It can be really irritating on your first day in a new home to turn off a tap and hear a loud banging or rattling coming from a wall or beneath the floor boards: The cause is water hammer or “hydraulic shock” and it can sometimes cause extensive damage to water pipes, hot water systems and appliances.
Sometimes water hammer is an indicator of an installation problem relating to piping, valves, taps, cisterns, hot water storage and heating, washing machines or dishwashers. The most common causes are tension in the piping, poor piping support in walls and under floors, high mains pressure and fast-closing solenoid valves in appliances.
When a tap is suddenly shut the moving mass of water in the pipe behind, which has built up velocity and pressure, suddenly stops...releasing a shock wave either in one loud bang or as a series of hammering noises. Eventually, this can cause leaks and even failure of the piping system.
Sometimes water hammer only occurs with a single device in the home, commonly a flush toilet. When you pull the chain or push the button to flush the bowl a float valve opens to refill the cistern. The closure of this valve can then produce water hammer in a susceptible system. This can be hell for light sleepers in the family home when it happens at night.
We at can assist you to locate a plumber in your area or resolve other property concerns.
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
Monday, October 24, 2011
Monday, October 10, 2011
Insulate For Comfort and Economy
In a new home the cost of insulating walls, ceilings and floors is very reasonable because sarking (applied under roof cladding) and fibreglass or rockwool batts can be installed during the construction phase when access is optimised.
The purpose of insulation is to block the flow of heat into and out of the building. Wood, brick, stone and concrete have good insulating properties because they are poor conductors of heat but engineered insulation products are far more efficient. Modern lightweight insulating mats and batts only 150mm thick will block the flow of heat as effectively as a solid brick wall.
You can purchase packs of insulation material from hardware stores and building supplies retailers together with free do-it-yourself installation instructions but beware; this is not a task to be taken lightly. Insulation products, especially those made from fine shreds of glass or stone, can cause severe skin irritation and bronchial problems. Masks, gloves and protective clothing must be worn.
Other popular insulation products include cellulose, polystyrene, urea formaldehyde, perlite and urethane and are applied either as loose fill, mats, batts, slabs and rigid boards (urea formaldehyde and urethane are usually foamed-in-place).
Crawling around in roof spaces can be hazardous because of the risk of electrical shock, heat exhaustion and physical injury so it is recommended that you get quotes from professionals before attempting the task yourself.
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
The purpose of insulation is to block the flow of heat into and out of the building. Wood, brick, stone and concrete have good insulating properties because they are poor conductors of heat but engineered insulation products are far more efficient. Modern lightweight insulating mats and batts only 150mm thick will block the flow of heat as effectively as a solid brick wall.
You can purchase packs of insulation material from hardware stores and building supplies retailers together with free do-it-yourself installation instructions but beware; this is not a task to be taken lightly. Insulation products, especially those made from fine shreds of glass or stone, can cause severe skin irritation and bronchial problems. Masks, gloves and protective clothing must be worn.
Other popular insulation products include cellulose, polystyrene, urea formaldehyde, perlite and urethane and are applied either as loose fill, mats, batts, slabs and rigid boards (urea formaldehyde and urethane are usually foamed-in-place).
Crawling around in roof spaces can be hazardous because of the risk of electrical shock, heat exhaustion and physical injury so it is recommended that you get quotes from professionals before attempting the task yourself.
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
Monday, September 26, 2011
Joint Tenancy
Joint tenancy is a form of real estate ownership wherein two people jointly purchase a property with the intention of splitting everything fifty-fifty.
To illustrate the above, suppose an investment property is purchased and one party pays for 80 per cent of the deposit and expenses, while the other covers the balance. When tax time comes, the two parties have to claim 50 per cent of the expenses and 50 per cent of the income on their respective statements. It does not matter that one paid proportionately more than the other. This is what joint tenancy is all about.
In the case of a husband and wife, suppose an investment property is purchased jointly for $280,000 and the husband pays $100,000 down as a deposit. Even though he paid for 35 per cent of the property outright, all income and expenses must be declared evenly on their tax returns.
While the above situation would disadvantage the husband if he were in a higher tax bracket initially, over time when the property becomes cash positive it may turn advantageous. This is because 50 per cent of the income will be taxed at the wife’s lower rate.
Another facet of joint tenancy is what happens when one partner dies. In such a case, the property automatically reverts to the full ownership of the other party. So one’s interest in the property cannot be willed to a third party, as in the case of a tenancy in common
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
To illustrate the above, suppose an investment property is purchased and one party pays for 80 per cent of the deposit and expenses, while the other covers the balance. When tax time comes, the two parties have to claim 50 per cent of the expenses and 50 per cent of the income on their respective statements. It does not matter that one paid proportionately more than the other. This is what joint tenancy is all about.
In the case of a husband and wife, suppose an investment property is purchased jointly for $280,000 and the husband pays $100,000 down as a deposit. Even though he paid for 35 per cent of the property outright, all income and expenses must be declared evenly on their tax returns.
While the above situation would disadvantage the husband if he were in a higher tax bracket initially, over time when the property becomes cash positive it may turn advantageous. This is because 50 per cent of the income will be taxed at the wife’s lower rate.
Another facet of joint tenancy is what happens when one partner dies. In such a case, the property automatically reverts to the full ownership of the other party. So one’s interest in the property cannot be willed to a third party, as in the case of a tenancy in common
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Storage: A Journey Into Space
Family homes are designed to hold the furniture and possessions that the occupants need and accumulate over time. However, when family possessions become so numerous that they eat up all the available space it’s time to either move into a bigger home or expand the existing one to cope.
• Add a second storey
• Add a room/s
• Add a storage shed
The construction of additional rooms does not always solve the problem of clutter because family members always see the newly created space as potentially having another role – a games room, TV room, visitor’s bedroom etc.
Adding another level usually leads to a reallocation of space and the purchase of even more goods to fill the rooms.
Backyard storage sheds can vary from self-assembled ColorBond cupboards to an architecturally-designed granny flat.
Urban dwellers can find plenty of storage units available for weekly, monthly or annual hire. These can vary from something the size of a clothes cupboard to a double garage. In country areas it is often possible to cheaply rent an unused shed or garage.
In any event, carefully review your possessions before making expensive storage decisions. Why not let us at Professionals Logan Lifestyles look into your space problem because we have the experience and knowledge to suggest possible ideas that will suit your situation.
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
• Add a second storey
• Add a room/s
• Add a storage shed
The construction of additional rooms does not always solve the problem of clutter because family members always see the newly created space as potentially having another role – a games room, TV room, visitor’s bedroom etc.
Adding another level usually leads to a reallocation of space and the purchase of even more goods to fill the rooms.
Backyard storage sheds can vary from self-assembled ColorBond cupboards to an architecturally-designed granny flat.
Urban dwellers can find plenty of storage units available for weekly, monthly or annual hire. These can vary from something the size of a clothes cupboard to a double garage. In country areas it is often possible to cheaply rent an unused shed or garage.
In any event, carefully review your possessions before making expensive storage decisions. Why not let us at Professionals Logan Lifestyles look into your space problem because we have the experience and knowledge to suggest possible ideas that will suit your situation.
If you have a question about real estate, or would like assistance in locating a property, feel free to phone me, Noel Thompson Principal Professionals Logan Lifestyles anytime on 0418 517 525.
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