BuildingChoice.com.au is proud to have Panasonic on board Australia’s new home for home diy and home improvement.

As of March 31 2010, the Panasonic Corporation is one of the largest electronics manufacturers in the world, with more than 680 international companies making and marketing a wide range of life-enriching products under the Panasonic brand.

To view Panasonic’s extensive range of  Washing Machines, Microwaves and Air Conditioners on BuildingChoice.com.au, see Panasonic’s dedicated page here.

BuildingChoice.com.au welcomes Panasonic to Australia’s largest range and all in one building choice website is a post from: Home DIY Blog

If your garage door feels like it has put on a few pounds when you try to lift it yourself or you think you can actually hear your automatic opener groaning it may be time for an affordable home improvement that fits your skills and budget.

Check your garage door springs to see if there is a bar that passes through them right above the door. If you see one then it is time to call a professional installer because it will require precision tools and expertise to achieve the exact door lift.

However, depending on the make of the garage door, if the springs draw out from a bracket on the ceiling to each side of the door you can spring into action with a new home improvement project.

1.  Open and Secure the Garage Door

Use the buddy system to lift the door all the way up so the bottom is past the door header. Clamp vice grips to the door track at the bottom section of the garage door. A sound secondary precaution is to place a step ladder under the door. You definitely do not want the heavy door crashing into the floor or crushing your enthusiasm.

The extension spring’s size is determined by color code. Find the broken spring and check the end for the color. You can procure the proper replacement springs from a supplier by reporting the color of your springs.

2.  Remove the Defective Spring

Even though you will be replacing both springs you should leave the good one in place as a visual reference. Find the 3-hole adjusting clip at the front of the top track. The cable is tied to this spot and you will notice it is connected to the track with an S-hook. Undo the S-hook and release the cable from the clip. Look for the safety cable that runs through the spring and unhook it from the hangar bracket.

Take a moment to decide if you have an open or closed ended spring. You may need a pair of heavy duty wrenches to remove the sheave pulley. Now you can unhook the spring from the rear hangar bracket.

3.  Out with the Old – In with the New

Attach the spring on the bracket for the rear hangar. Hook the sheave pulley onto the front end of the spring. Look over at the good spring and use it as a guide. Run the door cable through the pulley and tie it to the cable clip. Try to take advantage of the pliable cable to tie it right where the previous bends are positioned. Now you can attach the S-hook to the cable clip.

Grab and pull the cable toward the front of the garage door. Keep pulling until you feel a slight tension on the spring. Use your other hand to attach the other end of the S-hook into the adjusting hole that is closest on the track. Now you or your partner can thread the safety cable through the middle of the spring and then attach it to the back hangar.

Simply repeat the entire process for the other spring. When you are done hold up the bottom portion while you take the vice grips off the track. Lower and raise the door to ensure the proper amount of tension on the springs. Your home improvement success probably saved you enough to spring for a celebratory supper.

New Garage Door Or An Easy Home Improvement? is a post from: Home DIY Blog

Interior designers integrate gas home heaters into their plans with many creative approaches. Home heating units can be positioned in faux rock or real stone settings. There is a wide array of colors and styles available to homeowners and designers.

• Gas heaters are popular for many reasons. This type will not produce the smoke and particles that can be released into a room by firewood heaters. The air remains cleaner and the environment is safer for adults and children. Attractive, functional, safe, and clean are the hallmarks of gas heat.

• This type of heater is ideal when using natural gas for its fuel supply – a perfect fit for homes with access to a gas service.

• A wall mount unit can be color coordinated to blend in without taking up space. The free standing fireplace versions are amazing. There are many colors and styles and they can become the centrepiece or accent to a room. The natural gas means no wood shavings, kindling, tinder, or smoke is present. The fire starts with the flick of a switch.

• Proper ventilation is a must for any room with a home heater. Carbon monoxide needs to vent from a room and some renovators install a monitor to detect excessive levels in the air. Technicians can install a carbon monoxide monitoring device when they install the natural gas heater.

•  Savvy buyers will be certain to purchase a model with heat guards, auto shut off feature, and other safety protocols. Safety characteristics on a natural gas fireplace may even lower your home insurance policy. Check to see if an environmentally friendly heater qualifies you for a government discount, rebate, or credit.

Gas is a versatile fuel which Australians embrace not just for home heating but for cooking as well, and our climate lends itself to al fresco gourmet barbecue entertaining.

When remodelling or designing your dream home, consider how simple it is to extend a natural gas hook-up to an outdoor entertainment area. Many people enjoy a landscaped deck area with built in eating and cooking area.

