Category Archives: Reviews

Adding value to your abode

To get the most from your property and move your way up the property ladder, here are some ideas for adding value to your home:

  1. Fix Structural Problems

Firstly, before attempting any cosmetic measures, ensure all structural issues are dealt with. Things that need attention include:

  • Any sagging or leaks in the roof
  • damp
  • cracks in the walls
  • any rotting in your roof timber
  • broken or missing roof tiles
  • sinking floor slabs
  1. Updating Wiring and Plumbing

This is disruptive, there’s no doubt about that and will involve lifting of floors and removing plaster etc so it’s really important to carry out this work before starting any cosmetic measures. If your home hasn’t been rewired for many years, you’ll add significant value by adding extra sockets, installing an extractor fan in the bathroom and updating any old lighting with something more contemporary.

  1. Convert the loft

If you want to add value and space to your property, then a loft conversion is cheaper than building an extension. You will add significant value if you use the space to include an additional bedroom and bathroom. A few initial checks will need to be made before you can go ahead. There will need to be lots of headroom and your roof needs to consist of trusses or cut roof timbers. For advice from a Monmouth Architect, go to Hills & Company, a leading Monmouth Architect.

  1. Kitchen Makeover

Many properties are sold on the standard of their kitchen, such is the importance of the room. Contemporary, stylish and clean is what people are looking for, as well as ample space and storage. You could decide to make structural changes and relocate the room or change its shape.

How to choose the right self storage unit

If you are moving home or carrying out renovation work, one option is to take advantage of the convenience of self storage. That extra storage space can allow you to continue on with home improvements, knowing your possessions are safe and secure. With short-term contracts and 24/7 security, your items are in good hands.

Think about what possessions you want to store in the unit

If you plan to use self storage, the first element to look at is which of your possessions require storage facilities. If you are looking to store books or general household bric-a-brac, you will want a smaller unit. However, if your possessions are bulky and consist of furniture or other valuables, you may want to rent a larger space.

Consider what features are relevant to you

When selecting a self storage solution, look at the features that are important. Popular unit sizes vary from 25 sq ft to 75 sq ft. A 100 sq ft unit would store the contents of a two-bedroom house. The units are suitable for singles, couples and families on the move or renovating, or for business use.

Look at choosing a high-quality storage unit

A high-quality storage unit should be clean, dry, and suitable for your possessions. They should also have good technical specifications and the units should have 24/7 security and access for the owners of the goods. Trolleys and pallet trucks should be available for use, and the units should be individually alarmed. Fire alarm systems should also be in place to give customers peace of mind.

If you require self storage Swindon, for example, there are reputable firms such as anchorselfstorage.co.uk/self-storage/swindon that can provide for your needs. According to Inside Self Storage this is a sector that’s been excelling consistently on every level with rising demand.

Check the unit for its security

When choosing a unit, look for wear and tear and possible signs of damage, including broken locks. Speak to the security team if you have any questions. Signing up for a unit is easy and all you need is identification and a utility bill.

What is land remediation and how does it work

Living on an island as we do, the pressures on the use of land can be extremely difficult to balance. There must be space for commercial projects, industrial projects, and park land and residential buildings. So much of our Island has been used for so many other things, the soil beneath us can be extremely difficult to use for any other purpose when it has been subjected to industrial sites. There are many companies that can take the soil from this contaminated land and clean it. One such example is the Land Remediation Company in the link.  In this way it can be used again.

There are many factors that create contaminated land. Landfill, salt and grit from roads, industrial and agricultural use, plus there are even natural causes such as old volcanic materials and simple chemical spills and accidents. If these are not addressed then they can have a negative impact upon the human beings in the surrounding area and the environment for wildlife as a whole.

Land remediation is a process of taking the soil through excavation and then subjecting the surrounding land and soil to certain chemical treatments which will clean the soil and prepare it for a more fertile existence. Once this is done the way is clear for new and more environmentally friendly projects to be undertaken by developers and builders alike. There are quite a few examples where land has been reclaimed through remediation to produce some exciting new  areas for people to populate.

Six types of industrial valve

Industrial valves are highly efficient devices that are used to regulate the flow of gas or liquids. They are often found in commercial construction projects or automation projects and in numerous business sectors, including oil/gas production, manufacturing, and pharmaceuticals.

