Renovations – Missalis Homes

The Future Of Residential Solar Energy Technology

By missalis | June 6, 2023 | No Comments | Home, Renovations

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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What Your Cat Needs Inside Its Cat Enclosure

By missalis | June 16, 2021 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

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

By missalis | May 7, 2021 | No Comments | Renovations

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

By missalis | April 6, 2021 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

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

By missalis | March 3, 2021 | No Comments | Renovations

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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Quality Plumbers

By missalis | March 15, 2018 | No Comments | Renovations

Is finding an experienced plumber all that difficult? There are enough stories from your friends or family about a disastrous result from hiring the wrong person to do some plumbing repairs or renovations. Is there a way to avoid a situation like that? How can you recognise if the local plumber is the right person for the job? Here are a few qualities you should be looking for in your plumber.

Cleans up after the job

Don’t you hate it when tradespeople leave the cleaning up to you after completing the job? A plumber should not be like a kid entering your home. Children tend to leave a mess with wrappers, cups and toys everywhere. You expect a neat and clean-looking tradesperson when they arrive. A quality plumber you hire should not leave a trace of their belongings in your home. Bits of cut pipe, wrappers off new equipment, dirt, and whatever else should be removed from the work area as the tradesperson leaves. There’s an old saying that a person who takes pride in their appearance will take pride in their work.

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Shade Sails Vs. Umbrellas

By missalis | October 17, 2017 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

Many businesses these days have outdoor customer areas and they see the need to provide shade, otherwise those people will go elsewhere so they don’t have to sit in scorching sun. However, there are several ways to ensure the customer area is shades and two of the most popular are with shade sails and sun umbrellas. So which is the best?

Advantages

Sails

Sails offer a larger area of shade that can include tables, chairs, walkways and borders of the area.
The sail is higher, which allows more air and breeze to pass under and through the structure, so the area is cooler.
You get more UV protection from a sail and they are usually showerproof as well.
Commercial sails don’t have to be taken down; in fact they are not meant to be removed like residential ones are.

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Why You May Need an Electrician When Painting Your Home

By missalis | January 27, 2017 | No Comments | Renovations

Many people successfully paint the exterior of their home and thus, save quite a bit on the cost of hiring professional painters. Painting a home is not that difficult, especially if it is a single storey on level ground and easy to reach to the top of the walls. However, you may need a good electrician. Why?

How long since you painted the outside of the home and really looked at things like the fascia board? Being up high, the fascia board is usually not noticed nearly as much as the lower parts of the walls. Yet it is exposed to wind and rain just as much or more than other areas. It can easily become rotten if it has not been kept painted all the time. If so, it will need to be replaced. You will be able to get such building supplies online or in store.

This may not be a problem unless the electricity is connected to the exterior of the home on that board. If it is – and this is the place where most homes are connected to the grid – you’ll need to have a qualified electrician from www.electricianperthexperts.com.au, come and switch the power off while you replace the board, then switch it back on afterwards.

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The Difference Between Limestone Bricks and Blocks

By missalis | May 24, 2016 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

Limestone is one of the most commonly used building materials because it is strong and durable. It is cut into bricks and blocks. There are several differences between the two, including the size.

Limestone bricks

Bricks are the smaller of the two and are coursed so they can be used just like normal bricks. They have a 10mm joints, while blocks are cut to allow 20mm joins. The limestone blocks are cut at the quarry and then transported to the factory for further cutting in bricks.

The bricks come cut in two different ways.

Firstly, with faces and edges diamond cut, and perpendiculars tungsten cut.
Or secondly, tungsten cut face and perps, with diamond cut edges.

The geological name of the limestone in the bricks is Tamala Eolianite, and it was formed in the Pleistocene Age. The type of stone is called Coastal Limestone and it has a Calcium Carbonate content of between 70%-95%. Of a cream colour, the compressive strength is 3.5Mpa Avg. Bricks come in 6 different sizes.

Bricks can be used in many projects from planter boxes to garden walls and from wall cladding for single or double storey buildings to even larger commercial buildings. These bricks do not have cement added; they are completely natural limestone.

Limestone blocks

There are two different types of limestone blocks.

Natural Tamala limestone blocks with quarry cut finishes on all surfaces. These are useful for fences, feature walls, piers and retaining walls. The grain is fine to medium with a compressive strength of 3.5 Mpa. There can be waste if a block splits or breaks which means they are not quite as environmentally friendly as the reconstituted blocks below, however it is still a beautiful product worthy of attention and frequently found enhancing an urban environment with the elegant shape and colour.

