For example, how often should you pest control your home? And, more importantly, how much does pest control cost on average?

In this article, we’ll tell you everything you need to know – including some very handy tips on how to control pests and prevent them from invading your personal space!

How often should you pest control your home?

So, how often should you pest control your home? You should only ever pest control your home when you have a pest infestation. Certainly, there are some pest prevention tactics that you can employ at all times (which we will cover later in the article), however, you shouldn’t be spraying insecticides all over the place when you do not have an active infestation.

That said, most pest control professionals recommend that you have quarterly inspections at the least (in other words, 4 pest inspections a year).

That way, a professional can look for any potential signs of infestation and spot them before they become problematic. For example, a rodent issue in your walls and floorboards or a wasp’s nest in the loft – all of which can be very harmful both to your health, and the structural integrity of your home.

How much is pest control on average?

So, how much does pest control cost on average in the UK? The prices can vary significantly from one region to the next – and depending on the type and severity of the infestation.

For example, the average cost of fumigation in the UK is between £120 and £160.

• Wasp control is roughly £55+ (for the nest only).
• Bedbug treatments start from £130 – upwards of £220 depending on the number of rooms.
• Ant control starts from £100.
• Flea control begins at £80 and can go upwards of £120 and £140 for a three-bedroom house.
• Cockroach treatment is roughly £120 and higher for multiple rooms.
• Rodent control starts at around £120.
• Mole treatment begins at £90.
• Squirrel pest control can be anywhere from £100 to £175.
• Bird control starts at £60.

Bear in mind that these prices are merely averages. They do not reflect the most accurate representation of pest control costs in the UK. ‘

If you are looking for accurate estimates, we highly recommend that you contact some of your local pest control companies for a few different quotes.

Again, the prices will vary depending on what kind of pest problem you have and the severity of the infestation.

If you do not have a pest infestation but you are wanting a site inspection to confirm this, the cost will be lower.

What are the best ways to control pests?

If you want to know the best ways to control pests, there are few things quite as effective as prevention.

First of all, an effective pest prevention method is having quarterly home inspections as mentioned earlier. That way, you can have an expert come to your property to look for any signs of a potential pest problem.

In any case, here are a few pest prevention tactics you can try to keep those pesky pests at bay:

• De-clutter your home: pests love clutter. The more places they have to hide—and indeed the more nesting materials they can find—the more likely they are to move into your home without invitation. This is a great excuse to de-clutter your space and do a bit of a spring clean. Go through all of your possessions and start getting rid of those things you really don’t need. Take to e-Bay and sell your old shoes, donate unused clothes to charity, and keep your home as clear as possible.
• Keep your home clean: make sure you regularly clean your home. Dust and hoover throughout, clear cobwebs, and don’t give those pests an excuse to come in and start nesting.
• Keep your kitchen immaculate: pests love free food and drink so don’t give them an excuse to stop by for a feast. After use, clean your kitchen thoroughly. Clean up all food waste, wipe up those spillages, and you’ll significantly reduce the chance of having pests come into your home.
• Store food properly: keep food in sealed containers – including pet food. Again, pests love a free feast and can find their way into almost anything.
• Wash your dishes after use: it may be tempting to leave the dirty dishes until tomorrow but the sooner you clean them, the less likely they will be to attract pests.
• Take out the bins: empty your bins in the evening and take the sealed bags outside to your brown bins. If you want to make the most of your food waste, you might want to consider composting to save you from taking the trash out every night.
• Seal entry points into your home: go around the house and identify any potential entry points for pests. Gaps in doors and window sills are the biggest culprits.

Conclusion

To recap:

• ●      You only need to ‘pest control’ your home when you have an infestation. However, quarterly inspections are recommended by a professional.
• Pest control averages between £120 and £160 depending on the type and severity of the infestation.
• The best way to prevent pests is by having regular inspections and taking the pest prevention steps mentioned above.

We hope you’ve found this article insightful. If you’d like to learn more about pest control and how the experts tackle home infestations, visit a reputable website like SWAT Pest Control for some inspiration.

The post How often should you pest control your home? How much is pest control on average? What are the best ways to control pests? appeared first on Nick Worley.

Another consideration is, of course, the colour of your flooring; e.g., which colours can make a room look bigger? Are light or dark colour floors in style?

If you are looking for some handy flooring tips, this is the article for you. Whether you plant to DIY or call in the professionals to help, it’s always worth having a good understanding.

Let’s get started…

Which type of floor is the best and why?

Which type of flooring is best and why? This is a difficult question to answer, given that it largely comes down to personal preference and practical application.

