Category: HOME

Barbecue, road trips, cocktails, bikinis, picnics… Summer is for a lot of great things, and cleaning is definitely not on this list.

Photo by Francesca Tosolini on Unsplash

However, want it or not, summer brings lots of nature into our houses in the form of dust, heat, sand, or pollen, which means our homes get messy easier. Instead of wasting precious sunny days on hardscrabble summer cleaning, the best solution is to deep clean your home before the summer arrives and then just easily keep it spotless with brief cleanups. We will tell you about what should be on your summer deep cleaning to-do list and how this cleaning routine can actually help you get ready for the bikini season. 

What is included in a deep house cleaning?

Every New Yorker knows summer months are too short and fleeting to be wasted on cleaning, so if you want to have both a bright summer and a clean house, deep cleaning is the shortcut to it. Deep or thorough cleaning is focused on sanitizing and disinfecting areas that usually stay overlooked during the regular cleaning (such as trash cans, kitchen appliances, ceiling fans, carpets, window treatments, baseboards, etc). So over time (and especially in the hot season), they can accumulate dust, grime, and germs and become a source of health issues. So the main idea behind deep cleaning is to reboot your home to its pristine purity to make maintaining and cleaning it during the summer months a breeze. This cleaning task is a must for

• busy people who don’t like to clean often,
• those considering to start using a cleaning service (as the first cleaning visit), 
• or those who skipped a thorough spring cleaning and need a fresh start now. 

Deep house cleaning checklist for this summer

1. Keep your home minimalistic

Your goal is to make house cleaning effortless this summer, so first and foremost, declutter. Get rid of junk and debris accumulated during cold months and hide/store stuff you will not use during the summer months. 

2. Deep dust the hidden

As opposed to regular dusting, deep top-to-bottom dusting is about wiping ALL surfaces, including those hidden from the eyes, for example, ceiling fan blades, photo frames, window treatments, door frames, blinds, AC air vents, etc. Dust can be easily trapped with a damp cloth (microfiber cloth is better!) with some all-purpose cleaner sprayed on it.   

3. Make your windows sparkle

Windows in a New York City townhouse or apartment get grimy very fast. Even if you cleaned your windows during the spring cleaning, it is high time to deep clean them again to enjoy more invigorating sunshine this summer. Spay on some glass cleaner on windows and easily remove grime with a microfiber cloth. If you prefer using a “green” window cleaner instead, you can easily make one at home by mixing vinegar and not very hot water in a 1:10 ratio. 

4. Reset your kitchen in 3 steps

Germs and bacteria love the company of food and heat, so deep cleaning your kitchen before hot summer days arrive helps you maintain this place clean and safe effortlessly. Here is what requires special attention this summer:

• Kitchen cabinets. Remove those sticky dust and dirt from shelves and fronts with a damp cloth soaked in warm soapy water. If you have wooden cabinets, better use a solution of water ( 1 gallon) and oil soap (¼ cup).

• Fridge. It is time to make room for delicious summer food and make your refrigerator smell nice. Get rid of expired food first and then remove shelves to wash them in hot soapy water (you can use dish soap for that). We do not recommend using harsh chemicals for cleaning inside of your fridge because there is a risk that they can get into your food. Use green cleaning supplies or baking soda instead. Sprinkle some soda over the shelf, spray it with hot water and rub it with a sponge. Remove residue with a paper towel.

• A trash can and garbage disposal. Needless to say, everything that has close contact with trash requires some proper disinfection in the hot season. Simple vinegar and soda are great not only for cleaning these hotspots but also for combating harsh odors. To clean a trash can, pour in 2-3 gallons of hot water and add 2-3 cups of vinegar and some dish soap. Let it soak for half an hour, then scrub and rinse with clean water. For garbage disposal cleaning, pour ½ cup baking soda into it and add one cup of vinegar. Let it bubble, rinse with hot water, and enjoy amazingly fresh air in your kitchen.

5. Deep clean your carpets

Carpets, especially high pile ones, can be a source of dust mites that cause allergies. A regular household vacuum can make shaggy rugs look visibly clean but it cannot remove dust (and thus dust mites) totally. So unless you have a vacuum cleaner that can wash carpets, it is always better to have a professional carpet cleaning service as a part of your seasonal cleaning.  

