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Why You May Want To Hire A Professional Painter Instead Of Taking On The Job Alone

by Trish



We lead extremely busy lives these days and because of this, finding time to do those little projects around the house, such as paint, can prove to be quite difficult. Instead of trying to cram your days to their maximum capacity, why not find someone else who can get the job done for you? This will give you more time to focus on what’s most important in life; such as your family and staying healthy. While DIY jobs can be fun, never feel as though you need to take on everything on your own because there are always plenty of options to choose from. Sometimes spending a little more cash now is more beneficial to you in the long run.


Save Yourself Time

As we touched on above, hiring a professional to do something you may technically be able to do on your own is going to save your household quite a bit of time. It can actually save you money as well, if taking on a job for the very first time. Typically, mistakes are going to happen. At least if you hire a professional, you are going to be able to rest assured knowing they have completed similar jobs hundreds, if not thousands of times before. If you so choose, you don’t even have to be home during the entire paint job. You can enjoy your family, go on vacation or take that much-needed hiking getaway; knowing the entire time you are away that everything is being taken care of effectively and efficiently.

Preparation: Avoid It

Did you know one of the most time consuming aspects of most DIY jobs is the preparation? You need to make sure you have all your proper tools, your safety gear, etc. When you aren’t the one taking the task head on, you don’t have to worry about any of this. An experienced painter will always have everything they need with them. For someone who is new to a particular type of project, organization may be tricky, causing much more time to be wasted.

Keep Your Family Safe

Staying safe is one of the most important things in life. Not only do you want to protect yourself but you want to protect your family as well. By hiring a professional painter to do the job, you are keeping yourself and your family away from the toxic fumes that paint work exposes those in the surrounding areas to. If you are looking for ways to keep the kids out of the house, why not take them to the park or to a friend’s house and let the magic happen while you’re away?

If heights are a fear of yours, as they are with many people around the globe, then you’ll probably be pretty excited to have someone else climb up on your roof if the paint job requires doing so. Even if you aren’t worried about it and have done it many times before in the past, it really isn’t worth the risk. A paid painter is going to have all the right safety equipment to get the job done without putting anyone at risk and since they’ve probably done similar jobs often, they are going to know which precautions to take to keep them the safest as well as the most productive. On a side note, it’s very important to make sure the person or company you hire has documentation to prove they have insurance just to be on the safe side. Even the most experienced of painters can have accidents, so verify coverage and you should be golden.

This guest post is authored by Matthew Jennings. He is one of the finest house painters in Melbourne. When he is not busy working, he likes visiting art galleries and museums to find inspiration for his work. He says highlighting one wall of the room with a dark shade makes it look more stylish.

Filed Under: Home and family, Home Improvement Tagged With: DIY, hire, home, house, painter, prepare, professional, time, Vacation

5 Gardens In Australia To Visit With Your Kids

by Trish

There are few things more relaxing and cheerful than taking a stroll with your family through a beautiful Australian garden on a sunny day. Australia offers a wide variety of gardens to choose from. Let’s take a look at some gardens that are ideal for a family outing:

1. Ballarat Botanical Gardens

Ballarat is generally regarded as one of the best cool climate gardens in Victoria. It springs to life in March during the yearly Ballarat Begonia Weekend. With many activities for the kids, entertainment, workshops and tours, it’s a celebration that you shouldn’t miss. The tradition dates back to 1889, when tuberous begonias were first planted in the garden. This was shortly after their initial discovery in Bolivia and northern Peru. You will also encounter plenty of roses, dahlias, camellias and azaleas.

2. The Ian Potter Foundation Children’s Garden

Located at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne, this is a wonderful place to begin teaching your kids about plants. The garden is loaded with interactive places for children to explore and play. The Bamboo Forest is an area that is totally defined by bamboo. The qualities of texture, sound and light all change here. The Wetland Area is a natural pond that is full of life. Kids can use microscopes, aquaspheres, nets and a library to learn about plants and insects.

