Wall decal

Kids Room Decoration and Wall Stickers

A wall decal, also known as a wall sticker, wall tattoo, or wall vinyl, is a vinyl sticker that is affixed to a wall or other smooth surface for decoration and informational purposes. Wall decals are cut with vinyl cutting machines. They are usually one color per decal, but may also have various images printed upon them.

Types and sizes

Types can include simple small wall borders, and cut outs to more complex mural types, that may cover an entire wall. This can also feature words pictures and designs.Vinyl wall decals come in various shapes and sizes. They can be as small or as large as you would like them to be. Regular wall decals are usually between 30 cm x 50 cm to 60 cm x 100 cm. Larger decals are 100 cm x 100 cm, but can be larger when custom ordered.
Most vinyl decals are not reusable, although some reusable vinyl types are available. These decals are usually printed images with a sort of laminate overlay, this allows the decal to be removed without being stretched and is thus reusable.

Uses

Vinyl Decals have various uses. Vinyl decals were originally only used for sign making but has recently been added to interior decorators portfolios and has also become well known as a Do-It-Yourself home decorating option.
Decals can be used on windows as branding, advertising and decoration and even serves as a tool to inform people that there is a glass door or window. Decals can also be stuck onto walls and tiles for decoration, branding or advertising.

Wall Decal Decorating with Disney Girls Princess

What's missing from your little girls room? Are the walls plain? That's it! Learn how decorating with girls wall decals can be a fun, easy, and cost-effective way to brighten up any children's bedroom or playroom.

Every girl needs her room to be a place that she can go and escape to. By creating a safe haven for your little girl, you will be giving her the gift of freedom. But first, you must create a bedroom into a place that she will love spending time in.

This is easily done by decorating with stunning peel-and-stick wall stickers, decals and wall murals. Amongst the most popular stickers and decorations in general are Disney princess stickers. Check around - there's a full range of Disney princesses out there, with more growing every year (i.e. Rapunzel, Merida, Tiana, etc...) as well as classics such as Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, and Aurora.

 Always allow your girl to choose her favorite. If she's watched any of the Disney princess movies she already knows who she likes. These princess stickers will add a personalized touch to any girls’ room and make her feel like she is living in a fairy tale. There are even wall decals you can order that come printed with your child's own name!

Giant-sized XL wall murals can really make a dramatic impact when it comes to decorating. Imagine your little girl walking into her room and seeing an entire wall dedicated to Disney princesses! Castles, horse-drawn carriages, plus scenes from all major Disney princess movies are available in six-by-ten foot or even nine-by-twelve foot extra large wall murals! These laser-sharp pieces of colorful wall art are not peel-and-stick like their smaller counterparts, but they're an amazing way of creating an instant impact when it comes to a little girl's Disney themed bedroom.

Another way to personalize your Disney themed bedroom is too add chalkboard wall stickers. These chalkboard stickers are increasing in popularity as parents and children are realizing their potential. Let’s face it; kids like to draw on walls. With these chalkboard stickers your child will be able to draw on the stickers and simply wipe it away when they are done. The great thing about chalkboard stickers is that they come in a range of different styles. There are even Disney Fairies chalkboard wall stickers, so your little girl can keep it in tune with her Disney World bedroom.

Not too crazy about the powdery mess left behind by chalk? Dry erase decals are exactly like chalkboard stickers, except they use dry-erase markers instead of chalk. These white, clean-looking wall decals can be smoothed onto any smooth surface. These can also be found in a variety of girls Disney styles, and most of them come with a free dry erase marker included.
The great thing about peel-and-stick wall decals is that they can be added to any room. They're wall-safe, go on (and come off) without any glue or mess, and be easily removed; leaving no trace that they were there. These stickers won’t leave your room with any sticky residue or rip any paint from the walls, making them perfect for apartments and dorm rooms too.

