Home Improvement Feature_April2023

Get on the right reno page

By Mitch Gaynor HOMEOWNERS

who are planning to renovate or build a new home should carefully consider the factors involved in their decision.

Upgrading or renewing bathrooms and kitchens, as well as performing easy repairs, such as fixing fences, adding new carpeting, resurfacing flooring, and decluttering, can add value to a property.

However, the total cost of a renovation can be more expensive than anticipated, with additional expenses such as planning fees, architectural drawings, environmental impact statements, and rental costs during renovation.

These days interest rates play a huge role in determining how high you can aim with your renovation dreams.

With rates on the rise, it’s important to consider the impact they will have on your monthly repayments.

For example, a one percent increase in interest rates on a $250,000 mortgage can add an extra $140 to your monthly payment, or nearly $50,000 over the life of the loan.

And although recent inflation figures show it may be tempering, it is still high and so it’s important to factor in the possibility of future rate rises.

This means taking a long-term view and considering how changes in interest rates may affect your ability to make mortgage payments in the future.

Homeowners should be honest with themselves about the true cost of a renovation and consider the long-term

staying close to work or school. Those who are downsizing or enhancing the accessibility of their homes may be eligible for tax breaks if they renovate to divide the family home into a smaller space or add a self-contained granny flat. However, if the granny flat is leased out, it may be considered income-producing, and the homeowner may not qualify

work options may also be important considerations.

Homebuyers should be cautious when considering buying new highrise apartments due to potential costly defects that may become apparent over time.

Ultimately, there are no easy answers, and homeowners should consult with

You ant seen nothing until you see FRP

ANTS are one of the most troublesome and annoying common household pests in Queensland. During spring and summer, they begin building their mounds and start searching for food, and if we’re not careful, they may start taking up residence in our homes.

Fortunately, there are many easy and effective methods for preventing ants from entering your home.

The first sign of ants making their way into your home is scout ants.

These rogue ants take their “scout” name very seriously, and their entire job is to find sources of food for the colony.

If you notice one of these ants scouring about in your kitchen or other living

Keep surfaces in and around your home clean, and make sure food items are cleaned up and stored in sealed containers to prevent ants from finding a food source.

Store food (for both people and pets) in sealed, airtight containers. Restricting access to food sources means that ants won’t be able to gain access and will steer away any other pests who may be looking for a food source at the same time.

Seal cracks around windows and doors and the foundation of your home with caulking to eliminate many of the obvious entrances for ants to use.

These sealants will degrade over time and with exposure to the elements, so it’s best to keep an eye on them and reapply

eliminate their trails to prevent them from continuing to enter your home.

A simple application of a vinegar/water mix along the length of the ant trail will disrupt the ants and force them to find a new path to their food source.

Deploy ant baits around active areas. Instead of immediately killing the scouts, you can use these baits to eliminate the colony itself, not just the few ants that find their way into your home.

Control ant colonies around your property by applying exterminating products to the colony itself and the area immediately around the colony. Wiping out these colonies properly will eliminate the entire colony and prevent them from spreading out and creating a new home elsewhere.

Proper application of an ant barrier (insecticide) around the perimeter of your home’s foundation will help to steer scouts away. While there are products available from local hardware stores that can help, this is best left to professional pest controllers like Luke, your local pestie, from FRP Termite and Pest Management (0474 811 333), as they have products that are more effective than those available commercially.

Projects in the yard with Hinterland Trees

DO you want to get the yard tidied up these Easter holidays?

Then call Wayne from Hinterland Trees to discuss their services.

Wayne and his team are passionate about servicing the local Hinterland area and love to help people around their properties.

They have a fantastic Easter Day Rate Special

on offer to tackle some of those bigger projects to spruce the place up and remove unwanted or unsafe trees.

Hinterland Trees are proud to be a family-owned and operated business. Their team is fully trained and qualified, with over 100 years combined experience and they are committed to staying up to date with all the latest developments in the field.

