Home Interior reconstruction

Radiators are integral parts of a heating system in many homes, commercial buildings and in various institutions. What should you keep in mind, when you need to replace an old radiator?

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Ribbed Or Panel Radiator?

Naturally, when choosing a heating system, there are a number of factors to consider. First of all, it is necessary to choose the right type. As to this, you have a wide choice of both panel and ribbed radiators. In most homes, quality panel radiators are preferred nowadays: they are more efficient, aesthetically interesting, as well as more dimensionally compact, which are the qualities appreciated by most people. On the other hand, for bathrooms, special bathroom radiators (“ladders”) are the most suitable.

When choosing a radiator, you need to take the external conditions, building insulation, size of the rooms, as well as the correct location into account (it certainly should be under the windows, but not behind curtains or furniture). However, the performance is the key factor, which must be sufficient to heat the entire interior space, and to do it as cheaply as possible. Secondary are features such as the design, although you have to remember that the ribbed or panel radiator will also be an aesthetic part of the room.

a traditional ribbed radiator

Get Experts Advice

Finally, there is an important tip for you. There is a really huge choice of radiators on the market, which is difficult to orient in for most people. However, the proper selection can save you a lot of money. Fortunately, there is a multitude of online shops where you can buy cheaper than in a store, while you can get some advice there, too.

 

Does your arbour or your pergola need repainting? Do not postpone the task and get on with it as soon as possible.

It is not pleasant when your shed falls into ruins slowly but surely. And a dilapidated shed full of clutter looks weird to your neighbours…

There is nothing like having a good quality garden construction on your property, which can survive winter as well as strong winds without problems. Additionally, these constructions protect materials, tools or garden chairs, which are waiting for warm days. Every garden construction deserves enough attention from its owner – the care is worth it in her long run.

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Good Quality Roof

As with conventional buildings, a barn or a garden shed needs a good and high quality roof. In the moment you find out that rainwater is leaking inside, do not wait and check the roof as soon as possible. It is recommended to examine other places where water could be leaking into the construction, too. Even if the roof is ok, take care of painting it with good paint that will protect the roof against the weather.

Like the roof, the structure of the building is important, too. The individual parts of the structure should be well conserved to withstand invasions of insects, rodents as well as weather changes. If you find out that one of the supporting beams is damaged, it is better to replace now than to see your shed collapsed and tools damaged in winter.

The roof includes gutters and downspouts, as well. Each garden building should have the roof sloped to one side, where water should be drained to the ground. It is not good, if the building gets wet after each rain, neither if the roof is sloped to one point, from which water keeps flowing down to the foundations. The experienced homeowners solve this issue by standing a barrel to the edge of the roof to catch the water; they use it later for flowers and plants in the garden.

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Coating Is A Must

Most garden buildings are made of wood (timber) with roofs of sheet metal or other roof covering. The walls made of boards must be conserved very well. This can be done by e.g. high quality paint or by old motor oil. The soaked timber survives weather fluctuations and you can be sure, that either mice or insects (including woodworms) do not like it. If the surroundings of the building are formed by a clay surface, it is far better to coat the lower parts of the building with several layers of paint.

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Start From The Floor

The next important part of a garden construction is the floor. It should be made of concrete and the lower part of the structure should be recessed. This will reduce possibility of being washed away during a flood. Whenever you discover that part of the floor is broken, just knock the floor around it out with hammer and fill the hole with new concrete. Cracks in concrete can be sealed with silicone. If you do not do so, frost and moisture would tear the whole floor in winter.

Outdoor constructions, such as garden arbours or pergolas, need only regular painting. Do not save on a quality paint or varnish, as you can prevent bark beetles and other pests from destroying it.

Greenhouses (made either of glass or plastic foil) should be painted once a year. Broken windows or torn foil should be replaced to avoid unnecessary loss of light.

Once in a while, it is advisable to replace the wooden panelling, which is perishable easily due to moisture. Fungi and mould get from it down into the soil and they consume the quality nutrients meant for vegetables or flowers. If the soil is tired and exhausted, good fertilizing is necessary, and if it does not work, the whole soil must be replaced. On this occasion, it is recommended to do the overall repair or reconstruction of the greenhouse.