Yes, we could argue that laminate flooring is the ultimate flooring solution, or that tile is far superior to any other option available on the market today, however, if you love the feel of a plush carpet underfoot then you’re not going to agree with us.

So, the question is, which floor is best for you? Or rather: which flooring types are best for which rooms in the house and why?

To make life easier, we’re going to highlight the different rooms in a home with some flooring options and their practical advantages.

• The bedroom: the bedroom is all about maximum comfort and good temperature regulation. As such, your preferred flooring should reflect that. It doesn’t need to be waterproof or exceptionally durable, but comfortable underfoot. For example:
  • Natural hardwood flooring is soft underfoot and has a gorgeous aesthetic. While some people may find this too cold or un-inviting, a choice rug can make all the difference.
  • A high-quality carpet is always a popular choice for the bedroom, providing comfort and warmth.
• The bathroom & kitchen: bathrooms, kitchens, and laundry rooms all experience high levels of moisture and spillages which should be your biggest consideration when opting for flooring. For example:
  • Ceramic and porcelain tiles are excellent for the bathroom given their water resistance and how easy they are to clean and maintain.
  • Tile works well in a kitchen, however, vinyl sheet, laminate, and engineered hardwood are three excellent options worth considering.
• The lounge / living room: your lounge and living room are going to see quite a lot of foot traffic throughout the day, whilst being rooms that you are likely to spend the most time in. Comfort, durability, and aesthetic charm are equally important:
  • A natural hardwood flooring is always a great option, given its attractive appearance and inherent durability.
  • Laminate flooring is quite popular as it is highly durable and easy to clean and maintain.
  • Carpet does work well in these environments, however, it is one of the most demanding flooring types in terms of maintenance. As such, if you’d rather not have to regularly hoover and steam clean your floors, carpet isn’t the best option. Again, throwing a rug down on your hardwood or laminate flooring is always worth it.
• The hallway: the hallways in your home will receive the most foot traffic and are subject to having dirt tracked in from outside. Ultimately, the best flooring type will be something that is highly durable and incredibly easy to keep clean and maintain. We recommend the following:
  • Hardwearing solid stone, durable engineered or solid hardwood, and ‘easy to clean’ ceramic tiles make great flooring solutions for this environment.

• Bamboo flooring is particularly popular right now given its eco-friendly advantages.
• Engineered hardwood is also a great, affordable alternative to natural wood – with additional benefits.
• Hybrid flooring combines the best of both worlds from vinyl and laminate.

Take your time to research your options and you’ll soon be able to find the best flooring type for you.

What colour floor makes a room bigger?

If you are looking for a flooring colour that can make a room look bigger, the general rule of thumb is to keep it light and neutral – with some well-placed mirrors for good measure. Consider cream carpets ad natural, whitewashed hardwoods. These neutral tones are ideal for achieving a light and ‘breezy’ feel in your home, ultimately creating the illusion of a larger space – even in a notably small room.

In some cases, dark flooring can achieve a spacious feel but it’s a difficult aesthetic to pull off. You will need to contrast your floors with the ideal ‘cooling’ shade on your walls.

Another effective way of making your rooms look bigger is by using one flooring type through. For example, if you have different flooring in every room downstairs with clear borders between the hallways, living room, lounge, and kitchen, each room will invariably appear to be smaller. However, if you stick with a stunning laminate throughout for example, the rooms will flow into one another, thus appearing far more spacious and breathable.

You may also want to avoid busy, floral patterns. A carpet with far too much going on will ultimately make a space feel more cluttered.

Finally, if you are opting for tiled floorings, the bigger the tile the better. 12” squares for example can really open up a space and making it feel roomier. 

Are light or Dark floors in style?

So, are light or dark floors in style? To be perfectly honest, both can work wonderfully when executed properly. Again, darker floors are harder to pull off, however, when paired with the right aesthetic they can be far more stylish and highly effective at hiding imperfections.

If you are installing DIY Floorboards in your home, it’s always worth consulting an interior designer for tips and tricks – particularly if you want to opt for a dark floor look.

In any case, remember that it’s your home after all and thus you should go with whatever style and design resonates best with you and your personality.

Conclusion

Let’s recap what we’ve learned:

• There’s no single ‘best’ flooring type – it’s all about choosing the right material for the right rooms.
• Neutral and lighter colours can make a room feel more spacious. Avoid cluttered patterns and opt for larger tiles if you don’t want to go for a traditional hardwood plank flooring.
• Both light and dark flooring can both look incredibly stylish, it’s all in the execution.

We hope you’ve found this article insightful and that you’re now feeling inspired to get your renovation project underway.