How many calories burned cleaning a house 

Thorough cleaning is laborious, and this is probably the only reason to do it yourself. An hour of intense cleaning (like mopping or scrubbing tiles or a bathtub) helps you burn from 200 to 300 calories (of course, depending on your weight and enthusiasm). This is similar to pilates or power yoga. Still, if you know a more interesting way to burn calories before the bikini season, you can always delegate your deep summer cleaning to a house cleaning service like White Glove Cleaner.   

It is critical to select the best material for your outdoor deck before you begin construction.

Photo by Marc Babin on Unsplash

If you live in a sunny and hot climate. Then you must select a decking material that will last throughout the summer. When compared to other outdoor composite decking materials, composite decking is ideal for full sun decking.

Traditional Wood Decking

Traditional wood is an unsuitable material for full-sun decking for a variety of reasons. UV rays can damage the honeycomb structure of wood decking, and when exposed to the sun, the wood will naturally weather due to UV radiation. Furthermore, traditional wood decking is more likely to absorb and retain heat. However, direct sunlight causes the moisture in the wood to evaporate faster. This can then lead to structural issues, such as cracking and splitting of the wood deck. Furthermore, UV radiation can fade the color of wood decking, making full-sun wood decks more likely to fade.

When it comes to choosing the best material for your outdoor deck, especially in a sunny and hot climate, the considerations extend beyond just the deck’s exposure to the elements. If you plan to use your outdoor deck for activities like setting up office desks or creating an outdoor workspace, you’ll want a material that not only withstands the sun but also provides a comfortable and functional surface for your needs.

If you use pressure-treated wood decking, you will need to perform more maintenance to keep it looking good. You will need to pressure wash and stain the deck on a regular basis, as well as replace cracked wood decking as soon as possible. This also implies that you will need to continue putting in money and labor after the wood deck is installed.

Decks with full sun to the south are the most weathered, followed by decks facing west. If you want to build a south-facing deck, you should think about using composite deck boards. One of the most popular decking materials available today is composite decking boards. Composite wood decking is strong and durable, has a beautiful appearance, and comes in a variety of colors. The composite decking material is also virtually maintenance-free, which saves you a significant amount of money on maintenance costs.

Full Sun Decking with Composite Decking

When exposed to the sun, all outdoor decking materials become hot. Different decking materials, however, absorb heat to varying degrees. While early composite decking was extremely temperature-sensitive, technology has advanced to the point where composite decking does not become excessively hot. Today’s composite decking is no hotter than traditional wood decking. Furthermore, composite decking cools faster in the shade than wood.

When considering composite decking for full sun areas, we examine how to select a quality composite decking material based on the three factors listed below.

cool composite decking

no discoloration due to strong UV rays

the amount of expansion and contraction due to temperature changes

We can better understand which composite decking is best suited for full sunlight with these three categories. An outdoor deck, like any other home improvement, must be visually appealing. You will be able to enjoy life more if you have an appealing deck design idea. High-quality composite decking that does not fade is more likely to retain its pristine appearance for an extended period of time.

Coolest Composite Decking

In the sun, all decks become hot, and the more sunlight there is, the hotter the deck becomes. This is due to the fact that decking is a flat surface that absorbs and reflects the heat of the sun as it is exposed to it. This is why decks are warmer where the sun shines brightly.

You need an outdoor deck that will not burn your feet no matter how hot the sun is. The amount of heat absorbed by a deck varies depending on the material. As a result, we require cool-to-the-touch composite decking to improve the comfort of our outdoor living.

Hollow Composite Decking series is a cooler composite wood decking by changing the material and giving a cooler touch compared to other brands of composite decking.

In addition, the Hollow Composite Decking series has a hollow structure. The hollow structure promotes air circulation, which helps to dissipate heat in composite decking boards. The hollow structure also reduces the weight of composite wood decking, making transporting and installing outdoor decking easier.

You can also choose a light color to further reduce the temperature of outdoor composite decking. Grey composite decking, white composite decking, and so on.