Replacing Doors

 Energy Effecient Fibreglass Doors Substitute for Wooden Doors

A fiberglass door is not wholly made of fiberglass. For example, for aesthetic purposes some sections of the

door will really contain wood in elements like paneling, despite the fact that the door will be primarily composed fiberglass. Moreover, the core of the door may be made of insulating materials. Fiberglass, previously used as an insulating material in its fiber form, is already a fine choice for energy aware homeowners. Supplementation of insulation materials to the core magnifies the underlying insulating properties of fiberglass. 

Some may find that the customization routine becomes a tad overwhelming because of the huge number of options. Upwards of twenty or so types of arrangements will have to be considered by the end buyer. Furthermore, the number increases if side lights are included. Additionally, not like a material such as metal where the choices of physical look are more limited, the hue of the fiberglass door also should be chosen. The wood finish of the fiberglass should also be selected by the homeowner consumer. The styles of finish, as in those for treating wood, are antique hickorys and cherries. Additional customization is also possible. When the layout is fixed, the consumer may request individual customization such as carvings to make the door stand out from others on the street. Glass panels may be added in pieces to the center door, or on the side lights. The brands of glass and their patterns are also available in a preponderance of styles. If extra customization is needed, the process will be more difficult. 

Real estate construction firms who build buildings or individuals who have bought a house find themselves in the position of having to pick the type of entry door to put in. As the entry door plays a huge role in dictating the style of the home, it is not expected that a choice can be made lightly. But as it is, there are several choices for the contemporary house owner. A door composed of fiberglass is a popular option. Fiberglass has an abundance of properties making it a superior option over the more normal wood material. It is superbly robust, a tad cheaper, invulnerable to water and sunlight, and can be forged to the aesthetics of those preferring the appearance of wood. The surface of fiberglass can even be stained to imitate the looks of trendy woods like hickory.

 How about the installation process? The installation of a replacement door has for a long period implied putting a replacement into the frame after detaching the previous one from its hinges. The modern course of action is installation of an entry system. An entry system is a wise investment because the cost can be simply recovered as it enhances the look and sellability of the house. An entry system is made up of the door, the jamb (or frame), the threshold. 

Owing to the fact that the entry system is already made, substantial customization can be chosen without compromise on price or caliber. The house owner may add some real individualized touches, or to simplify the matter, select from a list of patterns or bits that can be added to the door. Tint of stain and finish can easily be chosen. including wood and steel, fiberglass is one of the most hardened materials with possibly the cheapest maintenance overhead, meaning homeowners will not have to think of price as the top worry. The consequence is that manufacturers of fiberglass doors can spare to give better warranties. Some makers will go to the point of ensuring the door for the time of house ownership, if the entry system is too expensive

Home Enhancement

Careful with a Builder for Home Enhancement

Seeing your home improvement fantasy become a reality is possible, however only if you lay your hands on the perfect contractor. Preceding the hire of a contractor, you might want to ensure that you have looked at every angle because you will not desire to have bad disappointments down the road. Advice we give you in this article is created to support you in hiring someone who is truthful as well as someone you can count on.

No matter how concerned you are over your budget, avoid the temptation to pick the cheapest contractor who bids on your project. Consider the fact that your home is likely to be the most valuable asset you possess, it's in your best interest to protect it.

Before you hire anyone to do the work on your home it's vital that you are sure you're getting someone qualified to do the work and who will use quality materials to get the job done. If all the estimates you've received are similar in price and there are no contractors that you have a preference for then you might want to go with the lowest overall estimation. On the other hand, you should be very suspicious of any contractor who claims the ability to do the work for a considerably lower price than the others.

Ask contractors to provide you with credit or bank references. While this may sound extreme, you can't be too careful when it comes to someone who's going to be working on your property. If you don't know the contractor it's especially important to make sure he has credit in the area. The key here is to feel confident that your contractor isn't going to skip town the moment you've paid your deposit. It's very likely that any legitimate contractor in the neighborhood is going to have some kind of accounts for credit with one of the many local building supply companies. This will only be effective if you choose to go with a licensed contractor rather than a generally jack of all trades kind of helper.