The post Which type of floor is the best and why? What colour floor makes a room bigger? Are light or Dark floors in style? appeared first on Nick Worley.

In this blog post, we’re going to share some entertainment ideas to give you a little bit of inspiration. Hopefully by the end of this post, you’ll be ready to get to planning a night to remember!

1 – Don’t stop the music

Yea, a Bluetooth speaker and a Spotify playlist might work for a gathering between friends, but for a big party; it’s simply not going to cut it. If you want to go all out, then you should consider hiring an awesome DJ to play a set. In fact, we’re going to share a few different ideas with you in this post, but the music should be a given no matter what. Don’t skimp on it!

Or alternatively, you could opt for a band instead. Depending on the theme of your party, the band could take many forms. A soul singer or a jazz band perhaps? An acoustic cover artist? A heavy metal or rock band? Whatever suits your theme and will keep your guests entertained, but the music is the most important part of a party no doubt.

2 – Professional cocktail mixologists

If you want to hire entertainment for your party, why not mix it up and hire some professional cocktail mixologists. That way, you’ll essentially be killing two birds with one stone; drinks and entertainment done.

Many professional cocktail mixologists will be awesome at flaring and will put on an impressive display for your guests. If you’re not sure how to secure some, then you should hire the professionals to take care of it for you!

3 – Dance the night away

With some awesome music, your guests are going to dance the night away as it is. However, wouldn’t it be cool to hire some professional dancers to get the party started? Again, depending on your theme, there are many different styles to choose from.

For example, some cabaret dancers would be perfect for a “guys and dolls” theme. Whereas some break-dancers would certainly suit a more modern vibe.

4 – Stand-up comedian

If you’re planning a party with a sit-down dinner at some point, then a stand-up comedian would be the perfect way to keep your guests entertained whilst they’re eating. You don’t have to hire them for the whole night, but an hour slot would be an ideal way to break the evening up and offer some comic relief to get everyone laughing and smiling even harder!

Of course, these are just a few simple ideas. The only limitation when it comes to party entertainment ideas is your own imagination. If you hire the professionals, they will be able to share even further inspiration.

Whatever you decide to roll with, we’re certain that you’ll have an awesome time. But remember, don’t forget to hire entertainment for your party!!!

The post Don’t Forget to Hire Entertainment for Your Party if You Want it to be a Hit appeared first on Nick Worley.

In this post, we’re going to look at reproduction antique dining room furniture, and how you can transform your home into a beautiful and refined establishment. The fact is, antique furniture is beautiful. However, it comes with a heft price-tag. Which is why reproduction pieces are growing in popularity at the moment. You can have the real-deal (or close enough) for a fraction of the cost.

Antique reproduction furniture is built to last

One of the major benefits of buying furniture from an online antique reproduction shop is the quality. Yes, most antiques are of a very fine quality, hence the reason they have lasted for so long. That said, when you purchase antique furniture, very rarely will you want to use it our of fear of causing it any damage. Instead, you leave it in your home as more of a feature piece as opposed to a functional part of your home.

When you buy reproduction furniture, you’re investing in quality. Quality that you can use and enjoy. Yes, you will need to take care of it. However, they will be designed and put together using modern crafting techniques, and so are built to last a life-time.

Create a luxurious dining room setting

It’s important to sit down as a family and to share dinner. Something which fewer people are doing with each passing year. However, be investing in reproduction antique dining room furniture, you’ll be investing in your family.

You will be creating a luxurious dining room setting where you and your family can share a meal together. You can find out about their day, and to stay up to date with what is happening in your children’s world. Additionally, it’s a beautiful way to teach and inspire etiquette when eating. And where better a place to do so then when sat at a gorgeous, antique dining room furniture set?

No one will know but you

Unless your friends and family members are avid antique collectors, nobody is going to know the difference. And in the same-breath, who is going to care anyway? If you want the real-deal, then you can go out and buy it. However, if you’re not particularly fussed, then you’ll save an awful lot of money for an exact copy (or improvement) on a beautiful, antique item. It’s a no brainer really!

Warranty

You’re unlikely to get any warranty when you buy a piece of antique furniture. However, when you purchase an antique reproduction piece from a reputable online dealer, then you will indeed. This is worth considering, as anything can happen and the last thing you want is to spend a fortune on a piece only for it to break and be left with nothing.

The post Transform Your Home with Reproduction Antique Dining Room Furniture appeared first on Nick Worley.

Protective gloves

Protective gloves are arguably one of the most important chemical handling supplies. Without them, your employees will not be able to physically handle chemicals, without causing damage to themselves.