Strong UV rays will not cause it to fade

UV rays from the sun can cause severe fading of outdoor wood decking. As a result, your outdoor design becomes unappealing. As a result, it is critical to select high-quality composite deck boards that will not fade.

Fade-resistant composite decking is available from the majority of composite decking manufacturers on the market. They have added UV inhibitors to the composite decking formula to provide better UV protection. You can also choose capped composite decking, which is more environmentally friendly than uncapped composite decking.

The amount of temperature-related expansion and contraction

Thermal expansion and contraction affect almost all materials. When the sun shines brightly on the floor, outdoor decking experiences greater thermal expansion and contraction. And what does an outdoor deck’s thermal expansion mean to a homeowner? It means that if you do not allow for adequate deck spacing when building your outdoor deck. Thermal expansion may cause the outdoor deck to be squeezed and deformed.

This implies that when we select composite decking. We must select composite decking brands that are guaranteed to be of high quality. With large temperature changes, high-quality composite decking will expand and contract relatively less. When installing composite decking, however, you must still allow for adequate expansion joints according to the manufacturer’s installation instructions.

We might not pay a lot of attention to our roof, as it’s generally not something we look at every day.

A good-looking roof can improve the market value and aesthetics of your home. A roof in poor condition may make your home look drab and unkempt.

Photo by Miguel Á. Padriñán

But, a roof in a state of disarray or in need of some TLC can potentially set up back thousands.

It’s important to maintain the condition of your roof, and not allow seemingly small and inconsequential matters build up over time, until they become a major hassle and hit you hard in the hip pocket.

On average, a roof restoration project can set you back anywhere from $4000 through to $10000, depending on the size of your roof and materials required. Some homeowners are able to enlist the help of a home warranty company to offset the cost of certain repairs.

Here are some things to look out for if your thinking your roof is becoming a bit rough and unstable.

1. Water marks.

A good sign of a leaking roof is water. It might be water actually coming through your roof or some interesting, yet unsightly stains in your ceiling. These usually resemble a puddle and can be yellow.

It might start of as a small spluttering or stain, but untreated over time, it can potentially become a gushing waterfall or massive stain covering an entire corner or room.

Another sign is peeling paint on your ceiling, or doorways and window frames.

2. Sagging roof.

This may be a fairly obvious indication that your precious over head mechanism is not functioning to the best of its capacity.

If your new roof is sagging, it’s more likely to be an incorrect install. 

If your roof is older and sagging, it might be time to replace it.

3. Missing or damaged shingles or tiles.

This is are the coverings which make up your roof. 

These often come of in storms, intense rain or high winds.

Whilst on their own, they might not be the most expensive item to rectify or replace, if quite a few are missing, it might be a sign of more pertinent matters that require attention.

4. Cracked, broken or discolored tiles or shingles.

If your roof coverings begin to look brittle, curled and out of their normal shape, chances are they need replacing.

A small number of damaged items can be replaced, bit if they are a greater number, it might be a forewarning to replace the entire system.

5. Damaged eaves or other roofing materials.

If you notice your eaves, gutters, vents or other equipment is starting to look a little worse for wear, be sure to contact a professional roof restoration and repair business.

It might appear to be easy to give it a quick fix, but in some situations, it may be that your roofing materials are having trouble supporting the weight of the roof. 

6. You have a sunlight you didn’t have before.

If you notice you have sunlight shining through your roof or little gaps where the light comes in, it’s definitely time to get the professionals in.

Remember, if sunlight can get in, so can rain, hail and tiny little critters you don’t really want in your home.

7. Mould, mildew or moss.

All the above require moisture to grow. If you observe these taking up residence in your ceiling or home, it’s unfortunately a testament that moisture has gotten through your roof and into your home.

Mould can have a grave effect on the home occupier’s health, especially those with asthma or raspatory concerns.

If you see mould, get help quick.

8. Your power bill starts to go…through the roof….

Electricity is expensive enough in today’s times, without having your homes most essential covering contributing to it.

If there are issues with your roof, such as gaps, your heating and cooling systems will struggle to adequately control the climate the way they should.

