Trade Services & Supplies For The Property Industry

With floods ravaging South East Queensland, causing untold property damage, power outages and claiming the life of a man on the Sunshine Coast, clean-up operations are already underway. We shouldn’t neglect protecting our homes from the post-flood rise in insect populations. One way to do this is by installing retractable fly screens.

News agencies reported that torrential rain is expected to continue, together with already humid conditions, the ideal breeding ground for insects and in particular mosquitoes.

In the 24 hours up to 9am on Thursday, the northern Gold Coast has 100mm-200mm of rainfall. A further 50-100mm has fallen since 9am.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/13/queensland-flooding-in-the-southeast-as-north-braces-for-record-heatwave

According to The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) senior meteorologist, Shane Kennedy the area around the Oxenford Weir is of particular concern.

“By midday, the Coomera River had risen to 8.5 metres in that area.

That’s a good 2.5 metres above its highest flood level, which is six metres.”

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/feb/13/queensland-flooding-in-the-southeast-as-north-braces-for-record-heatwave

Due to quick downpours and flash floods in the area, people had to be evacuated including residents of a nursing home at Mt Coolum.

In South East Queensland severe thunderstorm warnings were in place. There were also flood warnings at a number of locations. Residents have been dealing with power outages and submerged roads following torrential rains and flash flooding.

But with all the chaos, it’s important that we also consider how we’re going to deal with the aftermath of the flooding, including addressing the inevitable rise in mosquito populations due to the wet and warm conditions.

Meteorologists have forecasted heatwave conditions in the state’s far north, with temperatures expected to reach into the mid-40s.

Following flooding, mosquitoes will begin to breed in stagnant water, which will be more common after flood. The longer the water stands stagnant, the more mosquitoes.

While we can control the amount of stagnant water on our own properties to an extent, following a flood, we can’t be certain that all the stagnant pools of water around us are eliminated. The best we can do is ensure we are protected beforehand to deal with the inevitable onslaught of mosquitoes.

One of the most effective ways to protect your home is by ensuring large door and window openings are protected with retractable fly screens. If you already have fly screens in place, ensure that they are intact and in perfect working order.

Here’s a checklist to ensure you’re protected from insects following a flood,

• Address all collections of stagnant water to prevent mosquitoes infesting your property. Check all puddles, muddy areas and other places where water may have accumulated such as trash cans, gutters, storage containers, tarps and walls on your property.
• When outdoors, ensure you wear long sleeves and pants or utilise insect repellent, particularly around dusk and dawn when mosquitoes are most active.
• Ensure your windows and doors are covered with retractable fly screens.

It’s important to keep in mind that some insects come in with the flood waters, so even getting rid of all stagnant water on your property may not be enough to keep them at bay. They may also come from neighbouring properties, or standing water sources out of your reach. That is why covering your door and window openings with retractable fly screens is crucial.

Given the forecasted hot conditions, temperatures are expected to reach into the mid-30s, having retractable fly screens installed will allow you to have doors and windows open to keep your home cool without allowing insects to swarm your home.

 

CHOOSING THE RIGHT FLOORING FOR YOUR HOME

Flooring can do a lot for a house, it can completely transform an old house to brand new and can make a simple structured house appear more exquisite. Choosing new flooring can be quite the task for anyone. Some things must be taken into consideration, from the type of the room to personal taste or even traffic flow. Other factors such as durability, exposure to moisture, regular cleaning and the presence of children are also in question.

There various materials to choose from and each material has its pros and cons. Here are some of the most popular types of flooring guaranteed to make your home as appealing as you desire it to be;

HARDWOOD

Hardwood is the most preferred type of flooring worldwide by homeowners. The flooring’s natural outlook, durability, and warm feeling make it the most sought after when it comes to flooring.Hardwood is much more resistant to stains and spills. There are different types of hardwood. The oak is the most installed type of hardwood given its smooth finish. Hardwood can give your home a luxurious interior look and has a long shelf life.  It's organic origin, and electromagnetic nature repels dust and hence minimal allergens or molds accompanied by dust. Hardwood floors come in a multiple of styles from parquet, planks and even prefinished boards that you can install on your own. They get scratched, dented, scuffed and damaged but can easily be rectified by sanding, smoothing and refinishing. As compared to engineered wood and laminated flooring, hardwood is less prone o damage. Hardwood is also very baby-friendly. With its maintenance stretching between 3-4yrs depending on the traffic flow, hardwood flooring might be exactly what you want.

 

LAMINATE

Laminate floors are made from different wood-based materials layered or laminated together and finished with a wood grain photographic imprint on each surface of the board.

