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Missalis Homes

Home Building & Design Advice

Plants around Pools

Once you have your pool installed you will want to make the landscape design around it attractive and this usually means a garden somewhere in the vicinity. Not only will living plants soften the look of all that concrete, they will work with other components to create an area that is relaxing and beautiful. However, you do need to plan it all carefully and take care in choosing the plants. Here are some tips that will help you.

Protect Your Pool

Most plants drop debris as they go through their cycle of growing, blooming, seeding and dying. A sudden gust of wind is likely to sweep all this debris into your pool, changing the PH of the water. Leaves and other debris from nearby flowers or trees can clog up the filter and even become a slipping hazard if they are not removed promptly. But many plants have minimal leaf loss and they last for years. These are the kind of plants that you need to choose for your pool garden, especially if it is really close to the pool.

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Staying Ahead: Navigating Local Regulations in Plumbing, Gas, and Air Conditioning Services

In the world of plumbing, gas-fitting, and air conditioning services, adhering to local regulations is not merely a matter of following the law. It’s about guaranteeing safety, quality, and reliability in every service provided. Professionals in this field understand the importance of meeting and even exceeding these standards. Here’s a look at how experts in this industry ensure that every service offered is compliant with local regulations.

Staying Informed on Regulatory Changes

  • Continuous Learning: Professionals in this sector frequently undergo training to keep up with the latest regulatory changes and industry standards.
  • Industry Involvement: Active participation in industry bodies and seminars is a common practice to ensure practices are current and compliant.

Employing Licensed and Certified Technicians

  • Qualified Personnel: Only fully licensed and certified technicians are employed, ensuring they possess the necessary skills and knowledge for compliance.
  • Ongoing Certification: Maintaining these certifications and licenses is crucial, with a focus on continuing education and training.

Conducting Compliance Checks

  • Internal Audits: Regular internal reviews of work are conducted to ensure adherence to local regulations.
  • Prioritizing Safety: Meticulously following safety standards and best practices is a routine part of every project.

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A Simple Guide To Choosing Air Conditioner Sizes For Homes In Perth, WA

For those of you who live in Perth, Western Australia, we presume it is safe to say that air conditioning in your home is necessary. Given that, throughout the summer months, Perth experiences average high temperatures of between 26 degrees centigrade and 32 degrees centigrade, air conditioning is needed, not just to stay calm, but also to ensure that everyone who lives with you remains healthy with regards to not overheating and avoiding dehydration.

Whilst the need for air-con is universal across Perth, that does not mean to say that every home has the exact air conditioning needs. Perth homes range from huge houses with more than eight bedrooms to bedsits and everything. This means that the space available for an air conditioner unit and the area that the air conditioner has to keep cool will differ significantly.

This leads us to the fact that if you need to choose an air conditioning unit, one of the decisions you must make is its size. Please read on as we will outline a simple guide from air conditioning experts airandwater.com.au to assist you in choosing air conditioner unit sizes for homes in Perth, WA.

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5 Landscape Design Tips That Help To Increase Property Values In Sydney

If you own a property in Sydney, it should be no secret to you that house prices in that fine city are not just the highest in New South Wales but in the whole of Australia; even so, there are still means of increasing the value of your property even higher, with landscaping being one of the most effective.

For those that are not familiar with landscaping or landscape design, it is the means of transforming a garden from what might be just four fences and a lawn into a stunningly beautiful outdoor space with native plants, fixed features such as ornaments, outdoor living areas, and many other landscaping features.

The point we wish to focus on and explore further is how the landscaping is not just beneficial for you and your family while you continue to live at your current property. Still, the price quoted or realised will be higher due to it being there at the time to value it or sell it. Here are some of the most influential landscape design tips that can make those property value increases in Sydney a reality.

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The Future Of Residential Solar Energy Technology

Solar power is a clean and renewable source of energy that incorporates several technical components such as solar batteries, solar panels, and inverters, to name but three. Its development has created the potential for homeowners to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and help mitigate the effects of climate change.

In Australia and worldwide, residential solar energy technology is advancing rapidly, with innovations and developments emerging constantly. Not only does this make solar energy systems more efficient, but it has also helped bring the cost of installation down and thus make solar energy more affordable for more residential customers. This blog post examines the latest advancements in residential solar energy technology and what they can mean for homeowners.

