ArtaBerryHome Improvement Blog..

Start in an area away from the most obstacles if there are any, this will give you the chance to practice on the easier tiles first.  Don’t start with a corner tile if you don’t have all of the tiles around it still in place, the surrounding tiles need to be in place to help keep the grid square.

• Remove the first old tile gently since you may not be able to see obstacles that could be damaged or cause personal injury.  Use a mask if the ceiling is old, because a high level of dust can often accrue over the ceiling and the dust can easily get in your eyes.

• Always use an adequately sharp cutting tool, a fresh knife blade always cuts and trim tiles neater than an old one.  When cutting a tile, securely site it on an old surface or workstation so that any knife damage from the cutting doesn’t hard a new surface.  Mark the tile size using a tape and a pencil and then cut the tile down using a straight edge and sharp knife.  Gloves are also a good idea when using a sharp knife.

• When facing clearance problems it is sometimes possible to remove a few cross-tee’s place the tiles above the grid, re-insert the cross-tee’s and then drop the tiles in to place.  Where this isn’t possible it may be necessary to cut a tile in half, place it through the grid and then either butt the two pieces together or place a new cross-tee in between them – whichever looks neater.

• Few tile suppliers will supply single tiles, due to the difficulty in posting such an item in single form without it getting damaged as such you will have to buy them by the box, which can mean you have a few more than you need.  If you’re a DIY’er and looking to change your own tiles, these few extra tiles can be a life line!  There’s nothing worse than breaking a tile, or two, and then being “just” one tile short.

Suspended ceilings incorporate a grid consisting of metal components that support the ceiling tiles. The grid consists of; L-shaped metal strips called wall trim, interconnecting the wall trim are the main support sections, called Main Tees that are an inverted T-shape and come in 3.6 metre lengths.  Main tees hang by wire attached to joists or an existing support above the ceiling and sit on the wall trim.  Cross Tees also sit on the wall trim and provide support to allow the individual tiles to sit in place. There are both 600mm and 1200mm cross tees, giving you the option of either a 1200×600 or 600×600 grid patterns (with 600×600 being slightly more common).

Since the tile is wider than the grid opening, due to it needing to sit on the grid, you must tilt the ceiling tiles at an up-angle to get it through and above the grid opening and allow it to drop onto the grid.  For that reason suspended ceilings require a clearance of between 17.5cm and 20cm, between the grid and the lowest hanging obstacle.

I love exploring small rural villages, and particularly enjoy looking at the pretty traditional properties in them, such as thatch-roof cottages. I’ve always dreamt of living in this type of home, but I know there’s a lot to think about before snapping one up. For a start, they can be costly to maintain. There are a few problems that can occur with thatch roofs – just as you’d expect from a normal one – but you’ll find these issues are not as obvious as a missing slate.

The straw laid down on top of a house tends to begin the rotting process straight away, and while it can take years for it to turn into a serious problem, it’s something to be aware of. If you want your roof to look perfect all of the time, you might find you require a professional tradesman to come round once a year to keep on top of maintenance.
This is a cost you should keep in mind before buying a thatch-roof property. Some councils will provide a re-thatching grant to residents help maintain the traditional look of the area, but others may not, so make sure you factor in the on-going price of repair work before parting with your deposit.

When looking out for rot, the most obvious sign is light patches coming through the darker exterior, along with clumps and cracks forming. You might be happy to let this process continue for a little longer into the lifespan of the straw, rather than having to fork out for repairs on a regular basis. While there’s nothing wrong with this, I think I’d need to stay on top of things more frequently, as I’d want my thatch roof looking its best at all times. If you want an extremely durable thatch roof, water reed is a good bet, as this can last from 30 years upwards. Ridges has the shortest lifespan, at around ten years, while you can also choose to have your roof thatched with longstraw and combed wheat.

However, as good as your intentions might be at keeping on top of rot, you should also keep in mind the risk wildlife poses. Rats and birds are known to destroy thatch roofs, so be prepared to do weekly inspections to prevent the problem spiralling out of control (you’ll need to look for clumps of straw and holes close to one another). It’s also important to find a cheap deal for thatched property insurance, as you’ll find standard polices will not cover your home. This is for many reasons, although the main one is that in the incident of a fire, the flames will spread a lot quicker than in a standard property.

I don’t want to scare you into thinking thatch roofs come with a greater fire risk, though. This type of home is not any more likely to suffer from a blaze, but rather there is the potential for greater damage due to the roof being made from straw. My final piece of advice for those of you who are considering buying a thatch property is that a lot of them are also listed under English Heritage. If you want to make changes to the exterior, including adding new windows and doors, you’ll require permission before going ahead with the work.
If you own a thatch-roof home, what top tips do you have for potential buyers who are considering following in your footsteps?

The two most popular ways of building your own home in the UK are timber frame and brick and block. If you’re not sure which one is best for you, read on to see how they compare in a number of key areas.

Cost
One of the most important factors to consider for most self-builders is the cost of actually completing the house. On balance, the amount you spend whether you opt for brick and block or timber frame construction will depend on a host of factors, making it very hard to pick a clear winner. You should be aware, however, that when you’re building a brick and block home, your bank will be able to provide you with the money in stages as your project progresses. With timber frame homes, you will require a large lump sum up front to order and construct the frame itself, which can mean your financing options are restricted.