You might have come across laminate flooring in homes, boardrooms and a few corridors. Laminate flooring is one of the most sought after floorings there is, with its wood-like appearance, many homeowners are inclined towards it. Not only is this type of flooring cheaper compared to solid wood hardwood installation but also easier to install.

Unlike marble or carpet, hardwood laminate flooring does not experience fading in the sunlight. The durable melamine plastic wear makes it resistant to stains, impact, and scratches. The laminate flooring does not require any specialist; one can easily install the flooring on their own with the tongue and groove system.

There exist different variations of laminate floors, and one of them is the engineered wood floors. The engineered wood floor consist of a real hardwood veneer attached to multiple plywood layers. This type of flooring is much more expensive than the average laminate flooring because it incorporates real hardwood rather than a photographic imprint. The engineered floor appears to be more real than the conventional laminate floor, to some extent, it assumes the nature of the hardwood floor.

 

BAMBOO

The bamboo tree which takes only five years to grow to maturity is cheaper as compared to the hardwood floors that take up to 120 years to grow to its full size. The material used to create the floor is a lightweight woody grass and not a tree. It has multiple qualities in line with the hardwood. Bamboo flooring is recognized as an ecologically friendly activity, streamed from natural vegetation. There are different types of flooring boards such as the vertical bamboo which has the striped outlook, and horizontal bamboo shows the unique grain pattern and strand wove bamboo mixes the grass fibers together so that they are interlocked( it’s the most expensive flooring).

This material is highly resistant and can withstand extreme changes in temperature and humidity. The installation of the bamboo flooring is quite similar to the hardwood flooring installation, in both cases tongue and groove joints are incorporated for a smooth finish. Bamboo flooring is cheaper than hardwood flooring and lasts just as long.

Bamboo can be carbonized to prevent it from darkening due to Ultra Violet rays. Carbonized bamboo flooring is softer than natural bamboo.

CORK

If you are pro-green, then Cork flooring is another option to take into consideration. The wood’s honeycomb-like structure gives the flooring a cushioning feel when one walks around. This similar characteristic enables the floor to absorb vibrations and sound. Cork flooring gives the room certain warmth and quietness as well as aesthetic versatility. They usually come in tiles which are nonslip and with a natural appearance making it suitable for wet areas such as kitchen or bathroom. You can also find them available in planks coming in various styles, colors and sizes.

Cork flooring is durable as it resists cracking and abrasions, comfortable, fire-resistant, however, melt or ignite at high temperatures and practical

LINOLEUM

The popularity of linoleum is on the rise primarily because it is eco-friendly. The fact that the flooring is made from natural materials such as linseed oil, rosins and wood flour appeals to many people all over and is considered as the green flooring choice. Linoleum being natural based, it has nil adverse health effects whether it’s during production, installation, use or disposal. The pros of linoleum are vast- the floor is antistatic meaning the potential of electric shock is minimized, scratch resistant, the floor is easy to clean, water resistant and comfortable underfoot. This type of floor comes in a variety of colors and gives the homeowner freedom of creativity. It is mostly found in hospitals.

TILE

When choosing the correct tiles for your house, porcelain is definitely on top of the list, terracotta and natural stones- marble, granite, travertine or slate are also quite popular. Porcelain is mostly preferred given that it is cost-effective. The material is also easy to maintain, and its aesthetic value combined with the hardness makes it more alluring. Unlike porcelain, the marble is porous and must be under maintenance. Glazed porcelain tile can withstand heavy traffic areas and doesn’t restrict one to a single type. The variety of different hues, textures, and finishes gives one the opportunity to be creative and explore the varied options of color, sizes, and textures. Tiled floors are most suitable for hotter areas in the country as they do not retain heat as efficiently as carpets or laminates.

VINYL

Vinyl flooring is the most value conscious option today. This flooring is most suitable for rooms that are moisture prone such as the kitchen, laundry room, bathrooms or basement. Vinyl is easier to clean and has a soft underfoot. It may come as a sheet or self-stick tile. Vinyl gives you the freedom to choose the thickness and width that suits the room. The thicker the vinyl, the more traffic it can withstand.

CONCRETE

The last bit, not the least is the concrete flooring. The plain and gray concrete can be manipulated into becoming anything you have ever visualized. There exist multiple special stains to stamp the concrete making it appear as polished marble, tumbled stone or brick pavers.

Concrete floors are durable and are ranked as the highest resistance type of floors. They are also cheap and require minimal maintenance. Have your home with beautified concrete floors.

 

Different rooms require different floorings. Such as;

Kitchen

The kitchen flooring needs ease of cleaning to be subtle and also durability. One is inclined towards linoleum, wood and ceramic tile. All require very little maintenance and are very durable- resisting dents, dings, and scratches.