Industrial valves around the world

Despite being relatively niche, the global market for Industrial Valves was valued at $65billion in 2021, and is projected to exceed $100billion by 2031.

Industrial valve types

There are six common types of industrial valve: balancing valve, ball valve, butterfly valve, gate valve, globe valve, and check valve.

Balancing valves are used to ensure that the proper flow rate is maintained and hydraulic balance is achieved. They are found in commercial heating/cooling systems, power-generation systems, and plumbing systems.

Ball valves (unsurprisingly) use a ball in order to control the flow of liquid/gas between openings. The hole is opened (fully or partially) or blocked by the ball in order to regulate the flow. These are a great choice for gases because they can offer strong and reliable seals and can support high pressures and high temperatures whilst being low-maintenance.

Butterfly valves use a metal disc within the valve to regulate the flow. The flow can be controlled using intermediate rotations and these valves can be configured to operate manually, electronically, or pneumatically. They are accurate and reliable.

Gate valves are most commonly used to isolate or block the flow, rather than regulate it. They are affixed to the pipework and can be used to either stop or start the flow. They can be made from a variety of materials, can help to save energy, and are suitable for use at high temperatures and in high-pressure conditions.

Globe valves are linear motion valves that utilise a globe-shaped disc in order to stop, start, or regulate flow. The discs can be controlled manually or automatically. These are one of the most popular types of valves because they are more ‘leak proof’ than other types and also provide a shorter opening-closing time. They are commonly used for regulation/shut-off purposes in high-temperature environments.

Check valves allow fluid to flow in one direction only. For this reason, they are also known as Non-Return Valves (NRVs). They prevent flow from reversing and are commonly found in systems where backflow could potentially cause processors or pumps to fail/shut down. They are able to sustain pressure and can operate automatically or manually.

Choosing your First Motorhome

A motorhome gives you the freedom to decide where to go on holiday and is really a holiday on wheels! All you need to do is pack up and set off to a site that takes your fancy, and if you want to spend some time touring around, a motorhome is a great way to be able to do this.

If you are going out to buy your first motorhome, then the first thing to do is get an idea of your budget and what you can get for that. If you spot a motorhome that is very cheap, and the price looks too good to be true, then it probably is, so steer clear if you are suspicious.

When you are budgeting for a new motorhome, you also need to take into account the other costs that are associated with it – for example, you will need to make sure that you can afford to maintain it, and you will also need to take out special motorhome insurance from somewhere like this insurance brokers Bath based company.

You also need to think about how you will use it – are you planning to tour for an extended period of time, or are you going to be taking some shorter weekend breaks in it? How many people will it need to hold? You can extend the living space a little with an awning, but you also need to make sure that it can comfortably fit you all in, so if you have a family, think about the larger sized models.

What is ultrasonic cleaning?

You may have heard people discussing ultrasonic cleaning and wondered what it is. Most people would guess that it has something to do with sound, given the name, but how does that clean and why would you choose to use it?

Ultrasonic Method

Ultrasonic cleaning is defined by the British Damage Management Association as ‘Removal of residues by an immersion process in which electronically induced cavitations greatly enhance the effectiveness of a solvent or detergent.

In layperson’s terms, this means that companies who use Anilox cleaning equipment supplied by specialists such as https://www.caresonic.com/, place items to be cleaned into a bath that contains a specialist cleaning solution. The type of solution varies depending on what is being cleaned and what is being removed. It may need a detergent to break down grease, for example, or a solvent to remove gummy residues.

When looking to clean an item, it is usually placed inside a basket which is lowered into a bath containing the right solvent. The cleaning equipment then creates vibrations at high frequency, which in turn creates bubbles in the cleaning solution. These microscopic bubbles then burst, creating a vacuum. The movement this creates dislodges dirt and debris from the surface.

When Would You Choose Ultrasonic?

Ultrasonic cleaners are exceptionally good at cleaning out narrow spaces as the tiny bubbles can make their way into gaps and spaces that manual cleaning, by brush for example, couldn’t reach. They’re also useful in addressing hard to remove debris and coatings, including grease, flux, and polishing compounds. You can safely clean most surfaces this way, including metal, ceramic, glass, rubber and some hard plastics.