Keep in mind that some repair projects can be done without the assistance of a contractor.

Often times, you can do much of the work yourself or with limited assistance from a general handyman. It's when projects require plumbers and electricians or involve major renovations that a licensed and insured contractor becomes necessary. When your project can't be done without a permit the odds are good that you'll need a contractor then too. It's a huge risk for you not to hire a contractor for these tasks for you as well as those who are helping you.

There are a number of aspects to take into consideration when preparing to do home improvements; along with choosing the most qualified person to do the job. You will have the assignment of weeding through the many builders; finding a suitable one to fit your needs. At that point, the contractor will take over and start making the improvements you want. Look at your options and choose the contractor that will fit the bill.

Solar Panel

How to Choose a Solar Panel Installer for Home

Solar panels are the most popular of all of the environmental technologies on the market due to them being easy to install and the attractive potential to generate free electricity - and therefore income – from them. However finding an installer when the number of suppliers in the marketplace has increased rapidly isn’t easy. What are the most important things to consider when choosing and installer – should they be qualified? Accredited? Registered? Would a national company be better than a local one?

Here are a few hints and tips to consider when making your choice from the vast number of suppliers currently on the market.

Location

Sometimes having a supplier that is closer to home can be beneficial when it comes to maintenance and support. Also you can take the opportunity to visit their premises if you want to see the kind of set up they have and meet some of the staff on the team who will be installing your solar panels. You may not get this opportunity with a bigger firm and may only meet your installation team on the day they turn up to do the job.

Accredited

All suppliers of solar panels must be professional, trained and experienced, and the industry has put in place an accreditation scheme – The Microgeneration Certification Scheme - that all of them must join if they wish to fit solar panel systems on domestic or commercial roofs and obtain Feed-In Tariff payments, whether that is on your behalf or their own. When it comes to training, there are no formal qualifications that anyone can take to be classed as ‘qualified’ to fit solar panels. However, each solar panel manufacturer and occasionally supplier will hold courses on how fit specific makes and models of panels. It pays to find out whether your installer has had this training, as someone who hasn’t may not understand the nuances of each particular solar panel model.

Established and experienced

Many of the best suppliers have been in business for several years when they decided to invest the time and money in developing their skills and services long before solar panels became ‘popular’. Often this can be a good indication of an installer that has done their homework and is intent on doing a good job and build a successful company. They’re not in it just to make a quick buck in a rising market. Also, the longer someone has been installing solar panels the more experienced they are at coping with and solving all the little problems that naturally crop up during an installation.

Feed-In Tariffs

Some installers have schemes to install your panels for free if they get to keep the Feed-In Tariff payments, so you get the free electricity only. Others only work to install solar panels for customers that will pay and own the panels, leaving you to benefit from the Feed-In Tariffs yourself and obtain free electricity. It really depends on what your budget and aims for the system are.

Price

There’s no denying that if you choose to buy the solar panels yourself and claim the Feed-In Tariffs the amount of money you will have to spend will be high, but once the cost of the equipment is accounted for what remains is the cost of labour, assessing the site and fitting the panels. There can be considerable variations between installers so it pays to shop around and obtain several quotes. You’re not necessarily looking for the cheapest, but it will help you to see what the average quote is and avoid those at the extremes that may either be cutting corners or inflating their costs.

Warranty

Good installers will give you a 5-10 year warranty on their workmanship and come back to sort out any problems. This can also be a useful indication of their confidence they will be providing you with a quality installation. They should also discuss with you the servicing that may be required and what to do in the event you have a problem with the system.

Recommendation

It goes without saying that a good recommendation from someone is worth its weight in gold, so ideally find out what other properties they have installed solar panels on and ask the owner for their opinion. Don’t necessarily go with just the customers they give you the details for, in case they are giving you the only customer they did a decent job for or it turns out the ‘customer’ is really a friend or family member.

