Design

The Unexpected Place of Truck Trailers in Home and Garden Design

By missalis | May 24, 2023 | No Comments | Design, Landscaping

If you’ve ever passed a truck trailer on the highway and found yourself imagining the potential it holds beyond the realm of transportation, you’re not alone. Increasingly, homeowners and garden enthusiasts are tapping into the creative possibilities these unconventional structures provide.

From dolly trailers to flat top and drop deck trailers, this article will explore the novel ways truck trailers are being integrated into home and garden designs. If you’re curious about how you might leverage these unique, industrious structures in your own home and garden, read on.

Truck Trailers: A Brief Introduction

Truck trailers are usually associated with heavy-duty transport. They’re designed to handle massive weights, tackle challenging terrains, and protect cargo from the elements. However, the same attributes that make these trailers perfect for transport also make them ripe for repurposing.

There are several types of truck trailers. Dolly trailers, for instance, are commonly used for heavy haulage and have a low bed height for stability. They’re rugged, durable, and can stand up to harsh conditions. Flat top trailers, on the other hand, are characterized by their open flat platform, without sides or a roof, making them perfect for carrying oversized loads. Lastly, drop deck trailers, also known as step deck trailers, are essentially flatbeds with a raised and lowered section, used for carrying taller items.

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What Your Cat Needs Inside Its Cat Enclosure

By missalis | June 16, 2021 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

There is a misconception amongst many people, including cat owners, that cats prefer to stay indoors. This may be down to the fact that cats generally do not like wet weather, but if you were to investigate further, you would find that many cats love being outdoors, and one of the best ways to allow them to do so safely is with a cat enclosure.

A cat enclosure can be a DIY project for enthusiasts. Still, the wisest choice, especially concerning your cat’s well-being, is to purchase your cat’s enclosure from a dedicated pet enclosure supplier. They will have several options ranging from simple netting to a full-sized prefabricated cat enclosure that your cat will love spending hours inside, and it can do so in perfect safety.

Once they have their cat enclosure, your cat can sleep, rest, play, scratch, meow, eat, drink, and do what ultimately comes naturally in their private space. Best of all, from your point of view, they will not be doing any of that indoors, so issues such as noise, scratched furniture, and accidents on the carpet will not arise whilst they are outdoors in their backyard cat enclosure.

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Composite Decking Versus Timber Decking

By missalis | April 6, 2021 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

One of the questions deck builders are asked, possibly more than any other, is ‘What are the advantages or disadvantages of composite decking versus timber decking?’.

It is a very valid question, and before we answer it, we are going to be upfront and say that we are going to try to be as neutral as we can. There are always going to be differences of opinion with regards to certain products and services, and that is equally true when it comes to composite decking and timber decking.

Some favour the former, and others the latter so we are going to try our best to be as objective as we can as we go through some of the advantages and disadvantages of each of these two types of decking. For specific and more personalised answers, ask your builders which Building Supplies would suit your property best.

Look and Feel

This is one where your choice is going to very much be based on your personal preferences rather than on any kind of technical specification, however, let us try to give you some comparisons.

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Shade Sails Vs. Umbrellas

By missalis | October 17, 2017 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

Many businesses these days have outdoor customer areas and they see the need to provide shade, otherwise those people will go elsewhere so they don’t have to sit in scorching sun. However, there are several ways to ensure the customer area is shades and two of the most popular are with shade sails and sun umbrellas. So which is the best?

Advantages

Sails

Sails offer a larger area of shade that can include tables, chairs, walkways and borders of the area.
The sail is higher, which allows more air and breeze to pass under and through the structure, so the area is cooler.
You get more UV protection from a sail and they are usually showerproof as well.
Commercial sails don’t have to be taken down; in fact they are not meant to be removed like residential ones are.

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Choosing Hardwood Flooring Over Carpet

By missalis | September 20, 2017 | No Comments | Design, Maintenance

In the midst of a house renovation you might have to make a consideration between laying carpet or installing timber flooring. Hardwood flooring has quite a few more positives than negatives when you start comparing it with carpet. Here are a few of the points to consider when trying to make that choice.

Timber Flooring is Modern Looking

You look at today’s innovative building designs. They are trending towards clean lines, simplicity, and that catch word ‘minimalism’. With a timber floor you get a blank canvas on which to express your personality. Carpet is kind of 70’s. It looked great in your parents’ house, in the lounge room, but it’s time your home zoomed into the 21^st Century.

Cleaning

Commercial cleaner gleamcleanwa.com.au advise that you can easily clean a wooden floor with a sweep and a vacuum. Follow that up with a warm water mop to clean the surface and you’re good to go. The carpets will require a vacuum and more than likely a steam clean every few months from a carpet cleaning service, especially if you have pets and kids. Stubborn stains in carpet can be rather hard to remove. There are no stains on a timber floor (unless you spill acid and it eats into the wood). Marks from high heels can be repaired although some say it adds character. Scratch marks on timber floors are usually sustained by the coating rather than by the wood itself and easily fixed with a quick sanding.

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Picking The Right Frames For Your Home

By missalis | August 16, 2017 | No Comments | Design

Every home has frames hanging on the walls. Some will contain paintings, many will be photographs, and there may even be certificates and awards displayed proudly for all to see. In most cases, the only thought that will have gone into each frame is whether or not it is hanging straight after it has been mounted. However, if you want the interior design of your home to utilise framed photos and paintings fully then more thought needs to be given to the whole process of choosing the frames you hang on your walls.

Obviously, one factor in the whole process will be how many rooms you have in your home. Large houses with 3 or more bedrooms and other rooms such as a study or separate dining room will have much more scope for both the quantity and the types of framed items you can display than a one-bedroom apartment. Nevertheless, whether your home is large or small you can still make choices about the sorts of framed pictures or photos you use.