Luxfers are almost a perfect building element that offers nearly endless range of applications: they can be used for partitions and half-partitions, vistas, ceilings and stairs. They bring light into dark spaces and brighten up dull interiors.

Today´s Luxfers are considerably different from the first ones, which have been produced since about 1897. The glass blocks changed from the original ones with only one glass wall, to hollow core blocks created by welding two halves together with an air pocket inside. Due to it, Luxfers gained additional benefits and their scope of use expanded.

 

Options Are Almost Unlimited

Even thought the clear blocks are not perfectly clear, they allow some visual contact. If you want to prevent stares into the room, you can use “satin” blocks, even though they transmit less light. You can achieve interesting effects by combining matte and glossy blocks, different sizes or colours of blocks.

The options are enhanced by special corner and ending parts that allow you to build Luxfer walls up to 90° angle or to end a partition with a block that has one, two or even three sides  in the open. Luxfer wall can basically replace any non-bearing partition wall or window.

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Beautiful And Practical

In addition to the undeniable decorative effect, glass blocks have other advantages, too:

  • they bring light into dark spaces; if you fill part of a wall with them, you can get the natural light into a hallway, garage, bathroom or a basement
  • they have great soundproofing properties, so they can be used as noise barriers both in interior or in exterior (for building envelopes)
  • they are good thermal insulators
  • technological Luxfers can be used wherever a fire rail is needed, they have resistance up to 90 minutes

 

Colour And Size Variations

As to production technology, Luxfers are divided into two groups: blocks dyed through the material and blocks dyed in cavity only. The first ones, Luxfers dyed through the material, are suitable both for indoors and outdoors use. The Luxfers dyed in cavity are drilled in one corner during manufacturing and then dye is injected inside. They are less resistant to UV light and frost that is why they are used in interiors only.

Besides the standard and most widely used format 19 x 19 x 8 cm, there are also the “half” format (19 x 9.4 x 8) and larger formats available. You can get blocks which are 10 cm thick, as well.

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What Are The Luxfers?

They are glass blocks, usually consisting of two sides connected by heat forming, so they create an airtight capsule/cavity. The base is melt glass cast into a mould. The outer surfaces are generally smooth, and if the blocks have matte or decorated look, the texture is hidden on the inner sides.

Luxfers are a great way to separate a space which feels airy then, as they allow penetration of natural light into dark corners. The glass blocks are popular in bathrooms and shower cubicles where they are used for partitions, dividers or half-dividers, as well as for illuminating of corridors, halls, and staircases.

 

Other applications

Unlike the unsightly Luxfer windows of the past, today´s Luxfers bear the hallmark of luxury and they are elegant interior complements.

The horizontal application of Luxfers is an original idea used, e.g. on walkways, ceilings, landings or arched vaults. For this use, special glass blocks are produced. It is always a good idea to consult professionals from a specialized company about the choice, because standard types are not suitable sometimes.   

By Using Thin Large-Format Tiles

Would you like to reconstruct your bathroom, but you are discouraged by the arduousness, building interventions, mess and length of implementation needed? We have a solution for you: you can do the reconstruction by using the ultra-thin Slim Large-Format Tiles. These can be glued directly to the original material.

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Reconstruction Quick and Clean

Thanks to a special technology, Slim Large-Format Tiles are only 3.5 mm thick and their weight is about 1/3 of weight of standard tiles. They are reinforced with glass fibre mesh, which provides them with high mechanical strength and durability. What is why you do not worry using even the largest ones. This type of tiles are available in sizes up to 3×1 m. You can accomplish the reconstruction of your bathrooms really quickly, cleanly and without the need for building intervention and the following disposal of debris.

There is a wide range of designs to choose from: glossy marble tiles, modern matte imitations of wood or monochromatic tiles in warm muted colours. There are more than 70 unique designs available, including originals such as the polished ONIX. Tiles are calibrated, so they can be glued with minimal joints and they look like a single surface, in effect.

