Search This Blog

Sunday 23 December 2012

How to Install French Doors

installing french doors in your kit homeFrench doors are absolutely beautiful when installed in a kit home and it should come as no surprise that more people are choosing to have them installed in their kit house. This may seem like a job reserved for professionals, but installing French Doors is not all that difficult. Yes, it is going to take a bit of time and skill, but if you put the effort in, then you are going to end up with a top quality installation.

Tools and Materials Required:

·         French Doors
·         Power Drill
·         Hammer, selection of Screwdrivers, Screws and Nails (If not supplied with the door)
·         Shims
·         Pry Bar
·         Level
·         Safety Goggles
·         Carpenter’s Square
·         Angle Grinder
·         Caulking
·         Fiberglass Insulation
·         Silicone Sealant

What You Will Need to Do:

Installing french doors in your granny flat
Step 1.    Remove the old door frame using your hammer and pry bar. You have to ensure that you don’t damage the trim as you are going to need this again pretty soon.
Step 2.    Check the opening for your new doors to ensure it is going to be big enough. If the opening is not large enough, then you may want to call in a professional to widen the gap for you. This is not really a job that can be done by you. Even the most experienced DIY expert could end up causing serious damage to the structure of the frames. Even electrical wiring may need changing if it goes over the door opening. 
Step 3.    Check that your opening is a perfect square before you begin installing your doors by using a level in combination with a carpenter’s square. If the opening isn’t level then make any necessary adjustments using a grinding wheel or an angle grinder. It shouldn’t be too bad if a door was already in place.
Step 4.    Put caulking on the floor where the bottom of the door is going to sit. This will help protect and seal the floor.
Step 5.    Center your new frame in the door opening ensuring that it is perfectly level. Once it is, use shims to hold it in place.
Step 6.    Attach the doors to your new frame if they aren’t already in place. Ensure that everything works correctly and check that everything is level once again!  Then screw the frame into place permanently using the hardware supplied with the door. You will need to drill holes at this point! A word of caution: Don’t put the screws in tightly they pull the frame out of square!
Step 7.  Once screwed into place, put your fiberglass insulation in place. You only need to do this if installing exterior French doors.
Step 8.    Attach the moldings that were supplied with the door.
Step 9.    Use silicone sealant to seal up any gaps that the moldings didn’t cover and add all the hardware that was supplied with the door. Paint over everything if you need to.
 
French Doors are also great value to install in any granny flat.

Thursday 13 December 2012

How to Choose Interior Paint Colors


How Not to Pick an Interior Colour for Your Home


1.       Never start with an empty room. I know, it’s easier to paint the room if there is nothing in it, but resist that temptation. You will never like it and you will be painting over again once the room has furniture, rugs and curtains in it. Or you will always hate it, not very good choices.
2.    Never pick a color while standing at the paint sample brochure table. Fluorescent lighting is the worst light to pick a color in. Whites have a green hue and all the other colors are distorted also. The will not be the same when you get it home, guaranteed!

The Right Way to Pick an Interior Colour Paint

Tile/Countertops/Carpeting
The order in which you decide to pick your interior color can make the difference between having a cohesive, well designed home and a chaotic mess.  If you are building a new home, have them paint the primer on and let it go at that. When you finished buying the furniture, rugs and curtains then you can choose a wall color that matches the room.
1.       Pick your tile and countertops for the kitchens and bathrooms first. The color choices are very limited here so this is where you need to start.
2.       Pick your tile and carpet for the flooring. Be sure to pay attention to whether they are warm or cool tones in the colors. You don’t want a countertop that has a bluish cast (cool tone) next to tile that has a red cast (warm tone).  You need to decide which way you are going right from the start, cool or warm, and stick with the undertone you choose.
Choosing these items first set the mood for the rest of the room. These items are permanent and not likely to change, so choose wisely. It’s much easier to match these items with a wall color, than having it the other way around, and trying to find the tile that matches the wall color.
Upholstery/Bedding/Curtains/Rugs – All the large items that have fabric!
The next order of business is choosing what furniture, curtains and rugs are going to be in the room. You are going to have a much wider latitude in color choices here, but remember to stick with the undertones you chose in the previous step. Right now is when you will appreciate the most that there are no distracting colors on your wall. Choose what you want for bedding as well at this point.
Decorative Pieces
The next thing on your agenda is your decorative accents. This would include pictures, wall accents, vases, lamps and whatever else. Again, remember to stay within the realm of color tones you already have in place. Warm tones include gold lamp bases, brown or gold picture frames. Cool tones include silver lamps and silver or white picture frames. You get the picture, right? The parts of the room need to flow together, not be piecemeal and broken up.
Finally! It is Time to Pick Your Wall Color
This step should be a piece of cake! If you have everything in the room, the color of your wall should reveal itself without you even thinking about it. But if you are not sure, here are some ideas. Make sure you stay within the color tone you have chosen, whether it is warm or cool.
1.       Do you watch movies a lot on your TV in the living room or bedroom? Choose a darker color that gives the closed in feeling of going to the movies.
2.       Do you gather in the kitchen or entertain in your living room? Accent walls are great for adding that “WOW” when your guests walk in. An accent can be as simple as a painting or a full blown mural.
3.       Ceiling mouldings that have intricate carving and painted with a color such as gold or an accent color can have a dramatic effect on a room. Deep red and dark orange walls will also get you guests in a talkative mood and are great on an accent wall.
4.       Is this a reading or working room? Opt for much lighter colors as it will make it easier on your eyes.
5.       If you put your makeup on in the bedroom or bathroom, don’t use green tones of paint. The paint will reflect on your face and you will be disappointed when you walk outside and look in a mirror.
6.       If your room is small, opt for lighter colors as the room will look bigger.
Remember to stay within your color tones and you will not be disappointed with your wall color and the total look of your home.

Monday 3 December 2012

How To Install A Range Hood

How To Install A Range Hood is a step-by-step guide to installing a range hood in your kitchen by Bunnings Warehouse. Knowing how to properly install your range hood is important and this easy to follow 'How To' video will help you learn how to install any range hood.

QLD First Home Owner Construction Grant

Facts About the FHOCG for the State of Queensland in Australia

  • The Newman Government's First Home Owner Construction Grant is worth $15,000.
  • The FHOCG is for first home buyers who are buying a newly constructed or off-the-plan property.
  • The FHOCG replaces the First Home Owner Grant which was $7,000.
  • Those first home buyers who are about to purchase an existing dwelling will have until October 11 to finalise their contract (to be eligible for $7000 grant)

  • First home buyers signing contracts for new properties before September 12 will receive $7000 and those signing on or after September 12 will receive $15,000.

  • The program will be administered within existing arrangements in the Treasury Department.

  • Major banks and financial institutions will continue to advertise the FHOCG in their loan marketing material, reducing the cost for taxpayers.

  • The following eligibility criteria still apply:
  • It must become your principal place of residence within one year of taking ownership.

  • It must be your principle place of residence for at least six months.
  • You must not dispose of all or part of the property within one year after you start to occupy the residence as your home.
  • The property must be bought or built at a value under $750,000.

  • Information is sourced directly from:
    http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=80460
    http://www.osr.qld.gov.au/first-home-owner-grant/index.shtml