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Who Will Erect Your Scaffolding?

By missalis | May 4, 2016 | No Comments | Maintenance, Renovations

There are many uses for scaffolding in the building and other sectors. In most cases, scaffolding is hired rather than a company owning their own. That way they avoid the necessity of finding storage for when it is not in use, finding or owning transport to carry it to and from various worksites and employing staff to erect it. That said, if a company hires out scaffold but does not supply staff to erect it, who will you get to erect it on your worksite?

If you want to maintain safety on the building site, those who erect scaffolding should be fully trained to do so. If your own employees are going to be given that job, it is essential that they have access to and undergo the training necessary to become competent scaffolders. The risk of fatal injury is too high to allow an untrained person to simply read a manual and then go ahead and erect the scaffolding structure for your building or any other project.

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How to Get The Right Scaffolding for Your Project

By missalis | January 1, 2016 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

There are as many different types of scaffolding as there are building projects. Each project has its own specific requirements and some require scaffolding that is quite unique in that the shape, load and design specifications are different from any other. Even if your project is not totally unique, you will still want to be sure that you get the right type of scaffolding for it. So how can you be sure?

Since most scaffolding is hired, you need to choose a reputable scaffold hire company that employs trained engineers to design the scaffolding you need. Sometimes, the engineer will deem it essential to come out to the building site to take a look at the geography and ground conditions of the layout as well as other essential features such as power lines that may be nearby. Other times they will simply work from the specifications and plans that you supply to them.

The company will then design a scaffolding that will work for your project and present it to you for your approval. It is important to make sure that the structure has been designed properly and also that the actual components of the scaffolding are of the right kind and strong material. The two main choices are aluminium and steel. Aluminium is light and strong, while steel is also strong, but heavier. It is generally chosen for a structure that is complex and larger. (more…)

4 Tips for Heavy Equipment Hire

By missalis | April 18, 2015 | No Comments | Maintenance, Renovations

When a job needs heavy equipment to get done, it is not always viable to purchase what is needed, especially if it is a short term job. It is far more cost-effective to use a plant hire company because to pay for itself it needs to be in use all the time. However, hiring does not come without certain risks that can cost your business money and time: see this safety guide on equipment safety. Here are 4 tips to mitigate those risks and ensure that the job goes according to plan with no delays.

Research the hire company properly.

Naturally, you will look at their website, but it is also a good idea to put your ear to the ground and find out what other people in the industry are saying about them. When hiring equipment such as dozers, dump trucks, crushers and screeners, excavators, graders and rollers you can do without any break-downs. A hire company that has a good reputation means that they also have top class equipment that will not break down on the job – and that they offer affordable prices and fair contracts.

Understand the job

Or talk to someone who does. That way you can be sure of choosing the kind of equipment that will do the job. This not only means the type of equipment, but the size and the accessories it comes with. A smaller machine than is really needed is more likely to break down and it will certainly take longer to accomplish the same amount of work as one that is more suited in size. But if the machine is larger than necessary the operating costs will be unnecessarily high. Understanding the project may also mean finding out soil type and geographic features of the location, depending on what kind of job it is.

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Adding Elegance to Your Bathroom – Frameless Shower Screens

By missalis | April 12, 2014 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

The bathroom is an important part of the house since every member of the family uses it. These days, having an elegant bathroom is considered essential, so what can you do to make your bathroom into a place that everyone will enjoy spending time in? The answer is easy. Add frameless shower screens. There are many benefits –

With no solid walls to cast shadow in your small room it will look much bigger. Having a light, airy space will create elegance and offers the perception of space, making your bathroom look bigger than it actually is.
Being lighter makes it easier to see, so you don’t have to switch the light on quite so much – a benefit to the planet as well as to your wallet.
Enhances your lifestyle. When you have a bathroom that is pleasant to be in your lifestyle is enhanced, your stress levels go down and you can feel happier and more relaxed.
Frameless shower screens are easier to clean. The glass for the frameless screen is thicker to attain the required strength. With no frame to worry about you can get on with cleaning the glass with wide sweeps of the cloth. The job is done much more quickly.
Frameless shower screens are – pure and simple – more elegant than any other kind of shower screen. You will be proud of your bathroom once it is finished.

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Category: Renovations