If your home is struggling to cope with the summer heat or you are interested in reducing your cooling expense,  here are a few tips to keep cool through the summer heat:

Plants

Plants can be an environmentally friendly alternative to air conditioning. When cooling down, plants release water into the air that acts as a humidifier, cooling both themselves and their surroundings down. For the best results, try choosing plant species that are shade-loving. Indoor palms and figs are ideal.

Ceiling fan

A relatively cost-effective way of cooling your bedroom is to have a ceiling fan. They are much cheaper to run than an air conditioner. Ceiling fans cool you by circulating the air around your body. They allow you to be acclimatised to the heat, rather than your body going into shock every time you leave the air conditioner.

Shade

Glass is a heat conductor, especially when the sun is shining through. Blinds, curtains, and other window coverings can keep your bedroom cool by providing shade and insulation against the heat. You might also consider using a large indoor plant to block the sun. If used properly, you’ll get the benefits of shade and plants.

Insulation

Insulating your home is critical in keeping a steady internal temperature. Replacing old deteriorated insulation can make a huge difference and help reduce electrical bills. You may also wish to consider upgrading to double glazed windows to further improve the thermal properties of your home.

Airconditioning

If you’re still struggling with heat, you may want to consider air-conditioning options. Choices range from whole home cooling with a ducted air-conditioning or evaporative systems or room specific split systems. We would recommend seeking some professional advice to make sure you get the right solution for your needs.  

Contractor or owner management?

Have you ever considered managing you own renovations? Many people think is saves time and money when a homeowner manages their own renovations. While some people may save a few dollars, hiring a contractor may be cheaper:

Time is money

Organising a home renovation project takes lots of time in communication, supervision, and quality control. If you are working a full-time job and trying to fit in renovations, you will end up working two full-time jobs until your renovations are complete. Hiring a contractor means your renovations can be happening while you’re doing the job you’re trained in.

Contractors have contacts

Unfortunately, tradesmen are not known for their reliability. This can make managing tradesmen very difficult as a homeowner, especially if you’re opting for the cheapest quote. Contractors, however, have a list of tradesmen they regularly use and can rely on. Your contractor is responsible for the completion and quality of the work completed on your project. If a tradesman drops the ball, your contractor will pick it up. This saves time and money as additional visits and repairs are not needed.

Expert = less stress

Home renovations don’t have to be stressful. When you don’t have to worry about organising your job, you can sit back and relax while you watch the work get done. Stress at home leads to lower productivity at work. When you’re managing home renovations and working full-time, something is going to suffer the consequences from lack of attention. A contractor will be managing every aspect of your project so you don’t have to. If there’s a problem, you only need to contact one person and it will be fixed. Hiring a contractor to worry about the little details means you don’t have to.

To summarise, hiring a full-time contractor means your home project gets the attention it needs, you have assurance that the project will be completed to a high standard, and a contractor saves you time and stress. Unless you have the contacts, time, and knowledge to see quality work, a contractor will ultimately save you money.

As 2021 draws to a close, we look back and reflect on the year that was.

In 2021, we completed 95 building projects including 3 new home builds, 3 new extensions, 8 full bathroom renovations, 7 pergolas, 5 framing/roof projects, 4 wall removals, and so many more exciting home projects.

The DBG family is growing and taking on new challenges every day. In addition to our building projects, we had two new people join our team full-time and one part-time.

We’d like to take this time to say a huge thank you to all our clients. We really appreciate you trusting us with your homes! Despite the difficulties of covid delays and lockdowns, we have still had a very successful year and you have been very patient through every step. We couldn’t have gotten through the year without the support of our local community. Thank you!

The DBG team is excited for 2022 and all the new opportunities it will bring. We wish you a very Merry Christmas with a safe and happy new year!