They have extensive knowledge and experience that allows them to tackle a wide range of tree-related issues. Whilst they are dedicated to completing

every job to the same high standards of quality and service, the safety of their people – and yours – is their top priority.

Hinterland Trees are also looking for new people to expand their company, so they are keen to welcome young or old talent and skill from the local community to join the team.

Call Wayne on 0477 732 170 if you’re interested.

Get more cut for your buck at Hinterland Trees.

Search Hinterland Trees on google or check out their Facebook page.

FULL RANGE OF SERVICES FOR THE CONTROL AND

OF:

New local excavations business has a real sting in the name

SCORPION Excavations may be a new local business offering a range of excavation services, but Justin and his team may be quite recognizable from their other local business, Scorpion Sheds.

“Our clients would often ask us if we had an excavator or if we could recommend anyone to come and do work for them, so we thought it would be a good venture to go into as our clients wanted someone they could trust,” says Justin.

Scorpion Excavations offer a range of services. They have a Tipper Truck plus a Posi Track with a level bar, a 5 tonne Excavator with a digging depth of 3400 plus 300, 400 and 600 Augers attachments. With this equipment, they can dig holes for shed slabs, create new driveways, dig large holes for tanks or

works, and dig out different sized pools, just to name a few services.

They can also come in and get rid of your tree stumps, old leaf litter or rubbish on sites, as well as prep for concrete slabs or dig holes for footings. If you’re needing to bring in soil for fill or rocks onto your property, they can even spread them out or move them around your property to where they are needed.

Justin says, “even though we are only a new company, you may have already seen our combo driving around, we have been doing a few local jobs recently in Glass House Mountains and Beerwah.

“We pride ourselves on being a local company, who offers fair prices and our service is quick and efficient.”

If you have any questions or are not too

Value adding with DIY jobs in the hinterland

MCGRATH Coast & Hinterland’s area of specialty is homes, so we wanted to share some insights into jobs you can do at home to potentially add value to your property prior to listing for sale.

Step 1: Plan and organise any pre-sale renovations and repairs.

Walk around your property with fresh eyes. Pretend you are a buyer inspecting your property for the first time and write a list of all the improvements you could makes with the property that you spot on your walk through.

Whilst you may not normally notice the broken latch on a gate, or the loose paver on the path or the broken roof tile, potential buyers will, and you want to fix these before your first open home.

Once you have your list, start categorising them into jobs you can do, jobs for another member of the family and jobs that require an expert. It can take a while to find and book a tradesman and some jobs, such as fixing decking, painting the house or fence, sanding and refinishing floorboards etc can take a while so you need to plan this in advance.

Step 2: Declutter, store, donate, sell or discard.

This step is all about decluttering the home and removing some of your personal items and potentially some of your larger pieces of furniture to create a flow through the property.

Pack and purge is what we like to call it. Go room by room and sort items into different piles.

Step 3: Landscaping the garden.

Whether you have a small or large outdoor space, it’s important that you showcase it.

Buyers look at decks, verandahs, courtyards and gardens as extensions of their homes, a place to entertain family and friends and enjoy our beautiful climate.

Weed the garden beds, plant new flowers in the garden beds and spread fresh mulch. Mow the lawn and add top dressing. Trim all the greenery.

If you own a pool, clean the pool fence and around the pool, and if you haven’t already, get the chlorine levels checked so the pool is sparkling.

If your outdoor furniture is looking worn and tired, consider upgrading it, so you have fresh, clean and crisp pieces that really showcase your summer lifestyle. If this seems overwhelming, consider hiring a professional gardener to help you. Depending on the size of your garden, they should be able to get through a lot in a day and this can have a big impact on your sale result.

Step 4: Deep clean & curb appeal.

All ‘Hale’ the cleanest of homes

HALE Carpet Cleaning has been helping locals clean their homes throughout the hinterland for nearly 20 years now.

Maintaining a hygienically clean home environment is a critical factor in maintaining your health and the health of loved ones (pets included).

Hale Carpet Cleaning offers an extensive list of cleaning services – carpets, rugs, lounge suites (upholstery and leather), tile/grout, mattresses, cars, etc, and also applies protection and includes FREE deodorising.

