisfied customers. This means that you have to be absolutely sure about your choice of wheelchair accessible home plans before purchasing.
Do your research and learn all you can about universal home design for handicapped or elderly individuals. Use these tips to choose the best wheelchair accessible plan with the best features and best value for your investment.…
2 mins read
The Importance of Erosion Control in Mitigating Environmental Damage
One of the greatest pollutants affecting public lands and places is sediment. Although most people are unfamiliar with the ways sediment harms bodies of water and recreational spaces, sediment can have a big impact on the fertility of the soil, bioactivity in lakes and streams, and structural integrity of infrastructure. Sediment is one of the products of erosion. If you are considering erosion control Southern California here are some things to consider.
Erosion: What It Is and How It Works
Erosion is the process by which different environmental conditions— water, wind, and ice—removes soil, rock, or other material from one location to another. While erosion is a natural environmental process, the rate at which areas experience erosion can be greatly impacted by human activity. Human processes that exploit lands such as, deforestation and agriculture can accelerate the rate of erosion in a given area.
Erosion Control and Why It’s Important
Erosion control is the practice of preventing or controlling the effects of erosion across various industries. In areas that have a concentrated amount of agriculture or land development, control measures are vital in diminishing the detrimental effects of erosion. Proper erosion control techniques can help mitigate the runoff, soil loss, and pollution that can occur from a high erosion rate. Some erosion control measures include:
- Soil stabilization
- Hydroseeding
- Cellular confinement systems
- Reforestation
Erosion is a natural process in which different environmental forces displace particles of the Earth’s crust from one location to another. Water, wind, and many other elements cause erosion to occur naturally; however, humans can have a tremendous impact on the rate of erosion by exploiting various lands. Processes that society relies on for different products, such as agriculture and logging can accelerate the rate of erosion to a harmful level. In order to mitigate the effects of human-caused erosion, it is important to practice appropriate erosion control techniques.…
2 mins read
Home Warranty Plans For Home Sellers
The uncertainty of purchasing a home that isn’t new can be a bit unsettling. Is everything working? Will it all keep working? Even with a thorough home inspection, you don’t know how long the appliances or systems will last. More and more home sellers are turning to home warranty plans to persuade buyers to buy, and this is why:
To Avoid Disputes
Once in a while, after the sale of a home from seller to buyer, something will break soon after. This may or may not be the fault of the seller, but often times, the buyer assumes it is. It then turns into a dispute over who has to pay for it. Purchasing a warranty plan helps avoid this because the plan covers the costs of most repairs and replacements.
To Reassure Buyers
Buyers don’t know if they can trust the seller. They don’t know the history of the home or what’s inside it. Home inspections can help with this, but there’s still the uncertainty of how long everything is going to last and if the buyer will be able to afford the cost of maintenance for the home-which can be expensive. Warranty plans can resolve all of this and give the buyer peace of mind, knowing they’re covered in the event of maintenance problems.
To Protect the Seller
It’s not too common, but sometimes things break during the listing and escrow period. Then what? The seller then has unexpected and unwanted extra costs-on top of the costs of selling a home. It’s an unnecessary stress that can easily be avoided by getting a warranty plan. Do yourself a favor.
To Give Buyers Confidence in Buying a Previously Owned Home
When buying a new home, everything is new, and buyers aren’t so worried about breakdowns and maintenance. This is an extra appeal for new homes. But what about homes that aren’t new? For a seller with a previously owned home, you want to give buyers every added confidence you can give them that your home is the right home for them. Home warranty plans are the way to do that. That way, buyers can trust that even if something does break, it will be okay. Home warranty plans are a great option for sellers and buyers.…
3 mins read
Wastewater and Sewage Treatment – For Residential Properties
Most of us flush the toilet without a second thought, but what happens to the wastewater if the property’s not connected to mains drainage?
There are several options available to homeowners:
Cesspits and cesspools
A cesspit or cesspool is simply a holding tank for receiving and storing wastewater from a property. The wastewater enters the cesspit where it remains until it is emptied by a vacuum tanker. As the cesspit merely holds the wastewater rather than treating it, the tanks tend to fill quite quickly resulting in the need for frequent emptying which can be costly.
Cesspits are usually only used as a temporary measure until the property is connected to mains drainage or because the Environment Agency doesn’t allow the property to discharge. Cesspits are typically viewed as the least desirable wastewater treatment system due to a number of unfavourable factors. As the cesspit receives all the waste from a property they have to be large enough to cope with this; the sizing criteria is based on a loading of 180 litres per person per day and must have the capacity to hold 45 days’ worth of effluent which inevitably leads to a large tank.
Septic Tanks
Septic tank systems store and minimally treat sewage and usually consist of a storage tank with two or three chambers to separate the solid and liquid waste. The chambers within the septic tank hold the sewage solids long enough to allow the solids to form sludge at the bottom of the tank and are designed to retain any floating matter.
The sludge is partially broken down through anaerobic digestion and the remaining liquid passes through the outlet to a soakaway drainage system. A soakaway system disperses this partially treated liquid (known as effluent) into a drainage trench where the pathogens, nutrients and organic material are dispersed into the gravel and are removed or neutralized as the liquid moves through into the soil.
