Summer House & Garden Guide 2019

HOUSE&HOME

TOPIC • 30 May, 2019

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Summer HOUSE & GARDEN

Summer 2019

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TOPIC • 30 May, 2019

Summer House & Gardening Feature • Summer House & Gardening Feature

YOUR GUIDE TO GETTING ON THE PROPERTY LADDER Buying a home, while exciting, can also be a bit of a maze. So, being prepared before you start looking for a home will help you greatly as you progress on your quest to getting yourself onto the property ladder.

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make, so you need to prepare for it as much as possible. Before you apply for a mortgage, there are a number of things to arrange: You will need to save a deposit – this is a sum of money you have saved which you put towards buying a home. You will need to have at least 10% of the price of a property saved for your deposit. On top of this, it’s advised to have another 2% to cover stamp duty and legal fees.

Different lenders will have different criteria, interest rates and policies, so you really need to shop around when applying for a mortgage.

APPLYING FOR A MORTGAGE Good money management and a steady savings record will work in your

favour when applying for a mortgage. Loan repayments can be a good source of showing your capability of making repayments and gaining a good credit rating.

INSURANCE Once your mortgage application is approved, you should look for mortgage protection insurance which is insurance that will pay off your mortgage if you die within the term of the policy. Your lender can insist on you having the cover and can refuse you a mortgage if you cannot get it.

LOOK FOR A SOLICITOR While you are looking for a property, you should also look to hire a solicitor to do the ‘conveyancing’ – this is the legal work to transfer ownership of the property from the seller to you.

Solicitors’ fees vary and may be either a percentage of the price of the home, or a flat fee.

MAKING AN OFFER ON A HOME When you have decided on the home you want to buy, you can make an offer to the seller. Contact the

The best choice for your home furniture

estate agent and say that you would like to make an offer on the property and tell them what price you are offering. Tell them your offer is ‘subject to contract and survey’ – this means that you are offering to pay this amount in principle, providing there are no legal or structural issues with the property.

SALE AGREED If your offer is accepted, it is usually called ‘sale agreed’ and you will need to pay a booking deposit to the estate agent. Paying your booking deposit is a strong signal to the estate agent that you intend to buy the property and will usually mean that the home won’t be put on the market again for three to four weeks.

Once you have an offer accepted, the estate agent will ask for your solicitor’s details and pass these on to the seller’s solicitor.

GET A SURVEY You should strongly consider hiring your own surveyor, engineer or architect to carry out a detailed structural survey, especially if you are buying an older property. This will

help highlight any issues you may not have been aware of when you made your offer.

GET A VALUATION Once the property is ‘sale agreed’, you can arrange for a valuation. Your lender will want a professional valuation completed on a home before they formally agree to lend you the money to buy it.

SNAG LIST If you are buying a newly built home, you and your solicitor will receive a “completion notice” from the builder once all the work is finished. As soon as you receive this, it is important you arrange to have a ‘snag list’ drawn up.

This is a list of incomplete jobs or things that you want put right.

You should do a final inspection of the new property to make sure that all the snags have been fixed. You can do this on your own, or with the person you hired to do up the list.

Mortgage snag approval Once your offer has been accepted, contact your lender and inform them.

Once a valuation survey

has been completed and the lender is happy with the valuer’s reports, they will approve your loan for that property and that amount, and will send you a formal ‘letter of offer’.

SIGNING CONTRACTS When you meet your solicitor, they will explain and complete various documents with you. You solicitor will also check that the contracts are in order. If they are happy with the contracts, you will sign two copies. Your solicitor will return both of these copies to the seller’s solicitor. At this point you have legally agreed to buy the property.

Once the seller’s solicitor receives the contract you have signed and the deposit, they and the seller will sign and return one copy of the contract to your solicitor. At this point the seller has legally agreed to sell you their property.

Both solicitors will arrange for a final “closing date” and time at which stage you will be given the keys to the property. Before this, the remainder of the money must be paid, which means all the paperwork

and approval for your loan must be completed and returned to your lender by your solicitor.

Before your mortgage cheque is issued, you will need to have home insurance in place. Once the property is ‘sale agreed’ you should start looking for insurance so that the house is covered by the time the sale is closed.

STAMP DUTY Stamp duty is the tax you will have to pay when you buy a property. Since December 2010, the rate is 1% of the purchase price for properties valued up to €1 million, and 2% on any amount over that. Your solicitor will arrange to pay the stamp duty for you,

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but bear in mind you will need to pay this money to your solicitor when they are closing the sale – so you will need to have this amount of money available.

COLLECT YOUR KEYS Once the balance of the funds have been transferred to the seller before the agreed closing date and time, the estate agent will call you and explain that everything is in order for the closing.

Time to enjoy your new house and garden. Inside we’ll be looking at different ways that may prove useful in improving your home or garden for you to appreciate in the years ahead.

