PROFESSIONAL landscaping can cost tens of thousands of pounds.

So many homeowners are looking for budget ways to give their outside space a glow-up.

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The patio was virtually black before Frances gave it a good clean[/caption]

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The patio after spending £40 and using a bit of elbow grease[/caption]

And patios are one area that can look worse for wear just after a few months.

Ahead of the wet winter weather, one gardener shared a before and after of their patio transformation.

Frances Elizabeth posted her images in the Gardening UK – Hints, Tips & Advice Facebook group.

She wrote: “I cannot believe the difference!

“We bought our new (to us) home in September last year and have been toying with replacing the patio.

“But as we are considering an extension in the next couple of years, we decided to tidy up the one we have.

“This weekend I have pressure washed it, re-grouted using the Sika brush in grout in shade Buff and made a little pot bench to give some colour and make a bit of a display of the plants.

“We have a lovely bench set coming in April.

“I am so pleased! Total cost for patio refurb – £40 and a bit of elbow grease!

“Still lots to do in our new garden, absolutely loving it.”

Elizabeth wasn’t the only person who loved the transformation, as several other gardeners posted positive comments in response.

One said: “What a difference. Worth all your hard work.”

“Looking very good. Its amazing what a clean up can do. Will be lovely to relax on when your new garden furniture arrives,” someone else suggested.

A third posted: “You’ve done a brilliant job, well done.”

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The finished result of Frances’ hardwork[/caption]

Someone asked Frances in the comments section: “Did you blast out all the old grout first? I’m going to try this but not all of our grout is loose.”

She replied: “Yes I blasted out the loose bits and picked out the bits that were a bit firmer, some bits didn’t want to budge, so I just left them.”

Another asked Frances: “It looks great, think I’ll try the grout on mine after it’s been power washed.

“Where did you get the grout from?”

She revealed: ” I got it in Wickes but you can get it at most hardware stores.

“Screwfix has best price but it wasn’t available at my local store.”

The grout Frances recommended was the Sika Fastfix Self-Setting Paving Jointing Compound 15kg from Screwfix.

It costs £35.99 and comes in a variety of colours to match your paving slabs.

The average cost for a 30m2 patio to be installed professional will cost between £2,500 and £5,000 according to Paving Shopper.

For a 50m2 patio, it would set a homeowner back £6,000-£10,000.

It is not known how big Frances patio area was, to estimate how much it might have cost her to have it replaced entirely.

By Kevin Kayhart for Ny Breaking.com Published: 03:12 EDT, September 14, 2024 | Updated: 03:13 EDT, September 14, 2024 Steve-O, known around the world as a man who would do anything to make people laugh, has just pulled off his latest stunt. The Jackass and Wildboyz star was just hours away from undergoing surgery to […]

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Zimbabweans Mourn the Death of Daniel Chingoma, The Man Who Created His Own Helicopter Zimbabweans are mourning the death of Daniel Chingoma, affectionately known as ‘the Helicopter Man,’ who passed away yesterday. Chingoma, a multi-talented creative engineer, entrepreneur, and musician, gained fame for his homemade helicopter, an ambitious creation that earned him admiration and attention […]

The post Fly high Visionary: Zimbabweans Mourn the Death of Daniel Chingoma, The Man Who Created His Own Helicopter appeared first on iHarare News.

Several Batman movie scenes have actually improved with age, whether due to their humor, gravitas, or influence on the superhero landscape. Batman movies are an integral part of the DC Universe, appearing prominently throughout the DCEU timeline and in the DCU’s future. Though many of these were celebrated upon their release, certain scenes have become …

The Government of Anambra State has banned the activities of street corner iron mongers, popularly known as “iron condemned”. These scavengers who usually shout ” iron kwandem” to announce their presence in any area have been accused and allegedly found neck deep in some criminal activities including kidnap, robberies and spying for hoodlums/criminals. They have …

THE temperatures have drastically dropped in recent weeks.

And as we all battle to keep our household costs down, there are some clever ways we can stay warm at home WITHOUT turning the heating on.

