Category: remodeling

The Evolution of Handcrafted Furniture: Techniques and Materials

Posted on by Phyllis

For thousands of years, dedicated artisans have applied manual skills and creativity to produce stunning works of functional art. Handcrafted furniture represents a convergence of design, material selection, joinery, and decorative details that elevates simple components into lasting heirlooms. Tracing the evolution of furniture making through history reveals ingenious techniques, artistic movements, and advances in materials that influence furniture construction even today.

Early History

Furniture construction dates back over 5,000 years to ancient civilizations like Egypt, Greece, and Rome. Early Egyptian stools and chairs featured a simple post and rail construction trimmed with ornamental turnings. Greek and Roman furniture advanced with elegant klinai beds and curule seats with turned legs and stretchers. Hand tools like mallets, chisels, handsaws, and adzes crafted and connected the wooden components. Early joinery involved fitted but un-reinforced connections. Decorative elements came from paint, carving, or inlays like ivory.

Medieval Era

The medieval period saw massive wooden furniture arise due to improved joinery and carpentry techniques. Iconic Gothic and Romanesque designs used thick timber frames with panels set into grooves. Interlocking joints like mortise and tenon connected the structural components which were secured with pegs instead of nails or screws like the SPAX ones often used …

Locked Out? Here’s Your Emergency Guide to Regaining Access to Your Home

Posted on by Phyllis

It’s a scenario many dread: You step out to grab the mail or water the garden, and the door shuts behind you. Suddenly, you’re stranded outside your home, your house key mockingly visible through the window. Before you consider a break-in worthy of a heist movie, take a breath. There are safer and more effective ways to regain access to your home.

Understanding the Issue: Why Lockouts Occur

Lockouts are common and can happen to anyone. Perhaps the locking mechanism on your doorknob failed, or the wind slammed the door shut while you were distracted. It’s easy to find yourself on the wrong side of the door. The first thing to remember is that this is an emergency you can handle with the right assistance.

Immediate Steps to Take When Stranded

  1. Check All Doors and Windows: It might seem obvious, but sometimes, people must remember to check every possible entry point. A forgotten unlocked window or back door can give you the necessary access.
  2. Seek Alternative Solutions: If you have a mailbox slot or a pet door, and you’re small enough or can reach through, you might be able to flip the latch. However, this method should be cautiously approached
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Understanding the Underground Storage Tank Removal Process

Posted on by Phyllis

Whether you’re looking to remove an underground storage tank or are unsure what to expect, it’s essential to understand the process before you begin. There are several steps to this process, including the Site assessment, a Soils management plan, permits, and liability. To help you navigate these steps, we’ve outlined the process in this article.

Site assessment

Before beginning the underground storage tank removal process, you must perform a site assessment. This assessment can help determine whether there is a significant risk of contamination and remediation. A professional geologist or engineer can help you complete oil tank removal Westchester County, NY, and provide oversight and reporting. They can also create the final report you need to close the UST site.

If the site assessment has no cause for concern, you can proceed to the removal process. First, you must prepare and submit State Form 56554 or UST Closure Report Document. These forms can be obtained from the IDEM Agency website. If the UST removal process requires excavation, this is often an option. The process of removing an underground storage tank will be similar to that of removing a conventional tank.

Soils management plan

A soil management plan is essential …

What to Look For When Choosing Painting Services

Posted on by Phyllis

You have probably seen advertisements for house painters. The job of these professionals is to paint buildings to enhance their aesthetic appeal and protect them from the elements. Let’s examine what to look for when choosing a painting service provider. We will also discuss the importance of scheduling your painting project around your schedule.

Painting services

Painting services are offered by a house painter and decorator. These professionals specialize in painting buildings and homes to enhance their looks and protect them from damage. They work under various trade names, including house painters and decorators. There are many benefits to hiring a house painter and decorator. The services that they provide are often affordable, too.

McFarlin house painters in Eau Claire can help a home or office space breathe new life into outdated colors. Professional painters can also help clients choose the right paint colors for their rooms and decide on the best design to compliment their homes. This service is available for both residential and commercial properties.

Professional interior and exterior house painters

There are several reasons to hire a professional interior and exterior house painter. You can save money by hiring a professional if you want to paint your …

Houses on Hills Often Have At Least One Retaining Wall

Posted on by Phyllis

Yards that exist on angled land can give people new options for landscape design. People will sometimes make their sloped yards look similar to flat versions, which can still work well. However, they also have every reason to really use the unique spaces that they do have.

Layered Walls

It’s possible to install a retaining wall in many areas. The new retaining walls will also give people a relatively easy way to use the sloped areas that they already have. People who live in houses that are built on the tops of hills will sometimes have a difficult time with them. If the area is structured in certain ways, just reaching the house can be difficult every day.

Adding a stone staircase that leads to a house on a hill can already help people climb the hill on a daily basis. A curved driveway that leads up the hill will still usually be more difficult for people to use, since they’ll be trying to achieve a sense of balance while they’re also trying to get across a fairly steep slope.

Retaining wall structures won’t usually be used like the steps of stairs. However, maintaining a sloped yard that has layers …