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TOPIC • 30 May, 2019

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Summer House & Gardening Feature • Summer House & Gardening Feature

MAKE RECYCLING EASY WITH CHRIS LYNCH

ECO FRIENDLY HOMES Having a home that is energy efficient has a lot of benefits to homeowners. To begin, it gives you a sense of pride, it helps save the environment, it makes your house more attractive to potential buyers if you are selling, and it saves you so much money! There are a lot of eco friendly projects to consider so here’s a round up of the best!

INSULATE Adding insulation is a great way to keep your home warm and cozy for a lot less money. If your home isn’t properly insulated chances are you are going to be burning a lot more solid fuels, which not only cost more money, but they add to your carbon footprint which isn’t a good thing for the environment. Having your home insulated will keep the heat in for longer during those cold winter months so it’s certainly worth the investment. With grants available from the SEAI there is no excuse to be making an unhealthy impact on the environment by not insulating your home.

GET PASSIVE AGGRESSIVE Fully passive houses do not need fossil fuels and can manage with renewable energy only. the SEAI has detailed guides to passive house standards, and includes the design process involved. You can still benefit from some passive housing principles without having to tear down your entire house and start again. Consider moving the rooms you use the most often such as the kitchen to

the side of the house that gets the most sun for example.

HEATING Its worth your while looking into alternative heating options such as bioethanol fireplaces or wood pellet stoves, these are much cleaner than the traditional fireplaces.

There are a few different options to look at, the first being solar panels. These usually pay for themselves over time, on average in about ten to fifteen years. If you get the right solar panel system it could potentially power as much as 60% of your hot water needs. There are approximately €5,000 to install with the SEAI giving a grant of €800. Heat pumps are another route you can look into. These also pay for themselves over a span of ten to fifteen years.A geothermal heat pump system costs between €12,000 €15,000, while an air to water heat pump costs €8,000 - €10,000 to be installed. In particular the latter options are suited to retrofits as they require minimal disruption. The last option is remote control heating (Climate, Nest, Hive). It can save you up to €350 a year on heating bills.

You can even use your smartphone to program your heating remotely.

ECO WINDOWS If you have single glazing windows you could be losing as much as 20% of the energy for which you are paying for. Double glazing, or even triple glazing your windows are much more effective.

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Having been in business for over 30 years, Chris Lynch’s has seen the recycling and waste management sector change so much due to legislation, environmental concerns, and people simply wanting to dispose of their waste in a safe and proper manner.

Chris Lynch Recycling is a family run business who are very proud of their reputation as honest and hardworking, and that they offer value for money in the skip hire service for Mullingar and the surrounding areas.

Chris Lynch Recycling also offer skippy bags for convenient waste management in two sizes.

The Super Bag is approximately 3ft x 3ft x 4ft high at a total cost of €85 including collection.

The Mega Bag is approximately 6ft x 6ft x 3ft high

and has a total cost of €175 including collection.

Skippy Bags are ideal for or kitchen bathroom makeovers, a garden clean up or even a gift to someone you feel needs a helping hand, and there is no time limit on how long the bag can be held on to. Simply purchase the bag online at www.clrecycling.ie or call on 044-9339544. You can also purchase a bag at several hardware stores in Westmeath and Longford: Ganley’s Hardware, Athlone, RH61; Heavin’s, N37 Athlone, N37 E763; Smith’s Hardware, Mullingar, N91 KP60; Mullingar Hardware, N91 FK4X; Diffley’s Hardware, Ballymaon, N39 DX05; Murphy’s Hardware, Castlepollard, N91 CY29; Al’s, Moate, N36 E788; and McCormack’s Stores, Delvin, N91 E7W9.

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HOUSE&HOME

TOPIC • 30 May, 2019

Summer House & Gardening Feature • Summer House & Gardening Feature

Doing a house clear out? – Do you know where your rubbish is going?

Before and after - Canal Avenue, Mullingar, brought back to natural beauty with funding from the Anti-Dumping Initiative.

Summer is the time of year when we are energised and take on the challenge of clearing out the “spare room” or redeeming the dreaded “office/toy room” but there’s a word of caution that comes with this job and it is “check that the person taking away your rubbish and unwanted items holds a Waste Collection Permit” stated Ruth Maxwell of the Environment Department.

She continued: “By law, anyone who is in the busi-

ness of waste collection must have a waste collection permit and must carry it with them in their vehicle but unfortunately some people are unaware of this – using a non-permitted waste collector can lead to illegal dumping of waste and a fine and/or prosecution being imposed on the householder.”

Cathaoirleach John Dolan stated “illegal dumping is a blight on our countryside – we see it all over the county and partic-

ularly on back roads and bogs. It is something we must be vigilant about and we should use the confidential, freephone 1800 819 000 to report incidences and I urge everyone to be vigilant and report where necessary.”

