Tag: wall

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by James Adam

Do you have a crack or a crack in the wall? This is what you should do


Homes

They are so common in many homes that we do not pay them due attention. But it is very important to monitor them closely and determine their cause in order to avoid greater evils, since a crack may be a warning of a serious and very dangerous structural damage.

Although they are more common in old homes, we see them more and more often in new constructions, and they can be due to several very different causes that we see later. From the technical point of view, a crack is a relief from the tension of two construction areas that are being subjected to a movement.

Although not a formal way to distinguish between cracks and crack, we could say that the first are those that do not exceed 0.5 mm thick, while a crack exceeds a half centimeter:  And as you can imagine, the most worrisome is the second, and that half centimeter, the alarm voice between a problem that can be simply aesthetic and a deep and threatening structural damage.

Where they appear is also fundamental. It is not the same as they do in a light partition wall, like those that separate two bedrooms, to appear on a concrete wall. The first could indicate simply a bad material of union or execution of the deficient plastering, but the second one worries us much more.

How to repair cracks in walls and ceilings?

Some experts argue that the most appropriate to a crack alive, which is one that continues to grow over time, is not cover it to study its evolution for a few months, measuring it.

But if it’s about surface cracks, there’s no problem. It is only necessary to remove the paint and plaster in the area of ​​the crack and cover and paint again.

In the case of thicker cracks, a professional mason should tell you what remedy to apply, although generally, a more flexible material coverage can be used to prevent future cracking like Boss Steel corner guard provides you the best quality guard corner to protect your walls

Let’s see the different types of crack we can face:

  • Cracks in the paint: so superficial, that they only affect the paint on the wall. They can be due to a bad application by the painter, a defect in the quality of the paint, a problem of humidity or temperature … but only pose an aesthetic conflict, nothing to worry about structurally.
  • Cracks in the masonry: when they affect the masonry and the roof, we have to start worrying, because these are deeper fractures and indicate that something is not right. They require supervision by a professional.
  • Cracks in the structure: if you see that there are damaged parts as organic as a column, a beam or a slab, a lot of attention because they also have to be checked by an expert.
  • Cracks by hydrothermal stresses: after this word is those marks that leave the expansion and contraction of materials because of changes in temperature, or also due to the expansion caused by moisture. They are also very common and are not dangerous.
  • Overloads in construction: here we enter really dangerous terrain. If the weight of the construction is greater than that which the base can support, generally due to an error in the calculation of materials, important fractures may appear that give the alarm signal. Here it is absolutely necessary the intervention of a professional that establishes the danger and measures to take to avoid risks.

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by Incredible Planet Staff

What Do Cracks In My Basement Wall Mean?


Homes

Do you notice cracks in your basement wall? Are you worried about what they could mean? Know that cracks in your basement walls means there is a lot of pressure from the soil that surrounds it. If you see cracks in your basement wall, this is a potential sign of a structural problem with your home.

There are two different types of cracks that can appear on your basement wall. Each type of crack will tell you the specific cause and severity of the problem. Knowing which crack in your basement wall means will assist you in determining if your basement wall needs urgent attention or not.

Here are the two types of crack that can appear on your basement wall:

  1. Horizontal Cracks

If your basement is constructed without adequate vertical reinforcement, the basement wall will succumb from the considerable pressure from the soil that surrounds it. The wall will bow inwards and develop a horizontal crack that will run in the middle of the wall because the bulk of the pressure is on the middle point of the wall.

Check if the wall is still straight from bottom to top. If it’s plumb, wait to see if the crack will become larger, but if the wall is not plumb, you should call a plumber immediately.

  1. Vertical Cracks

It is normal for concrete to shrink when curing. Cracks appearing due to this process are usually small and in most cases are not noticeable. In addition, these cracks do not even affect the structure of the wall.

However, in spite of the small sizes of these cracks, they can allow moisture to penetrate from the surrounding spoil which can be a huge problem over time. In order to avoid possible problems in the future, you should contract a plumber to check your basement waterproofing for your basement, especially when you notice moisture on the wall.

