The summer months see an increase in the amount of time spent in the garden, so it is vital to check all doors and windows are locked before spending lengthy spells outside. Failing to do so can result in having to make a claim on the household insurance policy. When thinking of gardening, not too many people would think of rocks but a Rock Garden can be a very attractive feature. These can be put in places that are otherwise impossible to use with more conventional garden ideas. A rock garden is more often than not built in an area of the garden specifically picked for the purpose, but it can also be built on any area of ground in the garden. All that is really needed is an area that has good drainage because the types of plants that grow well in a rock garden do not like water-bound soil. The best place for a rock garden is a sloping area so the water can easily run off.

Building a Rock Garden does not mean going out and finding any old rocks. To do the job right and to get the best results, a trip to a specialist in the type of rocks needed for the project should be arranged. In a rock garden, plants, flowers, shrubs and trees can all be added. Once the materials have been selected along with the location in the garden, it is time to level the surface and to build a foundation for the rock garden.

Remove the soil from the area of the rock garden area, about a foot deep. Next put in a layer of gravel, followed by a layer of sand, and finish by putting the topsoil on.  Ideally each of the layers should each be one-third of the foot deep that was earlier removed. The gravel will help provide the drainage needed while the sand will help hold the topsoil. To make the topsoil richer and to promote plant growth mix in some peat with the topsoil.  A two layer stone garden is both easy to build and manage. Use large rocks for the first layer which is usually hidden by the second layer, so save the best rocks for the top layer. The first layer of rocks will be buried half-way into the soil which will give it a much more natural look. Next job is to put the plants in the ground, try to avoid putting too many plants in your rock garden; and do not overfill the rock garden. Put each type of plant in groups of three, and add the second layer of rocks after you plant each group of plants. Cover as much of the surface as you can with both plants and rocks until you have the rock garden arranged in a way that looks good on the eye.

Adding a bird bath can make it look even better, and it can be very relaxing to sit in a garden and watch birds eat and bathe in a bird bath. You will be amazed at the different types of bird that will wander into your garden. If a lot of money is spent on the garden, make sure everything is covered. Having cheap home insurance can give you piece of mind. It is worth remembering if you are still undecided about whether to build a rock garden, that this small investment will pay off ten fold, because rock gardens can turn any grassy area and any difficult-to-mow slopes into a very low-maintenance landscape.

When you take out household insurance, it is a safeguard against not just burglary but also fire. Everybody should be aware of the damage fire can do and should also be aware of the most common causes of fire in the home. It is only small but a smoke alarm on each level of your home is one of the simplest steps you can take to reduce the risk of you or your loved ones being killed from fire in your home. It is very important to test the batteries in the smoke alarm each and every week and change them every year, and most importantly never remove the batteries for any reason. If you don’t have a smoke alarm you are more than twice as likely to die in a house fire as those that do.

Over 50% of accidental fires at home are started in the kitchen by cooking. Many are caused by people not paying enough attention or leaving a cooker unattended, however, there are lots of easy things one can do to reduce the risk of a kitchen fire. If you are cooking and have to leave the kitchen, turn the heat down or take all the pans off the heat,  also do not cook if your have been drinking alcohol or have been taking strong prescription drugs. Do not keep anything flammable above the cooker i.e. tea-towels or oven gloves. Always keep the cooker clean and free from grease and fat build up as this can easily catch fire.

Another common reason for fires in the home is faulty wiring.  Every wire in the home should be insulated and should never be exposed.  Make sure all switches are in good working order, and never overload the sockets or place extension leads under the carpet.

A lot people die in fires that are caused by cigarettes each year. Tobacco in either cigarettes or cigars is manufactured to stay alight, meaning it can remain slowly smouldering away before its starts a fire. You should never smoke in bed especially if you are drowsy or have been drinking alcohol, as it is all too easy to fall asleep, drop the cigarette and cause an inferno. Also if you have been drinking or are drowsy it is best not to smoke in a comfortable chair. Candles and decorative lights are a growing cause of house fires, so it is important to have candles away from curtains, furniture or any other fabric which could catch fire.

The Fire and Rescue Service are often prepared to do home visits, these are usually free. When they visit they will inspect your home and point out any potential fire hazards and then show how to prevent and reduce the risk of fire. They will also be able to work out an escape plan just in case you will ever need one. Having cheap home insurance is a good way to protect your belongings but being aware of the dangers of fire will reduce the chances of you ever having to claim for fire damage or worse still, lament the loss of a loved one in unnecessary circumstances.

In a world where the average homeowner is being constantly regaled by politicians and scientists about embracing the “green economy” and “low carbon emissions” it appears that the new coalition Government is taking steps to ensure that for big projects at least there will be some sort of financial aid.

Most citizens have already taken to heart the recycling message, the usage of energy saving light bulbs is rocketing (although it is fair to say, it leaves us all a bit more in the dark) and energy companies are now providing certain customers with home energy tracking devices which at a glance highlight information to the consumer where possible energy wastage is taking place. Lagging the loft is generally accepted as one great saver along with insulating the walls of the home, grants are already available for these to the more vulnerable sections of society but It is the more ambitious projects that will realise greater savings and unfortunately with the current financial restraints most homeowners find themselves in, new heating systems, solar energy water heating and whole house double glazing often take second place to other desirables such as household insurance. It is this type of project that the Government have decided to “subsidise”.