3. Castlemaine Botanical Gardens

Journey around this 19th Century garden and take a look at the original features including Lake Joanna, the rows of oak and elm trees and the carriage drive. The gardens have recently been subject to a massive refurbishment that cost several million dollars. Improvements have been made to the picnic area, parking area, amenities and the garden’s lake. In addition to this, a new playground has also been installed. The gardens date back to 1860, when 25 hectares next to Barker’s Creek were allotted for the botanic gardens. Many exotic trees can be found here, many of which have been registered with the National Trust. In 1867, the Duke of Edinburgh planted an English Oak here. The tree is still very much alive all these years later. As you might imagine, it is quite massive at this point.

4. Morwell Centenary Rose Garden

Located in Morwell, Victoria, the Latrobe Council and a group of volunteers have created three beautiful acres of roses that reside in a park setting. Roses climb on walls and create splashes of color, while the paths below go through beds of Austin, Floribunda and Hybrid Tea roses. Roses that were bred in New Zealand reside at the southern end.

5. Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens

These gardens were created in 1985 with the goal of promoting the community’s appreciation and awareness of the Geelong Botanic Gardens. In addition, they aim to support the Gardens as a place for recreation, conservation, horticulture, scientific research and education. Volunteer guides give tours for groups and individuals. The Friends Teahouse is available for light refreshments during your visit.

Stacey is a young stay at home mother who enjoys spending time in the outdoors with her 3 young children. She recently employed the services of Premium Pools & Gardens www.premiumpg.com.au to enhance her own backyard in the hope that her children will one day inherit her passion for gardening.

Filed Under: Gardening, Home and family, The yard Tagged With: activities, australia, balarat botanical gardens, Castlemaine Botanical Gardens, dahlias, flowers, Friends of Geelong Botanic Gardens, gardens, ian potter foundation childrens garden, kids, Morwell Centenary Rose Garden, plants, roses, shrubs, tour, trees, visit, workshop

Why Do I Need An Arborist Report?

by Trish

If you have trees on your property, then you may have occasion to need an arborist’s report. In order to understand why you would need such a report, it is first necessary to understand what an arborist does.

What is an arborist?

An arborist is a professional who is concerned with the health and safety of individual trees, shrubs, vines and other perennial woody plants. An arborist doesn’t manage forests (forestry) or harvest trees (logging). A Certified Arborist is one who has achieved certification with the International Society of Arboriculture by passing exams and then participating in yearly continuing education courses.

What is an Arborist Report?

An arborist report can only be written by a Certified Arborist. The details of the report will vary depending on the requirements of your situation but basically it is an analysis of the health and condition of a tree and the site where it is growing. Issues addressed in these reports can include the presence or absence of disease, the safety of the structure of the tree and recommendations regarding pruning or removal of the tree.

Why do I need an arborist report?

Arborist reports are most commonly used when a homeowner is seeking a permit to prune or remove a tree on their property which is owned by the municipality or if the landscaping is governed by a homeowner’s association. An arborist’s report will determine if a tree is a hazard and needs to be removed because it is diseased or dead. In addition to removal, the report could recommend suitable replacement trees if the original tree was not appropriate to the site or if conditions in the landscape have changed significantly since the tree in question was planted. The report could recommend pruning the tree which would remove limbs that are a danger to buildings or people as well as contribute to the overall health of the tree.

If a tree on your property appears to be ailing, an arborist report can determine what is wrong, for instance insect infestation, disease or improper pruning, and recommend a course of action to bring the tree back to health.

You could also use an arborist report to value a tree for insurance purposes or if you are making a legal claim for damages due to vandalism. An arborist determines the value of a tree by taking into consideration the species of tree, the size of the tree, the condition of the tree and the location of the tree.

Arborist reports are used in personal injury lawsuits, insurance claims, property purchase and development, and in disputes between owners of adjacent properties.

Arborists at Work 2

Attached Images:
  •  License: Creative Commons image source

Peter Wendt enjoys taking care of his yard when he’s not writing or researching his next project. For those seeking more information about landscaping, Wendt suggests his readers click here.

Filed Under: Home Improvement, Landscaping, The yard Tagged With: arborist, arborist report, condition, disease, forest, growth, hazard, issues, Property, pruning, shrub, tree, tree health, vine, woody plant

Bring The Beach Inside With A Beach-Themed Bedroom

by Trish

You love everything about the beach from the crashing waves to the feel of sand underneath your bare feet. While you wish you could live on the beach, you will eventually have to go back home to your own boring bedroom for the night.