The outdoor gas outlet can service a dream grill or a gas barbecue grill on wheels and eliminate the need to change change gas bottles.  A outdoor gas heater will complement your home heaters and extend the period during which you can enjoy outdoor entertaining – right into the cooler months.

Colourful Choices Make Gas Home Heaters Fun and Functional is a post from: Home DIY Blog

For Australian homeowners, there’s a variety of home improvement projects to undertake that won’t just make your home more attractive and more valuable, but will also reduce its impact on the environment.

Home improvement is earth improvement.

Believe it or not, some of the little things you do around the house to make it more livable, such as installing new windows, sealing cracks, re-roofing, etc. can have a big impact on the environment. Home repair or renovation projects can reduce your energy usage, saving resources and resulting in lower carbon output. This can yield a real and tangible environmental benefit.

The best thing is that you don’t have to be a carpentry or electrical genius to complete many of these projects. In fact, all that most of them require is a little time, patience and the ability to learn from trial and error for you to be on your way to greener and more comfortable living.

Green home projects

One important, but often overlooked home project is caulking cracks and gaps in windows and doors. By sealing these gaps that let in hot air in the summer and cold air in the winter, you not only make your home more comfortable, you also reduce the amount of energy needed to heat and cool your home.

Another home project that you can undertake to improve your home is as easy as plugging and unplugging. By replacing your old appliances with newer, more energy efficient devices you can reduce your energy use and the carbon emissions produced to generate energy for your home.

To help preserve one of Australia’s most vital natural resources, consider replacing old taps and other water fixtures with newer models that are more efficient and use less water.

Government support

A key benefit of environmentally friendly home improvement projects is that the government provides incentives for some of these efforts.

For example, homeowners in Victoria can be eligible for $300 to $1,600 in rebates from the state government if they install a solar water heater. These water heaters can save up to 75 percent of a household’s water heating costs. While the upfront costs may be prohibitive for some, the rebates make it much easier for homeowners to invest in a solar water heater.

Green home improvement projects aren’t just good for the environment and your home’s aesthetics and efficiency, they’re also good for your cheque book.

Green Home Improvement Tips is a post from: Home DIY Blog

For Australians looking for a means to heat their homes that is economical and environmentally responsible, wood-burning home heaters are the way to go. The cost of using them is significantly less than other heating sources, and wood-burning home heaters are better for the environment than other heating options.

Australians probably know better than anyone else the importance of preserving the delicate balance of our environment. From efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef to strong protections for clean water and clean air, Australians have worked to protect the environment not just for us, but also to benefit the global community. Using environmentally friendly home heaters is a small way individual Australians can contribute to continuing the fight for a better world.

Wood: a sustainable resource

Wood-burning units obviously use wood, a sustainable, renewable resource for their source of fuel. With responsible land use and management, sufficient trees can be grown, removed and replaced to provide enough fuel for this type of heater without depriving us of the environmental and aesthetic benefits of our forest lands.

Modern slow combustion home heating devices are very efficient, and squeeze every bit of energy from their fuel source as possible. Burning wood causes fewer carbon emissions than other sources of domestic heating fuel, and using our own renewable resources for heating will also reduce Australia’s need for foreign sources of fuel – making us more energy independent.

Cost benefits

When undertaking a home improvement or home DIY project, it is a good idea to include an assessment of your heating requirements in your planning phase to ensure that you make adequate space, budget and design provisions.

Slow-combustion wood-burners are cost effective, especially for low income Australians who may not have well-insulated homes. According to estimates by the Australian Home Heating Association, the cost of heating a poorly insulated home using a wood-burning home heating unit is $2 per day. With natural gas, that cost leaps to $9 per day and with electricity the cost is $10. For struggling families, the cost benefit offered by home heating can be very significant.

For a good investment in your home and your future, why not consider the benefits of wood-burning home heaters? More than 1 million Australians are already helping themselves and the environment by using them to warm their homes in the winter months.

Go Green With Wood-Burning Home Heaters is a post from: Home DIY Blog

When people consider possible home improvement projects, health benefits rarely come to mind when they’re deciding what they want to do. However, there are a variety of fixer-uppers that can have some very real health benefits, including flooring projects such as installing new carpeting.

Wall to wall carpeting can go a long way to improving the aesthetics of a home. It can be used in conjunction with a paint or wall-papering scheme to brighten up a room or to give it a more intimate feel.

This isn’t the only benefit offered by home carpeting, however. Consider these other key benefits of installing new carpeting as a home improvement project.