However, there’s a difference between regular anti-corrosive gloves, and fine quality supplies. It’s all very well having adequate protection, if you’re robbed of your dexterity. High-quality chemical handling supplies will be flexible enough to move your hands as though you’re not wearing any gloves at all. This is incredibly important.

Protective masks

In addition to wearing protective gloves, you need to invest in quality masks. This is largely due to the fact that harmful substances can be incredibly dangerous to the lungs. You should not directly be breathing in these substances, which is why the masks are vital. In addition to that, it also provides protection in the event that there’s any splash-back.

Protective goggles

Safety is in the eye of the beholder! You should definitely supply your employees with protective goggles when they are dealing with corrosive substances. If in the event that there is any splash back, you must have goggles to prevent anything from getting in the eye. This can be a sight-saving investment! Even the slightest drop of certain substances can cause an awful lot of pain and suffering, so you must not skimp on them!

Protective suits

Protective suits are not just about protecting your clothing from getting dirty. Corrosive and acid substances can eat their way through cloth and other clothing materials, which is why you need to have purpose-build suits which are designed to protect your entirety from these substances. By investing in these, you’ll be able to work confidently, without fear of a little splash back causing you serious damage and pain.

Why you need to go for the highest quality

Do not skimp when it comes to chemical safety supplies. There is absolutely no reason to not invest in the finest quality. This will invariably result in your employees being safe at all times, and never running into any issues. The last thing you want is to buy cheap quality supplies for the sake of saving money, only for having to pay out on a law-suit because one of your employees have been seriously injured due to poor-quality and faulty equipment.

Conclusion

To cut a long story short, you should supply your staff with absolutely everything required to handle chemicals safely and efficiently. Again, you need to go for the finest quality at all times. Tick all of the boxes, and you won’t have any problems. You might have to spend that little bit extra, but it will be worth it in the long run when no accidents occur and the job gets done.

The post Invest in the Best Chemical Handling Supplies appeared first on Nick Worley.

Feeling the firmness of the floor under your feet will let you know instantly that you are standing on a quality, solid floor made from quality materials.  Of these materials, some of them are far harder to care for effectively than others, and one that requires a good degree of understanding to care for properly is limestone.  

If not treated properly, a limestone floor could begin to deteriorate within two or three years, but with proper care it can last centuries.  Even when damaged, a limestone floor can be salvaged, but if you are going to attempt fixing it yourself, make sure that you do your research so that you can ensure a high quality limestone restoration, and don’t make things any worse.  

The same is true of simple maintenance, ensuring you understand the best ways of caring for a limestone floor is important before taking any steps to clean or restore one, if you get it wrong, the damage can be irreparable.

Loose tiles and grout

Not strictly limited to limestone floors, but given limestones tendency to erode quite easily floors constructed from this material can be quite prone to this problem.  Loose grout is normally a symptom of movement within the floor the tiles are adhered to.  If installed on a wooden floor, the natural flexibility in the wood can cause the floor to flex when it is walked on and over time this will cause the grout to crack.  Once the grout has cracked it will begin to work its way loose and start being knocked out of the space it is supposed to fill.  Obviously it is fairly simple to repoint the area and apply fresh grout, but if the floor continues to move then the problem will simply reoccur.

Loose grout can also be caused by movement in the tiles themselves.  This is normally due to the tiles being fitted badly in the first instance where the installer did not apply the adhesive evenly causing blobbed patches and as such some areas to be higher than others.  In addition to higher points of the adhesive layer, the lower areas will have no adhesion and this will leave voids between the tiles and the floor.  Both of these factors will cause the tiles to work their way loose over time and subsequently crack the grout.

Cleaning

Once you’ve established that the underlying floor is stable, the tiles are adhered properly and the grout has been replaced the floor will need a clean.  Categorically never use chemicals on a limestone floor, either use approved limestone cleaners or a pH neutral stone soap and water.  Gently wipe over the floor and don’t put too much force or focus on any one area unless a stain is particularly prolific.  The biggest problem with cleaning a limestone floor is that once damage has been done, further cleaning without the proper treatment will simply exasperate the damage further.

Protection

With the limestone floor stabilised, repointed and cleaned, it will be time to ensure that it is protected against future damage.  Limestone, like most masonry, requires sealing to ensure it is protected against wear in the long run.  If there is any remaining sealant from previous treatments it is important that they are removed before a new coat is applied.  Only use an approved sealant removal product to ensure there is no damage to the limestone and make sure that you clean it again after using the chemical on it.  Make sure the floor is clear of dust and debris and then apply the limestone sealant as directed by the products instructions.  This should leave you with a wonderful looking limestone floor that should last for years to come.