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The Unexpected Place of Truck Trailers in Home and Garden Design

If you’ve ever passed a truck trailer on the highway and found yourself imagining the potential it holds beyond the realm of transportation, you’re not alone. Increasingly, homeowners and garden enthusiasts are tapping into the creative possibilities these unconventional structures provide.

From dolly trailers to flat top and drop deck trailers, this article will explore the novel ways truck trailers are being integrated into home and garden designs. If you’re curious about how you might leverage these unique, industrious structures in your own home and garden, read on.

Truck Trailers: A Brief Introduction

Truck trailers are usually associated with heavy-duty transport. They’re designed to handle massive weights, tackle challenging terrains, and protect cargo from the elements. However, the same attributes that make these trailers perfect for transport also make them ripe for repurposing.

There are several types of truck trailers. Dolly trailers, for instance, are commonly used for heavy haulage and have a low bed height for stability. They’re rugged, durable, and can stand up to harsh conditions. Flat top trailers, on the other hand, are characterized by their open flat platform, without sides or a roof, making them perfect for carrying oversized loads. Lastly, drop deck trailers, also known as step deck trailers, are essentially flatbeds with a raised and lowered section, used for carrying taller items.

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How To Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets Properly

How To Clean Your Kitchen Cabinets Properly

When homeowners have kitchen renovations in their home, perhaps including cabinet makers creating increased storage space with new cabinets, it is certain that on day one after completion, these kitchens look akin to the sort of kitchen layouts you might see in a kitchen showroom.

Doubtless, for the first few days and weeks, everyone in the family will be well-warned to look after the new kitchen and to tidy away any mess as soon as possible. That may even continue for several months as everyone in that home takes pride in their new kitchen.

Part of keeping the kitchen looking as good as it did when it was first completed will be cleaning that kitchen. That will cover several tasks, such as mopping the floor, wiping countertops, and washing and putting away dishes and cutlery after mealtimes.

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Finding Affordable Storage Solutions: Renting a Storage Facility

Finding Affordable Storage Solutions: Renting a Storage Facility

When you are trying to declutter and find additional storage space around your home, renting a storage facility can be an ideal solution. Storage facilities such as Brilliance Storage provide an affordable and convenient way to store items you don’t need throughout your day-to-day life. Things you can store include seasonal clothing, holiday decorations, business documents, and other things. Using a storage space can save space at home and money in the long run.

Consider the features and amenities offered.

Some storage facilities offer extra features that can make your decision easier when choosing a company. Some valuable features that are sometimes included are climate-controlled units, 24-hour access, mobile delivery of the unit and onsite security. Taking the time to research what extra features are offered can make your decision easier when it comes time to choose which company to store your belongings with, as you might not need a climate-controlled unit but do really value 24-hour access.

Look for special offers or discounts.

When looking for an affordable storage facility, one of the best ways to save money is to look for special offers or discounts. Many facilities will offer discounts or promotions for long-term rentals or those that pay in advance. Additionally, always be sure to ask about any additional fees or charges that may be applied. By shopping around and comparing prices, you can find a storage facility that fits your budget while providing the features and amenities you need.

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7 Stubborn Stains That High Pressure Cleaning Can Remove From Residential Properties

7 Stubborn Stains That High Pressure Cleaning Can Remove From Residential Properties

If you have recently discovered that the exterior of your home and the outside surfaces of your property have more than their fair share of stains, and worse they are stains that are not easily removed, then it may be time to call in a high pressure cleaning company to remove them. Alternatively, you could hire a high pressure washer and remove the stains yourself, but be aware this requires plenty of preparation and no small amount of effort on your part.

Whichever way you decide, high pressure cleaning is the ideal way to get rid of marks, stains, and other blights on the exterior of your home, including the walls, roof, pathways, and driveway. A bucket of water and some dish soap will most definitely not be able to deal with these. Instead, it will require the powerful jets of water that high pressure cleaning utilises. As for the specific stains that high pressure cleaning can deal with, below are seven of the most common.

#1 – Chewing Gum

Regardless of whether you think chewing gum is a bad habit or not, what most certainly is bad is it being dropped on the ground. There it hardens, can be stood on, and sticks rigidly to the hard surface below making it even more difficult to remove, which is why high pressure cleaning is necessary.