Speed
A timber frame home will be weatherproof much quicker than a brick and block one; however, the overall timescale for the completion of your project is likely to be much the same regardless of which method you choose. This is because you should factor in the amount of time it takes for the timber frame to be made offsite. So, although your timber frame house will go up more quickly once the basic structure is brought to your building plot, when you add in the weeks you have to wait for this to be manufactured at the factory, there is little difference.

Of course, in a country like the UK where rain is prevalent, it can be advantageous if you can reduce the length of time it takes for your home to become weatherproof. You may also be able to shave money off your overall expenses because you require things like machinery and scaffolding hire for less time.

Flexibility
Brick and block construction is a much more flexible building method, because you can alter your layout slightly as you work. Although you can’t make significant alterations once your plans have been approved by your local authority, you can move internal walls to make rooms bigger or smaller, should you wish. With a timber frame home, all of the main load-bearing structure is made offsite and only constructed when everything is completed, which means once you’ve placed your order you won’t be able to change your mind about any aspect of the design of your home.

Eco credentials
Both brick and block and timber frame homes can be equally environmentally friendly, depending on how you source your materials. Making sure wood comes from a sustainably-managed forest, or that your bricks are reclaimed or made from recycled materials, can ensure you have a greener build. In terms of insulating houses, there is little to choose between the two methods because UK building regulations lay down very stringent requirements relating to the levels of insulation all new-build properties must have. The design of your home can play a big role in how energy efficient it is too, with things like the size of your windows and how air tight the building is being more critical to its energy performance than whether it is a timber frame or brick and block home.

As you can probably tell, there’s not much to choose between the two construction methods. If you’ve built your own home, which option did you go for and why?

Learning how to paint a room is a simple task once you  begin reading up on it. There is a lot to think about, but most of your painting task is simple enough. Doing it yourself is easy as long as you complete the proper preparation and follow a few guide lines,

Preparation Strategy
Planning is an important part of any task as it typically makes the job go more smoothly. Make your preparations prior to beginning any painting. Compose a list of all of the supplies you need to purchase. This should include the proper brushes, paint, painter’s chalk and tape, tarps, and cleaning supplies. Purchase all of the items at the same time so that you don’t forget anything.

Choose an area of the home for a landing station where you will keep all of your supplies. If the room that you are painting is large enough, simply use a small section of that room. If it is a small room, you might want to consider storing the majority of these supplies elsewhere.

Even though you are going to paint the room and the dirt would get covered, it is important to start with clean walls. Paint goes onto clean walls more easily. Plus, the walls will look nicer when the paint job is finished. Remove obstacles from the room to simplify the painting task. This includes blinds, drapes, lamps, wall hangings, knick knacks, and any furniture that might get in the way.

What Size Brushes and Rollers to Use?
For the best results when painting a room, you should have several types of brushes and paint applicators. For painting the walls, you can use a wall brush in any width between 3 and 5 inches, a paint roller, or a paint pad. Paint pads usually create less spattering.

For the ceiling, a paint roller with an extension handle is the easiest tool to use. The roller can also  be used to paint the walls. Consider buying a power roller that holds the paint in a reservoir to simplify this task. A paint pad on a wheel is perfect for painting the wall near the trim, ceilings, and corners. It allows you to paint on an angle, up to the edge, without getting any paint on the area that you are trying to avoid.

A smaller brush is needed in order to paint any trim work. Purchase one with a width of 1 inch if you  have narrow trim. You can also purchase trim brushes up to 3 inches in width depending on the size of your wall trim. Typically, this type of paintbrush is referred to as a sash brush.

The thought of pumpkins, fiery leaves and hot cider are difficult to imagine during these oppressive summer days, but nothing makes us more eager for the refreshing cool of fall than planning ways to celebrate the season at home. Here are four trends with project suggestions to liven your home with the love of autumn.

Borrow from Nature: As leaves fall and the woody structure of shrubs and trees are exposed, borrow from their natural beauty. Snip a few branches from a tree with smooth wood like willow and display them in an angular white vase. Taller branches can be displayed from the floor and liven up a corner.

Project Suggestion: Gather a set of 6-10 spent stalks of daylilies that have dried since the mid-summer blooms. Spray paint them rustic orange or white and allow to dry (if your decor is more natural, you can also leave them paint-free).  You now have several options: bundle them together and tie with a contrasting ribbon or twine and display as an accent piece on your mantle, or place two stalks each into 3-5 slender white vases and line them up for a contemporary centerpiece.

Pair Neutral Colors with Bold Accents: Brilliant, fiery red is a hot color this fall. Paired with more muted wine tones and taupes, it can create a coziness that beckons to any houseguest. Other color combinations to consider are com husk yellow, chartreuse, and earthy brown, or even navy blue and gray with accents of dandelion orange. One of the simplest ways to integrate color without redecorating an entire room is to focus on the small accent pieces.

Project Suggestion: Create curb appeal with an autumn-inspired front entrance. Find a set of 5-6 old flower pots or check out end of summer sales at a local garden center. Choose your favorite fall flower: pansies and mums make fantastic options. Limit yourself to no more than  two different colors of flowers, repetition of color will create a more harmonious look. Spray paint the old pots the color of your choice to give them new life and pot your  flowers. Arrange in sets of 2 or 3 down your front stairs for a welcoming splash of color. What colors to try? Orange mums with navy blue pots, yellow mums with muted orange pots, and red mums with taupe pots all make good combinations