When installing tiles, keep in mind the subflooring whether there is structural movement and if replacement is needed before installation. Also if you have children or persons with disability, take note to ensure you install the floors with a textured surface and not just a smooth tile.

info about flooring

Hardwood is a great option for the kitchen given the heavy traffic of the room. Ensure that the wood has the protective outer layer of polyurethane that protects its surface from different kinds of moisture.

Bathrooms

Linoleum, limestone, marble, granite and ceramic tile are accessible and functional options for the bathroom. These different materials have different price tags and installation. Ceramic tiles are expensive to install but all the same worth it if you desire that marble outlook.

Tree surgery is a complex business, and the ideal treatment is important if the tree is to develop. With correct pruning, a tree can be shaped to enhance the property, while providing that much needed shade in the summer.

What exactly is an Arborist?

An arborist is a trained expert who understands everything about caring for different variety of trees. How to manage them, prune them, and plant trees. An additional name for an arborist is a tree surgeon. On occasions where a tree must be removed, the arborist should have experience at all levels, and would be able to safely remove the tree and the stump, leaving the land prepared and ready for the project to begin.

When looking for an arborist, choose one with at least an AQF5 certification.

Consulting Arborists work hand in hand with your local council and can provide detailed inspections and reports before any work is done.

Tree and Land Clearing

Construction projects need property to be cleared prior to any work can be commenced. And trees need to be removed. When we remove a tree, that means the whole tree, and with stump grinding, the roots are mulched up into wood chips, and the area is ready for construction. Assurance Trees have been working on building and commercial projects for many years, so we have the experience and the capabilities to take on any job.

Tree Pruning

To prune tree is to rejuvenate the growing process, as all dead or unwanted branches are removed, and the tree can be shaped to blend in with the surroundings. Over pruning is very prevalent, and in fact this can significantly harm the tree itself, so it is best left to the arborist, who is familiar will all the local area species, and can provide the optimal approach.

Risk Assessment

The average individual would never notice the all of the crucial steps that need to take place to guarantee a tree is safely taken down. So many unexpected things can go wrong. If you have any concerns about any tree on your home or business, find out more at Assurance Tree Services tree lopping website . Our arborist team would be more than happy to perform a free risk assessment, at a convenient time for you. Large trees with canopies can retain a lot of water, and after a heavy storm, an unhealthy tree might not take the weight, and this could cause a great deal of damage.

When You Need a Tree Removed

There are so many factors when it comes to cutting down a tree. Many people feel they can just cut it down, unfortunately the risk is great to both yourself and property. In a closed area, the tree surgeon would take the tree down piece by piece, eliminating the chance of any damage to the surrounding properties. Measures would be taken to protect the lawn if necessary, and with a fully insured company with many years of hands-on experience dealing with all aspects of tree care, you can feel confident the job will be efficiently carried out.

Fully Insured

All our arborists are completely insured, and while we strive to ensure minimal damage, large branches can cause serious problems. Trees can be extremely unpredictable, especially in high winds, and with comprehensive insurance, for property and injury, you can relax, safe in the knowledge that you are insured for any eventuality.

Talk to the Experts

If you have any tree issues, at your home or office, contact us. We can advise you on council regulations, safety and pretty much and any aspect of tree care.

Maybe you remember the morning where it was below freezing outside. You got the kids showered and off to school, washed the dishes and even did a few loads of laundry. You were exhausted afterwards but before going to work yourself you just wanted to take a nice hot shower to relax. There is only one problem; with all the hot water you used for everything else there is none left for you. This would not be a problem if you hooked up a water heater to a gas or oil powered furnace. A hot water furnace can come in very handy indeed.

It does not matter if you are entertaining guests or a lot of your family members are using the wash, bathroom or sinks all at the same time; unlimited hot water from a hot water furnace is an excellent bonus to have around your house

How Does a Hot Water Furnace Work?

A hot water furnace simply works as an add odd in most instances to your existing natural gas, propane or oil forced air furnace in most circumstances. The theory behind it is that you are already using that heat source to heat your home at certain times of the year so why not use some of the residual heat in the system to heat the water in your house too.

Your home forced air furnace produces a lot of heat to say the least; oil burns slightly hotter than natural gas or propane so it is ideal to hook up an oil hot water furnace to your new or existing forced air furnace. It is hard to beat the combination of some potential energy savings and the unlimited amount of hot water that a hot water furnace gives you.