Brad from Hale Carpet Cleaning has successfully performed thousands of jobs, and has the knowledge and experience to

get the best result for you.

If you are looking to get those bigger jobs done around the house over the break, make sure you know what you are going to be paying for as prices for carpet cleaning can vary drastically.

Brad explains that the reason this happens comes down to how thorough the technician is and what equipment they use.

Brad says, “I’ve heard of carpet cleaners being in and out of a home in less than 20 minutes. Hale Carpet Cleaning uses a truck-mounted hot water extraction machine along with a thorough ten-step preparation and cleaning process. I will

not rush a job.

“I will always give an indication of price over the phone, then give a written price prior to commencement of the job, therefore no hidden surprises.

“Price depends on a variety of factors such as, size of rooms, amount of soiling, stains present, age and type of carpet and when cleaned last, so I recommend a quick phone call to clarify the detail of your job, then I will discuss a price range.”

With the home looking more spacious and it being easier to clean, now is the time to start cleaning every nook, surface, cupboard and drawer. Go room-to-room to dust and clean every surface and nook. Make sure all your windows and window frames are spotless. Vacuum the property and mop the floors. Dust the walls and remove cobwebs high on the ceilings. Make sure there are no stains, mould, or animal hair on surfaces. Clean and tidy

If you want someone you can trust, who

0457

999 926.

brad Hale owner operator since

the cupboards inside and out.

Making a good first impression right from the curb is your goal here. Buyers often do a drive past before working out if they are going to come back for an inspection, so the view of your property from the street, is important.

Power wash the paths and fence to ensure they are as clean as possible.

Ensure there are no cobwebs, wasps nest or dirt on fascia and eaves.

Make sure the street number is clearly visible.

Ensure outside lights are working. Step 5: Styling and staging.

With the property now decluttered and sparkling clean this step is all about pulling it together and styling it to sell.

Presentation is a critical part of the selling process. Whilst it is not guaranteed, we have seen styling a property for sale add up to 5% - 10% to sale a price. Of course, you don’t need to hire a professional, however they can help transform a property to ensure it appeals to a wider market.

Final step: Finishing touches.

Walk through your property again right from the curb, into each room and space. Again, take notes of any issues or things you may have missed and action these. This final step is all about finishing off the loose ends.

Don’t make a fatal mistake

By Greg Brown

The recent incidents of poisonous plants contaminating bags of supermarket baby spinach leaves was a reminder that some plants may look innocuous, but they could be deadly dangerous.

The same can be said for some backyard landscaping plants.

There’s a lot of common garden plants that we all know to be poisonous to pets and people. Oleander, Foxglove, Angels’ Trumpet, Rhubarb leaves and white cedar berries just to name a few.

But did you know that Agapanthus can cause nausea, vomiting and mouth ulcers?

The berries of Duranta (Golden Dewdrop, Sheena’s Gold or Geisha Girl) which look like little orange lollies, can be fatal if swallowed and have killed pets.

Caladium leaves can burn the mouth and gastro-tract if eaten and the sap is a severe skin irritant.

Dieffenbachia (or Dumb Cane) can make the tongue, mouth and throat swell, making it difficult to breathe or talk –lasting several days.

Gloriosa Lily seeds can (and have) caused a painful death.

Hydrangea leaves and flowers can cause vomiting and dermatitis.

Eating Wisteria can lead to severe abdominal pain followed by collapse.

Contact with Primula plants can cause burning, redness, itching and swelling to the skin, face and eyes.

Brunfelsia (Yesterday Today Tomorrow) has been known to kill dogs that have eaten the leaves.

Cycad fruit is deadly and will kill even large stock animals if eaten.

Daffodil and Tulip bulbs are poisonous if chewed and can be fatal.

Periwinkle (pink or white) may cause headaches, vomiting and nerve damage.

Peruvian lily (or Alstroemeria) can trigger skin allergies and bring on vomiting and diarrhoea.

