House Renovation

Artificial Turf: The Smart Solution for a Low-Maintenance Lawn

Posted on 04/07/2025

Artificial turf offers low maintenance lawn solutions for playgrounds, sports fields and businesses alike. Homeowners, businesses and playgrounds increasingly opt for artificial grass as an economical lawn option.

What Is Artificial Turf?

Artificial turf, also known as synthetic grass, is composed of synthetic fibers made up of materials like polyethylene, nylon and polypropylene that mimic grass in texture and appearance. Modern versions often boast realistic textures as well as multiple layers of infill to keep its blades upright – giving the appearance of real grass!

1. Convenient Maintenance

Artificial Turf is easy to keep looking its best without needing to weed, mow, water or fertilize it – saving both money and time on lawn care duties!

2. Conserving Water

Natural grass requires hundreds or even thousands of gallons annually of water in order to remain green; artificial turf provides an eco-friendly alternative suitable for areas which receive little moisture such as desert environments.

3. Artificial Grass

Remains green regardless of weather, giving your lawn year-round beauty. No more brown patches during cold months or withering patches from summer heat!

4. Longevity

With proper installation and care, high-grade synthetic turf can last 10-20 years with proper care. This resilient flooring can …

Different Types of Pool Installations

Posted on 04/07/2025

Installing a pool is an investment for any homeowner, adding beauty, fun, and value to their property. But before taking the leap it’s essential that they understand all their options available before diving in; each has unique benefits and challenges which should fit with both space constraints, budget requirements and lifestyle preferences.

In-Ground Pools

In-ground pools provide permanent swimming solutions for homeowners. Constructed directly into the ground to achieve an elegant custom appearance, in-ground pools come in three forms – concrete, vinyl liner and fiberglass are the main types available to choose from.

Concrete pools are known for their durability and design flexibility, being constructed to almost any shape or size you can think of. While installation takes more time and costs more money, concrete pools provide long-lasting enjoyment over many years of usage.

Vinyl Liner Pools

These pools use custom-made vinyl sheets as the interior surface. They’re more cost-effective and faster to set up compared to concrete pools; additionally they come in various shapes and sizes but could potentially become damaged from sharp objects over time.

Fiberglass Pools

Fiberglass pools feature pre-molded shells which can be quickly assembled. Their smooth surfaces inhibit algae growth for easy maintenance. Unfortunately, there …

State House Kenya, Lodges Renovations to Cost Kenyan Taxpayers KSh 1.3b

Posted on 04/05/2025

President William Ruto will work away from State House, Kenya for two months to pave the way for costly renovations
State House, Mombasa was allocated KSh 302 million in the revised budget, down from an initial planned expenditure of KSh 382 million
This came after the head of state’s budget was increased from KSh 6.4 billion to KSh 9.9 billion despite opposition from Kenyans

TUKO.co.ke journalist Japhet Ruto brings over eight years of experience in financial, business, and technology reporting, offering deep insights into Kenyan and global economic trends.

The government is refurbishing Kenya’s State House in Nairobi and state hotels nationwide.

President William Ruto's budget was increased. — President William Ruto (c) hosts guests at the new State House Pavilion. Photo: William Ruto.
Source: Facebook

What will State House Kenya and lodges renovations cost?

The substantial KSh 1,309 billion expenditure aims to revitalize the president’s official residence, addressing structural improvements and enhancing its facilities.

Notices to 7 PWD engineers for CM house construction | Delhi News

Posted on 01/05/2025

NEW DELHI: The Directorate of Vigilance of Delhi government has served showcause notices on seven engineers of the Public Works Department (PWD) for alleged irregularities in the renovation of chief minister Arvind Kejriwal’s official residence at 6 Flag Staff Road in north Delhi’s Civil Lines.
The vigilance department observed that the officers who were involved in planning and execution of the project violated the rules and regulations, Central Public Works Department manuals, and Central Vigilance Commission guidelines, and committed various lapses and irregularities while constructing a new building in the guidance of addition and alteration of the CM residence.”…directed to explain as to why disciplinary action should not be initiated as per relevant rules, laws, manuals, circulars, CVC guidelines etc for the mentioned lapses and irregularities,” the showcause notices read , seeking reply in 15 days.
The engineers who were served notices through the principal secretary of PWD included principal chief engineer AK Ahuja, chief engineers Ashok Kumar Rajdev and PK Parmar, superintending engineer Abhishek Raj, executive engineers Vinay Chaudhary and Shibnath Dhara, and assistant engineer Rajat Kant.
While Raj and Parmar said they were not aware of the notices, the other engineers could not be reached for their reactions.

…

One Architect Shows Sustainable Home Renovation Is Possible in Brooklyn

Posted on 30/04/2025

When Aaron and Anna Schiller began thinking about building a new home in Brooklyn where they could start a family, Mr. Schiller knew he could use his training as an architect to his advantage.

It was 2017, and housing prices were already soaring. Mr Schiller, 39, the founder of the architecture firm Schiller Projects, assumed the couple would buy something “that was relatively unattractive to the rest of the market,” so they could get a good deal.

But he had another agenda.

“I was seeking an opportunity to do something I couldn’t find a client to do at that point in time,” he said, “which was to attempt to build, in timber, a near-zero carbon piece of construction.”

specifically, Mr. Schiller was interested in mass timber construction, which uses engineered wood for structural components — rather than steel or concrete, which are responsible for significant greenhouse-gas emissions.

It took about a year for Mr. Schiller to find his “unattractive” building: an 1870s brick carriage house in Clinton Hill, Brooklyn, that was being used as a limousine garage and apartment.