The remaining sludge in the septic tank needs to be emptied regularly; the frequency of septic tank pumping depends on the amount of waste entering the septic tank and its size.
Sewage Treatment Plants
A sewage treatment plant is by far the best method of wastewater treatment. In a sewage treatment system, the wastewater enters the plant where it is treated, producing final effluent that is of a high enough standard, as set by the Royal Commission, to be discharged to a watercourse or groundwater.
Most home sewage treatment systems comprise a primary settlement chamber, biological zone and final clarification. Depending on which make and model you choose, these components could be in separate units, or enclosed in one.
Some systems have a primary settlement chamber where the raw solids separate from the liquor; the solids need to be periodically taken away by a tanker (tankered) and the liquor is then biologically treated. Other systems don’t have a separate treatment chamber, and the solids are continuously mixed in an aeration chamber with bacteria and oxygen to allow aerobic organisms to …
2 mins read
Consider These Three Timeless Ways To Make Your Money Work for You
Most people have some motivation to succeed financially and ensure they have plenty of money to last the rest of their lives or beyond in the form of inheritances. Of course, it seems that there are countless recommended options in achieving this goal. For that reason, individuals often find the process convoluted and needlessly complex. Instead of becoming lost in the noise by those attempting to sell you on the latest fads or gimmicks, it is probably best to start with the basics. If you or someone you know is looking into ways to maximize their income and savings, keep the following guidelines in mind.
Research Real Estate
One of the oldest and most reliable places to put money is in property. Not only is it useful in the meantime, it often increases in value over time given the right circumstances. Anyone hoping to pursue this opportunity should seek out real estate investment companies Clifton Springs NY, or a professional in any community across the U.S.
Scour Stock Tips
Another area ripe for potential profit is Wall Street. Of course, there is far more risk involved in this type of investment. Make sure any exploration in this realm comes with expert advice and plenty of diversification to absorb an unexpected blow to the stock market.
Visualize Valuable Property
In addition to major investments like land or buildings, smaller items of value can also bring about a lot of financial security. For many people, this coincides with an existing hobby or passion. Collecting watches, artwork, or baseball cards are a few common ways individuals keep and enjoy what they love while saving for the future.
For anyone preparing to enjoy a lengthy retirement, it is important to make sure every dollar is working toward that goal. The guidelines above will help making those choices a little easier.…
3 mins read
Define Your Style – Home Design Ideas
Leonardo Da Vinci once said, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication” and when it comes to interior design this can often by the best route to take if you don’t trust your own design instincts. There is a danger however, that your house will blend into every other Magnolia drenched, carbon copy home that we see cloned on every street in Britain today. Why do we practice such safe design? Is it because we suffer from a lack of imagination, or are home owners up and down the land just not brave enough to experiment? Maybe in this difficult economic climate we cannot risk straying from that safe colour palette of cream and white?
I say, why create a ‘blank canvas’ (just in case you move home), for someone else to put his or her stamp on. Look for inspiration everywhere and don’t fear your own style. There are several ways in which you can experiment without breaking the bank and below are a few ideas and tips, which could inspire you to create your own unique groove. Firstly, do a little research. Websites such as housetohome have a fantastic gallery of pictures and suppliers that can inspire you and are less likely to be found in the house next door.
Create a mood board. Collect images, colour swabs and fabric samples in order to focus your ideas and inspire you. This way you will be able to see which colours and styles go together and it will also help you commit to only buying what you need. Steer clear of the plain and create simple elegance by choosing a simple colour palette but also experimenting with different textures of paint and fabrics. B&Q have a paint colour mixing service, which can match any of your favourite items.
Add a splash of colour by adding cushions and throws or curtains. Cushions, and more surprisingly curtains, are easy to make if you have a bit of time on your hands and you can get quality designer fabrics at greatly reduced prices online. Stores such as sell designer fabrics at £10 a meter instead of the recommended retail price of £30 to £100 a meter. If you don’t fancy making curtains yourself, Digby & Willoughby can get these made up for you. Alternatively breathe life into a favourite chair with new upholstery with Fabrics from Digby & Willoughby.
Accessorise with one or two unique pieces such as a beautiful free standing mirror or a piece of artwork. To save some pennies you could visit auction houses such as lotsroad or criterionauctions. I recently found a fantastic seascape oil painting in a charity shop and a beautiful art deco bedroom suite on so keep your eyes peeled. Love the traditional? Experiment with mixing the traditional with the new to avoid being old fashioned. Choose classic wallpapers with a funky twist from companies such as Cole & Sons and Zoffany to create a feature wall. Visit reclamation yards such as wellsreclaimation or sites such as …
3 mins read
How to Determine the Most Efficient Design For Your Home
Design efficiency is often overlooked and not discussed very often by buyers and builders alike. Over years of home design and building I have had to review countless house designs in order to economise the building to achieve a target budget. There are a few simple rules when going through this review which I have outlined below.