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dental emergency at home

How To Manage Dental Emergencies At Home

One facet of a dental emergency is that they do not always happen when you are standing outside the office of your dentists. They can occur anywhere and at any time of the day or night, although, given that you likely spend the majority of your time at home, it is a reasonable bet that at home is where you are going to experience a dental emergency.

Another aspect of dental emergencies is that they do not conform to the opening hours of dentists’ practices. They are as likely to occur at midnight, on Christmas Day, or at breakfast time on a  Sunday morning as they are at times when your dentists would be able to treat you. It is, therefore, going to be useful to know how you can treat certain dental emergencies for yourself, or a member of your family, whilst at home and until such times as your dentist’s practice is open.

Broken Or Chipped Tooth

A broken or loose tooth can happen for all sorts of reasons when you are at home such as biting a hard piece of food, bumping your mouth against something or someone, and even when playing in the garden where a ball hits you smack in the mouth.

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5 Mistakes To Avoid When Weeding Your Landscaped Garden

5 Mistakes To Avoid When Weeding Your Landscaped Garden

As much as everyone who owns a garden wishes it to be the case, unfortunately, landscape designers have not yet created a garden that requires zero maintenance. If you ask the seasoned professionals at Intreeg Landscapes, even landscaping without any plants or foliage will need cleaning regularly. In other landscaped gardens with shrubs, trees, flowers, and a lawn, then, of course, there is maintenance and care required to keep it healthy and looking great.

One task within that maintenance regime will be weeding. Weeds are every gardener’s nemesis, given that they take away moisture, nutrients, and sunlight from the other plants they wish to grow. Weeds also spoil a garden’s appearance. If weeds are left to thrive, especially the aggressive ones, they will soon overrun a garden and eradicate the plants and flowers meant to grow there.

As you are probably aware the solution to the problems we have just described is removing any weeds which you see growing. However, many well-meaning people make mistakes when weeding and as such do not get rid of the weeds as well as they should. Here are five of those weeding mistakes to avoid.

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5 Key Benefits Of Hiring A Professional Landscape Designer Over Doing it Yourself

5 Key Benefits Of Hiring A Professional Landscape Architect Over Doing it Yourself

When the point is reached when you have decided the time is right to take on a home renovation, including developing your garden and transforming it with a landscape design, then there are a huge number of choices that you need to make. The primary one is who is going to create the design and implement it through to its completion.

One thought that may have crossed your mind is to do it all yourself. Let us say that if you feel you have the necessary skills, enthusiasm, time, and resources to do so then it is certainly a laudable intention. However, we would also add a huge note of caution in that if you have never undertaken this sort of project before, trying to do it yourself, especially the first time around, is not the wisest choice.

The full-scale landscaping design of a garden is a significant undertaking, and even the most enthusiastic often soon realise that enthusiasm, whilst welcome, is not enough when comes to making decisions about the necessary equipment, materials, plants, furniture, and features, and that is before we even talk about how you turn that design into a reality. What we recommend is that you employ landscapers, and here are some of the benefits of doing so.

Landscape Designers Are The Experts At Landscaping Design

It might seem a blatantly obvious point, but it is one that so many people ignore in all sorts of situations. Instead of employing the person with the skills and experience to do the job in question, they try it themselves or worse, get an amateur who ends up wasting their time and their money. Your new garden is going to be with you for years so why would you not want a professional who has the expertise and knowledge to make it the best it can be?

Landscape Designers Will Take The Project From Initial Consult Through To Completion

There are many larger-scale jobs where you will have to deal with multiple people throughout the entire process. With a landscape design company that is not the case. From your first meeting when you discuss your ideas until the final lightbulb is screwed into one of your lighting features they will oversee all of it. This means nothing is left to chance, and for you, it means you only ever need to contact one company.

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5 Ways An Adaptive Garden Is Helpful If Included Within A Landscaping Design

5 Ways An Adaptive Garden Is Helpful If Included Within A Landscaping Design

Whenever they undertake a garden service, landscaping designers will follow several tried and trusted landscaping design principles that have proven time and again to produce the most effective results, aka stunning landscaped gardens. However, on occasion, a landscaping designer will be asked to adhere to additional garden design principles within a landscaping design, and one example of this is when an adaptive garden is required.