From the street, the structure was quite handsome. The problems were inside: The rooms were dark and dank, the space was

…

Renovations turn up mortar shell in NSW house, but Australian Defense Force X-ray shows no active fuse

Posted on 26/04/2025

Weekend home renovations came to an alarming halt for a resident on the New South Wales South Coast after he discovered a 30-centimetre-long mortar shell.

Plumber Elliott Doughty moved into his new home in Bulli last month and was digging underneath a concrete slab in his backyard on Sunday afternoon when his shovel hit something unexpected.

“I didn’t know it was a bomb at first, but I hit pretty hard,” Mr Doughty said.

“Nothing happened — thank God — so I assumed it was safe to move out of the way.”

Intrigued by its torpedo-shaped appearance, Mr Doughty carried the mortar over to a nearby tap to rinse off the dirt.

Elliott Doughty, his wife Finn and daughter Sunny moved into their home in Bulli one month ago.(Supplied: Finn Hutchinson Doughty)

“Once I could really see what it was, I took extra caution,” he said.

“In hindsight, I probably shouldn’t have been fiddling with

…

Doireann Garrihy Shares Exciting House Renovation Update

Posted on 21/04/2025

Doireann Garrihy has shared a glimpse at the latest progress made in her renovations after purchasing her first home last year, and has potentially hinted at a move in date.

The broadcaster and presenter paid €490,000 for the three-bedroom semi-detached property, which is just around the corner from her family home in Castleknock.

Something of a fixer-upper, Doireann has been putting her own stamp on her new home, and has been bringing followers along during the process.

Doireann Garrihy has shared a glimpse at the latest progress made in her renovations after purchasing her first home last year, and has potentially hinted at a move in date. Pic: Doireann Garrihy/Instagram

Taking to Instagram on Wednesday morning, the Dancing with the Stars presenter shared a snap of a cement mixer, which she noted she ‘can’t wait to see the back of this lad.’

She also shared a glimpse at her father Eugene’s handiwork — which involved setting up the wall for the handrail which will be installed on the stairs.

Doireann’s final update was to say that she finally had a radiator.

Showing a glimpse into what appears to be a sitting room area, Doireann shared that she was ‘manifesting Christmas

…

Jigiwa LGAs to spend N540million on renovation of guest houses | The Guardian Nigeria News

Posted on 12/04/2025

Chairpersons of local government in Jigawa State intend to spend N540 million renovating their guest houses in the state capital.

This was disclosed in the state 2024 budget. The 27 local governments collectively proposed N3.4 billion for security vehicles and guest house renovations.

Each chairperson allocated a N106 million for two Toyota Hilux vehicles for “security operations,” totaling N2.9 billion for the entire state.

In addition, each budgeted N20 million for renovations to guest houses in Dutse, the capital, bringing the total to N540 million.

These expenditures are part of the N109 billion budget for local governments submitted to the state House of Assembly.

The House Appropriations Committee Chairman, Ibrahim Adamu, revealed the details while presenting it to Speaker Haruna Aliyu.

Last Thursday, the assembly passed the N109 billion budget for local councils alongside the N298 billion budget for the state government.

Aliyu explained that the N298.14 billion state budget presented to the assembly by Governor Umar Namadi differs from the N298.14 billion local government budget, noting that the local government budget only needs the assent of the assembly to become a law.

“The committee found that the provision of N106,393,395.00 provided by each local government council amounting to N2,872,621,665.00

…

arvind kejriwal sheesh mahal: Kejriwal’s Rs 45 crore ‘Sheesh Mahal’: Rs 1 crore for curtains, Rs 6 crore for marble

Posted on 10/04/2025

Glowing in the huge public attention he got after the Anna Hazare agitation against corruption, Arvind Kejriwal, now Chief Minister of Delhi, had promised before his first Delhi assembly elections that he would live an austere life as a chief minister. He had said a simple home of four-five rooms was enough for him. An old video of Kejriwal making these claims has surfaced on social media when it has come to light that he has spent crores on renovation of his official home.

Revelations that Kejriwal spent a whopping Rs 45 crore on renovation of his official home at 6, Flagstaff Road, Civil Lines in Delhi, have triggered a political row, with the opposition parties demanding his resignation.

What was the money spent on?

According to an exposé by Times Now Navbharat, around Rs 44.78 crore of taxpayer money was spent on renovating Kejriwal’s official residence. The opposition BJP also released documents that claimed Rs 44.78 crore were spent against a sanctioned amount of Rs 43.70 crore on “addition/alteration” at the CM’s government accommodation between September 2020 and June 2022.

An amount of Rs 11.30 crore was spent on interior decoration; Rs 6.02 crore on stone and marble flooring;

…

New Study Highlights 6 Factors To Consider

Posted on 06/04/2025

Looking back over the experience of the COVID – pandemic, it is no surprise that homeowners are approaching home renovation with gusto. Being stuck within the same four walls of one’s home – working, eating, sleeping, teaching, entertaining and trying to maintain some semblance of sanity – constantly, for two years, has made post-pandemic activities feel like a breath of fresh air.

It’s a different story for the professionals who assist homeowners in designing, planning and ultimately putting the hammer on the nails and the mortar between the brick. Their dark cloud has not been cleared. Some of the effects of the pandemic – specifically supply chain disruptions that resulted in backlogs of building materials, appliances and the electronics needed for contemporary living – are still a part of every project estimate. Unfortunately, some experts on supply chain management feel this will be a challenge for the next decade. Plus, “The Great Resignation,” where millions of workers decided they would rather do something else, is also still a factor in the construction industry.

In an effort to put the future in perspective for both homeowners, who are ready to improve theirs residenceand the professionals who will be hired to

…

Category: House Renovation