Maintaining a Balance between Looks and Security

Making your home secure doesn’t mean you have to compromise on style and looks. Security doors and security screens come in a variety of colours, shades and styles that not only protect your family but enhance the look of your home as well. In fact, many doors don’t even look as if security is the first priority. Regardless of the materials used, security doors and screens can be made to complement door frames, paintwork and even pavers without compromising on safety.

What to Look For
Security doors and security screens are designed to be opened up to let the air in while still keeping intruders from entering. Quality security doors need to have a number of features if they are to do their job properly. When considering installing them, look for the following things:
● Make sure they meet Australian Standards. Look for the sticker, which is the best indication that it lives up to expectations. The Australian Standard for hinged and sliding security doors is AS 5039. A door, however, may not have the sticker as manufacturers must pay to use it. Ask if you are not sure.
● The installation also requires an Australian Standard (AS 5040). You should ask for written confirmation that the installation meets this standard.
● Locks should be five pin or have the equivalent cylinder. This makes them stronger.
● The door should have three hinges with fixed pins that cannot be removed.
● The door frame should be reinforced at the corners.
● The door grille should be at least 7mm thick to prevent the door from being kicked in. Rivets or welds that join the grille to the door frame should be no more than 25cm apart.
● The installer should determine if the home’s door frame is strong enough to support the door. If not, reinforcing should be carried out.

Different Types of Doors
While the whole point of a security door is to keep you and your property safe, good looks should not be compromised. There are three main types of security doors and each can have a colour and style that complements your home.
● Aluminium: Even though these doors are less susceptible to corrosion, they are still required under Australian Standards to be anodised or powder coated. Aluminium security doors and screens should also be made of tempered aluminium.
● Steel: Just make sure it meets the Australian Standard, which means it will be protected against corrosion. Doors that have been hot-dipped, galvanised or powder coated are the best, especially if you live in the salt air near the sea.
● Stainless steel mesh: Once again, as long as it meets the accepted standard then it is going to do its job well. Unlike steel and aluminium doors, the strength comes from the mesh used rather than a grille. Manufacturers can use different mesh and claims that one is stronger than the other are yet to be independently tested. These types of doors have only come onto the market in recent years but they do have the advantage of creating a cleaner look.

A Broken Basketball Ring

I've noticed that this basketball ring -on a field near our home- has been broken for about a month. It's a pity that it's painted beautifully but it can't be used. Children still use the field to play football, volleyball and any other games except basketball.

Using Plants for a Healthier Home

There is a surprising amount of chemicals and pollutants floating around in the average household, and there is plenty of research proving that houseplants can clean many of these toxins up. Plants are great because they provide a natural, cost effective way of cleaning the indoor air, plus they can make the inside of your home look fresh and inviting. The following is an explanation of how plants are so effective at cleaning the air in your home, and some examples of the best plants to use.

How They Work
Although there are some types of plants that are more effective at scrubbing toxins out of the air, virtually all plants can make for powerful air cleaners. Through the pores on the leaves, carbon dioxide and other pollutants enter the plant. Through a series of complex chemical processes and reactions within the leaf, photosynthesis takes place and oxygen is released back into the air. Not only are plants effective at filtering out the toxins in your living space, but they also release oxygen in a more pure form. When there are airborne toxins floating around in your living space, they are interfering with your body, particularly your eyes, nose, throat and respiratory system.

The Pollutants

In general, there are three main harmful pollutants that are commonly found in the average household:
benzene
formaldehyde
trichloroethylene (TCE)

The following describes where each pollutant comes from, why they are harmful, and some examples of the best plants that can be used to clean them up:

Benzene
Benzene is a commonly used solvent that can be found in tobacco smoke, gasoline, ink, oil, paint, plastic and rubber. You will also become exposed to benzene when you use manufactured detergents, pharmaceuticals and dyes. If you are exposed to benzene, it may cause dizziness, nervousness, headaches and anaemia, as well as irritated skin and eyes. You can help purify the air, while adding colour to your home, by making a flower arrangement out of gerbera daisies, chrysanthemums and peace lilies, or by using other common plants such as bamboo palm, English ivy and snake plant.

Formaldehyde
In virtually every indoor environment you will find formaldehyde. The major sources of this airborne contaminant are insulation, particleboard and paper products, as well as most commercial cleaning products. Formaldehyde can affect your health by irritating the mucous membranes of your upper respiratory system and can increase the risk of asthma for you or your family. The peace lily flower can help remove formaldehyde from the air in your home as well as bamboo palm, corn plant, snake plant, spider plant, golden pothos and heartleaf philodendron.

Trichloroethylene
There are a wide variety of industrial uses for trichloroethylene (TCE) including in inks, paints, varnishes and adhesives. TCE can affect your central nervous system and cause dizziness, confusion and headaches, and, in high concentrations, can lead to unconsciousness. Plants that can purify the air of TCEs include gerbera daisy, chrysanthemum, peace lily, corn plant and bamboo palm.

So why not put a plant in your home? Doing so will increase the overall health of you and your family by providing clean, fresh air to breathe.

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Creating an All Weather Entertaining Area

There are times when you don’t actually want a roof over your head all the time when outdoors so you can make the most of the weather. Fixed roofs can trap in heat and block out wind and light on days when it would be most enjoyable to sit outdoors and enjoy the surrounds of your own outdoor entertaining area. This is where a retractable sun shade, such as a roof that lets in or keeps out as much of the sun as you want, can be the ideal choice for people who want flexibility when it comes to their outdoor area.

What they do
A retractable roof creates a more functional and useable outdoor area. When in place they block out harsh UV light and provide protection from the elements, but on milder days they can be retracted to let you enjoy the weather. They are beneficial to the indoors of the home as well. They can prevent heat from the sun hitting your windows in the warmer months and heating up the home. Conversely, in winter when opened they allow the natural light to pour into the home and create warmth.

How they work
Retractable roofs are certainly not a ‘one size fits all’ proposition. They need to be custom-made for your particular area and fitted by experts. In many cases they are an excellent alternative to a pergola because of the added flexibility they offer. They can be moved into the ideal position by hand-cranking or using a motorised system. They don’t have to be opened or closed all the way either. They can be partially opened and adjusted regularly with minimum fuss to make the most of the weather. Many homeowners opt for two or more sections of retractable roofing that can be operated autonomously for the ultimate in climate control.

Make a statement
Installing a retractable roof is also a style statement. They come in a range of styles and finishes that can complement your existing décor or tie in with other parts of your home, such as the shade of your security doors or the trim of your gutters. Some properties may even have permanent glass roofs in their outdoor entertaining zones and these retractable shades are the perfect way to prevent these areas from turning into a greenhouse. People are also more adventurous when it comes to the design of outdoor areas today and retractable sun shades are an ideal fit where something more unique is called for.

A practical alternative
It’s not just homeowners who make use of retractable roofs. Restaurants with alfresco areas are utilising this outdoor option as it gives them flexibility with guest seating. So no matter what the sky looks like, diners can be offered protection from the elements yet the area can be opened up to take advantage of the sun in the cooler months. Some schools, day care centres and even playgrounds make use of these retractable sun shades because of their flexibility.

So if you like the idea of an all weather outdoor entertaining area, you might be best to consider a retractable roof. It means that you can enjoy your entertainment area in comfort, all year round!