Vertical cracks that are about the ⅙ inches wide area are not a cause for alarm, but when they are more than ⅛ inches wide, you should call plumber to examine the wall because that is a sign that the wall is under great distress.

If you’ve identified cracks in your basement wall, you should call for a professional inspection to help determine potential damages and the timing of the repair. You can avoid major repair work by taking a proactive approach to the structural changes such as cracks in your basement wall.

by Incredible Planet Staff

5 Wonderful Ideas for Redecorating Your Home From Top To Bottom


Homes

Redecorating your place can help the creative monkey inside you have a blast. Install smart and appealing designs to remodel your home beautifully!

Plan your designs to avoid wasting time and money on unimportant stuff. You don’t have to decorate the whole place at once; go one room at a time to get the most out of your creativity.

Valuable Hacks and Design Ideas

Many areas in your house don’t need new installations but can look prettier with little refurbishing and creativity. You can save a significant amount of money by investing your time in remodelling old structures or making use of old stuff. The following are some innovative insights that will transform your house into something incredible:

  • Mount it on the wall

Do you know how efficiently you can use the walls in your home? You can install small chunks of wood, old PVC pipes or pretty holders on the walls to make the full use of them. Every room can have a wall for something; your walk-in closet to hang your shoes, your kitchen to hang your utensils, your living room to hang your paintings, your cupboards to hang your jewellery and your bathrooms to hang your bathroom knick-knacks.

  • Makeup kit hacks

If you are fond of makeup, then having a messy vanity table is inevitable! There are some hacks that can help you keep it organised for a long time. Do you have old trays or desk drawer organisers? Instead of overstuffing your makeup bag, use the plate to keep your makeup organised on your vanity table.

Having a huge budget isn’t needed, being smart is necessary!

  • Hide from the sight

The concept of false ceilings gave birth to the idea of hiding things from the sight effectively. Just like a false ceiling hides the lights in the room, a false wall cabinet or a cupboard drawer can hide the stuff you don’t want everyone to see. A false wall storage unit to hide your jewellery, a secret compartment on the side of the cupboard to hide your valuables, a lamp installed inside the wall or a side storage unit in your kitchen for unused utensils can not only help you organise your place conveniently, but also make your home more appealing.

  • Kitchen labelling

If you are always searching for utensils or spices in your kitchen, then why not label them? Use old jars, boxes or containers for utensils and spices that you barely use, and label them to make sure you find them whenever needed. You can also tag your drawers to avoid confusion and waste time on the wrong ones. Your kitchen design is essential, but if you can mark everything efficiently, then you don’t have to worry about anything.

Life is too short to ferret around your kitchen- John Wilcock, The Kitchen Studio.

  • Memory boards

Do you always forget to do something crucial or take something meaningful to work? Quite frustrating, right? Why don’t you install pretty memory boards wherever you can, to make sure you don’t forget to accomplish any critical task. The fridge door cannot take care of all the messages, so go for whiteboards or blackboards, and install them in different rooms carefully to ensure it fits with the decor. You and your family can write essential reminders or cute, little messages and never forget anything ever again.

Don’t make having a tight budget an excuse for making your house fantastic and delightful!

Author Bio: The Kitchen Studio are specialists in kitchen planning, design and fitting by providing a thorough and bespoke service that boasts unrivalled detail from start to finish. The complete service starts with a comprehensive survey of the kitchen which will then allow the customers ideas and requirements to be implemented within the design. The Kitchen Studio provides everything needed to ensure the kitchen installation is smooth and efficient. They undertake the full installation of kitchens including all related electrical, gas and water requirements whilst also offering any small building work, plastering, tiling and heating engineering to complete the total project. All of which is carried out by local and top quality contractors who have worked with the company for many years. The team are all highly trained, friendly and reliable and are there to help make the whole process run as smooth as possible.

by Rod Diamond

5 Tips for Inspecting a House Before Buying


Homes

Is purchasing a house something you envision for your future? Then get ready — this is one of the biggest investments you will make in your lifetime, so it’s a must to go about the property-shopping process meticulously and make sure that you get a great deal.