In a hot water furnace the water passes through special tubes in the heating chamber and becomes super-heated in the process. Since the water is heated on demand there is no hot water storage tank involved in the process like you see in many homes that have a cylindrical electric water heater. Once the water is heated it simply goes to the hot water tap in a sink or bathroom. Long hot showers, multiple wash loads or even doing the dishes for several minutes after a holiday meal do not affect the hot water supply if you have a hot water furnace.

Benefits of a Hot water Furnace

It has already been discussed that the major benefit of having a hot water furnace is the fact that it will give you unlimited hot water. It will also save you money in most situations too because most fossil fuel furnaces cost less to run than a traditional electric water heater. So you get more hot water, convenience and energy savings in most every case.

If you have a forced air heating system you may want to talk to your local HVAC company and see if they have a hot water furnace that will work for you.

A home is where the heart is. As cliché as it sounds, this is a definite fact especially for people who worked hard to get their dream homes. A home is supposed to make people feel comfortable. Thus, a lot of homeowners tend to have a hard time choosing even the simplest aesthetics for their homes.

Decorating a home can make it even more comfortable. In fact, a homes paint color can have emotional effects on the people living in it. Hence, it is very important to choose not just the right color for your home but also the right people to do it. There are Melbourne painting services available for homeowners to help them out with this task.

Painting may seem like an easy job, but a professionally painted home is still definitely more streamlined and efficiently done. If you are still thinking twice about hiring professional house painters Melbourne services, here are some things you should consider:

1. Experience When choosing a company that offers Melbourne painting services, be sure to check that particular companys experience in the industry. This can be easily done by checking how long they have been in the business and how many clients they have handled. The more clients they have handled before, the more you will be assured that they can actually do their job well.

2. Past Clients You can also check on their previous clients to see their quality of work. A good contractor will proudly showcase his previous works. Good contractors dont need to advertise themselves in the market because a previous customers great feedback can already give them all the exposure they need.

3. Communicate Well Be sure to come into terms before actually signing an agreement with the company that will offer you Melbourne painting services. Make sure that the contractor can communicate well. You are going to be the one living in your home for a long period of time. Hence, the contractor should be able to do what you like for your home without questions.

4. Budget Of course, you also have to consider your budget. There are a lot of Melbourne painting services available in the area and you will surely find a contractor that will best fit your budget without affecting your desired outcome. Again, you should be able to communicate well with the contractor in order to come up with a plan that can help you improve your home without having to break your wallet.

5. Licensed It is always better to get Melbourne painting services from a company that is legitimately allowed to do business in the area. Never opt to get the services of a company that does not have a business permit to do so. Not only are you not assured of their work quality but there will be a tendency that you will have no claims over them for their poorly executed job in the future because they are not a legit company.

If you want to live in a comfortable home, you will need to hire the services of a professional for a paint job. This will definitely save you from all the stress that can come from the task of painting your wall.

When shopping for furnaces there are definitely a lot of things to consider before actually making your purchase. You for sure just dont want to purchase the first model that you take a look at. You have to consider all the different options available on all the different models in order to get the furnace unit that best meets your needs. Here are some tips for how to choose the best furnace for your needs.

There are several key factors which you must look at when purchasing a forced air furnace system. They are as follows:

There is nothing more important than sizing the furnace unit that you want to buy to the size of your home. Too powerful a forced air furnace will just be a waste of money and one that is too small may not work well for you when the weather is really cold. Your local furnace dealer should be able to work with you to determine the proper size furnace for your needs.

Of course cost is a major factor when it comes to a big purchase like a forced air furnace unit. It is important to keep in mind the other things that are discussed here too because sometimes the more expensive units are actually better values because of the money they will save you on efficiency or other factors in the long run.

3. Warranty

Forced air furnaces are by no means inexpensive to repair if a major part on them should fail. Get one with the longest warranty possible; especially on the major components such as the combustion chamber and blower unit.

4. Ease of Installation

Choose a unit that is easy to install or if you are replacing an existing unit choose one that will retrofit easy so you dont have to make any other major changes. You want a unit that leaves you enough space to use the area around it and does not take up an entire room because it needs lots of air intake to work.

5. Reputation

It is no secret that certain brands of forced air furnaces are better than others and may be worth paying more for. Do some research to find out which of the manufacturers you are looking at have the best reputations.

6. Efficiency

It was mentioned before that certain units are worth paying more for because they are so energy efficient and will save you a lot of money over the long haul. Make sure you consider this when purchasing. It is an important part of knowing how to purchase the best furnace.

7. The Company You Purchase From

Just as important as the reputation of the product you are buying is the reputation of the company you are buying from. Make sure you check out some of the reviews from customers that have purchased from them. You also want to make sure that have a service tech that can handle warranty and regular repairs too.

Hopefully these tips will help ensure that you now know how to choose the best furnace unit for your home.