One element to consider early on is whether the furniture, fixtures and general decor in your home are mainly traditional or modern. In many cases, there may be some overlap but most homes will tend to veer towards one or the other. If it is traditional then the sorts of frames you want to hang should reflect this, even if they are to be used for photographs instead of paintings or prints.

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The Difference Between Limestone Bricks and Blocks

By missalis | May 24, 2016 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

Limestone is a great building material that is strong and durable. It is cut into bricks and blocks. There are several differences between the two, including the size.

Limestone bricks

Bricks are the smaller of the two and are coursed so they can be used just like normal bricks. They have a 10mm joints, while blocks are cut to allow 20mm joins. The limestone blocks are cut at the quarry and then transported to the factory for further cutting in bricks.

The bricks come cut in two different ways.

Firstly, with faces and edges diamond cut, and perpendiculars tungsten cut.
Or secondly, tungsten cut face and perps, with diamond cut edges.

The geological name of the limestone in the bricks is Tamala Eolianite, and it was formed in the Pleistocene Age. The type of stone is called Coastal Limestone and it has a Calcium Carbonate content of between 70%-95%. Of a cream colour, the compressive strength is 3.5Mpa Avg. Bricks come in 6 different sizes.

Bricks can be used in many projects from planter boxes to garden walls and from wall cladding for single or double storey buildings to even larger commercial buildings. These bricks do not have cement added; they are completely natural limestone.

Limestone blocks

There are two different types of limestone blocks.

Natural Tamala limestone blocks with quarry cut finishes on all surfaces. These are useful for fences, feature walls, piers and retaining walls. The grain is fine to medium with a compressive strength of 3.5 Mpa. There can be waste if a block splits or breaks which means they are not quite as environmentally friendly as the reconstituted blocks below, however it is still a beautiful product worthy of attention and frequently found enhancing an urban environment with the elegant shape and colour.

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10 Reasons to Choose a Colorbond Roof

By missalis | April 1, 2016 | No Comments | Design

The roof is like a lid for your home. Just like a lid on anything else, it is meant to keep out moisture and preserve the contents of the home in good order – including the occupants. If you are building a new home or renovating an old one you will need to decide what kind of roof you want. Here are ten reasons to choose Colorbond roofing.

1. Colorbond is made from steel with a baked on coloured surface which stops the steel from rusting and enhances the whole home. Steel is a strong material, yet it is light compared to some other roofing materials. It has been made especially for Australian conditions that can be baking hot during the day and frosty cold at night.
2. Because the sheets are large, the roof will be finished quickly, saving time and costs on labour.
3. There are many colours to choose from, meaning you can create a nice colour scheme overall. The colours reflect those found in our Australian environment.
4. A steel roof may sound as if it will be hot, but nearly all the colours have thermal technology and reflect the sun’s rays, thus providing insulation. When there is also insulation in the ceiling your home will be cool in summer and warm in winter.
5. Colorbond roofing is a popular choice in Australia so your home will blend in with others in the district.

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Fabulous 6 Natural Stone Decking for Pools

By missalis | March 6, 2016 | No Comments | Design, Pools

The vicinity surrounding your pool plays a significant part to give your pool the right character and style. Enlisted below are 6 natural stone pool decks options to transform a simple pool setting to an extraordinary one.

Travertine: Quite an ideal choice for setting up an opulent pool deck. This material is preferred mostly for its:

Durability
Porous nature, allowing it to absorb water immediately, leaving the deck dry and safe at all times.
Propensity to always be cool to touch
Enduring feature through all weather conditions, including freeze/thaw.
Distinctive colors- ivory, brown and gold

Flagstone: This flat slab of natural paving is perfect for around the pool installation. A huge number of pool owners are fond of this pool deck material for-

Its huge array of shapes and sizes to create an extraordinary pool deck
Its textures and colors are rich in earth tones
Its facet to survive regular usage while defying humid temperatures and keeping the surface slip-free
Its low on maintenance and can be installed easily

Two types of Flagstone include- Bluestone and Slate

Bluestone is the best pick for an outdoor setting that is enclosed by a natural scenery
Slate is a type of stone decking that suits traditional and natural spaces flawlessly.

Limestone: Limestone is a building material that is famed across the globe for making decking a hassle-free process. On top of that, limestone is-

Robust
Long lasting. It can withstand the test of time irrespective of harsh climatic conditions
It has a way to charm spectators with its warm and earthy look
Exclusive looking. Its looks make pool designers opt for it for pool coping as well.
Available in a huge assortment of shapes and sizes cut to suit individual requirements. Color-wise, there are infinite choices like blue, pink, brown, grey and a lot more.

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How to Get The Right Scaffolding for Your Project

By missalis | January 1, 2016 | No Comments | Design, Renovations

There are as many different types of scaffolding as there are building projects. Each project has its own specific requirements and some require scaffolding that is quite unique in that the shape, load and design specifications are different from any other. Even if your project is not totally unique, you will still want to be sure that you get the right type of scaffolding for it. So how can you be sure?

Since most scaffolding is hired, you need to choose a reputable scaffold hire company that employs trained engineers to design the scaffolding you need. Sometimes, the engineer will deem it essential to come out to the building site to take a look at the geography and ground conditions of the layout as well as other essential features such as power lines that may be nearby. Other times they will simply work from the specifications and plans that you supply to them.

The company will then design a scaffolding that will work for your project and present it to you for your approval. It is important to make sure that the structure has been designed properly and also that the actual components of the scaffolding are of the right kind and strong material. The two main choices are aluminium and steel. Aluminium is light and strong, while steel is also strong, but heavier. It is generally chosen for a structure that is complex and larger. (more…)

Category: Design