Variety of products

The more brands and models installers carry the more likely it is they will have a solution that fits your property and your needs. Someone who tries to shoehorn just the one system onto every property do an installation for will not necessarily be looking to give you a fully customized solar panel system, and that can cause problems in the long run. All MCS-accredited installers are required to fit only approved products, but that doesn’t mean they should necessarily stick to just the one brand and model.

Painting

Paint Your Home [5 Steps]

If you are looking to learn how to paint your house, it is likely that you have come across many confusing articles which do little to help with your project. Finding the proper method to paint your house is actually easier than you might think. These five tips will guarantee a smooth and straightforward project once you thoroughly review the correct techniques on how to paint your house.

1. Prep the house. If you want ensure a perfect job, the first step towards learning how to paint your house includes an inspection. Many first time home painters make the mistake of overlooking a thorough prep of the exterior and instead focus on getting started painting right away. If the house paint is old and cracking away, it may be necessary to first remove it before adding a new layer. If the surface of the areas to be painted is dirty with years of grime it will also be important to thoroughly wash the exterior with the proper solution. The easiest way to remove the dirt is to mix the right chemical solution with water in a power washer. This technique should always be the first step if you truly want to know how to paint your house in a way that will ensure the job lasts for years to come.

2. Gather the proper materials. When getting ready to paint your house all of the materials should be gathered and organized ahead of time. Ladders, paint, paintbrushes, drop clothes and proper attire are all necessary components. Using the cheapest paintbrushes may save you some cash however if you really want to learn how to paint your house the right way you’ll opt for the better quality brushes. Paint is also important. It is vital to use the correct paint for each type of surface that needs to be coated. If the shingles are wood, be sure to use paint made for exterior wood. However this same paint should not be used on the concrete foundation since it will likely crack and peel away over the years. Metal surfaces such as basement doors or trim require their own special paint as well. Understanding how to paint your house means that you also must understand the differences between the exterior surfaces and the paints that are required. A good quality paint that is designed for the exterior of your home is the ideal choice someone deciding to learn how to paint your house.

3. Prime the surface. If you want to learn how to paint your house in a way that ensures it lasts, be sure to use a good primer. A coat of primer will soak into the surface and create a solid and smooth surface on which to paint. If you skip the primer when deciding how to paint your house you will find that you will end up using far more of that expensive exterior paint than you planned on. Primer can also seal the underlying surface if it need be. If the exterior wood shingles are old and dried out, primer will replenish the surface and get it ready for the topcoat. While taking the time to use primer first may seem long and tedious, it is a necessary step if you are interested in learning how to paint your house the way that professionals do it.

4. Start at the top. Once the coats of primer have dried you can now begin to put the knowledge you learned regarding how to paint your house to use. Set up the ladder in a way that makes certain it is secure and level before you attempt a climb. Have a friend wait at the bottom to steady the ladder as you climb and also to watch out in case you accidentally lose your grip. It can seem like a waste of time to have someone stand idly by telling you how to paint your house from below but it is a safety precaution that can save your life. Use, smooth, even strokes and be sure to not use too much paint. Adding heavy layer will not make the process go quicker but will instead cause unsightly lumps and drip marks. While you are up there it can also be a good idea to paint all surface that need it including the window trims, soffits, or other parts. If your friend below continues to tell you how to paint your house, try switching places with him for a while to give yourself a break and keep him quiet.

5. Allow to dry between coats. If you want to know the secret behind truly knowing how to paint your house then make sure you wait the necessary time between coats. Allowing the paint to dry thoroughly between each layer of paint can make all the difference in the world. If you think you know how to paint your house and go ahead and slap some more paint on top of a semi-dry layer, you are setting it up for future cracks and problems. Paint that instead dries completely before the next layer is added creates a super strong and solid cover of protection for your house. Allowing enough time to dry may differ between the types of paints and surface so be sure to read each can before proceeding with how to paint your house the proper way.

