Hamilton Building Services

Cleaning out your rain gutters can be a dreadful hassle, but there are a few helpful tips that you can use to make the task as painless as possible. Wear rubber gloves. protective eye wear, and a long-sleeved shirt. Use an appropriate ladder that is stable. Have a buddy nearby to ensure safety and move the process along more quickly. Rake your roof first so that the next time it rains it doesn't just clog up your gutters, again. Don't waste your money on a fancy gutter scoop. A plain-Jane plastic cup or kids shovel will do the job. Metal scoops can cause damage.  Dump your gunk onto a plastic tarp below you to alleviate hassle and save your lawn. Once you clean them out, flush the gutter with a garden hose. Record the date that you decide to clean them out so that the following year you don't get too far behind, making the task a little easier. image via  http://www.neiltortorella.com At the end of the day, cleaning out your gutters will pay off. It doesn...

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July is always a busy month for just about anyone. Take a weeknight or two and get these monthly home maintenance chores done quick so you can enjoy your lovely July weather! Image via www.amerifirst.com

Have you ever wondered what kinds of homes people lived in way back in 1776? Check out some neat information we found while delving into this topic. Image via www.ducksters.com Most homes were single room - That's right. Most folks lived in one big room that contained everything they needed from straw beds to a big pot over the fire for cooking and boiling clean drinking water. Talk about an open floor plan! The frames of the homes were made with wood and filled with sticks. Next, they filled in those gaps with a material they called "daub," which was a mixture of clay, mud and grass. It was quite sticky so it worked out well. Furniture was pretty much non-existant. Other than a straw matress on the floor - a dirt floor, by the way - settlers may have had a bench to sit on or even a table, but there wasn't much more than that.

A deck not only adds value to your home, it's a place where friends and family make summer memories with cook outs, 4th of July partys and any other summer time celebrations you might have. Before you invite your guests over for a backyard get-together, revamp your deck by staining it. Staining your deck will give it a fresh, new look by highlighting the wood's natural beauty. Also, staining your deck annually can help keep the wood in good condition, and it can provide a shield between the wood and the elements outside, like rain and sunlight. Check out some pointers on how to efficiently stain your deck for this summer season! Image via www.HGTV.com Synthetic decking can be stained, however the composition of synthetics varies, so you should be sure to always read the manufacturer's recommendation. Thoroughly clean and dry your deck first and make sure there isn't old chipped paint. Depending on your deck's condition, you may even consider pressu...

Memorial Day is so close we can taste it! We found some awesome #partyhacks that you can use for your Memorial Day get together that are sure to make your busy day as a host more relaxing. . . Check out the #pinterestpartyhacks we thought were pretty neat! Corn in a Cooler Corn on the cob is a great starchy side that goes with just about anything. This year, try this #partyhack . . . After you've pealed and cleaned your corn, gently place it in an empy cooler and pour hot, boiling water over top. Close the lid and give it some time, then drain out the water by pulling the little plug, and you're ready to chow down! Image via www.buzzfeed.com Light Up Beverage Bowl Buy a couple glow sticks and place them in the bottom of your beverage bowl filled with ice. Once the sun goes down, no one will have any trouble finding their next drink with this #partyhack Image via www.dhgate.com Cupcake Liner Decorative Drinks One downside to serving delici...

With warmer weather quickly approaching, a DIY fire pit is a great, affordable addition that you can make to your yard. Follow the step-by-step instructions below to build your own fire pit for $60! Click here to read the full article. All images via www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com Sources www.keepingitsimplecrafts.com www.pinterest.com

Summer is on its way out, and fall and winter are on their way in. With that in mind, you'll want to start storing away your summer items to make room for your winter stuff. Follow these helpful hacks to store away your summer stuff. Clothing Storing clothing can take up a ton of room if you're not careful. To save room and stay organized, roll your clothing or fold it neatly in piles. Next, store in plastic totes or in old comforter bags. Depending on how much clothing you have to store, consider building a shelf to store your bags or totes. Image via www.hardlyhousewives.com Lawn Mower After you mow your lawn one last time in 2016, remember to store it away properly. If you don't take heed, you may have issues with it next spring. Either siphon the gas out, or add fuel stabilizer to the tank and fill it right up. Clean off any old grass clippings from the past season, store it in a dry space, and you'll be ready for next year. Image via www.go...

Before the summer weather splits, make sure you squeeze in these awesome summer bash ideas!  #1 Backyard Picnic  Image via www.pinterest.com #2 Hawaiian Luau  Image via www.pinterest.com #3 80's Music Video Image via www.pinterest.com #4 Japanese Style Image via www.pinterest.com #5 Country Hoedown  Image via www.pinterest.com Sources www.hgtv.com

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There's a few different things to consider when you're watering your lawn. Over-watering will just be a waste and could kill your lawn; under-watering could kill your lawn too, and it could be even harder to bring back to life. Follow these tips to get a nice, even green. Image via www.kingofwallpapers.com Water early  Water your lawn between 5 AM and 9 AM for best results. This will allow the water to soak into the ground, and the sun's hot rays won't burn off the water droplets during these hours. Watering at night will likely cause mildew or fungus as it doesn't have time to "dry off," so to speak. Image via www.gcastd.org Avoid sprinklers Automated sprinkler systems are not efficient unless you're away on vacation. They do not spread water evenly across your yard, giving your lawn a patchy appearance. Also, they are known to waste water as there isn't really regulation of the water. Image via www.letkidsbekids.co.uk ...

Image via www.kcet.org In-Ground Beds  Pros Easy to start up as they don't require too many tools Most of the soil is already provided (you'll want to add composted soil on the top) Good use of the minerals in the existing soil Easy to expand  Cons Working is the most strenuous on your back as they're closest to the ground You need to have a good spot in your yard to plant Animals have the easiest opportunity to sneak into your garden and eat your veggies Boxed/Raised Beds  Image via www.harryhelmet.com Pros Good for areas with poor quality soil Provides organization and space between plants Higher surface level makes it easier to work with Boxes keep everything tidy  Cons Materials can be costly, although they are a one-time purchase Soil must be tilled and filled into the bed Potted Plants Image via www.pinterest.com Pros Can be used in places without a yard or place to plant Easy cle...

Are you searching for that perfect paint color combination that really says "you"? Look no further! This Wednesday we are welcoming Spring and Summer hues from design-seeds. Design-Seeds is a terrific FREE site geared toward interior design and decorating, specifically, generating color palettes. There are other similar sites but this is a favorite of ours! Image via Design-Seeds.com Image via Design-Seeds.com After seeing the Color Escape and Flora Hue palettes above, you may never look at your garden or favorite destination the same way again. Looking for more color inspiration for your new home? Pull colors from the outdoors - shells, rocks, leaves, sunsets, trees and more... Take a look in your closet. You may find a common color theme or a favorite dress or scarf that inspires you. Grab your camera and take a walk down the street to your local market, park or river, any place and start snapping! Soon you'll have several photos to inspire an ext...