Anne-apolis

  I have just spent a few days with my aunt and uncle on their farm in Limpopo Province in their most beautiful guest cottage. My aunt is a wonderful hostess and ensures that everyone who stays with them has absolutely everything they need to enjoy a perfect visit.  A guest cottage on a farm If you are fortunate to have a guest cottage, or are thinking of building one, there are a few things you can do to ensure maximum comfort. An en-suite bathroom is essential in a detached cottage, even if it is just a shower, basin and toilet: your guests should not have to wander around your property with a sponge-bag!  When furnishing the room, think about how it may be used in summer and winter - is there a shady, cool spot to read and relax in summer and a sunny, sheltered space in winter? Your guests will enjoy being able to spend some time on their own to be able to wind down and relax. When my aunt first set up her guest cottage, she slept there for a night in each season to ma...

  Often when adapting or re-planning a garden by adding new trees or shrubs, we are so focused in on the garden that we do not think how this may impact on the performance and comfort within the building. An example would be the planting of a tree too close to the house. As the tree grows, its roots expand and may cause damage to the foundations, resulting in extensive structural problems that are very expensive to fix.  A  tree that grows too big also may start blocking out the sun, making the room behind cold and gloomy. It is always worth checking how tall the tree will grow, from a good gardening or tree book, or by browsing the net. Your plant nursery may also be able to advise on the final size of the tree. As a rule of thumb, plant the tree the same distance from the building as its height - This should allow sufficient sun to come in during winter. It is also worth looking into deciduous trees for planting nearer the house, as these will block the sun in summer, k...

  DIY is a great idea, whether assembling a flat-pack or doing more complex construction work, but is it always the most cost-effective route? Flat pack is a truly great invention and an excellent way of acquiring furniture, usually at a much more reasonable cost than buying a ready-made piece. They are specially designed to be put together by people with limited skills in joinery and carpentry, with limited tools. Often they arrive with an Alan-key which is the only piece of equipment you will need, but I have found that some simple equipment is a good idea if you plan to make up several items. These are also useful for many other tasks around your home. My most basic tools are two screwdrivers, one flat and the other star or Phillips head, and a rubber mallet. You can hire more sophisticated equipment or use them in-store eg. at Leroy Merlin. With a bit of experience of using hired tools, you can decide what to buy in the long-term. For example, I find a power drill very useful, ...

When you are planning a building project, you may need the services of a range of possible professionals, especially if the project is large and/or complex. Last week we looked at the appointment of an architect , who will usually be the first person to be brought on board unless it is a very large-scale industrial project. The architect will be able to advise you on the need for any other professionals as the project parameters become clear. If there is any structural work - either putting up a new building or addition, or removing one or more walls that are supporting walls above them on an upper floor, you will need a civil engineer. She or he will be able to assist with several aspects of the project: water supply; foundations and retaining walls; stormwater; roads within the property; etc. Most engineers specialise in just one of these branches of civil engineering, but they will often be in a firm that covers all aspects. For a small project, a purely structural engineer will nor...