Before we go any further, we imagine many of you will not be familiar with the term adaptive gardening so we will explain it. An adaptive garden is created with the needs of those who have mobility problems in mind, which includes those who are wheelchair-bound, those with walking difficulties, those with joint pains, and the like. Often adaptive gardening is recommended for the elderly to reduce the risk of injuries when they are gardening.

In addition to an adaptive garden being created with the needs we have just outlined, it is also designed with potential future needs in the future in mind. This means they are designed specifically with a view to changes being possible within the garden and them being straightforward, rather than requiring a complete redesign. To paint a fuller picture of the benefits of adaptive gardening here are five ways in which it is helpful.

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What Your Cat Needs Inside Its Cat Enclosure

What Your Cat Needs Inside Its Cat Enclosure

There is a misconception amongst many people, including cat owners, that cats prefer to stay indoors. This may be down to the fact that cats generally do not like wet weather, but if you were to investigate further, you would find that many cats love being outdoors, and one of the best ways to allow them to do so safely is with a cat enclosure.

A cat enclosure can be a DIY project for enthusiasts. Still, the wisest choice, especially concerning your cat’s well-being, is to purchase your cat’s enclosure from a dedicated pet enclosure supplier. They will have several options ranging from simple netting to a full-sized prefabricated cat enclosure that your cat will love spending hours inside, and it can do so in perfect safety.

Once they have their cat enclosure, your cat can sleep, rest, play, scratch, meow, eat, drink, and do what ultimately comes naturally in their private space. Best of all, from your point of view, they will not be doing any of that indoors, so issues such as noise, scratched furniture, and accidents on the carpet will not arise whilst they are outdoors in their backyard cat enclosure.

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Why Epoxy Flake Floor Installation Is A Job For The Professionals

Why Epoxy Flake Floor Installation Is A Job For The Professionals

Whether you are planning to have an epoxy flake floor installed at home, or for one or more parts of your business premises, the temptation could be that to save yourself some money, you try to install it yourself. There could be many DIY projects that you have completed successfully in the past, and therefore, are confident this will be the same.

Whilst it is not for us to doubt in any way your past record, nor your DIY skills, we would ask you to pause for a moment and think about what it takes to install an epoxy flake floor.

First, while they may start as liquids, applying them is not the same as painting a ceiling, and that is assuming that you have got the balance between the chemicals exactly right. There is also the work required to ensure the concrete floor underneath is prepped exactly as it needs to be in terms of evenness and to make its adhesive qualities optimal.

If you were to even get beyond laying it, there is the no small matter of the flake distribution. Many amateurs think that you do this as though scattering birdseed in the park for the pigeons, but soon realize it is not as they end up with barren areas and others with mounds of flakes.

Let us take a look at why installing epoxy flake floors should be left to the professionals, these floor professionals can be organised by either your builders or professional shop fitters.

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Composite Decking Versus Timber Decking

Composite Decking Versus Timber Decking

One of the questions deck builders are asked, possibly more than any other, is ‘What are the advantages or disadvantages of composite decking versus timber decking?’.

It is a very valid question, and before we answer it, we are going to be upfront and say that we are going to try to be as neutral as we can. There are always going to be differences of opinion with regards to certain products and services, and that is equally true when it comes to composite decking and timber decking.

Some favour the former, and others the latter so we are going to try our best to be as objective as we can as we go through some of the advantages and disadvantages of each of these two types of decking. For specific and more personalised answers, ask your builders which Building Supplies would suit your property best.

Look and Feel

This is one where your choice is going to very much be based on your personal preferences rather than on any kind of technical specification, however, let us try to give you some comparisons.

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Getting Rid Of The Pests And Bugs That Will Attack Your Garden

Getting Rid Of The Pests And Bugs That Will Attack Your Garden

Whether we consider a tiny garden with just a few plants or a garden masterpiece that has been crafted as a result of large landscaping design being implemented by landscaping experts, there is something which they both have in common, and that is they are likely to be attacked by pests and bugs, just ask your landscaper.

It is often the bane of any gardener who has lovingly spent the time and effort to ensure all the flowers, trees, bushes, or shrubs that are planted in their garden are thriving, only to see them afflicted due to bugs undoing all that gardener’s good work.