Safety — While other types of flooring, such as tile or wood floors may be attractive, they’re nowhere near as soft as carpeting. For homes that have children or elderly residents, a fall onto a hard wood or tile floor can result in injury. Broken hips are especially dangerous but unfortunately common for older people, so installing a flooring that mitigates the impact of accidental slips, stumbles and falls can be a key health concern.

Comfort — Home carpeting provides added insulation from the cold. For people with fragile health or compromised immune systems, keeping a home at a comfortable, healthy temperature is a key method of avoiding sickness. Installing home carpeting can make a home more comfortable and warm during the winter months.

Dust and allergens — A well-vacuumed carpet can be an important defense against allergy and other respiratory problems. While other flooring types don’t capture dust and other pollens, carpet does, preventing pet dander, dust, etc. from just floating around in the air. Carpet captures these particles and by regularly vacuuming your carpet, you can eliminate the problems they cause.

VOCs — Compared to other types of flooring, carpet emits far fewer volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. This means that a carpeted home’s air quality may be better than that of a home that uses another type of flooring. Volatile organic compounds are essentially organic matter that either occur naturally or are man-made. VOCs can occur in a number of products, including flooring.

By choosing to install home carpet as a home improvement project, Australian home owners can improve their home’s aesthetic appeal and also make a significant contribution to their health.

Home Carpeting: A Home Improvement Project With Health Benefits is a post from: Home DIY Blog

Australians looking for a relief from rising energy costs, that have resulted from the growing world demand for power, can save money and go green by choosing the right type of wood-fired home heaters for their situation.

Not only are they a safe and effective method of keeping homes warm during the winter months but thanks to new technology, they’re more efficient and environmentally friendly than ever.

There are three basic types of wood-burning home heaters:

Convection heaters

Convection heaters have air cavities surrounding the heater’s firebox, which are surrounded by an outer shell. Inside the heater, air rises between the firebox and shell and eventually expands, pulling more air which is pushed out through the top of the heater. Newer models of the convection heater can generate up to three cubic metres of warm air every 60 seconds. The convection heater is a good standard choice for most modern homes.

Radiant heaters

Radiant heaters are the most inexpensive option for home heating. They’re great for open areas such as family or recreation rooms.

Fan forced heaters

Fan forced heaters are a variation of the convection heater that use a speed blower to make the convection process occur more quickly and are well-suited for large homes in need of increased air movement.

For families living in rural areas or small towns, finding fuel for wood-burning home heaters is relatively easy, as firewood can be purchased for about $140 to $150 per tonne.

Estimates by the Australia Home Heating Association suggest that low income homes can benefit from using these heaters because the firewood needed to heat a home during the winter months is cheaper than the cost of heating the home using electric heaters. According to AHHA estimates, the firewood cost of heating a home with poor insulation during the winter months is $2 per day, whereas the electric cost would be $10 and the natural gas cost would be $9.

Having a sufficiently heated home during the winter months is vitally important to health, as uncomfortably cold temperatures can lead to increased incidences of sickness, particularly among young children and the aged because of their vulnerability to the elements.

As a result of the world wide economic downturn, many families may be struggling to meet this basic need. Home heaters can help provide better, more affordable living to many.

Which Wood Burning Home Heaters Are Right For You? is a post from: Home DIY Blog

Women are no longer intimidated by the prospect of swinging a hammer or working a saw. Undertaking home improvement tasks is possible for everyone, and after tackling a few simple projects to build confidence, even the inexperienced will be ready to tackle the big jobs.

Changing gender roles, and circumstances, are leading more and more women into the home DIY world. While all the power tools and saws can look intimidating at first, getting proficient in their use is easy with time and practice.

For women interested in taking on some home repair and renovation projects, here are a few simple projects you can undertake to increase your confidence and skill.

Replacing powerpoint covers

Over time the plastic coverings for powerpoints may become cracked and worn. Replacing them is easy. All you need to do is use a screw driver to unscrew the old cover from the wall and a replacement cover purchased from your home DIY or electrical supply store. This project is very simple, but the key is to build confidence and get accustomed to using tools and practicing proper safety.

Sealing cracks and gaps along doors and windows

Cracks and gaps along doors and windows can cost you a lot in higher energy bills. By buying a caulking gun and caulk, you can seal these gaps, reducing drafts in your home.

Painting

Sprucing up part of your home by repainting it is an easy home DIY project that teaches patience and attention to detail. After thoroughly cleaning your surface and patching any holes, all you need are rollers, paint brushes, painters tape, a tarp, a paint tray and paint. Careful planning and attention to detail are important to avoiding messy mistakes and wasted paint.