Yellow Oleander or Cook Tree is deadly and has been the cause of the death of several children.

And the list goes on …

The moral of the story is that if you have

small children, pets (particularly puppies) or grazing animals, you really need to do an audit of your garden to see if there is anything which may be a health hazard to them.

There are some good resources you can use. The Queensland Department of Health have a great website (www.childrens. health.qld.gov.au/chq/ our-services/queenslandpoisons-informationcentre/plants-mushrooms).

There is also a good book called ‘Poisonous 2 Pets’ which has over 300 pages of information on plants poisonous to dogs and cats (www.publish. csiro.au/pid/6706.htm).

If you’re still not sure, take a piece into one of our friendly local garden centres and ask them what they think. Or contact a professional weed consultant who can give you peace of mind by looking over your backyard for you.

But be careful when handling any potentially poisonous plant. Make sure you wear gloves and cover any cuts or wounds.

Skilled migration ‘critical to housing demand’

The Housing Industry Association (HIA) has called for a targeted policy on skilled migration to address Australia’s growing population and the demand for housing.

The HIA’s Jocelyn Martin said the importance of skilled migration for the home building industry to meet the housing demand, which is already at “crushing highs” was vital. Australia’s relatively fast rate of population growth offers economic

benefits, especially with regards to ensuring an adequate working-age population against the backdrop of an ageing population.

However, skilled migration is crucial to increase skilled trades workers, particularly in cases of acute demand,” Ms Martin said.

“The residential building industry requires migration pathways to enable a longterm structural shortage of workers to be addressed through permanent migration,

and pathways that allow the recruitment of skilled workers for short periods to alleviate acute shortages,” she said. HIA has urged the government to develop a visa that enables the residential building industry to alleviate trade shortages through skilled migration. HIA’s submission to the Australian Government’s Federal Budget focuses on the need for a targeted policy on skilled migration.

Duranta

R&R helps get job done

R&R HIRE will help you get the job done.

Leaf Shield gets you out of gutters

CLEANING gutters is an unpleasant task at any time of the year but in preparation for the fire season it is important to ensure that your gutters are free of debris that can become a fire hazard.

Leaf Shield Gutter Protection’s Leafmesh prevents the build up of leaves and other blockages, stops embers from getting underneath the roof and gives you peace of mind that your gutters are free from leaves and debris.

The heavy duty polyethylene product has been engineered to suit Australia’s harsh conditions and has UV stabilisers to retain strength and colour.

It can be fixed to both tiled and steel roofs and comes with a 15-year guarantee.

As well as preventing a build up of leaves, Leafmesh also helps keep rats,

snakes, birds, possums and other pests from gutters.

This improves the quality and sanitation of water and because the flow is unrestricted by blockages, more water ends up in the tank, which is vital with today’s water shortages and restrictions.

Installing the Leafmesh system removes the hassle and danger of having to get on the roof and clean the gutters yourself. It’s a multi-purpose solution for an everyday problem.

The Leaf Shield consultants will visit your property to measure and quote the most appropriate gutter mesh for your particular roof or leaf type.

They also offer a free gutter clean prior to installation.

Call 1300 362 246 to arrange a free measure and quote from one of their experienced gutter guard specialists.

Whether you are renovating your home, tidying up your garden or doing some much-needed maintenance work around your property – make sure you check out R & R Hire Services for all your equipment rental needs.

Open seven days a week, the family run business has a massive range of equipment for hire. Operating since 1991, the business has been supplying an everexpanding range of hire equipment to North Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast with hundreds of items available.

Current owners Ian and Jillanne took over in 2007 and their aim is to provide a friendly, accessible service to ensure you get the job done right. They deal with everyone from professional builders, to tradespeople needing backup equipment or extra resources, to property owners wanting to improve their house, backyard or garden.

Happy to provide advice or lend a hand with ideas, Ian, Jillanne and the team are always available to help find the equipment you need. Jillanne says if you need something done but are unsure about how to do it or what you need – just pop in or give them a call and they will be happy to help.

