Articles — Outdoor & Leisure

Buying Guide: Choosing a bathroom basin

A bathroom wouldn’t really be much good without having a basin in, would it? They’re essential for hygiene, but can also play a massive part in improving the aesthetic value of your bathroom, too.

However, buying one isn’t as easy as just going out and selecting a pretty one that you like – if it was, people would change their basin every other week.

Regardless of if it’s your first or fiftieth time purchasing a basin for your bathroom, we have rounded up some top tips for selecting the perfect basin for your needs.

Choosing between a swing gate vs a sliding gate for your home

It may not exactly be one of the most pressing decisions you have to make in your life, but there are still some factors you should consider when it comes to choosing between a swing gate and a sliding gate for your home.

Concerned about space? If space is an issue for you, a sliding gate will most likely be your best bet. Swing gates will take up much more space due to the fact that they swing outwards/inwards, whilst sliding gates will take up very little space. A sliding gate may also be a wiser option if you’re worried about scratching cars or other nearby objects, for example.

After something more modern? As a whole, sliding gates tend to look a lot more contemporary and streamlined than their swinging cousins. Depending on the sort of look you’re after when it comes to your home and garden, we would say that swinging gates tend to suit more traditional styles, whilst sliding ones look a lot more chic and sleek.

Our advice is just a guide though – choose whichever gate you feel as though makes your home look good!

Best uses of a mobile scaffold around the house

Although it may seem like a bit of an odd thing to purchase for some, a mobile scaffold can actually prove to be a very handy item to have at your disposal. They make a great alternative to ladders and stepladders, which most people find to be unsteady, too much of a hassle to use, or difficult to store in the home.

On the flipside of things, portable scaffolds are sturdy, easy to use and adjust, and are compact when compared to an excessively tall ladder – most of the height of which you won’t even use.

If you’re struggling to think of what you would use it for, you would be surprised at just how much you can get done with one!

Properly cleaning and caring for your BBQ hot plates

When the sun comes out, it often brings with it an increase of trips to the beach, sales of suntan lotion rising, and an astounding amount of ice cream vans roaming the streets.It also calls for one of this country’s favourite past times – a good old-fashioned BBQ.

You don’t have to have the latest model on the market at your disposal, or have to have the greatest cooking skills – all you need is a reliable BBQ, a few good friends and family, and some food.

One of the things that can turn a BBQ from a delectable delight to a disaster, mind, is the hot plates which you use with your trusty old BBQ – it is the main thing that helps to correctly cook your food, after all. Hence, here are some of our top tips on how to correctly clean and care for your BBQ’s hot plate, starting with a rather obvious one.

Choosing an outdoor awning

The weather has been glorious lately, and we can't say that we blame you for wanting to make the most out of the outdoors. However - there are going to be times when the weather isn't exactly 100% as you'd like it. It may be that it's just that little bit too sunny, is raining despite being warm, or anything inbetween.

If this is sounding familiar to you, it may be time to purchase an awning. An awning is a form of secondary covering which is attached to a building, which acts as a shade. They're often found over doors or windows, or can sometimes stretch across a full wall.

Choosing the right basin for your bathroom

Without a basin, practically every bathroom in existence would be useless. Where would we wash our hands and clean our teeth?!

Imagining the world without basins aside, ensuring you have one that perfectly suits your bathroom is essential. If you’re feeling a bit stuck for choice when it comes to purchasing your new basin (and we can’t say we blame you, there's tonnes of choice out there!)

To help you get one step closer to the bathroom of your dreams, here’s our handy basin buying guide.

Benefits of installing a sliding door

Sliding doors have come a long way since their invention in the first century. Now available in a wide array of materials, styles, and sliding mechanisms, these doors have become a common sight in most homes today. One thing that isn’t so common, though, is the knowledge in how easy it is to install them into your home.

If you’re having a hard time deciding if you should invest in one or not, we do hope that this list of just some of the benefits sways you.

Choosing a shower screen

As you’ll most likely know already, shower screens are practically a bathroom essential – ensuring that the rest of your bathroom doesn’t get flooded – or at least, splattered with water - whilst you shower.

Practical benefits aside, shower screens can also serve an aesthetic purpose, dramatically changing the look of your bathroom. As the shower or shower/bath combo tend to be the main focal point of the bathroom, it’s important that you take your time to choose a shower screen that looks good, and does good.