9. Damaged roof after storm.

Initially the SES might be available to cover up holes in the roof as an interim measure.

But if you have storm damage of any kind, it’s vital to get it checked out by a proficient company.

10. She’s getting a little old.

It’s recommended to get your roof restored every ten to fifteen years. Or at least given the once over by a professional.

As with all things, over time, your roof becomes aged and less sturdy and reliable.

To decrease the chances of a large and unwanted expense, have your roof checked regularly and all concerns addressed promptly.

11. Evidence of white ant wings.

White ants/termites are definitely an undesired house guest in anyone’s home.

Evidence of termites can range from finding white wings in your light fittings and window sills, to observing mud tubes on the outer walls of your home.

The damage they can cause is devastating. 

But, it’s not just your walls and furniture they might devour, it’s also your roofing beams and disrupt the integrity of your roof.

12. Pigeons taking up residence under your solar panels.

Solar panels are a valuable and popular resource and can save you funds on your power bill.

In some habitats, they also attract pigeons who appear to enjoy making the underneath of these panels their place of residence.

It might initially be just a nuisance situation. But, pigeon feces and the buildup of it, can be very corrosive and may damage both your solar panels and your roof.

A good deterrent for these critters is to erect some gris mesh at the base of your panels. This stops them from gaining access to your roof.

13. Other vermin.

Be mindful to keep on tip of pest control in your home. 

Animals such as rats love to chew. If these creatures get entry into your roof, they can cause a rather large amount of damage.

This can range from chewing through electrical cords, to pulling up and nesting in insulation. 

They holes they leave after chewing may allow water to come into your home.

Do you have a big blank wall in your residential or commercial property, but don’t know how to utilize it? Never look at this as a challenge, but rather as a chance. Take advantage of this empty space and make something which is really remarkable and amazing. It doesn’t matter if you like to hang a simple piece or turn the blank and dull space into a bold accent wall; wall art is the best way to express and show your personality and emotion. A Wall of art can totally transform the feel and look of your home. Adding these finishing touches is what makes a house into a home sweet home. But, the question is, where to buy the best wall art online?

Photo by Kam Idris on Unsplash

Splash of Arts: Many Choices of Wall Art Available

Enjoy the amazing views where you live with Splash of Arts wall art. It doesn’t matter if you want to begin smaller with a gallery of vintage wall art or framed wall art or go big with a big picture; Splash of Arts can help. The canvas prints offered are easy to love, bring home as well as hang on any parts of your residential and commercial property. The difficult part is picking one; the best thing is that most rooms have four walls.

High Quality Wall Art for a Low Price

Wall art does not need to cost a fortune or be so hard to install and put up on your walls. Customize your home decoration in an instant with ready to hang wall art from Splash of Arts. Shop affordable yet high quality wall art to change your home, apartment or dorm into something different. Discover framed art prints, vintage wall art, modern dior wall art, and more to match your exceptional decor style.

Wall Art that Reflects Your Personality

Transform a bare wall into a design statement with the best wall art that reflects your décor style and personality. Visit your favorite online wall art store to look for an array of wall décor, including printed canvas and canvas wall art for space decoration.

Hang unique or one-of-a-kind canvas or wall art to put in pops of color and at the same time provide an artsy look to your room or space. Create a fresh focal point in your area with vintage canvas art, or make a gallery wall with an array of modern and up-to-the-minute picture frames. It doesn’t matter if you are searching for vintage canvas prints, wood wall art, or framed abstract art; Splash of Arts has you covered. Accent any wall in your kitchen, living room, as well as a bedroom with wall hanging artwork, or you can make a collage of art print as well as paintings for eye-catching entryway decor.

Splash of Arts is the perfect and best place to buy high quality wall art. Here, you can find many types and styles of wall art to choose from that will surely match your taste and your budget.

For thousands of years, jewellery has been made and cherished for its beauty.

Photo by Carlos Esteves on Unsplash

Whether it’s silver or gold, wearers have chosen specific jewellery to compliment fashion senses and elevate skin tones. Over time, too, an emotional connection between the wearer and the jewellery has also been formed.

