GInstitute Home Improvement and Remodelling

Hazardous household wastes are household products that give off waste and by-products that have the potential to harm humans or the environment, either now or in the future if not disposed of properly. There are many options to dispose of household hazardous wastes safely, protect the environment and keep your home safe. Recycling programs are available for some hazardous waste if needed.

Although recycling programs have increased, but so has the amount of waste being generated, including the quantity of hazardous waste.  The average household stores many hazardous substances or products that contain harmful elements. It can be dangerous to dispose of hazardous wastes just through regular rubbish collections. Examples of household hazardous waste include:

• Solvent-based paints.
• Pesticides and other garden chemicals.
• Batteries (car, mobile phone, and regular household batteries).
• Motor oil from vehicles or mowers.
• Petrol and kerosene.
• Cleaning and polishing chemicals.
• Swimming pool or spa bath chemicals.
• Pharmaceuticals of all types.
• Thermometers, barometers, thermostats, fluorescent tubes, and CFL’s.

To handle hazardous waste at home safely you should:

• Keep the goods in their original containers if possible. If containers are leaking, use new containers but never use food containers like softdrink bottles.
• Don’t mix chemicals when decanting a substance into a new storage container.
• Make sure all labels, including warning labels and manufacturer’s instructions, remain intact on the packaging.
• Store goods upright with lids secured tightly and out of the reach of children.
• Keep all ignition sources, such as matches, well away from the storage area.
• Keep the storage area cool and dry.
• Buy the smallest amount for your needs.

What happens when you don’t dispose of dangerous waste properly?

Buried in the garden – dangerous chemicals and poison can leach into the surface or groundwater. This can affect the soil, plants and water for a long time.

Tipped down the sink – wastes may corrode the pipes or block storm water drains and cause problems at water treatment plants.

Put into the regular garbage – this can put the health and safety of garbage collection workers at risk. It may also pollute waterways and drinking water if sent to normal landfills. Hazardous waste should only be stored in specially designed landfills.

Plastic shopping bags – these can create an ugly litter problem if not recycled or disposed of properly. If these bags get into waterways, they may be a threat to wildlife. Most supermarkets now collect plastic bags for recycling.

Illegal disposal, dumping or misuse of wastes is a serious offence and subject to federal or state penalties.

Insulation is one of the key components of a sustainable home design as well for home improvement in the home’s later years. A well-insulated home reduces energy bills by keeping the house warm during winter months and cool during the hot spring and summer days. Also, cutting down carbon emissions linked to global climate change at the same time allows you to save money on electricity and heating bills. In terms of energy efficiency, investing in high quality insulation materials for your home is more cost-effective than investing in expensive heating and cooling appliances and technology.

It is thus, worth taking the time to choose the right insulation materials in the framework of the whole home improvement home design. Loft insulation is the most commonly used materials to maximize energy efficiency and improve the acoustics of your home. Among the various materials used in this category includes glass fibre insulation loll or rolled loft insulation and multi foil insulation rolls. Insulation materials are made from petrochemicals and include fiberglass and multi foil materials. These materials are widely used because they are inexpensive to buy, manufacture, and install. Plus, there is an assumption from the building industry that the performance ability of the loft insulation materials is higher compared to that of plain walling and roofing materials.

Loft insulation materials work by resisting heat flow measured by an R-value. The higher the R-value, the greater the insulation. This R-value varies according to material type, density, and thickness, and is affected by thermal bridging, unwanted heat flow that occurs at joists, metal stud, and rafter beams. For instance, for fibreglass or rolled loft insulation, they provide a thermal conductivity of 0.040 W/mK and a thermal resistance of between 2.5 – 5.0 m2K/W. If you want a tear resistant, rot-proof insulation that does not weaken over time, the multi foil insulation is one of the perfect loft insulation choices.

With loft insulation, you are contributing to a greener environment at the same time reducing the cost on your energy bills. Rockwool insulation is another material usually used for cavity wall insulation and can also be installed as part of the ceiling, usually after the inner segment is built and before the building of the external brick outer portion. For the internal partition wall insulation, insulated plasterboard is normally installed for acoustic insulation purposes rather than thermal insulation. Insulation boards prevent sound from being transmitted and to provide thermal insulation to walls within a home.

There are different floor covering that you can consider for your home. There are a wide range of options that you can choose from. Naturally, you also need to know seasonal trends and choices. Aside from types of floor covering, you also need to consider color and longevity.

Vinyl

Vinyl is a great idea for rooms. They really look attractive. You can choose many designs to suit room ideas especially for the master bedroom, kid’s rooms, and the guest room. You may even choose vinyl flooring for sheltered outdoor spaces or recreational areas. Vinyl also makes good covers for walls.

Laminates

This is another interesting choice for your rooms. You may consider this for wood floors or even doors. There are other kinds of floor covers related to laminates. You can also use plastic or fabric laminate flooring as well, or utilize them for outdoor spaces. Why not try laminate floor covers with geometrical patterns for the living room.

Carpets

You can get carpets from home improvement retail stores. Consider contemporary rugs for home renovation this season. These modern carpets are best for home interiors; try out cotton and wool rugs. Synthetic rugs look good for outdoors. You can also buy oriental carpets and these can be used in any area of the home.

Hardwood

Hardwood flooring is another striking idea for your house. If you have a cabin or cottage house, then you can surely go ahead with this kind of flooring. You can also use hardwood flooring in your basement and storehouse. Treat the hardwood with anti-termite solution and get a good quality one so that they do not rot over time or get affected by pests. You may even choose this kind of floor cover concept for a library or the study room. Many homeowners even get hardwood flooring for hobby rooms or the recreation area.

Tile, Ceramic, Stone

Tiles are a nice way to define an area. Ceramic tiles are the best choice for any room. Marble and granite are two other choices for floor covering. You can also get stone or brick flooring for your spaces. You can even choose brick and stone slabs for outdoor flooring. They can be a nice addition to the garden and plant shed areas as well. You may also use marble for living room and other focal region flooring. You can also select them for platform or mantel space surfaces.