The new bill, dubbed the “pay as you save” bill will allow consumers to borrow money from the Government for big projects such as solar panel heating or double glazing and then repay the loan through the savings the installations generate. Although details are still sketchy it is anticipated that the loan amounts will fall somewhere between the £6,500 suggested in the pre election Conservative manifesto and the higher figure of £10,000 suggested by the Liberal Democrats in their election literature.

The bill also states that energy providers will be obligated to provide consumers with information about cheaper tariffs available to them while at the same time ensuring competition between the providers remains fair.

The coalition Government further displayed its commitment to the green cause when new housing minister, Grant Sharps, confirmed that he would be endorsing the plans of the previous government’s commitment that all new houses will have to be zero carbon compliant by 2016. Although he has still not provided a full definition of what zero compliant actually means it is hoped there will be a further announcement in the near future to provide clarity on the issue.

A US Army survival guide from 1970 strongly advised that you should cover your head when it is cold, because between 40 to 45% of your body heat will be lost via the head. This led to an increase in hat wearing at the time. Whether or not this is fact is something still debated today, one thing that is definitely true is that an awful lot of heat is lost through the head of your home. Heat will always flow from a warm space to a cold space, and that is a very good reason why insulating your attic is as important as getting good household insurance. Good insulation will keep the heated air in your home, instead of being wasted by escaping through the roof.

A house loses about 25% of its heat through the roof so it makes sense to make loft insulation top of your list of jobs to do; it will not just save you money, but also energy.  It really is an easy job and remember you should aim for at least a 270mm thickness between the joists as this will improve the lagging efficiency. If your existing insulation is less than 270mm then it is very easy to top it up.

Remember to check the attic for any signs of woodworm, rot or even faulty wiring.  Check that the attic has plenty of ventilation as well. It is desirable to have a clear floor space to do this job, so if possible remove as much of the stored items as practical or even move them all to one side of the attic, leaving enough space to start the job. Also remember to walk on the joists otherwise your weight will take you straight through the ceiling board.

Insulation is available in units named Blanket Packs, these are compressed and will expand when unwrapped. Because of this it is always best to bring them up to the attic before opening them.  Wear a pair of gloves and a face mask as insulating can be a messy job and the insulation could irritate your throat and your skin. Always start at one end of the loft against the wall. (Sentence removed as it wasn’t in context) You should find that the rolls of loft insulation are normally standard so that they fit the space between the joists and really the only thing you have to remember is to make sure that any wiring running along the joists must never be covered by the insulation. A good way to think about the job is that it is very similar to laying turf in the garden. Butt the ends of each roll of insulation to each other and then carry on with the next blanket pack, working your way across the loft making sure that you do not block any ventilation from the eaves of the attic.  If your cold water tank is at ceiling level, you must never lay any insulation underneath it, as warmth from below will help keep the water from freezing if it gets really cold.

All that remains to be done is to fit an off-cut of the insulation to the attic hatch. Measure the size needed and then secure it to the hatch itself and that’s the job completed and cheaper bills and less energy use will be the order of the day.

Painting a wood floor is an inexpensive way to give a room a fresh new look. It is not a difficult job and should be looked upon as any other painting project, the fact that it is a floor and not a wall or a door is irrelevant. Whatever the style of the room decor in the house, a painted floor will compliment it.  For example, both country and contemporary looks will fit in well with a painted floor. Many people think that painting a wooden floor is sacrilege, but if the floorboards are a real mess then painting your wooden floors is a really good option that some people go for.

It is important that you get the right paint, don’t be tempted to use any old paint that has been in the garage for years. Getting the right paint for this job is particularly important as floor paint is manufactured to be much more hard-wearing, ensuring it will be capable of taking high levels of footsteps and lots of wear and tear. Before starting the job, remember the room will be out of bounds until the floor is finished, the last thing needed is children and pets running in while the paint is still wet and then running around the house leaving footprints. This will mean a call to the household insurance company to claim on the accidental damage part of the policy, and also an excess to pay which just makes the job more expensive. Quick drying paint is one option if the room is needed quickly.

The wooden floorboards should be clean and free from dust. Any large cracks and holes should be mended properly. If not they will become glaringly visible when paint is applied. Once that is done the next step is sanding the area that needs to be painted. If it is a large area then it is a good idea to rent a floor sander. It will save a lot of time and energy. If it is only a small area a hand sander will be best. Once the floors have been sanded they will need sweeping and mopping to remove all the dust. The floors will need to be smooth before painting so mopping the floor twice will ensure the best result.

Using a good primer, go along the edge and corners of the floor with a brush. Paint outward from the edges and corners about 4 or 5 inches all around the room. This will allow the roller to meet these edges without it touching the skirting boards and walls. Use a roller to put primer along the remaining surface of the floor and allow drying. Apply the paint the same way you applied the primer and wait at least a full day before applying the second coat. When the second coat is dry it is time to apply one coat of clear varnish over the paint to harden the surface of the floorboards and extend their durability.