Gardening

ROOF GARDENING

After a small adventure I had to go through with my apartment building tenants who needed some convincing, I was allowed to begin working on a roof garden at which I imagined myself spending time relaxing under the sun while conversing with friends. But since the space I was allowed to use from the roof top was not as big as the whole roof itself, I had to adjust my plans to the already permanent constructions and always come up with new ideas as I was moving along.

 My anxiety was reduced when I my research revealed that humans have been growing plants atop of structures since antiquity. In addition to the decorative benefit, my roof plantings would provide temperature control, architectural enhancement and recreational opportunities. The new residential garden I was creating was based on plantations placed in beautiful pots and wooden containers which I bought for a fraction of their original cost at yard sales and clearances. After walking through parks and gardening supply stores, I decided on the colors the height and the overall appearance of the plants that would go inside the pots. Specifically, I began by placing the biggest plants I bought closer to the existing walls and continued by scattering my medium-sized plants close to the ends of the available open area and placing the smaller ones in the front or at their sides. This created a balanced effect and the still available space gave the impression that the plants did not used up any space, but on the contrary enhanced the overall look and feel of the apartment building's terrace.

When all the plants and flowers were in place, I installed the watering system that would provide the necessary nutrients to my houseplants helping them to grow and continue being healthy. Soil fertilizers and plated for the pots were added last and then the fun part of decorating the whole roof garden area started. I began by placing some necessary, but fine furniture to live-up the place. A wooden long table was placed across the only wall and between two small trees at its right and left corners. In front and behind the table, two wooden benches completed the scene, while white, green and blue candles were placed in specially designed glass vases for them to provide light without the wind blowing them off. 

A wide off-white canvas was hanged above the table at a certain height in order to provide some shadow and keep the temperature at lower levels during summer time. The cloth was decorated with shells and small colored stones which I stitched from its inner side and on the wall behind the table I hanged glass bottles of different shapes and sizes, which I filled up with colored sand, bluish small stones and white shells. Some of the glass containers contained candles, which when they were lit created an amazing effect with the rest of the glass bottles against the wall. Chairs and smaller tables that folded in half were also placed in the roof garden, while torches were put at the two open corners of the roof garden to illuminate the outcome at night time

Flooring

NEW WAYS OF HOME FLOORING

Your home is your paradise and if you are planning to renovate your home, goes for the changes that are not only eye catchy but also comfortable for you and your family. Remodeling of the home is associated with revolutions and amendments adjusted in every nook and cranny of the home. If you are going to change the flooring of your home there are some tips for flooring of different parts of you house.

Bedroom Flooring:

There are plenty options when it comes to flooring in your bedroom. Being the most private and personalized part of your home, your bedroom is the place which grabs a big part of your budget whenever you are remodeling your home. You can use carpet, tile, hardwood, bamboo, cork or laminate. Play with different materials in different rooms. You can opt for striped light and dark shades in your boy's room so that if your son is going to create mess, which is unavoidable, the flooring can withstand the burden. Also the flooring can bear heavy traffic of the folks coming in the bedroom. For more powerful scratch and water resistant flooring you can choose laminate.

Living Room Flooring:

It is the most used part that withholds most of the traffic coming in and out of the house. It is highly recommended that the flooring should be strong enough that it can endure all such amendments done with your furniture or to the increasing and decreasing ratio of visitors. For this purpose you can opt for hardwood flooring. Being classy and sophisticated in look it is the perfect choice for your living room whenever you are remodeling your home.

Kitchen Room Flooring:

Design the floor of your kitchen in such a way that it not only looks pretty but also gives a practical impression. You can choose from vinyl, tile, natural stone, wood, cork or laminate. A floor covering that is water resistant and durable such as tile is a best choice to protect against potential water damage. Make sure when you choose your floor to order a little extra of the product in the event that you drop something like a pot on your floor. If the flooring material is damaged, you will be sure to have enough to repair the floor because often floor manufacturers have high turnover of their products to insure a continual buying cycle. Most flooring contractors add 5-10% additional square footage of the flooring product to their purchase order to insure they have enough for the project and to provide the client with a little extra flooring for future use.