Last year two sites in Athlone (Al River, Willow Park and Grace Park Road) and one in Mullingar (Canal Avenue) were brought back to their natural beauty with funding from the Anti-Dumping

Initiative. These were sites that had been the target of illegal dumping over a sustained period of time but after the removal of in excess of 110,000 tonnes of rubbish costing €52,650 they are now transformed into a community amenity area including a community orchard (Al River, Willow Park), an outdoor art space (Grace Park Road) and potential for housing development (Canal Avenue).

TOPIC • 30 May, 2019

HOUSE&HOME

Summer House & Gardening Feature • Summer House & Gardening Feature

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Rainwater Harvesting More and more people in Ireland are looking to become more self sufficient and efficient in their use of energy and water.

Responsible use of these has come to the forefront of every home owner’s mind as not only can we do our part in minimising our carbon footprint, but in the long run will save money.

Many homeowners are looking at new ways to reduce our demand on mains water while still maintaining living standards. Rainwater harvesting is an accumulation and deposition of rainwater for reuse before it reaches the aquifer. It’s a simple technology of collection, filtration and storage of the rainwater which is then

recycled and can be used for anything as long as its not consumption or bathing purposes.

Much of the water we use doesn’t need to be of drinking quality. In fact, according to recent studies 55% of domestic treated water could be substituted for rainwater while 85% of water used for industry and commerce purposes does not need to be of drinking standard.

Rainwater harvesting systems have only become popular in Ireland during recent years and up until now the demand for rainwater harvesting technolin construction ogy projects has been driven by planning decisions, commercial developments and builders who are becoming environmentally conscious.

There are many advantages to rainwater harvesting. Recycling rainwater saves a valuable resource, it will save you money once a water meter is fitted. it also increases the value of your home, and protects

the garden against droughts and hosepipe bans. There are many financial advantages to having a rainwater harvesting system installed in your business. For example, an office of a population of 40 persons in Ireland uses water for a variety of non-potable purposes, including toilet flushing could save the €8,000 cost of a system in about five years. these calculations are based on a roof area of 1000m², which could collect up to 697,000 litres of water per annum.

Rainwater harvesting is a simple technology and requires hardly any maintenance, no chemicals are needed to ensure water quality. There are three simple steps to having a professional rainwater treatment system.

Step 1 - Filtration: The best solution is a filtration system that collects the draining water, filters it without retaining the dirt and is therefore self-cleaning.

Step 2 - Purification: The

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holding tank not only stores the water but purifies it in a second biological filtration step. The tank also protects the water from dirt, light and temperature.

Step 3 - Supply: A pump is needed to supply the rainwater to the application. The pump should be silent running and corrosion resistant. The installation of a mains water back-up system is required to ensure permanent readiness for service of the rainwater harvesting system. This component provides the supply of mains water into the system in the event of rainwater shortage.

With a rainwater harvesting system installed a typical Irish household can save up to 50% on mains water, and in a commercial environment the saving can go up to nearly 90%. If a rainwater harvesting system is professionally designed and installed there is no reason for any doubts about domestic use of rainwater regarding hygiene aspects.

Doors to your home Along with windows, doors are another key aspect to your home as they are the focal point of your home and a good one gives your home an instant appeal. Although choosing a door might seem like a simple matter its far from it and its wise to remember everything your chosen door must be able to handle with all the elements, and must be charming enough to welcome friends and family to your home. There are a few different options for you to look into.

CUSTOM-MADE FRONT DOORS Custom-made front doors are a great idea because you get everything you need in one, with your style built in. As with windows, there are a large range of materials to choose from including wood and aluminium.

PATIO DOORS You are quite restricted with the type of door you choose for the front of your home but with the back you have more opportunity to become a little more adventurous. The majority of homeowners

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Window Shopping Windows are something you might not think too much about when you think of your home, but they act as a defence from the outside world, as well as a way of letting the world in. They can provide so much light and air to the room and allow it to seem much bigger and brighter than it actually is. They also provide a source of heat to the home, and if you have the wrong ones they don’t look flattering, and you lose heat if they aren’t double or even triple glazed windows. The good news is that it doesn’t cost a fortune to remodel your windows and there are plenty of different options to choose from.

CASEMENT WINDOWS Casement windows are the most popular style of

window to be chosen by homeowners when it comes time to upgrade.

They feature a hinged sash that swings in and out like a door, are usually side or top hung, sometimes both.

SASH WINDOWS Sash windows are made of moveable panels of glass that slide up and down in vertical grooves, they are then counterbalanced by weights on cords.

BAY WINDOWS Bay windows are a multipanel window that projects outwards. They provide views of outside that one doesn’t find with other window styles, the shape of the window is usually square or polygonal.

Another thing to consider when upgrading the windows is your home is the window frame materials, there are a few different ones to choose from so do your research to see what suits you personally before making a decision.

The first material that you could choose is uPVC unplasticised polyvinyl chloride. It doesn’t sound appealing but its a highly effective frame that offers strength and versatility making it quite popular.

They are cheaper than a lot of other options, and easy to maintain. Another option would be aluminium, this choice has become increasingly popular in recent years as they are easy to paint as well as being strong and durable.