Having a house inspection done is one reliable way to determine whether a house’s value is consistent with the asking price or not. This is not just a smart strategy that buyers like you should adopt — it’s also required by Australian law.

Early observations

To ensure the thorough inspection of a house you are seriously considering buying, hiring the services of professional home inspectors is the recommended action.

But while you are still in the early stages of checking out properties that could potentially be included in your shortlist, you could practice doing some basic inspecting yourself. This is especially true if you are still only casually looking through properties through an open house.

So, if you are visiting different properties with your realtor soon and you want to get a solid idea of ways to check the structural and functional integrity of the property, here are five tips to help you out.

1.     Inspect certain rooms more thoroughly than others.

The attic, bathrooms, kitchen and garage require more of your attention when you come by to see a house.

Why?

The attic and garage are the areas where indoor heat is typically lost. They are also prone to pest infestations. Meanwhile, the kitchen and bathroom both have plumbing provisions installed. You will want to make sure that there are no leaking pipes, blocked drains and other plumbing issues.

If there are such issues in a house that you happen to be seriously interested in buying, the seller should be informed about them so they can have those fixed by a professional plumbing service. Alternatively, you might want to negotiate a new deal for the property if the seller fails or refuses to take care of repairs.

And speaking of negotiating a better deal for the house, an outdated kitchen entails lengthier discussions. If you will be needing a full kitchen renovation for the improved overall function of the space, this presents an opportunity to work out a more reasonable price.

Seasoned property buyers generally avoid paying top-of-the-market rates for an outdated property; you should be aware of this fact and take heed, too.

2.     Include the ceilings, walls, floors, doors and windows as well.

The condition of all these house features will have a reasonable impact on the quality of life you will experience if you were to move in.

For instance, check if doors and windows are broken or loose. If they are, that means the house’s HVAC system could be working extra hard (and failing) to regulate the indoor temperature, and consequently using more electricity than necessary. You will not like the monthly energy bill you will receive while living in a house in this condition.

Ceilings, walls and floors, on the other hand, shouldn’t have stains. Keep an eye out for wallpaper with bubbling or loosened areas. These signs indicate moisture issues in the house which may be caused by damaged plumbing. Pinpointing the exact source of the damage can be tricky, so you will need an experienced roof plumber for the job.

What’s more, if there is excessive moisture in the house, there could be a mold problem hiding somewhere as well. Certified building inspectors will tell you that molds are a serious problem that require professional removal. Plus, where there are molds, there are usually pests as well.

3.     Look over the exterior structures as well.

Step outside the house and have a look at the drainage systems, including the gutters. Also, check out the foundation and landscaping to make sure that everything is leveled and there is no growing vegetation that could affect the stability of the structure.

4.     Get an overall first-hand feel of the house.

A house should feel comfortably dry in its key areas. It should have a properly functioning HVAC system that maintains the ideal interior climate. Humidity should be low because a “moist” house, as previously mentioned, presents a lot of problems not only regarding the structural integrity of the house, but for the well-being of the residents as well.

5.     Ask about the year the house was built.

Many homes built before the 1980s contain asbestos. In such houses, asbestos would be present in old floor and ceiling tiles, shingles and flashing, insulation and other home components. Unfortunately, the presence of this naturally occurring fibrous mineral can lead to serious health risks for anyone exposed to it.

If an old house retains several “vintage” elements, there is a high likelihood that asbestos is present. If you are interested in the house, you could talk to builders or other professionals who are trained to handle asbestos during home repairs or renovations to gain more insight into its potential impact on your purchase. Otherwise, you could consider passing up that particular house and look for a newer and safer one.

You need to be dedicated and discriminating when looking for a home to buy because the purchase will provide you a truly valuable asset. As such, aim to actively learn what to keep an eye out for, and invest in hiring building and plumbing professionals to help you inspect the property you like the most. This way, you can be more confident that you’ll be making a truly informed buying decision.