Emotional jewellery is once again beginning to take centre stage in 2022. Whether it’s astrology, heirlooms or one’s own faith, jewellery is being worn by more and more people wanting to find ways to represent their inherent beliefs and passions. 

In this way, jewellery has the ability to mirror the wearer. It has become more than simply finding jewellery that looks beautiful and elevates appearance. Instead, jewellery is an emotional echo. A piece of the mindset and spirit which can be worn on the outside of the body. 

Faith Continues To Be Symbolised

Symbols have long been used to represent faith in a simple and effective way. These are worn by followers to express their beliefs and keep the values which are important to them close to their hearts. 

Take the Star of David, for instance. This is a piece of Jewish jewellery which is worn by a large number of the community. Doing this can help them be reminded of their obligations and virtues, whilst also keeping them emotionally connected to the past of their religion and the lessons it can teach us in the present.

Jewellery Shows People Who They Are

For people who believe in astrology and star signs, jewellery is often used to show others and themselves who they are. Whether it’s the symbol of water for an Aquarius or a bull for a Taurus, wearing your star sign has become an emotional way to feel more in tune with yourself and your personality. More broadly, this is known as horoscope fashion. 

There is a whole field to investigate when it comes to astrology, but each and every aspect can be symbolised with just a single piece of jewellery. Often, these symbols are worn on specific parts of the body, where the chakra (the spiritual power of the human body) releases its own spiritual energy. For wearers, many believe this gives them a psychic and emotional connection to the universe, which in turn helps them to remain positive and calm amongst their inner turmoil.

Jewellery Can Have Deep Familial Connections

When it comes to familial connections, there is strong emotional energy to jewellery which has been passed down the line of a family. Engagement rings, for instance, are often given by a parent to their offspring when they are ready to ask for their partner’s hand in marriage. This gives the jewellery a deeper emotional context that it wouldn’t have had otherwise. Instead of owning jewellery based solely on its beauty, the wearer is instead being passed something which has a heavy emotional connection to the entire family.

In the same way, jewellery is also passed down through generations. Once the original owner has passed away, the jewellery itself is often given to someone who was close to them. This allows wearers to continue to feel close to their deceased loved ones. They are now not only wearing something that is beautiful, but also a physical memory of a person who meant so much to them.

With nearly every Jewish holiday, food is at the front and centre of celebrations. Whether it’s matzah, brisket or challah, the dining room is a place of worship and thanks. 

Photo by Tetiana SHYSHKINA on Unsplash

This can be a little daunting if you are preparing to welcome family and friends over to your house for a celebration. If it’s your first time hosting and you’re feeling a little nervous, no one blames you. There is almost a signature dish for every holiday, so what can you do to reflect this with your own holiday preparations?

The Dining Room Is Key To Success

The first answer is, of course, to practice cooking. Honestly, there are a lot of intricacies when it comes to creating good Jewish food and there are so many Jewish recipes to try. Putting a little practice in before hosting a bunch of people will be highly beneficial, especially if you are making everything in-house. But even if you are not, there are other things to consider when it comes to hosting the holiday. 

The other most important thing is the dining room itself. Yes, there’s a lot to consider when it comes to food preparation, but you don’t want to go to all that effort if you are hosting everyone in a dining room that is not up to the task. A good, well-prepared dining room is the accompaniment to the food. Without it, the shine will be taken off the food and the entire feel of the celebration itself. No pressure, then. Don’t panic. Changing up your dining room in preparation is relatively straightforward.

Give Your Dining Room A Warm Feel

Firstly, you have to make sure the dining room is well lit. A collection of candles resting upon the spine of the table is crucial to creating an ambient and warm atmosphere. Not only that, but it will put more emphasis on the food. Just imagine that steaming challah, with the glaze almost glowing in the flickering light of the nearby candles. It’s enough just to get hungry thinking about it. 

Another important thing to remember is to keep the décor to a minimum. It can be tempting to fill out the tabletop with beautiful pieces such as wide breadbaskets or tall flower vases. This may look nice, but it isn’t all that practical. You want a lot of space for the food itself, as well as condiments and spices. You also want to ensure that a guest on one side of the table can actually see the guest on the other side of the table.

