How to build a brick wall

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Brick laying is a skill that you can easily learn provided you are a self-builder and keen to build (or fix) the brick wall in your home. In order to achieve best results, you need to lay quality bricks. You may want to hire an experienced tradesman for the quality results, that may be a cost effective option too. While building a wall or repointing brick, the mortar you use should be of good quality because it helps in maintaining the wall over the years.

As mentioned in the beginning, if you want to get involved in the bricklaying project yourself, you need to practice this skill and the best way to practice is to start with building a wall in your garden. Although it seems easy, but the most experienced DIY will need to practice it first. before you get start with the project consider following requirements. Consider the type of the brick, standard size is recommended, you can consult this chart to get the right type of brick.

1. Layout the Bricks:
When you have prepared the grounds, and necessary foundation is prepared, lay out the bricks at both ends of the wall. With the help of the string line, make a straight line at brick height between the two outside bricks.

2. Mix Sand and Cement:
Accumulate five shovels of sand and one of cement on a board or any surface. With the help of shovel, mix it to make it a consistent color. make the mixture hollow from the center, pour water and mix it well. repeat until it turns into a smooth creamy texture or paste, but not runny mixture.

3. Lay Mortar:
Along the string line, lay 1 to 2 cm mortar bed. Lay first brick, while starting at one end, and tap over it to settle it on the mortar. Apply the mortar paste at one end of the next brick, and place it next to the first brick and attach both of the bricks. Repeat the procedure along with the string line to keep it straight.

4. Place the brick side-on where the pillar starts:
Determine where you want the pillars to start. At that point, place the bricks side-on and to the end of the wall. As you build up the wall, each consecutive course of bricks should be laid in the opposite direction.

5. Lay half-bricks: 
During the process, at certain points, you will need to place half-bricks. In order to split the bricks, place the bricks on its side, place bolster on the split point and strike the head firmly with the hammer and split cleanly at the first stroke.

6. Build one course higher:
It is important to remember that you build at least one course higher on the pillars. As you build the wall, move the string line up. Each brick must be placed over the center of the beneath one.

7. Mortar Joints:
The mortar layer as joints between the bricks, should be thick. Vertical mortar joints should be10mm thick; with the standard size make sure it is 75mm thick.

8. Attractive Soldier Course for wall:
To make the walls attractive, adding a solder course on the top of the wall is a great idea. To achieve that course, place the bricks vertically lengthways. A second higher string line will be required for the uniform look.

9. Finish the beds:
In order to remove the excess mortar in beds, scrape the mortar into joints with the rounded edge of the brick jointer. Remember, start finishing with the horizontal lines and follow with the vertical ones.

Six Living Room Ideas for Winters

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Winters are all about staying cozy and warm. You have kept your home cool whole summer, and now it is time to turn off the air conditioners and get ready for the winter season. Embrace the winters and upgrade your home for the winter season.

If you are tired of trying the same old setting and furniture for your living during winters, you don’t need to worry because we have got you covered today. With our list of few ideas you can make your living room as amazing and comfortable as you ever wanted it to be. You must have heard about the Danish concept hygge; that’s when you make your living space and yourself comfortable and cozy for the winters, in this article we are suggesting you some new trends that you can opt to make hygge more warm and welcoming. Let’s discover what is in our list for your home!

1. Go Beige this Winter:

Winters don’t have to be in dark colors. Break that rule this winter by adding beige in your living room. Brighten up your winter living room with beige and white combination. Addition of the wool throw and sweater pillow makes your living room a little cozier.

2. Fill Your Room with Rattan Furniture:

In order to make your living room look vintage inspired, grab a set of rattan furniture and place it near the fireplace. A big plus, it gives more space to the room and suits best if you have a small living room. If you are not sure where to buy a quality rattan chairs, visit Hudson Furniture today.

3. Notch it up with Slipcovered Sofa:

Slipcovered sofa changes the game. Transform your living room in winters with slipcovered sofa to give it warm feel. It adds more texture and softness to the room. Isn’t it amazing to curl up in slipcovered and sip a cup of coffee in cozy evenings of winter?

4. Go Vintage:

If you are lucky enough to already have dark hardwood floor, an addition of a wood-burning stove and brown leather chair in the corner of your living room gives it complete vintage look. It’s amazing to fill your room with some antiques when the current setting seems somewhat boring and neutral.