The big advantage of these tiles is the possibility of using them in the exterior, as well, e.g. for insulation of facades.

Although the offers of manufacturers are wide nowadays, there products cannot be compared to the ones made to measure.  You can choose exact dimensions, the layout of individual elements or the finish, and the result will look exactly the way you want it – without a single compromise.

 

Almost Any Dimensions

Today’s manufacturers of doors and door frames carry out mass production, that is why they have problems with a request for a change of dimensions, finish, of certain metal fittings and other elements that significantly reduce the assortment. As result, the offers of most manufacturers of doors and door frames are quite similar.

However in custom production, the manufacturer is usually focused on quality (instead of quantity).

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Matching The Interior To The Door? No problem.

The dimensions of the door are not the only thing that can be tailored to your requirements. The finishing also plays an important role. Manufacturers usually work with a standard range of veneers, foils, laminates and with a basic range of colours. This is sufficient for most customers, however in some cases it may not be. It is possible to make a door with a concrete smear on the surface, or with the imitations of leather or stone. There are also various kinds of finishes available.

There is quite a demand on doors with the same finish as on the furniture or flooring. Thanks to this finish, you can match the door perfectly with your interior.

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Even On A Current Door Frame

Owners of old houses and flats often solve the problem of unsightly metal door frames. Although these can be knocked out and replaced with new ones, there is a much more elegant and economical solution: facing the current frame. Every door frame can be faced with a new layer, although sometimes it is a challenge. The new facing frame can be adjusted in such a way, there is no more problem during the installation later. The original frame may even be crooked.

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Not Only Doors

Along with the production of doors, some manufacturers also offer flooring, so it an excellent opportunity to match both in your interior. The floors may not be made of wood only, but also made of vinyl or laminate.

When you are looking for a supplier of a new door and flooring the next time, you should not be limited by the clumsy offers of large mass producers. After all, it is your home, and it deserves the best.

Long winter and loads of snow take their toll now in the form of wet walls and foundations. How can you effectively prevent it from happening?

The moisture is a problem in almost every house. In the 1st as well as in the 5th floor, you can find “maps”, condensed salts or mould. These are reliable evidence of damp walls with disrupted both the plaster and the masonry itself. Additionally, heat losses occur as the thermal insulation is impaired and in some cases, an unpleasant odour can join.

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Causes Of Moisture

Therefore, before you start the fight against the moisture, you have to find out the cause, type and source of moisture, as well as the level of damage and possible salinity. Does water rise from the ground? Does vapour condense in the house? Does water leak from the roof or from a broken pipe? If you are unsure, do not hesitate to hire a professional building remediation company who can perform not only the drying, but also a comprehensive analysis of the causes of moisture.

 

Remediation Of Wet Walls

The remediation of masonry, performed at the base of walls, at foundations and at pavements, can have several forms. The incorporated insulation is suitable in buildings, where moisture rises from the basements. Undercutting of walls and inserting of waterproofing is quite a common solution, but tight closing of the gap by strength wedges is necessary. Other methods include electroosmosis or magnetokinetic wall drying and chemical injections.

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Regular Checks To Avoid Moisture

Often ventilate the rooms to prevent vapour from condensation and mould from formation. Install dehumidifiers and fans in bathrooms and kitchens. When building a house, use such isolation that can drain the moisture out of the house. After every winter and in autumn, check the conditions of the roof, gutters, plaster and masonry. Any cracks may later become a bigger problem and a source of moisture leakage.

Hints And Tips

It is not easy to arrange a bathroom in an apartment or in a house, so that it met the practical requirements and it also fitted into the given space.

If you have a chance to influence the layout of the components in your bathroom, think twice before you decide where you place each component and how much space you will get around it. A washing machine, a sink and a bathtub require enough space around them. Sufficient space will make easier both your personal hygiene and any later works that will be done in the bathroom.

Manufacturers of bathroom accessories states different dimensions. Unfortunately, many bathrooms in blocks of flats do not even approach these values.

You need at least 75 cm from the edge of the object into free space in front of a bath, a sink and a toilet. The reason is you need to be able to bend, turn around and get up comfortably. At the same time, the distance between the sanitary items should not be less than 25 cm.