According to garden landscapers, one huge problem that arises from all this is that the number of different bugs that inflict damage on a garden is immense.  This means that often having dealt with one unwanted pest a gardener sees another taking up residence in their garden. The key point here is that they should never give in, and simply accept that dealing with bugs is going to be a continuous process.

If this sounds like an issue you are dealing with then here are some tips to help you deal with unwanted bugs in your garden.

Constantly Monitor Your garden

If you have ever heard the term ‘Nip it in the bud’, then what you have is a phrase whose origin comes directly from gardening albeit it relates to frost rather than bugs. Nevertheless, with a definition that means stopping something early on, by constantly monitoring your garden for signs of bugs and pests, you are more to prevent them from becoming a serious problem.

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How To Maintain Your Concrete Pool

How To Maintain Your Concrete Pool

One of the biggest benefits of concrete pools as opposed to pools made from other materials such as fibre glass, is their longevity. Pool builders advise that the lifespan of a concrete pool can be decades, however, that will only be the case if the pool is maintained properly. This is something which you can do for yourself, although there are companies you can hire to do the maintenance for you.

Regardless of whether you pay someone to do it for you, or you do it yourself, you certainly need to know what maintenance is required to keep a concrete pool in good condition so here are some of the main ways it should be done.

Skim The Surface

Inevitably the surface of your pool is going to have leaves, dead insects and other debris floating on top of the water. These can all cause algae to start growing if they are not removed therefore you should use a long-handled skimmer or net to remove anything that is floating on the surface of the pool as often as you can.

Brush The Floor And Walls

As well as the aforementioned algae, bacteria is also something which you do not want to linger in your concrete pool. The prime areas for algae and bacteria are the walls and the floor of the pool therefore these should be brushed at least once a week. Ideally use a brush with hard bristles, and if necessary attach a longer pole so you can reach the floor.

Vacuum Your Pool

In addition to weekly brushing, you can use a vacuum which can remove items of debris that have sunk to the floor such as leaves. Many home vacuums that are used for wet vacuuming can do the job. Alternatively there are special vacuums designed specifically for vacuuming pools.

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Top Tips to Ensure a Fast Move

If not planned and executed right, moving house can take a lot of time, effort and energy. It can cause arguments and disagreements, and ultimately, it can leave everyone feeling a little worse for wear. Using a professional removals company will help, but there’s still a lot that you and your family can do.

We’ve drawn on our years of industry experience to bring you a list of our top tips to ensure a fast move. On this list you will find a selection of useful information, so enjoy and good luck moving to your next house!

  1. Make Sure You’re Well Organised

The most important thing for ensuring a neat move is making sure that you’re very well organised. Plan well in advance, and be aware of everything that needs to happen on moving day. Consider:

  • The removal company and what time they’re arriving. You will need to have everything ready by then.
  • How long you will need to get your new home ready for the night.
  • A removals checklist that has exactly what needs to go where when you arrive at your new property.

It’s usually worth delegating tasks to different people to free up your mind a little. After all, moving house can be more than a little stressful!

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Why a Sod Lawn Might be Right for You

There’s something quite satisfying about growing a lawn from scratch. You sow the seeds, protect it from the hungry birds, and then it grows into something magnificent. Every time you look at it, you’re reminded that you’re the master of lawn care.

However, growing the perfect lawn is not something that everyone can achieve. It doesn’t mean you’re a terrible gardener, but not everyone has the same growing conditions, soil, or climate. Sometimes, a pre-grown sod lawn can be a better answer. So, in what situations would sod grass be better?

When You Don’t Have Time to Wait

Of course, growing grass from seed is satisfying, but instant gratification can be hard to pass up if it’s on the table. Sod lawn is instantly beautiful. There is no wading through mud while you wait for the grass to grow. There is no frustration at dirty carpets from muddy pawprints. There is no hassle or fuss. When you need a lawn, you buy one that’s already grown, and you have an instantly attractive yard.

It Can Cost Less

If you factor in the cost of fertiliser, seeds, weed control, and general nurturing, a sod lawn can often be more affordable than one you grow yourself. Many variables come into play, but if you are after a quick fix and would prefer one upfront cost instead of several over time, then sod could be for you.

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