5. White Setting:

we already have beige in our list. How about white living room with some pastels? It creates coziness and brightens up the room in snowy and dull winters. White can be paired with shades of pink, blue or green to give the room lively look.

6. Country Fireplace with Leather Chairs:

A pair of black or dark brown leather chairs is a great idea with a country fireplace. Along with a couple of antique wall hangings and rug would make the setting complete and warm. For a variety of color and shapes of leather sofas, you don’t have to waste time finding in other places, instead visit Hudson Furniture today and make your home welcoming for the winters.

Few Tips for a Cozy Home:

• Create a reading corner in your room. It’s great to curl up in with hot drink with a freezing weather outside.
• Add floor pillows to add extra comfort. 
• Don’t throw away old sweaters instead use them as pillow cases. It is a great way to add coziness in the atmosphere
• Glow candles. There is nothing like candles that warms up your home.
• Add layers of rugs to make your living room warmer and cozier.

Share your thoughts about what you would like the most in your living room to make it warmer?

How to Make Your Garden Appear Bigger

Having a big and beautiful garden is every homeowner’s dream, but not all properties are blessed with the extra space to make that happen. Don’t let limited garden space deter you from having a beautiful garden though because there are still so many things you can do with the patio area.

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In this article, we are going to focus more on making the garden appear bigger than it really is. These next several tips we are about to discuss will help you get started in no time.

Limit the Use of Lawn

Lawns are great in bigger gardens, but too big of a lawn area can actually make your garden appear smaller without the right design. On top of that, you also have to invest in lawn maintenance to keep the garden looking pristine in the long run.

Instead of using a lot of lawn, use beds with simpler designs in order to create the appearance of a large space. The simple design will help keep garden maintenance simple too. You can combine the planting beds with other garden features for a cleaner, more spacious design.

Utilize Straight Pathways

Another great and simple way to make your garden appear bigger is to use straight pathways. Curves will only make the garden appear cramped and smaller; straight lines create the exact opposite effect, which is the effect you want to go for.

It is also a great idea to use darker colors or colors that blend well with the surrounding elements. Aside from the standard pathway colors, you can also turn to decomposed granite colors or other finishing colors to achieve different results.

Add Elevation Changes

Changes in elevation is another great way to create the illusion of space. You can add a deck closer to the house. Raised wooden decks work best for this purpose.

You can even make the elevated areas more pronounced to further push the effect. The area can then be used for the kids to play on or for placing patio furniture to use on special occasions.

Scale the Design

One thing to avoid when you are trying to utilize a small garden space is using design elements that don’t fit size-wise. Adding a water feature that is too big for the garden, for example, can quickly make the garden appear smaller.

Use scale to your advantage when trying to make the patio area look bigger than it really is. When choosing pavers, find the right size to achieve the desired effects. The same can be said for trees, water features, and other elements of the garden. A consistent scale across all of them is what you want.

Keep It Functional

Last but not least, keep the garden functional with furniture and patio items that fold away. You can avoid a cramped-looking garden by storing the furniture away when they are not in use. When you do want to host a garden party or a relaxing afternoon in the garden, on the other hand, the furniture is still available.

These tips will make your garden appear bigger. Utilize them the next time you remodel your garden and have a beautiful and spacious garden at the end of the project.

What You Should Know About Perimeter Surveying

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Perimeter surveying is one of those subjects that you probably know very little about as it is not something which often affects you. However, it is something that you are likely to need one day and for that reason alone it is worth knowing what a perimeter survey is and why it is important. In fact there are several types of land survey which you should know about.

The Perimeter Survey

The perimeter survey is undertaken to establish the exact boundaries of a property and, in the process, define an accurate size of the land and any property on it.

In addition the perimeter survey will acknowledge and show any easements or encroachments which affect the property. It can be useful to know the exact area of your land and also discover that the local farmer has the right to walk through your living room!

As part of this survey land markers will be placed at the edges of the property; helping you and your neighbors know where the boundaries are and who is responsible for them.

An important part of a perimeter survey includes a detailed topographic survey. It is wise to use a reputable and experienced firm when having these surveys undertaken.

