Patricia's Construction and Contracting Blog: Tips for Novices to Experts

  • How to Integrate Black Into a Kitchen Renovation

    11 May 2016

    When it comes to kitchen design, people often want the space to be as light and airy as possible. This means that white and pastel shades dominate kitchen spaces. Unfortunately, this means that black is all too often ignored, because people will think it will make a kitchen space too claustrophobic. While you might not want your whole kitchen to be dominated with black, this sophisticated shade should not be ignored.

  • Electrical safety tips for the winter season

    11 May 2016

    The winter brings with it shorter days and colder nights. The use of electricity drastically increases, and so do the risks associated with it. Snow and stormy weather raise the likelihood of power outages, which may lead to dangerous situations. That means you need to take good care of yourself and your family. So here are some electrical safety tips for the winter. Caution on hitting an electric pole With the reduced visibility on the roads, the chances of hitting obstacles are increased, especially at night.

  • Some Signs That Your Home Might Need a Professional Drain Cleaning

    11 May 2016

    When your home's bathtub drain is completely clogged, then of course you'll need to call for a professional drain cleaning or snaking out of the pipes. However, pipes don't need to clog entirely for them to need a cleaning service, as there are other signs that indicate the pipes have an obstruction or should be cleaned of debris. It's also good to have this drain cleaning done regularly just to avoid major damage to the pipes that can occur once they do clog, including a burst pipe or broken connectors.

  • Quick Factors to Consider About Having Your Home Demolished

    10 May 2016

    Having a home demolished may not be an easy choice for a homeowner, but it can be the right choice in some situations. You might like the land or lot on which the home is located but not the home itself. Housing may also be scarce where you live, so it may be difficult to find a new home to which you can simply move. If you're still not sure about demolishing your home to build a new one, note a few quick factors to consider and this can help you make that decision.

  • Is Pre-Construction Soil Testing A "Need" or A "Want"?

    9 May 2016

    Building a home is often considered the most important investment for a large number of people. There are a number of pre-construction activities that prospective homeowners are required to pay for before the foundation for their home-to-be is laid. Examples of these activities include getting the necessary approvals for the construction project, having the soil on-site tested and having the property boundaries surveyed. Discussed in this article are two reasons why soil testing is more of a need (mandatory) than a want (optional) for a prospective new homeowner

  • Damp Patches on Your Ceiling: Causes and Solutions

    9 May 2016

    A damp patch on your ceiling is a cause for alarm. It's not the sort of thing that's going to go away by itself. So what are some of the most common causes for a damp patch or discolouration on your ceiling? And what needs to be done? A Broken Roof When you know that there isn't a water pipe running through the area in question, then the problem might be on your roof itself.

  • Understanding water discoloration in your home

    9 May 2016

    Discolored tap water is a result of certain elements present in your water supply. The following colors can point towards specific problems: Yellow, orange or red water color This is a tell-tale sign of the presence of rust in your water supply. The difference in color is based on the level of rust. The rusty water may be coming from either the local council's water main or your own plumbing pipes.

  • Home Construction: Understanding the Mandatory Building Inspections

    6 May 2016

    When you are building your new home, you will be required to subject the structure to inspection. These assessments will be carried at different levels of the construction process, and the exact requirements will depend on the building regulations imposed in your local area. The technical examination of the home is performed by a licensed building inspector. Ideally, you should hire this professional as a specialty consultant, but there are also inspectors available from local council offices.

  • Advantages of Choosing Concrete House Stumps When You Need Restumping

    5 May 2016

    Australian homes that were built along the coast tend to be prone to high tides and high winds as well as the sand shifting. As such, these houses were typically constructed atop of wooden stumps to keep their foundation stable and the structure out of harm's way. However, over time, wooden stumps will deteriorate. This will present itself in various signs around your home including: Your home's floors will begin to sag Doors and windows will start jamming Floor tiles will begin to crack and crumble Plaster and paint will begin to peel off the wall  When you notice some of these signs, it could mean that your residence's foundation is being compromised due to the damaged stumps.

  • Pinned Down: Choosing A House Underpinning Method To Tackle Subsidence Damage

    2 May 2016

    The word 'subsidence' probably sends a shiver up every home owner's spine, and the changes in the contours of the land that occur during subsidence can cause extensive damage to your home's foundations. Subsidence can be caused by a number of processes, from natural limestone erosion to excessive groundwater extraction (a particular problem in the more arid parts of Australia), but when it comes to saving a home's foundations from crumbling, underpinning is almost always the best way to tackle the issue.