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There are a few clever ways you can keep your house warm, without resorting to turning the heating on[/caption]

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From the obvious to the often forgotten, property expert Joshua Houston shared five nifty ways you can keep your property warm and cosy.

“This week much of the UK is going to experience temperatures that we haven’t felt for many months,l” he said.

“It’s important that people aren’t caught off guard and are warm enough in their homes. 

“These tips should help you keep the cold outside air from entering your property.”

Firstly, curtains.

“Windows are a common place for the outside cold to get into your home, this is because of small gaps that can let in air,” Joshua explained to Household Quotes.

“Close your curtains particularly at night, as this is when it will be the most cold.”

This simple method gives you an extra layer of warmth as it can provide a kind of “insulation” between your window and curtain.

“If you have the spare funds, consider investing in heavy curtains as these will do an even better job at keeping that unwanted cold away,” he added.  

Another home decor addition that can make a massive difference is rugs.

“Your floor is another area of your home where heat can be lost and can make your home feel chilly,” he continued.

“You might notice on cold days, that your floor is not nice to walk on due to it freezing your feet.

“So instead add rugs to areas that don’t already have a carpet, this provides a layer of insulation between your bare floor and the room above.”

You should also ensure your home is properly insulated – not forgetting pipes, loft space, crawlspaces and underneath floorboards.

“Loose-fill insulation is very good for this, and is a more affordable type of insulation, with a big bag being able to be picked up for around £30,” Joshua explained.

“It’s easy to place in the smaller areas of a loft and does a good job of keeping the cold out of your home, as well as the heat in.”

Another trick you might think obvious is to keep your internal doors closed as much as possible.

“Household members often gather in one room in the evening, and this is usually either the kitchen or living room,” he said.

“This means you only have to heat a small area of your home, and closing the doors keeps the heat in and the cold out.”

And lastly, stop unnecessary drafts as and where possible.

Don’t forget to check cat flaps, chimneys and letterboxes, as they can let in cold air if they aren’t secure.

“Sometimes this won’t always be possible like with your letterbox, but it can at least be secured at night when there’s no post being delivered,” Joshua concluded.

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And don’t forget to check things like letterboxes, to see if there’s any cold air from outside creeping in[/caption]

SEPTEMBER is a peak month for garden jobs.

But there are several rules you must keep in mind if you want to avoid up to a whopping £27,000 in fines, property experts have warned.

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If you’re a green-fingered homeowner, there are seven rules to stick to in order to avoid fines[/caption]

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First up fences.

“When installing a new fence, it’s customary for homeowners to present the ‘good side’ to their neighbours,” Georgina Read explained.

“While this is more about maintaining good relations, failing to follow your local boundary regulations can lead to disputes.

“For example, if a neighbour complains about a fence exceeding the two-metre height limit, councils may intervene, which can, in some cases, lead to fines.”

It’s also important to avoid pruning protected trees, as making changes to trees protected by a Tree Protection Order without permission could lead to fines of up to £20,000.

Another thing to steer clear of is feeding wildlife in your garden, as any feeding that attracts pests could lead to fines of up to £5,000.

“Homeowners need to manage wildlife feeding responsibly to avoid attracting unwanted visitors,” Georgina, director of Paving Superstore, said.

“While feeding birds is generally encouraged, attracting pests like rats can lead to an abatement notice.”

Keep an eye on your hedges, as letting them grow to high could lead to finds of up to £1,000 if a neighbour complains under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act 2003.

And it’s vital to obtain planning permission for certain aspects of changing up your green space.

This includes installing decking.

“Many people don’t realise that you need planning permission if your decking is more than 30cm high or covers over half your garden,” Georgina said.

“If you break these rules, the council can issue an enforcement notice under Section 172 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990, and failing to comply can lead to prosecution and unlimited fines, which means the penalty could be substantial depending on the case. 

“My advice is to always check with your local planning office before starting any big garden project.

“It’s much easier to get permission first than to deal with problems later.”

The same applies to paving, if it’s over an area larger than five square metres.