You don’t have to be separated from the beach you love. Bring it inside your own home by creating a beach-themed bedroom. Beach themes can be placed in all types of bedrooms whether they are big or small or have hardwood flooring. With just a bit of imagination, you can go to sleep and wake up on the beach every day.

Paint Scheme

Tackle those boring walls by incorporating the colors of the beach. Different shades of tans and blues work great.

You can either paint the entire wall a solid color, divide the wall by painting the top half blue to represent the ocean and the bottom half tan to represent sand, paint the walls tan and the ceiling blue, or color wash the walls in different shades of blues as it can look like waves. You can stencil in white seashells for more of a beach feel.

Furniture And Flooring

The furniture can be a difficult to place into a beach-theme if you aren’t looking to spend a lot of money replacing your old furniture. You can go with white furniture in the way of beach chairs and tables. If you aren’t keen to having that much white in your room, go with light wood color tones.

As for the floor, hardwood flooring with an area rug of rattan material or bamboo can give the perfect beach appearance to your room. It will also work fine if you have regular carpeting.

Beach Accessories

Beach accessories can come in all shapes and sizes for decorations in your room. Hang paintings of the ocean or other beach themes on the walls. Scatter seashells on dressers, tables and shelves. Purchase beach-themed lamps, bedding and knickknacks to complete the overall beach look.

Sleep In Paradise in Your Beach-Themed Bedroom

Devote time and creativity into your beach design to have a warm and comforting feeling in your bedroom. You’ll never be too far from the beach even in the winter time when you decorate your room with these beach ideas. It doesn’t have to take a lot of money or time to have the perfect bedroom of your dreams.

Amy Nelson is a mother, avid home decorator and author. Mrs. Nelson has written several informative publications on family life, interior decorating, and simple home improvement tips.

Filed Under: Home Decor, Home Improvement, Interior Design Tagged With: accessories, beach, beach theme, bedroom, carpeting, colors, flooring, Furniture, hardwood flooring, home, imagination, paint scheme, sand, waves

Three Easy Steps To Prepare Your Backyard For The Warm Summer Months

by Trish

Pool parties, barbeques, and sunbathing… Spring actually isn’t as far off as it seems. It’s only a few months away! With Spring approaching shortly, it may be time to start thinking about some Spring-cleaning so that your backyard is ready to go by the time summer rolls around. Get your yard ready for summer by following a few simple steps such as cleaning it up and setting up a patio space… you may even want to consider a home extension if you live in a sunny area in order to beat the heat (and sunburn!) By following the steps below, you can properly prepare your home for the upcoming warm months and make the most out of your backyard this summer.

1.       Clean up

Chances are that your yard is a bit of a mess if you haven’t been keeping up with it throughout the winter. Enlist some helpers (i.e. family members) to help get the yard back in shape. This means picking up any fallen branches, cutting down dead trees, trimming bushes, weed whacking, and raking up any dead leaves that have collected over the past few months.

2.       Set up

It’s time to bring out the old patio furniture out of storage and uncover and fill up the pool. Set up a nice sitting area, as well as a lounge area so you can easily host a barbeque or get-together without having to worry about having enough seats. Place mosquito-repelling candles around as well as some extra lighting so your yard will be useful at nighttime as well – solar powered lanterns will do the trick.

3.       Improve

Think about what you can do to improve your backyard’s appearance, as well as it’s worth. Whether you add a garden with seasonal flowers or a miniature waterfall, your backyard’s aesthetic is just important as your home’s interior. Leave it to a landscaper to plan out your backyard and find plants that work best in your location’s climate and weather conditions. If you live in a primarily sunny area, you may want to consider adding on a home extension to provide shade to you and your guests.

There are a variety of things you can do to improve your yard and perfect it before the summer season arrives. However, the first step is cleaning up your existing yard, setting up with the tools and materials you already have, and then thinking about what you can improve on.

Attached Images:
  •  License: Image author owned

Jillian Johnson is a professional content marketing writer and blogger with a particular interest in writing about home and garden. To read more writing by Jillian, follow her @MissWritey.

Filed Under: The yard Tagged With: backyard, barbeque, branches, clean up, easy steps, Furniture, garden, Landscaping, leaves, lights, party, patio, prepare, set up, solar lights, summer, tidy yard, warm, weeds

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