“We get people asking us for advice all the time, and we want our customers to feel they can ask us anything about the equipment,” says Jillane.

“If they are unsure about how to do something or what they might need – no question is too silly to ask. Sometimes if you don’t know the answer it really just pays to ask … that’s what we are here for!”

With all the recent rains, dealing with drainage issues is currently proving popular with homeowners as well as garden maintenance work. Items such as excavators, bobcats, kanga loaders and chippers can be provided with their own trailer. R & R Hire Services offer a delivery service or you can pick up from their yard.

They have floor sanders to revitalise decks, concrete grinders to tidy up driveways, cherry pickers to trim trees, post hole diggers to suit all options and budgets, garden equipment, and hundreds of home renovation items.

Check out their website for easy and convenient access to their comprehensive range at www. rrhire.com.au or drop in to 66-68 Beerburrum Road, Caboolture, or call 5495 8683.

Proposal to ban panel dumps

Queensland is considering a proposal to ban the dumping of end-of-life solar panels in landfill, as part of a broader plan to tackle electronic waste. The state’s Environment Minister, Meaghan Scanlon, recently unveiled a draft e-Products plan, which also includes measures to increase recycling and the repair of electronic waste, such as through the establishment of repair cafes. The proposed ban on dumping solar panels in landfills would take effect within 10 years and is aimed at tackling the expected surge in e-waste from the panels. In 2019, solar panel waste accounted for almost 1,000 tonnes, but this figure could increase to 17,000 tonnes by 2030. The Palaszczuk Government will also pilot a solar panel recycling scheme, led by the Smart Energy

Council, which will involve diverting end-of-life solar panels from landfill and recovering useful materials. The pilot will be supported by a tracking and information system, developed by circular economy specialists The Activ Group, and will focus on rooftop installations. Members of the public, industry and business representatives can now provide feedback on the draft plan. The plan to tackle electronic waste in Queensland is a step towards achieving the state’s zero waste transition. The draft e-Products plan, which includes a pilot solar panel recycling scheme led by the Smart Energy Council and a proposal to ban dumping of end-of-life solar panels in landfill, aims to increase product stewardship, recycling, and repair of electronic waste.

Reap the rewards

By Mitch Gaynor

DON’T let Lantana get the better of your property.

Forestfarmer is a local family-owned business that has been providing contracting and consulting services in re-vegetation and forest establishment for over 30 years.

The company has a unique background and broad practical experience in areas such as revegetation, farm and commercial forestry, and property planning.

With the changing land use in rural areas, Forestfarmer understands the challenges faced by property owners who are often less experienced.

Weeds such as lantana can quickly dominate areas that are difficult to manage, such as hillsides, gullies, creek lines, overgrown access tracks, fence lines, and areas of remnant vegetation. Forestfarmer offers a range of services aimed at sensitively accessing overgrown areas to uncover hidden possibilities. They mulch the rough stuff so you can maintain with ease, enhance diversity and ecology, and create ease of maintenance for better enjoyment.

Forestfarmer owner, Rob Tap, said “It is important to try and get on top of weed control before it gets out of hand. We pride ourselves on being able to get on top of the most overgrown areas as efficiently and environmentally sensitively as possible.”

Using the hillside tractor with the scrubclaw, their services include lantana and woody weed control, paddock mulching, including hillsides, dam walls,

and driveway verges, reclaiming fence lines and boundaries, overgrown tracks, natural areas for revegetation and restoration, slopes for grazing, and firebreaks prior to fire hazard reduction burns.

One of the key advantages of choosing Forestfarmer over other companies is the unique scrub claw and flail mulcher combination, which removes whole plants like lantana, berries, and wild tobacco by the roots and mulches them.

This results in much less regrowth later, making their services more effective and efficient.

Their aim is to help unveil the hidden gems and soulful sanctuaries of your property and assist you in implementing projects that expose the “lay of the land” to assist with property planning.

If you are a property owner facing challenges with land use changes, weeds, and overgrown areas, Forestfarmer can provide you with the right solutions.