Invest In Some Beautiful Table Sets

To create a memorable and gorgeous dining room, it is also wise to consider purchasing some table sets. Professional and charming table sets can transform a dining room into an almost restaurant-like scene, and it will also prove to your guests that you have gone above and beyond to host a perfect holiday celebration.  There are plenty of ways to get yourself a new looking dining room, whether it’s sterling silver Judaica cutlery or gorgeous aluminium Kiddish cups, you can find the sets specific for the holiday and go from there. Your guests are sure to be both impressed and appreciative, ensuring you are invited to host holidays over and over again. Whether that’s a reward or a punishment, however, is another question entirely.

Who knew that you could work in your PJs while munching on your favorite snacks?

Photo by Luke Chesser on Unsplash

Welcome to the 21st century! Where working from home has become the new normal!

This new trend accelerated during the pandemic, and it seems to be on the rise as more and more people choose the flexibility and convenience of working remotely.

No wonder! People enjoy the comfort of being at home with family and also save money on office space and commuting expenses.

There are many ways to make money from home, both online and offline, but not all of them are legitimate and worth your time.

In this article, we’ll go over seven legit ways that can help you get started on your home-based earnings journey.

So, let’s begin!

1.    Start a Blog

Blogging is a perfect option to share your passions and thoughts with the world while also earning some income on the side.

If you’re not sure what to blog about, try thinking of topics that you’re knowledgeable about or are passionate about learning more about.

You can then monetize your blog through advertising, sponsorships, or affiliate marketing.

2.    Sell Products Online

If you’re crafty or have products that you want to sell, setting up an online store is a great way to make money from home.

There are many platforms that you may use to create your store, such as Shopify, Etsy, or Amazon.

Just try to make sure that your products are high quality and unique so that you can stand out from the rest.

3.    Do Odd Jobs for People in Your Neighborhood

Another great option to make some extra money is by doing odd jobs for people in your neighborhood. This could include things like walking dogs, mowing lawns, or shoveling snow.

You can advertise your services online through platforms like TaskRabbit or Craigslist or by putting up flyers around your neighborhood.

4.    Provide Virtual Assistant Services

If you are good at multitasking and staying organized, you could make some decent money by becoming a virtual assistant.

As a virtual assistant, you would be responsible for tasks like scheduling appointments, sending emails, or performing internet research.

Many businesses are now hiring virtual assistants to help them with their day-to-day tasks, so this is definitely a legit way to make money from home.

5.    Do Data Entry Work

Data entry is another great option for those looking to work from home. The tasks usually involve entering information into a computer system or database.

Although the work can be repetitive, it is usually relatively simple and doesn’t require any specialized skills.

So, if you’re detail-oriented and have good keyboarding skills, this could be a good option to consider.

6.    Take Online Surveys

Another straightforward and fun way to make some extra cash is by taking online surveys. There are many companies with whom you can make money by sharing your opinion online.

You can do this in your spare time and from the comfort of your own home. Plus, it’s a great way to voice your opinion on different topics and help shape the products or services that are available.

7.    Start a YouTube Channel

If you’re creative and enjoy making videos, starting a YouTube channel can be a great way to make money from home.

You can monetize your channel through advertising or sponsorships and earn money every time someone watches one of your videos.

Of course, you’ll need to put in the work to create quality content that people will want to watch. But, if you’re up for it, this can be a fun and rewarding way to make money from home.

Turn Your Home into a Money-Making Machine

There you have it – seven legit ways to make money from home.

While some of these may require a bit more effort than others, they all offer the potential to bring in a steady stream of income.

With a bit of perseverance and some creative thinking, you can start earning money from the comfort of your own home in no time!

Restumping Guide from Older Homes

Photo by Zac Gudakov on Unsplash

Whether you are looking to purchase an older established property or build a new home, there are several factors to consider. Building or renovating a home in some areas may not be as straight forward as first glance suggests.

Initial Ground Factors to consider

Dependant on the areas you are intending to build, renovate or extend, several factors may come into play, such as soil condition. 

