Homes & Gardens

Spring Plumbing Checks: Why March is Critical for Homeowners

March arrives, and most homeowners think about gardens. They plan which flowers to plant. They check whether the lawn survived winter. They rarely think about what winter does to their plumbing system.

That's a mistake.

Winter stresses pipes. Cold temperatures, freeze-thaw cycles, and shifting ground place enormous strain on the systems carrying water through your home. Spring is when these stresses reveal themselves. A pipe that survived January might fail in March. A joint that held all winter might suddenly leak. Hidden damage becomes visible.

The question...

Make Your Workspace More Productive

Authored by Claire Small
Posted: Fri, 05/08/2020 - 10:03am

Working from home has been a popular trend in recent years but millions of people are now embracing home office environments. As companies are forced to modify their operations amid lockdown restrictions, millions of people are setting up makeshift workspaces in their kitchens, lounges and spare bedrooms.

Although this new way of working happened rather rapidly, it seems likely it will continue for a significant period of time. With no exit strategy yet announced, some form of lockdown seems inevitable for the foreseeable future.

If you’re working from home, it’s...

Crucial tips to read before commencing a home renovation project

Authored by David Banks
Posted: Fri, 05/08/2020 - 9:08am

Remodeling your house comes with a myriad of benefits. These can range from increasing the home resale value, to giving it a more modern look.

The house renovation process is a pretty, exciting adventure. However, this thrill can quickly die out if you face unexpected issues like a stretched budget or problems with your contractor.

Proper preparedness is critical before you embark on this renovation journey. This helps mitigate or avoid most of the unanticipated issues. If you read beforehand the vital warning signals and take charge, the project will be a great success...

Exeter kitchen retailer tackles global pandemic to keep trading

Authored by Claire Small
Posted: Thu, 05/07/2020 - 11:59am

Despite such uncertain times having a major impact on the high street, an Exeter kitchen retailer is harnessing the latest technology to overcome the challenges posed by a global pandemic.

The Kutchenhaus store is providing virtual appointments and using its new online 3D planning and design tool to create kitchens remotely for local customers until COVID-19 government restrictions are lifted.

Nigel & Samantha Dilley co-owners of the store, are introducing new ways for its customers to view, design and order its contemporary ranges produced by parent company, Nobilia...

Looking after your property during Coronavirus

During the lockdown, blocked drains are one of the most common potential problems, according to the property maintenance experts at Aspect.co.uk.

You may also face issues with your plumbing and heating system as a result of increased use.

Thankfully, you can fix some of these issues yourself. Others, however, will need investigation by a local qualified plumbing or heating engineer.

How to Fix the Most Common DIY Problems During the Lockdown

Saving Water. If you’re a key worker, you’re likely to use more water than usual due to the increased use in...

Bathroom Refurbishments: A Guide to Success

With the amount of free time on your hands at this time, it is understandable how one can look for things to keep their idle minds busy. How many times have you tried to rearrange your living room? How many pieces of clothing have you thrown into the “doesn’t-fit-me” pile? Some even go to great lengths of redecorating a room or a part of the house, for instance, bathroom refurbishment . Whether you plan on giving your bathroom a new color motif or going to the extremes of ripping out your tiles and replacing them with new ones, redecorating requires a well-thought-of game plan.

1...

Mortgages for bankrupts - How to get one

Authored by Sam Richards
Posted: Thu, 04/30/2020 - 10:38am

It used to be that mortgages for bankrupts were just for the wealthy. Now it's not so much the case. It is possible to get a mortgage for bad credit with the right mortgage broker or loan officer.

There are federal FHA and VA loans available to people with less than perfect credit. These lenders do not approve mortgages for bankrupts. They do not have the resources for it. The federal agencies that offer these loans are not willing to take on the risk of approving mortgages for bankrupts, as they are all but guaranteeing the borrower will default.

However, FHA and VA...

Residents thanked for managing their waste under difficult circumstances

Authored by News Desk
Posted: Wed, 04/29/2020 - 11:10am

Households across Devon are being thanked for their ongoing support and efforts to keep on top of waste and recycling during the coronavirus pandemic.

Collection crews across Devon say they have been delighted with the level of public support shown to them in recent weeks, including pictures and thank you notes left on bins and outbreaks of spontaneous doorstep applause from appreciative residents.

Devon County Council for its part says it is looking to reopen Household Waste Recycling Centres as soon as it is safe to do so and Government guidance permits.

Until...

New customers allowed to join garden waste scheme

People in Exeter can sign up once again for the City Council’s Garden Waste Collection Scheme.

The Council had stopped new customers signing up for the scheme at the beginning of the Coronavirus outbreak. However it has now lifted the suspension and is taking on new customers.

Gardeners can choose either a 140 litre brown bin for £37.15 a year or a 240 litre bin for £48.80. Alternatively a bundle of five biodegradable sacks costs £11.

Things that can be put in the bin are:

  • flowers and plants
  • grass cuttings
  • leaves and bark
  • ...

Devonshire Homes set to reopen its construction sites in May

Local independent house builder Devonshire Homes has announced that it is planning a controlled reopening of its construction sites from Monday 4th May 2020.

The announcement comes after Devonshire Homes closed its sites, Marketing Suites and show homes on 27th March in light of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The house builder, which currently has active construction sites in Crediton, Bovey Tracey, and St. Austell, has made the decision to start a phased process of reopening its sites in accordance with new site operating protocol guidance developed to be compliant with the...

Reasons why you should think of loft conversions this year

With the world’s economy still in a slump, relocating to bigger houses has taken a back seat in a majority of people. With the declining state of the real estate business, many homeowners have decided not to sell their homes until the current economic crisis improves.

Even though moving to a bigger house is not a viable option for many, there are home improvement tips that could increase your family’s living space. One such home improvement strategy is loft conversions.

In the United States alone, loft conversions are one of the most sought-after home improvement ideas....

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