Keeping Curtain Poles In Top Condition

Curtain poles, whilst serving a practical purpose, are so much more than simply a piece of wood or metal used to hold up fabric. Whilst this is without doubt its primary purpose, a curtain pole can also be used as an effective element of interior design in a room too. If enough thought and consideration goes into their purchase, they can really help add a new dimension and some character to a room. Obviously, taking the time and effort to invest in quality hardware means that the effort should also be made to make sure they are maintained properly. Here are a few simple tips to making sure your curtain poles stay at the peak of their condition.

Child Play

We all know that the home is one big play area to children, and unfortunately they may choose from time to time to play with curtains. Also, whilst their intentions may be good when they go to open the curtains, unless they are aware of the proper technique required, they may pull them a little too hard or drag them, which will cause wear and tear on the poles and, in extremely circumstances, may cause them to bend and break.

Opening

The same applies for yourself, as it’s important to ensure you have the curtain opening technique down to a tee. Try and grab hold of the curtain as close to the top as you can, as holding it as close to the pole as possible will allow the smoothest movement possible. This will ensure that the pole isn’t pulled or dragged in the process.

Mounting

This is an obvious one, but make sure that the equipment and methods used to fit the curtain poles to the wall are of top quality. It should go without saying, but poorly mounted curtain poles are more likely to rip out of the wall and, therefore, get damaged. It’s 
best if you use a wall stud to help mount the screws, or at least an 
anchor to hold the screws in place.

Exposure to Sunlight

This shouldn’t be a problem if the curtains are hung above the window, however if they are mounted in front of the glass then the sunlight could cause damage to the pole. This is a more aesthetical issue than a physical one, but still worth bearing in mind. Like most materials, the sunlight will cause the wood to lose its colour and, in extreme circumstances, it’s strength to an extent.

Dust and Dirt

Just like any other surface in the home, curtain poles can gather dust and dirt frequently. If this isn’t kept on top of, then it can quickly turn into grime which is a whole new (and much harder to clean) problem. A once-over with a damp cloth on a regular basis should be enough to make sure that they stay clean and presentable.

Picking The Perfect Canopy: Things To Consider

The fitting of a door canopy is a great way to stamp a bit of character and distinction on any home. Not only does it add visual value to a home, but it also serves a purpose too. There are few things worse than getting home on a rainy day and digging around your pockets looking for your keys whilst you get soaked through. A canopy creates a dry area for you to stand in as you await entry into the home.

There are many things that need to be taken into consideration before fitting a canopy on your home. Firstly, budget is of course an extremely important factor to bear in mind. Also, the wide variety of shapes and sizes that canopies can be bought in means that after much deliberation, you should be able to find the perfect canopy to suit any home.

Tudor Canopies

A particularly inviting style, Tudor homes are extremely commonplace in Britain and are very easily recognisable. This is in no small part thanks to their large use of wooden beams and distinctive white plaster. As you would expect, Tudor canopies follow this style almost to a tee and also feature wooden trimmings with lots of white plaster. This is usually displayed on the front of the canopy and can be coloured to match the existing exterior of the home. The canopy is finished off with a triangular roof with a particularly sharp point.

Windsor Canopies

A more minimal style, these fixtures are better suited to houses with a Victorian-style and many smaller detached houses. This wedge-shaped door canopy is particularly streamlined and extremely handy for those people not wanting to take too much focus off their door. The shingled roof extends over the door just enough to provide adequate cover, but not too much that it takes emphasis off the exterior design elements that you have put so much effort into.

Cottage Canopies

These are particularly convenient due to the beams that are built-in to allow for the easiest assembly possible. As the name suggests, these are a perfect fit for cottages as their natural appearance (due to a lack of fill under the roof) complements cottage doors nicely.

Countess Canopies

These are the perfect option for homes with a larger-than-average doorway as they simply have the capacity to cover larger areas than many other canopies. What’s more, with the extended space afforded by countess canopies, homeowners can be more creative and cover not only a door, but nearby windows too. Alternatively, this is a great opportunity to create a nice sheltered patio area outside the home.

Georgian Canopies

With a wide variety of styles and their rounder top, these canopies are a wonderful choice for a classic, Georgian-style country home. These provide the best of both worlds, as they maintain all the characteristics of classic British architecture, whilst providing all the functions of a modern canopy in that they offer protection from adverse weather conditions.

These quick tips should be a good reference point for anyone undecided on the type of canopy to fit on their home. Having said that, there are many more variations of canopies on the market, and there are many factors to consider before jumping into a decision.

Securing Your Outside Property to Avoid Home Insurance Claims

Most people don’t give too much thought to their outer property, i.e. their garden – front and back – any alleyway access and garden sheds, forgetting that in sheds for example there can be a lot of expensive possessions, such as power tools, golf clubs, pushbikes and even motorbikes. If you are unfortunate enough to be the victim of burglary, then the safety net of house insurance is some comfort; that doesn’t mean you’ll particularly relish the thought of having to claim on it however, considering your premiums and phone bill will rise as a result. With this in mind, it’s worth taking some simple precautions to deter thefts, some of which are recommended by the police:

• An alarm that is designed specifically for sheds, which usually operate via a key fob or keypad on the unit itself.

• Any tools or equipment that belong in the shed such as lawnmowers, trimmers, garden shears etc., should always be put back after they’ve been used, especially after dark. Ladders in particular should be locked away, due to their propensity for use by burglars to reach upstairs windows in residential areas.

• Bigger items in the shed, such as again lawnmowers, push bikes or heavy power tools, should be joined together with a chain and padlocked to make them more difficult to escape with.

• After the shed has seen any use, double check it is locked before locking the outer doors of the house itself.

Sheds are susceptible to break-ins for many reasons, such as screws which are uncovered, rusty or non-security, old wood that is easily removed sometimes in entire sections, and hasps that also don’t have covered screws.

Where possible, incorporating high hedgerows and solid walls around the property will make it difficult for thieves to take items away from the garden, and using gravel on driveways acts as a natural alarm.

Shed windows should be covered so that potential thieves can’t see what’s inside, and the actual shed building should be placed in view of the back windows in the house, as a hidden shed is a much more tempting target.