Soil condition entails the moisture levels, soil type and how it compacts at multi levels, rather than just the initial level. If it is loose and very flexible, you may need to consider something more inflexible than the options for loose a soft ground. Grounding such as soil tend to move with weather and other conditions, so more flexibility is required to discourage cracking and sinking. 

Investigate the full terrain of your proposed land. If there are topography challenges such as water tables, previous instances of flooding. Some local governments may have access to old mining maps and flood zones, which may assist you in assessing the history of your land.

These matters may alter the pricing of your home build; therefore, it is important to ensure you have thoroughly investigated prior to building to discourage unexpected expenses and possible building issues. A soil conduction test is carried out by a trained professional extracting a soil sample with the use of specialty drilling equipment. 

This will tell you how much weight the soil can take and the probability of it shifting. If it is discovered that your soil is unsteady, you may be required to make precautions such as deeper stumping or a different style of base to prevent buckling or sinking.  

You may consider obtaining a Geotechnical investigation which explores the condition of the soil and places them into classes. It will inform you of how ‘reactive ‘the soil in your potential building location may be. The term ‘reactive ‘may be a bit misleading.

Some may consider it denotes the area or soil being radioactive, when it merely states how the soil responds to the changes in moisture content.  Different soils behave differently, some with a larger prospective to alter than other areas and are broken down into different classes. 

Class A may be the most desired outcome, as it is considered non-reactive, with the movement of soil being very unlikely. This is often the case in areas with high levels of sand and rock.

Class S identifies a small amount of movement and is most likely found in clay areas.

Class M signifies a moderate amount of ground movement and is more probable in silt or clay sites.

 Class H is divided into two groups, being H1 and H2. This means the likelihood of ground movement is very high and is likely to be a clay site.

Class E as the initial suggests means an extreme chance of the ground shifting, whilst Class P indicates the location is a large problem and the change may be critical. 

Preventing potential foundation movements on a new build. 

It might not be an ideal situation to build a home or conduct renovations in an area where the probability of house movement is high, but there are a few steps you may elect to undertake to prevent it from occurring or at least giving it ammunition to become worse.

Keep trees and garden beds away from the house and fences. 

When installing walking paths or paving’s, as well as building garden beds, do your best to have them slope away from the building as this decreases the likelihood of moisture being drawn towards the home.

Install and maintain adequate drainage.

Repair broken or missing taps, hoses, water tanks, air conditioners and hot water systems as soon as the issues arise. 

When building, don’t excavate near your footings or if you really need to, be certain to avoid digging than the base of your footings.

What if there is damage in your existing home?

You may start to notice concerns in your home, which may indicate the need for treatment, such as restumping.

These factors may include, windows and doors becoming stuck or not closing completely, pools of water/moisture around the foundation of your property.

Other indicators might be that your floors are not even, or they are sloping.

Another suggestion of probable concerns might be cracks in the brickwork outside your home and big cracks in the internal walls. 

Restumping can only be implemented on a home with house stumps. As the name suggests, it means replacing the stumps supporting the house. It is vital to get your home assessed by a trained professional to verify the condition of the property and stumps, so you can adequately assess the next step.

This will ensure that all investigations are carried out in detail, and any probable circumstance is brought to your attention in a timely manner. 

Some may feel that only a partial restump is required as damage is only visible to a few stumps. This is not always the case as some damage may not be visible to the naked eye and could be deteriorating underground. 

Although the cost of restumping  a home can be dear, at an estimated $,10,000 – $30,000 according to Canstar, the cost of rectifying a home which has totally collapsed is significantly higher and the safety of home and building occupants is beyond measure.

How is a house restumped?

Basically, the supporting beams or stumps underneath the home are replaced. In times gone by, wooden supports were used. In today’s times, it is more likely concrete or steel supports will be used due to longevity reasons.

If your lovely abode does need restumping, it will be carefully elevated to the necessary height to allow for the process to be completed. 

It should be noted that, although this process may extinguish the likely hood of the home collapsing, or hinder further damage, with any movement carries the risk in cracks to walls, tiles, doorframes etc.

Author: Therese Vickers