How to Find the Best Building and Pest Inspection Company

Building and pest inspection Brisbane companies vary in their services so it is important to research the company you are thinking of hiring. A reputable company should offer not only offer building and pest inspections, but also pre purchase building inspections. They should have a well informed company web site available for potential customers to become better acquainted with their service. When researching a company, you should also check with Department of Fair Trading Consultancy Service. Always look for the following information:

Reputation

• 1.) The company properly licensed and insured.
• 2.) They should give estimates in a timely manner.
• 3.) The company should adhere to the Department of Fair Trading Standards.
• 4.) They should offer a guarantee on their work.
• 5.) The company should offer a fixed cost for the entire service.

Building and Pest Inspection

• 1.) An already existent building, whether it is a home or commercial property, should have a building and pest inspection. Ask for a full structural assessment, a defect list, and a pest inspection.
• 2.) Pests are hard to see. Ask if the pest control company offers thermal imaging inspections. This is a infrared inspection that allows the inspector to see if there is damage inside the structure. Both termites and white ants cause structural damage.
• 3.) The building and pest control company should give a full report that abides by the Australian standards of the Department of Fair Trading.
• 4.) The report should cover all building defects.
• 5.) The report should not only state their diagnosis of the problem, but should include how they are going to fix it.

Building Inspection

• 1.) A building inspection should be done on a pre-existing home or commercial property. The company should check for infestations and defects after renovations and repairs are done.
• 2.) The inspection should be done on electrical work, plumbing, windows, doors, fittings and fixtures, and any outdoor structures.
• 3.) A detailed report must contain details of defects, recommendations for addressing the problem, and they should give an estimate of all costs for repairs.
• 4.) The building inspector should write a report that is compliant with the Australian Standard 4349.1.
• 5.) Each property is different so a timber pest inspection may also be recommended if needed.

Pre Purchase Building Inspection

1.) A pre purchase inspection consists of both building and pest inspections before a property is purchased.

2.) If you have signed a contract to buy a house or commercial property, there is a 5 day “cooling off period” that allows the buyer to cancel the contract.

3.) Be sure to give the inspector sufficient notice so the inspection can be completed and a report done before the 5 days is up.

4.) Contact the real estate agent in writing to let them know there is damage to the building, and you have decided to withdraw from the contract.

5.) This includes not only building inspections but also pest inspections.

Energy Spring Clean With Kim Woodburn

Kim Woodburn from ‘How Clean Is Your House’ fame has teamed up with British Gas to help the British public save money on their household bills with a range of handy household tips. Kim says: ‘It’s brilliant that British Gas is giving UK households straightforward advice to help stop them wasting money on their energy bills. The current squeeze on household finances means it is madness to throw money away needlessly and I’m supporting this campaign to show people that they can start saving money today. I have loft insulation in my own home, as well as energy efficient light bulbs and draft excluders, and all of these have lowered my monthly bills. Take a look at British Gas’ top tips to see what tasks you could do to save you money!’ Some of the hints including descaling your kettle to help the water to boil quicker, insulating your loft or replacing your boiler. While other tips can even help you lose weight. Did you know for every half an hour of cleaning, you will burn an average of 100 calories, but not that, you’ll stay nice and warm the whole time, so you can turn your heating off and save money in the process. Watch the following video to find out more about the Energy Spring Clean.

How To Properly Secure A Casement Window

Everybody is concerned with security these days and that is exactly why you need to know how to properly secure a casement window. What most people don’t understand is that casement windows are already harder to open than sliding glass windows and the reason is because of the hidden hinges on the side of the window. What I mean by this is first a burglar would have to figure out which side the hinges are on and then they would have to figure out how the window opens. Most of the time a casement window uses a crank which is reinforced by a locking level to help secure the window and seal it from any outside air.

The first thing you need to do in order to properly secure a casement window is just make sure that it works properly. What I mean by this is you can’t be sure that a window is going to be safe unless you know for sure that it works the way it is supposed to. What most people don’t understand is how to check to make sure the window works the way it is supposed to. The first thing you need to do is shut the window and lock it if you can. Now that it is shut and locked you need to push against it in all corners, if the window pops out then it is not working right and must get a new one. If the casement window does pass the test and is working like it should then the one thing I would recommend getting are window alarms to stick on the top of the window. The reason why I recommend sticking them to the tops of a window is because most people looking to break into a house will look at the bottom and the sides for a latch or handle and never bother to look at the top.