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go for glass patio doors to allow as much light, air and sunshine into the house as possible.

SLIDING DOORS Sliding doors save space and work extremely well with large panes of glass in them. They are also pretty budget friendly!

FRENCH DOORS French doors can be outward or inward opening and are great at keeping indoor space free for furniture. Depending on the materials you wish to have it isn’t the most expensive option which proves popular amongst homeowners.

BI-FOLD DOORS Bi-fold doors and concertina-style doors are back in trend after a few years of being on the sidelines. The unfortunate thing is they do not come cheap, even if they do function great and save on space.

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HOUSE&HOME

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Summer House & Gardening Feature • Summer House & Gardening Feature

LET THERE BE LIGHT! How to make the most of natural light in your home Increasing the amount of natural light in your home can actually reduce your heating and lighting costs.

It also makes rooms seem bigger and more inviting.

Here are some simple and inexpensive ways to get more natural light into your home.

WINDOWS, CURTAINS AND BLINDS On sunny days, open curtains and blinds to let in as much light as possible.

Replacing heavy curtains with a lighter or seethrough material helps to let in more light during the day and keeps in the heat at night.

Aluminium or wooden venetian blinds and vertical blinds come in a range of colours and let you control the amount of light that comes in. By angling the blinds, you direct the sunlight to where you want it.

And if you’re building or renovating, make sure that you design your windows to be taller rather than wider, which lets in more light.

MIRRORS Use mirrors to reflect natural light and open up

small spaces like hallways.

Placing a mirror opposite a window that gets good light will make a room sunnier.

As well as hanging mirrors on the wall, you can put them on your wardrobe door or on a desk behind flowers to create the feeling of more space.

Place your mirrors in a number of rooms around the home to find out what reflects the most natural light, before permanently installing them.

NEW DOORS Replacing a solid front door with one that has stained, clear or frosted glass gives you a brighter and more inviting entry room.

Changing a solid interior door for one with window panels also lets more light in.

There’s a range of doors with stained glass, clear and frosted panels that can work for you depending on your budget, security requirements and tastes.

SKYLIGHTS Installing skylights in hallways or small rooms with no windows lets in more light and makes it feel bigger. Skylight kits

are inexpensive and easy to install. Another option is to install a dual action window and skylight higher up on your wall to let in more light and fresh air.

COLOUR SCHEME Painting walls and ceilings white, or in light colours, means that any natural light that comes in will be reflected. White painted trim around the window also helps.

REMOVE OBSTACLES Trim any trees and bushes that may be blocking the light through your windows.

Removing objects from your windowsills and keeping your windows clean also increases the amount of light coming in.

INDOOR PLANTS Growing plants or herbs indoors is a great way to make sure that you let more natural light into your rooms to keep them healthy. You’ll also get the added bonus of a year round supply of fresh flowers, vegetables or herbs.

Making the most of artificial light Its common knowledge that lighting is the key factor to the mood of any room. Its the most simple way to change a cold and uninviting house to a friendly and warm home.

With that in mind its important to remember that different rooms are used for different things so the lighting you choose should be versatile to accommodate that. The majority of Irish rooms tend to have a single pendant light hanging from the centre of the ceiling, and we tend to rely too much on it, making it tiring on our eyes as well as not being

very flattering on the interior of the room. Introducing a variety of light sources that in turn compliment the main light source in order to completely change the ambiance of the room and make it feel more relaxed and comfortable.

For rooms such as the bathroom and the kitchen generic lighting that allows you to switch from full light to no light in a matter of seconds is suitable. For other rooms that are more leisurely the rule of three can serve as a good guide to get the perfect lighting system.

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Civic Amenity/Bring Centre Drop your small and bulky items into to our Civic Amenity/Bring Centre. We accept a large range of non-hazardous items such as general waste, recyclables, scrap metal, batteries, tyres, electrical, timber, construction waste and much more.

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THE RULE OF THREE When you have a multi purpose room where a variety of activities take place such as cooking, studying or watching television its a good idea to include three different types of lighting.

Ambient lighting is the cornerstone of lighting a room usually consisting of ceiling lights that provide overall illumination. Task lighting is used to help focus on certain functions such as reading or writing.

This helps ensure we are not straining our eyes without having too harsh a light on the rest of the room. Accent lighting is the last type of lighting to be considered. Accent

lighting is usually used to bring depth to a room and highlight key features such as artwork.

Each room in your house requires a different treatment so its always worth it to consider the purpose of the room before buying lights for it. A dining room should have a relaxed and cozy atmosphere as it is a place of leisure. Lighting above the table is a must but being able to control the strength with a dimmer switch is ideal for a great dining atmosphere. Every room requires something different and their is plenty of choice out there regarding style so don’t be afraid to shop around.