“It is 60 cm between the centres of a toilet and a bidet. The same applies to the distance between a toilet and a urinal. The distance between the centre of a toilet, a bidet or a urinal and other stationary object (a corner, a wall) should be 40 cm at least. Ideally, it should be 80 cm around a toilet”, an expert says.

There should be a gap of at least 25 cm between a sink and a side wall. A sink needs to be 65 cm wide, so that you could wash conveniently. A shower enclosure should be at least 90 cm wide. The handling area in front of a washing machine should not be less than 90 cm, especially if you plan a front-loading washing machine (then it is a real necessity).

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The depth of the space, in which a toilet is located, should be 120-135 cm at least. However, in many reconstructed block of flats, it is only 80-98 cm. The height of the toilet does not usually cause any difficulties. A toilet seat should be able move as needed, between 40 and 50 cm.

Anyway, when planning a bathroom, consider the body proportions of all the people who are going to use the bathroom. If you do not have enough space for both a bath and a shower, you can prefer a more spacious, at least 90 cm wide, enclosure with disabled access. Not only it looks better, but its recessed tray or a suitable floor surface is more enjoyable both for stepping in and out of the shower.

And if you cannot imagine a bathroom without a bath, choose one that is not only beautiful but comfortable and safe, as well.

Do you also have troubles with poor draining in your shower enclosure, as well as constant troubles with the sealing there? We have a suggestion for you, how to solve this tricky situation once and for all.

You certainly know the problems of a shower enclosure with the typical raised tray. You have to re-seal it regularly, due to the poor installation, and when you are having a shower, you wade through water after a while. What can be done?

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Simple Is Good

The Danish floor drainage system Unidrain is placed right at the floor level, compared to traditional trays. This approach has several advantages:

  • More safety – easier access would certainly be appreciated not only by the elderly ones
  • It is more hygienic – the maintenance is less demanding
  • Specific design
  • The larger floor area
  • This system aims to be 100% waterproof

 

The Core Of The Drain System

Unlike the existing systems, Unidrain is placed directly against a wall and better waterproof transitions between the vertical wall and the floor are provided by wall flanges. Application of a smoothing waterproofing layer should be sufficient, the interior shower enclosures do not need further sealing. Reliability and strength are ensured by the material of high quality stainless steel, which also has a good resistance to corrosion. The unilateral downward slope of the drainage area is beneficial primarily, as it prevents the formation of holes, which could hold water.

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Pure Design

The Unidrain system was created by Danish architects. They obviously did not consider only the functionality, but also the aesthetics. Thanks to a simple installation which requires minimal cutting of pavement, the user can safely select large format tiles; these are installed on a completely flat surface. The design is very unobtrusive and, due to the stainless steel finish, it looks very clean.

Sometimes It Is Necessary

The dirt, noise and dust are among the most common concerns of homeowners before a reconstruction of the windows and the window sills. You should always consider well, whether they are worth to repair or whether the window frames and sills should be replaced instead.

However, when you do not have plenty of cash, you have to opt for a reconstruction. It will save some of the heat leaks at least. And you need not to worry about the piles of junk.

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The Correct Procedure

Likewise before the classic window replacement, it is necessary to free as much space around the windows as possible, so that you (or the contract workers) could handle the window panes safely. Get all the tools and utensils ready: the sealants, the spare parts of the frames, the spatulas and the silicones.

If you want to eliminate the amount of the dust and clutter, use a large foil to cover the furniture. The repair of the windows in an apartment does not usually take more than a few days. If you hire a company, the work will be done much faster. Anyway, you should wait for a warm and dry weather, so that the rain did not get into your apartment during the reconstruction.

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The Window Frames

After you take them out, the old frames of the window panes must be burned with a heat gun to remove the old paint first. The parts of the frames damaged by weather and time should be completely replaced. Put the window panes back into the repaired frames and fill all joints with a quality sealant. The whole window frames should be cleared from the old paint as they need to be repaired, too.