As well as seeking planning permission, you will need to ensure there is proper drainage in place.

“Failure to do so could result in enforcement action and potential fines,” she said.

In fact, it’s a good idea to check with local planning authorities as your first point of call before making any drastic changes to your garden.

“Staying informed is key to enjoying your outdoor space without the stress of legal repercussions,” Georgina concluded.

A SELF-PROCLAIMED ‘hot’ mum has hit back at trolls who say she’s too old to be posing in tiny shorts.

Jane Jules, from Scotland, is not afraid to show off her figure in skimpy clothing and doesn’t let the fact that she’s a mother affect her desire to express herself.

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Jane loves to show of her figure in tight clothing[/caption]

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She hit back at trolls who say she’s too old to dress like this[/caption]

She regularly posts pictures of herself posing in tight gym gear and lingerie on her Instagram account, where she has over 5,000 followers.

In a recent picture, Jane sported a Scotland football top, and a pair of tiny hot pants.

She had large fake eyelashes, and her hair was done up in French plaits, which she fiddled with playfully.

Jane captioned the image: “Who’s watching the England game with me?”

Unfortunately, the post was commented on by one troll who decided to make a comment about Jane’s age.

“Aren’t you a bit old to be wearing very little??”, they said cruelly.

However, Jane stood up for herself, and hit back at the troll.

She said: “Sorry didn’t think there was an age limit on what you can and can’t wear!”

Fortunately, Jane also received many positive comments on her appearance.

One person said: “Beautiful.”

Another commented: “Love it.”

A third said: “Hottie.”

And Jane isn’t the only self-proclaimed “hot mum”, who has been the victim of trolling revcently.

Jen Ferguson, 33, often proudly shows off her bikini body online, but has opened up on the backlash she has received from haters.

In a recent clip posted on Instagram, we saw the mum-of-four pose in her home, as she proudly showed off her assets in a tiny gingham string bikini.

She styled the look with some jewellery and styled her blonde hair in loose waves. 

She revealed that trolls will often say to her: “Mums shouldn’t wear bikinis.” 

However, she was keen to clap back, as she wrote: “We don’t play by the rules here.” 

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A WOMAN who ordered a starfish curtain tie from Temu was left disgusted when she figured out why it smelled so bad.

Kelly explained that she’d seen the cute homeware addition on the budget site, so decided to order one.

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But when it arrived she noticed it smelled badly of fish[/caption]

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And when she did, she was stunned to discover a SKELETON inside[/caption]

But when it arrived, she couldn’t work out why it “stank of shellfish”.

In a video on her TikTok page, Kelly explained the situation, and revealed that she’d broken one of the legs to see what was inside.

Holding the broken leg apart to reveal the contents, it was clear to see there was some kind of skeleton beneath the surface – leading Kelly to believe it had, at one point, been a real starfish.

“Aww Temu!! Ick Ick,” she captioned the video.

Kelly’s video comes after someone else shared a clip of a croissant lamp that had attracted hundreds of creepy crawlies.

When they broke it open, they discovered that it appeared to be a real croissant that had been covered in resin to make the lamp.

“Have y’all heard about a girl that ordered a croissant lamp and it was real?” one person captioned the video.

As another said: “The croissant lamp now starfish…. do not order any stuffed animals!”

“Open it and make sure it doesn’t have organs,” a third commented.

But others insisted Kelly’s discovery inside the starfish is entirely normal.

“Do people not realise most starfish that are hard are just dead starfish?” one wrote.

“Temu literally states it on the item that it’s a natural starfish and smells slightly, read the description!” another insisted.

To which Kelly replied: “‘Starfish inspired cotton curtain ties’ is what I purchased.

“It should be obvious that I wish I read the description rather than run off ‘inspired’!”

“It’s very common to use actual sea creatures for decor,” a third wrote.

“In my seaside county they sell dried out starfish all the time.”

“When you buy a starfish and get what you ordered,” someone else said sarcastically.

“Wouldn’t have ordered had I known it was real,” Kelly hit back.

“That’s the point!”