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THE HEART OF EVERY HOME

PR COYNE & SONS OFFERING THE LATEST AUTOMOWER TECHNOLOGY Why Buy Husqvarna Automower If one of the selling points of future robot technology is to take the strain out of our lives, then surely having a robotic lawnmower is right up there at the top.

Who wants to waste hours tediously manicuring their lawn?

Perhaps the most impressive attributes of a Husqvarna Automower® are their durability and control.

Low-noise drive motors now have an expected working life of more than 10,000 hours, which far outperforms a petrol mower’s engine life of about 500 hours. Plus, the use of lithium ion batteries means each mower produces almost twice the power than just five years ago, and the batteries are fully rechargeable in just an hour. But it’s the control of the mower that is truly futuristic.

Although you can operate your Husqvarna Automower® by control panels under their plastic bodies, cutting a lawn is something that can now easily be done on a mobile phone app from

®?

anywhere in the world. Reprogramme lawn mowing to twice a week? Do it via the app. Change the height of the cutting blades, change the time of the cut, check the machine’s exact position via Google maps – it’s all available on the app.

And soon you will be able to instruct your Automower via your Alexa smart speaker.

The ultrasonic sensors in the mower have also become more sophisticated.

They keep the machine within its boundary wire pegs as well as allowing it to slow down before it hits any object – and, perhaps best of all, the robot mower is able to carry on cutting grass even in the rain, as well as cutting so often that the clippings become mulch, which feeds the lawn after every cut.

If you’re interested in finding out more about Husqvarna Automower® call to PR Coyne & Sons, Dublin Rd., Clonard, Co. Meath or visit www. prcoyne.ie

Giving your kitchen a new look doesn’t have to cost much or take a lot of time. There are simple and inexpensive things you can do that will make it look like new.

PAINT Paint is the easiest way to change the way your kitchen looks. A lighter colour will brighten it up and make it look bigger.

Painting your cabinets and drawers is another simple way to improve your kitchen. To make the job easier, remove all of the handles and hinges from your cupboards and drawers before you start. If possible, bring in a cupboard door to the paint shop and find out what kind of paint would best suit the surface that you’re painting.

Preparation is important so sugar soap your walls and any surfaces before you start painting.

COUNTERTOPS As well as being cheaper, laminate countertops are easy to clean and will resist scratching and staining.

Being light, they’re easy to install and come in a range of colours, styles and finishes including granite, marble, riverstone and timber.

HANDLES Changing the handles on your cupboards and drawers is another way to

update the look of your kitchen. They come in a range of styles to match your décor.

Doorknobs are easy to replace and attach because they usually only have one hole. If you’re replacing handles, make sure the holes on the new handles are in the same location as the old ones. The best way to make sure you get the right fit is by bringing your old handles into the store.

TAPS Replacing your old taps is an easy way to make your kitchen look more modern.

There are a variety of different styles to choose from, ranging from flick mixers to taps that have hoses that are fully flexible and retractable. Make sure your tap is high enough, so you can get large pots in and out of the sink.

TILES AND SPLASHBACKS Tiles not only add colour to your kitchen but glazed tiles are easy to clean and maintain. They come in a range of colours and styles and borders can be used vertically or horizontally to create patterns.

Splashbacks are more than just a feature in the kitchen; they protect your walls from spills, splashes of food, water and oil. They come in a range of colours and are easy to install.

NEW DOORS Replacing your kitchen cabinet doors won’t take long and will make an old kitchen look new. Cabinet doors come in a variety of colours, styles and sizes ranging from glass panels, wooden and coloured MDF. You may need to drill holes to attach the hinges and handles, so it’s worth asking for advice about measurements before buying your new doors.

SHELVING If you need more storage space in your kitchen, shelves are an easy option.

Whether it’s an adjustable spice rack for the back of the pantry door, under shelf storage racks or a wooden shelf on the wall for cookbooks, there are a number of simple options.

NEW FLOORING A new floor can completely change the look and feel of your kitchen.

There’s a wide range of floor coverings to choose from depending on your budget and taste.

The kitchen is a heavyduty traffic area that will have lots of things spilt on it, so choose your flooring to suit. There’s ceramic, terracotta or porcelain tiles, laminate or wooden or vinyl flooring. All of them are practical, durable and hardwearing.

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Summer House & Gardening Feature • Summer House & Gardening Feature

GARDEN MATTERS The majority of houses in the country have a garden, but these days there is an increase in the number of people living in apartments and flats which means that having a house with a garden is a rare thing to find, and is in demand for buyers.

Having a well maintained garden will increase the value of the property, by how much is dependent on a number of factors, such as how the garden is

treated, how the light shines in, if its overshadowed by trees and a variety of other factors. Anything you can do to make your garden stand out, and keep it healthy, all helps to add to the value of it.

The first thing that should be considered when redoing your garden is to keep track of what you actually have, and what space you have to work with. This is crucial if you have been in the same place

for a long period of time as you become used to what’s already there it become hard to create a new vision.

Mark out what you want to take out and what you want to keep, keeping in mind an idea of what you want your overall garden to look like.