Experts recommend replacing the outer side of the frame with new parts, so that the window could fulfil its purpose for further years and could withstand the rain, humidity, snow, frost and wind. The paint (the finish) must be applied several times and it is important not to save on quality paint. It prevents the damage of the wood when the weather fluctuates and it gives a new and modern look to the window.

During a reconstruction of the windows in a block of flats, it is good to replace the outer window sills completely. As they are usually several decades old, the rain water certainly leaks beneath them or maybe a wasp nest has created there. This work must be done carefully, as you work over an open space. There is a danger not only of your fall, but also a fall of the tools, the window sill or a piece of the plaster down to the sidewalk, where it can cause an injury. That is why it is necessary to secure the space beneath the windows so that there were as few people moving as possible.

Place the new window sill on a well repaired and patched area. You do not need to make a new plaster, use just a little sealant to prevent the water leakage under the window sill and into the dwelling.

During the reconstruction of the windows, it is also advisable to check the functionality of the blinds and have them repaired possibly, as it does not make sense to have a repaired window with faulty blinds. You can use various foams instead of the sealants. Do not forget that even a repaired and sealed window frame needs to “breathe”. Otherwise you would risk the creation of mould in the humid parts of the apartment.

Are you planning a floor reconstruction? You can think about the ceramic material Liapor.

If you plan to reconstruct a floor in an apartment, a family house or a cottage, you can try the dry method. Instead of the classic method of pouring concrete or a cement plaster onto the subfloor, you use the lightweight ceramic substrate Liapor (keramzit) to level the floor. It is a purely natural ceramic material and by using it, you avoid the undesirable cracks and the floor will be perfectly level. A significant bonus is the excellent thermal and acoustic insulation of the floor.

The floor reconstruction with Liapor can be done on any surface including concrete or wood.

 

The Main Advantages Of Floor Levelling With Liapor

The biggest advantage of the floors with the Liapor sub-base is the simple and quick installation in the dry way. The time of the implementation is reduces dramatically (no necessary breaks), and in addition to it, this type of flooring is versatile, so it can be used in a block of apartments, in a new building as well as during a renovation of an older house. Due to the low weight of the dry compound, it does not burden the supporting structure excessively, that is why using of Liapor is suitable e.g. for the flooring solution in roof extensions. The Liapor layer also enables a secure placement of heating and electrical wiring. The top layer can made of essentially any material: wood, laminate, PVC (vinyl), marmoleum, tiles, carpet etc.

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Instructions For The Floor Reconstruction Using Liapor

  • First of all, it is necessary to remove the old flooring including the underlay and to clean the subfloor thoroughly.
  • Next, put down the separating layer (e.g. a nonwoven geotextile).
  • Lay the levelling sub-base made of Liapor, the recommended fraction is 1-4 mm; it is suitable to apply when the substrate is uneven more than 20 mm; the height of the layer is not limited.
  • The Liapor is spread and pressed only manually usually wooden slats and a trowel.

You cannot walk on the fresh Liapor layer directly, but you can cover it temporarily with wood or Styrofoam plates in the places of movement and manipulation.

  • When the Liapor layer is compacted, you can lay the floor boards (all types available) on it:

To ensure the proper function of a floating floor, you have to separate the floating boards from the walls and from other building structures using the peripheral expansion strips;

You install the floor boards on a prepared layer made of levelled Liapor sub-base, using the tongue and groove system. If you install a multilayered system, you have to keep the staggering of joints in every layer;

When the floor area is large, it is suitable to lay the Liapor sub-base and the floorboards gradually. Ideally, prepare a sub-base area, which is 30% larger than the surface covered by the floorboards, every time. The installation usually begins in the corner opposite to the entrance door;

You can achieve the perfect alignment of boards, their rigidity and flatness of the floor by applying glue into the joints between the boards and by the subsequent fastening with the screws (according to the manufacturer’s recommendations).

  • Finally, fill the joints with the putty. The floor is finished now and any final top layer (laminate, tiles, carpet) can be installed on the prepared substrate.

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How And Where You Can Buy The Ceramic Aggregate Liapor?

The ceramic aggregate Liapor can be purchased online or in the shops of Liapor sales network.

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