Economise wasted space
This is the most simple step for someone with a high level of spatial awareness. A quick overview of a floor plan will highlight areas that are larger than required or excessive. Examples may be significant lengths of passageways, odd sized areas where rooms don’t connect or flow properly or simply oversized rooms. Last year a client came to me and showed me a house plan he had designed through a so called architect that had a master bedroom 8.5m x 3.0m and the client didn’t identify the room as being odd until I pointed it out. If you’re familiar with viewing architectural plans this process is quite simple, however for most home buyers it’s very difficult to visualise space just by looking at a scaled drawing. A simpler way that I recommend to buyers is to take a blank piece of paper and cut out scaled sized furniture that they have in their current home, then position it on the home design plans where they think it will go. This will then help them to assess proportions of room sizes in relation to their furniture.
Remove excess engineering costs
When designing and building two storey homes the main factor in price efficiency is with engineering costs. Large spans of open space on the ground floor could cause the engineer to increase the depth of the suspended slab from 172mm to 257mm, which adds significant costs. Keeping enough structural walls beneath the slab in key positions will remove the need for this cost and can still mean you have a fantastic open space.
Minimising suspended slab extensions is also critical, something that an experienced architect or house designer will do automatically, but often overlooked by novice designers. This poor design feature will make a house have a concrete slab where it is underutilised, and hidden in the roof space which just means it’s a very expensive ceiling.
Reducing the need for structural columns is also a factor. Since the supply and installation of a structural column can cost $400-$500 each you want to reduce the number used in a house design. Clever use of internal walls can easily save $3,000 – again a cost that will never be seen once the home is completed.
This step by step analysis was performed recently on a cheap two storey home design that highlights changes made to the elevation and style of the home saved significant building costs.…
3 mins read
The 4 Most Common Septic System Problems
Septic systems are designed to process human waste and decompose it anaerobically over time. Most of the time they function perfectly, but much like any system with some amount of complexity, they are prone to some problems. Here we discuss the common septic systems problems.
Functioning Septic Systems
Septic systems break human and organic waste down into their constituent parts. The bacterial decomposition results in the formation of solids, liquids and gases. The solid part of it settles to the bottom of the tank, where it remains until it is removed by a septic tank pumper (which should be every 1 to 3 years). The gases and liquids are regularly released from the tank vents and pipes.
Almost every household has used their septic system as a dumping ground for non-organic waste. From plastic objects to tampons, people flush a wide variety of objects down the toilet, which the septic process was never designed to handle. These objects, if they do not block the pipes, make it to the septic tank and just sit there taking up space. These objects are non-biodegradable the bacteria cannot decompose them and they can only be removed by pumping the tank out.
Four of the most common problems with septic tanks are as follows:
Excess water being sent to the septic tank. Excess water is never good for a septic tank because it makes the solids overflow through the vents and pipes, which then blocks them. The blockage can completely stop the system from working and cause a backup into your house.
Sending paint thinners and solvents into the septic tank. These are toxic substances which are not good for the soil of the system, where they will finally find home because they are non-biodegradable too.
Using too many household detergents. These detergents contain phosphates, which are helpful in algae growth. Algae can block pipes and then make the septic tank overflow.
Flushing non-biodegradable products down the toilet (mentioned earlier). Non-biodegradable substances need to be regularly pumped out of the tank just because bacteria cannot decompose them.
How to solve common septic system problems:
Use a lesser amount of water than you do normally to solve the problem the excess water problem. There are various solutions to easily reduce water consumption. You can find some examples at your local hardware store.
Do not dispose of non-biodegradable waste into the septic system. At all. Ever.
Do not use the common detergents; instead use liquid soaps and gel soaps which do not contain phosphates.
Do not dispose of toxic substances like paint thinners and solvents into the septic system.
Finally, have your septic system pumped every few years. One to three years is the duration advised by the experts as an acceptable amount of time between pumpings.…
2 mins read
3 Great Ways to Enhance Your Home’s Exterior
Is the appearance of your home making you feel a little self-conscious? Luckily, there are several home improvement options to make your home become the best on the block. Here are three great ways to enhance the exterior of your home and boost your curb appeal!
1. Build a Front Porch
If your front porch is nothing more than a concrete stoop and a front door, you’ll want to build your own porch to make your home appear more inviting. Start by installing covering such as a pergola or awning. Mount outdoor lighting next to your front door to light the way for guests as they arrive. Finally, add finishing touches like new house address numbers or even some potted plants to make your porch appear more welcoming for guests.
2. Update Exterior Surfaces
Is your home’s exterior cladding dragging down your curb appeal? Improve these exterior surfaces by applying new siding or stucco. Choose professional stucco installation Columbus OH to transform your home’s exterior and give it a fresh, new look! Alternatively, you could install new surface cladding on strategic areas of the house. Manufactured stone veneer can add texture to your home and is ideal for application around the garage or around your front door.
3. Upgrade the Garage Door
If a completely new door doesn’t fit with your budget, there are easy ways to give your old door a makeover. If you have a wood door, you could either use a fresh gel stain or a coat of paint, followed by an appropriate sealant. For metal doors, consider modernizing the appearance by applying a new custom-printed vinyl wrap.
If you make the right home improvements, you can easily boost your home’s curb appeal. By following these tips, your home will soon become the envy of the entire neighborhood!…