Once you can physically see the space left in front of you, its now time to decide what you want to do with it - grow your own vegetables, visually enhance the space with exotic flowers, or cre-

ate a space to entertain guests? When you have decided what you want to do, its then you should start making a plan, prioritising what you want done first.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO ASK FOR HELP Although a lot of homeowners tend to take on the job of renovating their gardens themselves but its not a bad idea to enlist the help of an expert, as they are more intuitive about space and design. If you see your garden and draw a blank rather than seeing a blank canvass, it will prove beneficial to consult a profes-

MAINTAINING YOUR GARDEN FURNITURE

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sional landscape designer or someone else who has experience in the area. A person who works in the area professionally has on average been involved in 150 garden projects and can see both possibilities and problems that the homeowner can’t see. An hour with a professional can be hugely beneficial, and very often someone with that much experience can see a hundred possibilities at a mere glance. Also, don’t worry if you don’t have the biggest space to work with, even something simple like pot plants on a balcony can make the world of difference.

you keep in mind the maintenance of your garden furniture. its not hard done, and it will make the world of difference to the overall

- New Build - Extensions - Renovations - Groundworks

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outlook of your garden as well as ensuring the furniture you’ve invested in lasts as long as it should. Here are a few tips to help you out!

WICKER/RATTAN Wicker or rattan can be hosed down easily. For the more stubborn dirt all that is required is a sponge and some soap. Once the furniture has dried completely, a protective wax can be applied to protect it from water damage. Also, make sure that you store cushions or anything along those lines somewhere inside to protect them.

WOODEN Wooden furniture should be stored indoors during extreme weather with teak and cedar being the exception to the rule. Wooden pieces you wish to have outdoors should be treated with exterior-grade sealing products.

METAL Metal furniture should be treated with anti-corrosion primer to prevent rust.

There are some paints that have this built-in, so look out for that. However, most metal outdoor furniture will come pre-treated and in this case soapy water is all thats needed to maintain it.

PLASTIC Plastic furniture probably requires the least amount of care, they are easily maintained too with most household cleaning products suitable for keeping them clean.

FABRIC Most fabric products will come with specific instructions as to how to keep them in the best condition possible. Make sure fabric is stored inside in a warm environment during the colder months.

PARASOLS Parasols are so expensive yet are neglected quite a lot so its important to maintain them. The fabric should be washed with a soft bristled brush and cold soapy water. The joints on the frame should also be kept lubricated.

HOUSE&HOME

TOPIC • 30 May, 2019

37

Summer House & Gardening Feature • Summer House & Gardening Feature

GETTING STARTED ON YOUR OWN GARDEN OF EDEN PICK A THEME When you're trying to breathe new life into your garden space, it's always good to have a theme or overall idea that holds your scheme together (and that helps give the space some personality with only a few key items). For example, if you’re channeling a French vintage look, invest in a quirky birdbox, wrought iron basket and painted planters. Or opt for something modern and colourful with a few bright pieces.

CLEAR THE SPACE If your garden/backyard is currently serving double-duty as a storage space for toys and bikes, it's time to de-clutter. Get rid of broken plant pots, put away the junk and organise your tools: it's amazing how much better things will look right away and you'll be pleasantly surprised at how much more space you suddenly have. Now's the moment to get rid of any unsightly weeds, too.

LIGHT IT UP If you're thinking about turning your outdoor space into a site for dining and entertaining after the sun goes down (which can be done even in small spaces!), invest in some mood lighting to give your garden ambience - everything from hanging lanterns to tea lights to solar-powered motion sensors can make a big impact, depending on the look you're going for.

What's more, this is a low-

effort way to make a difference. We especially love the idea of displaying candles in colourful glass holders, or embellished wooden lanterns for an exotic edge.

GIVE IT A FOCAL POINT Even if your garden space is small, you can still transform it from uninspiring to appealing: just create a focal point with a window or potted plant box arrangement, which also adds colour to a bland backdrop.

MAKE IT SOCIAL Even if you don't have the space for an outdoor dining room, adding a few cushions or ottomans will turn it into a social space. Create a setting where you can have a drink and a chat with friends, that lends itself to easy entertaining.

SPRUCE UP THOSE WALLS AND FENCES If you're feeling limited in your garden design because of an unsightly brown fence, make do and mend by turning it into a focal point. Add colourful blooms, trailing climbers or hanging baskets, or even a free-standing feature to draw the eye away from the less-attractive bits of your space.

GIVE IT A LICK OF PAINT Crumbling fences and peeling paint can undermine even the most inspiring of garden set-ups. Do some DIY with a fresh coat of paint on fences and fur-

niture (white is a great backdrop for summerbright accessories, or try another hue for a bold impact). Don't forget to sand and use a primer before starting the actual paint job.

TRY A BIT OF LANDSCAPING Even if you're working within the confines of a small garden space, you can still give it an update by focusing on the ground and adding some pebbles or stone slabs. If you're working with more space, think about transforming a stretch of your backyard with a garden path.