Alternatives

If this all sounds like a lot of time and work, it is; so what alternatives are there is you don’t want to undertake this project or don’t feel as though you will be able to do your limestone floor justice.  Well, the simplest answer is that you should employ the services of a professional stonemason and limestone repairer.  Companies such as this will have all the tools and expertise to repair your floor and leave it as a gem of a feature in your home for you to enjoy.

The post <strong>Points for care and consideration of a limestone floor</strong> appeared first on Nick Worley.

In this post, we are going to explore some of the most common reasons for pumps failing, so if you’re having any trouble with yours, have a read and see if any of these factors might apply. 

1 – Dust Particles  

You’d think a great big pump chugging away would be able to stand up to a bit of dust, though after a certain length of time, they can cause a lot of damage when inside the motor. Depending on where the pump is situated and the size of the foreign particles that are working their way inside the motor, they pump can be affected in different ways. For example, sand particles can wear down various electrical components, whereas dust will stifle the air flow in vents, causing the motor to overheat – So, when choosing a motor, choose one with an appropriate level of ‘Ingress Protection’. 

2 – Overheating 

Naturally, an electric pump working overtime is going to generate an awful lot of heat, however there are certain factors which can cause it to create excessive heat (like dust build up in vents as listed above) – as a rule of thumb, for every excessive 10 degrees of heat, the lifespan of a pump is cut in half! A staggering amount when you think about it, so be sure to monitor your temperatures properly. 

3 – Power Supply Problems 

This is the big one as it’s something that can not only affect your motors lifespan, though it can also become a health & safety risk as well, affective other electrical appliances plugged in to a linked power supply. It’s not as simple and straightforward as just plugging the pump in and being off to the races; there can be anomalies in your power supply which can cause distortion and overheating, thus causing your pump to break down prematurely. 

4 – Not Enough Lubrication 

Lubricating your motor is no simple task, as there is such a thing as too little and too much. In addition to that, it is also possible for lubricants to become contaminated with dust or other foreign particles which can cause issues with your pump’s motor. Be certain to purchase the appropriate lubrication and apply it to industry standard specification.

5 – Moisture & Humidity 

Over time, moisture in the air can have a terribly detrimental affect on the way that your motor functions, cutting its life down significantly. Again, be certain that your pump has the appropriate Ingress Protection levels and do all that you can to keep humidity to a minimum to get the most out of your motor. 

Feeling overwhelmed by it all? Understandably so, as it is quite a minefield when it comes to maintaining pumps properly. Reputable pump supplies can provide you with all the relevant advice and information that you need, depending on what you need to pump for. Don’t rush in and certainly don’t be afraid to ask for help and advice. You can save yourself a great deal of time, effort and stress if you get this right the first time.

The post 5 Common Issues Which Can Cause Functionality Problems with Your Pumps appeared first on Nick Worley.

This might be as simple as disused piping or cabling and it could be structural and therefore largely harmless, but what if these are amenities that are still in use?  Hitting a gas pipe could be potentially catastrophic so why take the risk, which is why professional bodies such as property develops and councils employ the services of concrete scanning companies before breaking ground.  The same is true of any project; if you have to dig through concrete then you should definitely contact a concrete scanning company before beginning to ensure the work is safe to proceed.

How does it work?

Concrete scanning companies employ highly sophisticated scanners that utilise GPR (Ground-penetrating Radar) to essentially take an x-ray of the solid surface beneath them.  These machines are slowly moved across the area and use electromagnetic radiation to measure the density of the materials beneath them and this is then used to form a live picture on a computer so that things hidden under the concrete can be easily identified.

Could this damage anything delicate beneath the surface?

It is extremely unlikely, verging on impossible that a ground-penetrating radar would damage anything it scans.  These machines utilise high frequency microwave radio pulses and project these through the ground; this is no different to the hundreds of different radio waves that are passing through everything around us all the time so it should be completely safe.  Additionally, this technology is used by archaeologists to scan for potential dig sites and the artefacts they hope to locate are considerable more fragile than pipes and cables.

What type of things can a GPR locate?

A GPR will locate almost anything hidden beneath the surface of the ground or concrete – the trick is identifying what it finds.  As with reading an x-ray, there is a degree of skill and knowledge involved in being able to pick out the different things the scans reveal.  Some things might be obvious from their shape or the depth they are buried at, but it can be confusing with things overlapping each other and height variances.  The concrete scanning company that performs the scan will be able to sit and discuss their findings with you in great detail and provide a comprehensive and exhaustive report that will explain everything they have found in great detail.  This will give your small project or a huge redevelopment the information and scope they need to correctly handle any surprises that might be hiding just beneath the surface.

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