Their experience, unique approach, and range of services can help you create a more enjoyable and sustainable property. Call Rob today on 0418 786 143 or 5494 4746.

Rob Tap from Forestfarmer.

with Spencer Shaw FOREST HEART Eco-Nursery

Backyard wildlife Opportunity knocks for producers

AROUND the world pollinators are under threat. The most well-known to us is the Honey Bee, due to their importance in pollinating many of our crops and of course the sweet delight that is honey. However, Australia is also home to more than 1500 species of native bees and then there are many other pollinators including species of butterflies, moths, beetles, weevils, wasps and flying foxes to name a few.

Quite a few years back on Facebook, a story did the rounds that was fake but attributed as coming from David Attenborough. It proposed that we assist starving Bees by putting out little containers of sugar water. This was a classic case of social media pop environmentalism at its worst, suggesting that we can solve the problem in 5 seconds by putting a spoon of sugar out for the bees, before quickly getting back to our coffee and screen looking for the next big cause. The irony of the sugar solution is the damage that the production of sugar does to the environment –including bees!

Surprise, surprise, bees need flowering plants for all their pollen, nectar, resins and waxes so as to survive and thrive. To produce sugar we clear or have cleared vast areas of forest that used to produce a mix of flowers throughout the year and then replaced

the forest with a grass (sugar cane) that we then have to put through the agro-industrial process to produce an energy source that is not only questionable in our diet, but a very poor substitute for the nectar from flowering plants.

To actually save bees and other pollinators, stop spraying insecticides (they do kill bees) and plant a variety of native groundcovers, shrubs, vines and trees in your gardens and throughout the wider landscape – it’s really that simple ... oh yes and remember to be wary of pop, easy solutions on Facebook (but I don’t have to tell you that as you’re sensibly reading this paper).

FOOD lovers are set to rejoice when Roma Street Parkland in Brisbane becomes the inner-city location for a new food festival with something for every palate.

Providore Park is Brisbane’s newest gourmet food and drink event that will showcase an array of Australian makers and creators for an alfresco weekend of gastronomic wining and dining from 8 to 9 July 2023 and expressions of interest are now being sought for stallholders to showcase their talents to a motivated and appreciative audience for the inaugural event.

Providore Park is keen to hear from all gourmet food and beverage producers locally and across Australia.

With around 15,000 attendees expected to sample, swirl, dollop and slurp everything from craft brews and artisan drinks to freshly shucked oysters and gourmet cheeses, it all points to an exceptional weekend of good times, great wining and dining and a garden party ambience. Free entry and ticketed activations such as pop-up picnics, croquet club and VIP lounges will elevate the experience and Providore Park will be a must-attend fixture on Brisbane’s annual event calendar. Stallholder fees are $1,100, which includes a 3x3m marquee with event grip flooring, overhead light, trestle table and tablecloth, fascia sign, waste services and power. providorepark.com.au

Hedges are a useful and attractive way of defining boundaries, providing privacy, scenic amenity and great for the wildlife. What we tend to think of as a traditional Hedge is a one species planting of the same tough, readily pruned, bushy to the ground species that is basically a living fence and not much more than that. However this is a relatively recent invention of our production line landscaping and the Hedges of old contained a diverse range of species and resources for both humans and wildlife. Some of the great local plants for creating hedges include most of our Lillypilly’s and Myrtles such as Creek Lillypilly - Acmena smithii, Blue Lillypilly - Syzygium oleosum, Silky Myrtle - Decaspermum humile, Glossy Acronychia - Acronychia laevis, Plum Myrtle – Pilidiostigma glabrum and Grey Myrtle – Backhousia myrtifolia, Scrub Cherry - Syzygium australe (dwarf forms). However there are so many more including Common AspenAcronychia oblongifolia, Muttonwood Myrsine variabilis, White AlderCallicoma serratifolia, Blueberry Ash -Elaeocarpus reticulatus, Velvet LeafCallicarpa pedunculata, Bottlebrushes - Callistemon sp. just for starters. Hedge plants are great for you and the environment, so don’t beat around the bush and get hedging.