GIVE IT SOME COLOUR Even if your green thumb seems to be missing, you can still brighten up your backyard with a few colourful pieces: statues, throws, candles, dining accessories, or even a display unit can all add some colour and freshness to a space in need of a bit of life. Choose pieces that you love and that reflect your taste and style to ensure you feel relaxed and happy when you're outside.

ACCESSORISE Garden accessories can help set the tone for your patio or outside space, making it seem more inviting. If you're short on room, try adding items that you'll also use in the garden (buckets, watering cans, planters). Opt for a shabby chic look for a vintage feel.

MICHAEL HEAVIN CARPETS & FURNITURE

Give your home a facelift and maybe get your stairs and landing carpeted for free...

If you’re planning a spring clean and contemplating a facelift for your home, perhaps thinking of replacing some of your tired or drab furniture, look no further than Michael Heavin Carpets & Furniture, Ankers Bower, Dublin Rd, Athlone.

Stocking a huge range of quality carpets and furniture, Michael Heavin’s has provided excellent customer service with competitive prices over three decades and looks forward to providing the same to their customers for many years ahead.

Michael Heavin Carpets & Furniture has experienced sales staff available to pass

on their advice where it is required. Experienced carpet and wood floor fitters are also attached to the business. If you are investing in a carpet or a wood floor your wish is for it to be properly fitted. Michael Heavin’s staff are experts in the sales and fitting areas.

Michael Heavin Carpets & Furniture offers free local delivery on all suites as well as free parking for all customers.

Open Monday to Friday from 9am to 6pm, Michael Heavin’s offers quick delivery or take away, expert carpet fitting, and accepts all major debit and credit cards.

AMAZING OFFER

Michael Heavin are currently running an incredible promotion offering to get your stairs and landing carpeted for free when you spend €50 or more in their premises before 6pm on Saturday, 1 June. The free fitting is up to a value of €200 and is the perfect excuse to freshen up your home and replace some worn or frayed and threadbare stair or landing carpet.

For more information on Michael Heavin Carpets & Furniture pop into their premises in Ankers Bower, Dublin Rd, Athlone, opposite the Top Petrol Station, call 090-6474736, or email mheavincarpets@gmail.com

MICHAEL HEAVIN CARPETS & FURNITURE, ANKERS BOWER, DUBLIN ROAD, ATHLONE (opp TOP PETROL STATION) *FREE LOCAL DELIVERY ON ALL SUITES* • OPEN MON-FRI 0900-1800 • QUICK DELIVERY • EXPERT CARPET FITTING • EASY FREE PARKING • QUICK TAKE AWAY • ALL MAJOR DEBIT & CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED TEL: 090 647 4736 FAX: 090 64 73544 EMAIL: MHEAVINCARPETS@GMAIL.COM

38

PROPERTY/HOUSE&HOME

TOPIC • 30 May, 2019

Summer House & Gardening Feature • Summer House & Gardening Feature NEW STAR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT LTD. I

f you’re tempted to upgrade the kitchen or bathrooms or perhaps looking to extend your home, look to New Star Financial Management Ltd for friendly and professional advice on how you can reach your goals.

Chances are, you have equity within your property that would allow for an equity release to make these projects a reality.

If you’re an existing mortgage holder and have at least 20% equity or more in your home, many lenders are offering equity release on home improvements, which add further value to your home. You could even combine it with a ‘switch and equity release’ and move to a new lender to also avail of a lower rate.

With low fixed rates now available and the Home Renovation Incentive allowing you to claim a tax credit of 13.5% of the cost of repairs, renovations, or improvements - on your main home only - now could

be the time to turn your dreams into reality.

WHAT HOME IMPROVEMENTS ARE COVERED Extensions or attic conversions: if full planning permission is required, this would need to be in place before application.

Bathroom or kitchen upgrades.

Improving insulation, septic tank repair or replacement.

New boiler, plastering, plumbing, or rewiring.

Replacing windows or doors.

NOT COVERED Carpets, furniture, appliances, or services such as architects’ fees.

If you would like to find out more about equity release on your mortgage and would prefer to delegate the work to a qualified mortgage broker, talk to New Star Financial Management today. You can pop into the offices at 50 Mount St, Mullingar, call 0449335443, or visit NewStarFM.ie.

PROPERTY OF THE WEEK

ELYSIUM, BALLYBURLEY RHODE, CO. OFFALY, R35 W720 €300,000 A charming and beautifully maintained five bedroom bungalow with two reception rooms, large attic conversion, kitchen/diner, utility room, bathroom, ensuite, and much more.

Sherry Fitzgerald Tom Fox are delighted to present to the market this stunningly attractive and

large comfortable family home in Ballyburley, Rhode.