Regrouting bathroom or shower tiles

This is a little more labor intensive than the other tasks and requires a keen eye for detail, but once you have a few of the simpler projects under your belt this may be one you want to tackle. You’ll need to remove the old grout and tiles first – which can be a physically demanding task. The project requires careful measurement and attention to detail for it to be done correctly.

For women who want a new hobby or skill, home projects are easy to learn, plan and complete. They also provide a surprising creative outlet, as over time you will want to try increasingly ambitious projects as your home improvement skills grow.

Home Improvement Tips For Women is a post from: Home DIY Blog

There are many types of home heaters and one of the most popular systems is central heating. This allows the homeowner complete climate control from room to room. Homes with central heating have virtually eliminated the problems associated with wall heaters and baseboard units. The old-fashioned models produced plenty of warm air. The major challenge was even distribution of the temperature from room to room.

Central heating allows control of the environment, room by room, with a thermostat. The actual system may be located in the attached garage or basement. It does not have to be in the center of the home. It simply means that heat is produced in one central location and distributed throughout the home. This is a wonderful contemporary system that will meet your needs for many years – with a bit of care.

Caring for your home heater

• Understand the components. The most common system creates heat that is delivered to separate locations through air ducts. The typical arrangement has an installed blower that pushes or forces the air through the passages where it enters rooms through vents. This method probably has a cold air exchange vent that is not directly connected to the duct paths. There is a vent outside the home too.

• It is important to remove anything that interferes with a vent. Culprits that block vents outside the home are usually leaves, rocks, tools or toys. Inside the home you may have to strategically adjust the placement of furniture to ensure there are no obstructions to a vent.

• Properly performing filters will get dirty. A filter works even harder in a home with pets or where air conditioning is frequently used. Pick an annual holiday and create a new tradition where you check the filter to see if it needs cleaning or replacement. Always use a filter specified by the manufacturer.

• Natural gas users should know where the pilot light is located and how to examine it properly. A blue flame indicates good working order. If the flame appears to be orange or yellowish then a problem may exist that requires calling in a trained technician.

Many homeowners learn how to perform routine maintenance on home heaters. Some people engage a technician to check everything out once a year. A central home heating system will last longer, produce better results, and escape expensive repairs when it gets an annual tune up. Saving money over the years is a consideration that many people easily warm up to.

Centralised Home Heaters Work Harder and Longer with Routine Care is a post from: Home DIY Blog

Worn out sash cords may be the culprit when a double hung window stops operating smoothly. Time takes a toll and eventually sash cords wear out from use. This is the perfect opportunity to make a home improvement by upgrading to a metal window spring. It will take about one or two hours for each window to install a counter balance that is spring-loaded.

1. The slender wood frame covering the window sash is the stop bead. Remove it. Now slice the paint next to the stop bead with an ordinary utility knife. This should keep the paint from chipping. Take out the screws and remove the stop bead.

2. Use a utility knife to cut the sash cords on each side jamb. Extract the sash window carefully. An extra pair of hands can be useful at this point. Set the window to the side. On each of the side jamb are cord pulleys and they can be unscrewed and set out-of-the-way.

3. Note the weight printed on the faceplate of the counterbalance. The window sash weight should not surpass that number. Just use a simple scale to weigh the sash window and you will know if the retractable counterbalance can handle the job.

4. It will be necessary to modify the size of the original pulley holes on the side jambs. This action will change the length of the opening to mate the new counterbalance. A Forstner bit and drilling guide are perfect. This bit makes a precise hole with a flat bottom. Go slow on this step because the side jamb can easily be damaged if you let the drill wander.

5. Go ahead and position the window spring into the proper location. Mark the sketch out of the faceplate on the side jamb right where the cord pulley was positioned. Use the Forstner again to drill a groove on the side jambs. This will permit the faceplate of the window spring to be situated flush in position.

6. Discard the old window sash cords and screw in the solid metal wood screws for the window spring. Take a moment to spread paste wax on the side jambs to achieve a smooth, silky, glide.

7. Connect the counterbalance to the hooks on the sash after you remove the retractable springs.

8. Put the sash into position and test the full range of motion. Now just reconnect the stop bead, caulk the seams, and apply a touch up paint.

Up to a certain window size, one person can do this job but a pair of helping hands will certainly help you spring ahead with this enduring home improvement project.

A Double Hung Windows Home Improvement Project is a post from: Home DIY Blog