Deciding to build a granny flat is simple, designing and building the extension can be a lot harder. You'll have a lot of questions to answer along the way. Can you use a general contractor or is is better to use one who has built a lot of granny flats before? Is a template design better than a customised one? Should you let the person who'll live in the flat have a say in what it looks like? Luckily, I'm here to help. My name is Maria. We moved my Mum into a purpose-built granny flat last year, so I've had to answer all these questions and more. I thought it'd be useful for other people to see how we managed the process, so here we are — get reading!
Installing New Gates? Read This First!
When homeowners are planning to erect a perimeter fence, they tend to focus on the supplies that they want for their barrier and end up overlooking the design of their gate. Thus, once the fence is in place, you might find yourself picking affordable gates merely for function rather than paying attention to their form. While fencing is important, it is also essential to place emphasis on the design of your gates too so that they do not clash with your aesthetic. Read on for a number of things that you should know when deliberating on the installation of new gates.
Get council approvals
Some individuals tend to be under the assumption that notifying their local council is only imperative when erecting a fence. However, it is also important to seek council approvals when installing new gates. Council approvals are especially important if you are planning to change the placement of your fencing to accommodate the new gates, as you could end up encroaching on your neighbour's property inadvertently.
Pick your gates in accordance with your fencing
For optimum gate design, it is advisable to choose your gate when you are selecting your fencing supplies so that they can blend in seamlessly with each other. However, if you have recently moved to a new property or are thinking of upgrading your gates, then you should select your gates in accordance with the pre-existing fence materials. There is also some room to experiment and come up with creative combinations with the materials. For instance, a timber fence can work well with wrought iron gates, since this material complements any type of supply. Alternatively, if you have a brick fence, then you can opt for timber gates, since both these materials will ooze rustic charm.
Pet-proof the gates
Homeowners that have pets, particularly dogs, should ensure that their gates will be capable of keeping the pet secure inside the property. So what are some of the considerations to have in mind? Firstly, you should make sure that the gate and the fence are high enough to deter the pet from jumping over them. Secondly, when picking out the design of your gates, ensure that the pet cannot squeeze through any slats or posts. Moreover, do not leave any space at the bottom of the gates, as this leaves room for the pet to burrow under them.
Go with automatic gates
Manual gates may be the more affordable option when shopping for new gates, but automatic gates will offer you unsurpassed benefits. When you install automatic gates, you are provided with the convenience of remotely opening and shutting the gates. Furthermore, automatic gates offer a higher degree of security since they are harder to bypass than their manual counterparts are.
For more information, contact a local gate installation company.