On entering the home, a porch area opens to a spacious entrance hall with solid timber staircase. Off the hallway is an open play kitchen/dining room. The kitchen is well laid out with modern solid timber base units, large island with solid timber worktop and double Fisher and Paykel oven with brick fireplace surround. A shelved larder and utility are just off the kitchen. The dining

room with bay window and window seat has French doors opening to a perfectly positioned south facing decking area.

Also on the ground floor is a large sitting room with brick fireplace and solid fuel stove, recessed lights and bay window; four spacious double bedrooms with lots of storage areas, generously sized hotpress, and a family bathroom with Jacuzzi bathtub, separate shower with rain drop shower head, and twin sinks.

A lot of consideration went into the construction

‘We can help you make your dreams come true...’

EW N A G N I PLANN THIS YEAR?lie y HOMCEontact TarrtaoW y da

50 Mount St., Mullingar, Co. Westmeath

If so, New Sta you @ o help t rtgage o m r u get yosorted!

Tel: 044 933 5443 E-mail: tara@newstarfm.ie Website: www.newstarfm.ie 6 Woodfield, Ballivor, Co. Meath

€195,000

3 / 4 bedroom semi-detached house situated in a sought after part of Ballivor village, close to all amenities.The house is on the market in excellent condition and will appeal to many.

Acc. Incl. 3 beds (1 ens), kit/din, 2 reception rooms, bath and utility.

BER C3 BER No. 103271698

Ballinadrumney

Broadford, Co. Kildare

€335,000

17 Ivy Court

Killucan, Co. Westmeath

€190,000

3 bedroom semi-detached house in the heart of Killucan village.Very well maintained and presented in pristine condition. 3 Beds (1 ens), kitchen/din, sitting room, utility and bath.Viewing highly recommended.

BER B3 BER No. 101004943

42 Manorfield

Kinnegad, Co. Westmeath

€130,000

of this property in 2003 with future proof additions such as Marvin Architectural sash windows, and at the time a large roof space for conversion. ready Indeed, the current owners have converted the attic since, making full use of the space which is ideal for use as three more bedrooms or further storage.

Outside the home, the grounds are well established with lawned areas, mature hedging, trees, shrubberies, and two decking areas to make the most of both morning and evening sunshine. There is a useful steel shed on a concrete plinth and the secluded rear garden has picturesque views over the surrounding farmland.

Ballyburley is a peaceful area close to Rhode village where all amenities are available. The larger town of Edenderry is 10km and access to the M6 motorway at Rochfortbridge is approximately ten minutes drive. Dublin City Centre is approximately one hour away.

Family homes in walk-in condition such as ‘Elysium’ rarely come on the market and Sherry Fitzgerald Tom Fox do not hesitate in recommending viewing.

For more information on this property and others like it, contact Sherry Fitzgerald Tom Fox on 0449379988, visit SherryFitz.ie, or email info@tomfoxauctioneer.ie.

• NEW TO THE MARKET • 33 ABBEYBROOK, KILBEGGAN Very well maintained four-bedroom family home located close to the town centre of Kilbeggan. This house offers all the ingredients for family living and viewing comes highly recommended. €174,950 - SHERRY FITZGERALD DAVITT AND DAVITT - 044-9340000 MULTYFARNHAM Four-bedroom bungalow situated on an acre of landscaped gardens. This elevated property overlooks this valley of Multyfarnham and is a must see for a family. €349,950 - SHERRY FITZGERALD DAVITT AND DAVITT - 0449340000

room semidetached house located in quiet low-density estate within easy access to the general hospital, town centre and the N4 motorway.

€229,950 - SHERRY FITZGERALD DAVITT AND DAVITT - 0449340000 64 ARDILAUN GREEN, MULLINGAR Spacious three/four-bed semi detached house with ample car parking space, presented to the open market in good condition both inside and out, with exceptional décor. €194,950 - SHERRY FITZGERALD DAVITT AND DAVITT - 0449340000 ...................

110 COLLEGE HILL, MULLINGAR

- EDDIE KING AUCTIONEERS - 044-9342707

Spacious three/four-bed-

PROPERTIES WANTED 4 bedroom det. bungalow situated in an ideal position just off the R148 only 300m from a main Dublin - Galway - Sligo bus stop. Presented in excellent condition. Acc. Incl. kit/din, living rooms, 4 beds (1 en-suite), utility & 2 baths. Attached to the house is a garage with huge conversion potential (stp), some work already has already been completed.

BER C3 BER No. 101515872

2 bed ground floor apartment situated in well-established development close to all local amenities. superb opportunity for a purchaser looking for an investment or ideal first home. Close to M4/M6 motorways. Acc. Incls. Large open plan kitchen/living room, 2 beds, bath, utility.

BER E1 BER No. 106150980

Three and four bed properties in all areas of Mullingar, Collinstown, Delvin and Castlepollard

• Sherry Fitzgerald Davitt and Davitt - 044-9340000 • Sherry Fitzgerald Tom Fox - 044 9379988 • Eddie King Auctioneers - 044-9342707