The topography of a piece of land is the dimensions; this includes undulations in the land, the location of nearby streams and other features, fire hydrants, drainage and even the sewers.

Of equal importance is the fact that the topography shows the heights of the surrounding buildings; this can be exceptionally important if you are looking to build a property or extend the current one.

Why Have A Perimeter and Topographical Survey Completed

The answer is actually very simple; to ensure that all the relevant information is available to you before you buy your land and building or even just a building site. A topographic survey is an important part of any building process, from small houses to multi story apartment buildings, you will always need a few surveys to ensure the safety of the building.

All the facts displayed in these surveys will help you to calculate the cost-effectiveness of your project accurately. This will help to ensure you have the necessary finances before you start.

Additional Facts About Perimeter Surveys

Perimeter surveys can also help to resolve any ongoing dispute between you and your neighbors. It is a relatively cheap process and will show all the current fences, hedges and even walls. Combining this with accurate and marked boundary posts will ensure that you and your neighbors know exactly where they stand.

You can also get an ALTA land title survey for even more certification that you in fact own the land and can build what you want on it. They are relatively easy to set up with a certified contractor too.

It is generally cheaper than a full land survey as you can opt for a perimeter survey without the topographical part.

The perimeter survey is conducted with information from the deeds to the land and surrounding properties. It will be completed with a mixture of compasses, old fashioned tape measures and GPS devices.

If you want the topography mapped as well then you will see the familiar tripods with laser leveling equipment.

It can take less than an hour to complete a survey or it can take all day, the time required will be dependent on the size and complexity of the land.

If you are considering a perimeter survey then it is important to use a local firm with a good reputation; this will ensure you receive a good level of service and an accurate report.

How to choose the perfect kitchen stool

The kitchen is where the family really resides. It is a place where family members and guests eat, chat and make beautiful memories together. Every other room has a singular purpose, whereas the kitchen welcomes all and serves all! Consequently, your kitchen space needs to be well furnished, making it both beautiful and functional. Stools are among the first things you need to consider when choosing your benchtop style and kitchen cupboard layout. Ensuring space for kitchen stools allows you to be flexible with guest seating, casual dining options, and keeping the chef company while cooking. A breakfast bench or kitchen island is a necessity for a great kitchen design. The perfect kitchen stool needs to be at a suitable working height for your cooking helpers and ergonomically designed to make it convenient to sit for long chats and casual meals. Here are some points you should consider when buying kitchen stools:

Choosing the perfect height

How will you most commonly use the kitchen stools? Do you want a stool for the island kitchen or something that can also act as a bar chair? Needless to say, you will have to measure the height that you would be comfortable sitting at. A general recommendation is to have the seat between 9” and 13”. A chair stool is typically designed to seat at 18” from the floor. These can be easily paired with an island kitchen that is between 28” and 30” in height. Counter stools, on the other hand are designed between 24” and 26” and can be paired with counters and tables that are between 36” and 39”. Lastly, bar stools come at an average height of 29”. They are best paired with counters that stand between 40” and 42” in height.

The number of stools that you need

While you can always have an extra stool in your kitchen or stored as backup, it is necessary to have comfortable spacing between your usable stools. When at dinner or socializing, you don’t want to be bumping elbows. The rule of thumb is to allow between 21” and 22” of space per stool. In case, you are going for stools with arms, you will need to extend the spacing in between.

The style of kitchen stool

This depends on whether you are looking to make a kitchen design statement or if you want to keep the seating discrete and tucked away under the benchtop. Also, you will need to consider comfort level which varies greatly amongst stool styles. The longer people will typically sit on the stool, the more you need to consider comfort. Stools with deep seating, arm rests and thick padding are designed for comfort and typically used for cafe furniture seating.

If you have a small or narrow kitchen, you will want to choose stools that take up the minimum space. Backless stools are perfect in this case. However, backless stools are not the ost comfortable choice.

Futhermore, It is necessary to consider the material of the stool. The kitchen can get damp, smokey, messy, and you use harsh chemicals to clean up. Your stools need to be made of hearty materials that you can easily clean and that will last a long time in a harsh environment. Metal, polished wood and leather materials are good choices for this.

There are many stool design options. Do your research, have fun, and find the perfect stools that will make your kitchen even better!