Pleated Blinds Look Beautiful In a Conservatory

Having grown up in a ‘curtain’ environment it wasn’t until marriage took me away from my childhood home and my Wife introduced me to the wonder and benefits of blinds that I realised what my parents had been missing.  Not just blinds though but pleated blinds in particular.

Having left the interior design of our new home to my better half I must admit to being somewhat taken aback when she suggested pleated blinds.  What about the curtains? 

It wasn’t long before I realised just what a brilliant addition this type of blind made to the home and the interior decoration.  There was a wide selection to choose from with styles and varieties to suit any window in any house.  There are also many benefits of pleated blinds that make them more and more popular a each year goes by.

They look good on any size of window.  You cannot envisage a roman or roller blind on a small window but pleated blinds will do the trick.  They also help to control the amount of light that you may want at any particular time.  Warmth can be allowed into the room but without the blazing sunlight being admitted.  They do not block out the light in total so even when they are fully drawn there is always a modicum of brightness available.  Obviously if you need total darkness then a blackout blind is required.

In the main pleated blinds cost less than the aforementioned roller or roman kind and they are available with cord or can be cordless or even operated by remote control.  Another remote for the man of the house to play with.  With the cordless kind you will find they ensure easy maintenance and are easily operable by children.

When it comes to the actual buying of the blinds they can like most types of blind be custom made to snugly fit each window separately.  So, measure each window for size.   The width of the blind will be determined by the distance between the outermost points where the blind will hang.  The blind’s height can be measured from the top of the window to the window sill.  If there is no window sill present then take the measurement to the place you need the blind to reach to.

The majority of pleated blinds come in simple styles but with complete functionality.   In most cases if purchased from reputable stores or through the internet they will be backed by a warranty for the materials plus any workmanship that you may have performed for you.

Rob Stone writes many articles onthe DIY Conservatory and the prices online for many other designs such as the Lean To Conservatory and furniture available online.

The Importance of looking after the Guttering

If you did a survey of homeowners and asked them how many checked their guttering on a regular basis the answer would not be that many yet it is a vitally important job to do.   Rain gutters are there to protect your home from damage by water.  They are a very necessary part of your home and need to be kept free of debris to allow the rain water to run and flow freely the whole time.

During autumn and winter it is a good idea to check the gutters on a monthly basis.  Look for any items like acorns, leaves and even small branches or twigs that might inhibit the flow of the water.  This is extra important if you have foliage or trees growing nearby.  The maintenance of your gutters is important all the year round but more especially during these two seasons. 

So what is all the fuss about?  Well, the gutters are there to do a job and must be allowed to do it properly.  If they become clogged up there are several ways they can cause havoc to your property.

To begin with debris can stop the water draining away from the façade and foundations of the house.  Any water that gets backed-up can enter the infrastructure of the property with the result that if it is not dealt with can corrode the walls, foundations and any basement that is present.   Structural repairs that will follow will cost substantial sums of money.

Also, the debris if left to build up can cause a sludge-like slimy material to form which can in time weaken the gutter and cause damage that way. Consequently the water will not drain as it should.  If the dirty water spills over the side of the gutter it will take the sludge with it and the property will be subjected to large dirty stains.

Another problem can come to the fore in icy and snowy weather.  In the UK we may not suffer as much as in say, America, but if the roof is covered by a lot of snow and it starts to melt quickly from the heat from the home then any water rushing into already debris filled gutters can easily re-freeze, creating more damage from overflows of ice.  Icicles are formed and although very pretty on postcards are not good for the home.  The weight of many icicles can put pressure on the gutters.  You do not need to be a brain surgeon to work out the next move for the gutters – downwards. 

One of the main items necessary to help you clean the gutters is a step ladder or an extending ladder if your roof is high.  If you are not keen on doing this job yourself then look up in yellow pages for a reputable company or individual to do the job for you.  Even if it costs a few pounds this is an essential job that should not be left or forgotten.

Rob Stone writes articles on Home Improvement which covers many areas including DIY Conservatories as well as a range of Lean To Conservatories and their prices available online.

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