These cleaners have a wide range of uses, including in laboratories, for cleaning mechanical parts, musical instruments, and dental and surgical instruments.

Image Cleaner

What to Look For in a Cleaner

With ultrasonic cleaners, frequency is everything. The higher the frequency of a cleaning machine, the more effective the cleaner. You should discuss with your contractor which level of cleaning is best for your equipment. Keep in mind, however, that not everything can be safely cleaned. Thin membranes, for example, those found in some printheads, can be destroyed in the process.

You will also need to find a supplier of equipment or a cleaning company that really understands what you need cleaned and how best to go about it to ensure that you get the high quality results you need.

Three Things to Find out Before you Buy a property to Renovate

Renovating a house is a great way to get a property that you want, and is also a good way to invest in property in the long term. A house that you renovate can gain value significantly, and buying something that is in need of a bit of love is a good way to obtain a property that is going to increase significantly in value.

However, before you rush out and buy the first tumbledown cottage that you see, there are a lot of things to consider so that you can go into it with your eyes open and have a good idea of what to expect.

Renovating a property can be incredibly rewarding, both personally and financially, but it is certainly not something for everyone. Here are some of the things to consider doing…

Be aware of what you are buying – When buying a property that is in need of renovation, the amount of work and the type of work that needs to be done can vary hugely. Finding the right project for your budget and needs can take time, so don’t just buy the first one that comes along.

Find the right people to take with you who will not only be able to do a lot of the work for you but can also advise you on what work needs doing – look in your local area for construction companies Manchester for example to find companies like this https://www.piggottandwhitfield.co.uk/building-services

Consider the Costs of the Work – Although renovating a property can indeed add value, you will need to speculate to accumulate as they say – in other words, you will need to spend money on the property first. Work out what your budget is. You can get mortgages that are specially created for this type of work, so this is something worth looking into before you buy so you have a good idea of what is available to you.

Find out the Timescale – Another thing that you will want to have a good idea of is how long it will take. You don’t want to go into it expecting it to be done in a year, only for it to be dragging on eighteen months later!

What skills do architects need

Working as an architect can be incredibly exciting and also rewarding as you see peoples’ dream homes come to life. Working with a Residential Architects Battersea company like https://www.rbddesign.com/architectural-design/residential-architecture-london/architects-battersea/ will see you being asked to design all manner of homes.

If you are looking at a future possible career as an architect there are a number of skills that you may want to acquire.

Design skills – you can learn these skills by attending the appropriate courses and when you decide whether you are going to get a university degree or apprenticeship to train as an architect you can then look at what sorts of design skills they will be teaching you.

Attention to detail – it is incredibly important that building plans are accurate as having items even just a few millimetres out, can make the difference between a home’s structure working, or not.

Customer service – you are going to be working with members of the public and other businesses so it is vital that you have good customer service skills. You might even come across difficult characters, so it is worth looking at how you can deal with awkward customers effectively and professionally.

Initiative – in some cases you might have to change your designs based on local planning constraints or other issues, so it is important you are able to use your initiative to find alternative ways of bringing your customers’ designs to fruition.

What can you use pneumatic conveying for?

In the world of science fiction the answer to this question is pretty much anything that you want. For example, in HG Wells’ “Shape of things to come ” he suggests that pneumatics will be fitted to a big space gun that will shoot a bullet shaped capsule up out of the earth’s atmosphere and allow it to reach and orbit the Moon before coming back again. Hopefully it won’t be going so fast that when it comes back it won’t end up embedding itself in the ground. This is not what Pneumatic conveying is capable of (at the moment) and isn’t the most practical use for it. It would also require an enormous amount of power to achieve this.

Pneumatic conveying is used to move things, but not huge projectiles with human space explorers inside. Much smaller items are moved but these are just as important to human endeavours.  These items are usually pills or powders. They are also loose items like animal feeds and other grains.

Being loose and light makes it very difficult to move these items in bulk. They have a tendency to fall between the arms of the forklift if you try to lift them and then subsequently fall over the moment the vehicle starts to set off. Also dust and fluff will get mixed in with the substance making it next to useless. If the item is contained with a Pneumatic conveying system it can be hermetically sealed and moved to a storage tank or tanker for transport with minimum fuss.