What Does a Locksmith Do?

Posted by Editor in Locksmithing Services on Aug 30th, 2018 | Comments Off

Ever wondered what a locksmith does to unlock the door to your apartment, duplicate a key, or fix broken locks? Here is a brief overview of the processes and techniques included in locksmith services.

• Bypassing or Picking. If you need to unlock the door to your apartment without damaging the locks, you can call a locksmith to either bypass or pick locks using warded keys and alteration of the mechanism, respectively. Warded keys are similar to skeleton keys which are bypassed in the lock mechanism. While combination locks can be bypassed by recording resistance points. Later, the locksmith will be able to repair a lock with less damage. Picking alters the locking mechanism completely but there is a higher chance that the locks will be destroyed. This is done through the use of a pick and torque wrench.

• Key Cutting. The primary locksmith service you will find in any locksmith shop is the cutting of keys for virtually any type of mechanical lock. A key maker can cut keys through the following methods: machine cutting, hand-cutting, and creation of restricted and security keys. Additionally, they can also be relied upon to make locks for windows and doors and to change broken door lock in Singapore that has been damaged through forced entry. They can also perform home key cutting and even do lock installation for UPVC windows and doors commonly found in small apartment units. If, however, the locks have been damaged by a burglar, the locksmith will usually recommend a new set of locks to avoid further tampering.

• Safe Installation. A trusted locksmith services company in Singapore can also install and fit any type of security safe for your home or office. To make sure you get quality work, look for a professional locksmith who specialized in safes and vaults of any size and type. The same locksmith should be able to help with the repair, supply, and relocation of the safe if needed.

• Auto Locksmith. A trusted car locksmith can not only help you unlock car doors in case you lost of forgot your keys, but they are also equipped to cut, program, reprogram, repair, and replace any type of mechanical or digital car key. Modern car keys are very difficult to replace because each is programmed and designed for specific models, even down to the specific unit. Only a professional 24 hour locksmith have the technology to bypass such standards.

• Impressioning. Another method to bypass a lock without destroying it is to use impressioning. A cheap locksmith will insert a blank key and manipulated so as to leave impressions. Then, the blank key is filed and inserted several times until the correct impression is achieved.

• Access Control. Professional locksmiths are also licensed to install security systems for residential complexes and offices. These include pin, card, and biometric door access systems that might be difficult to install, specify, supply, and troubleshoot without the help of experts.

• Emergency. Locksmith services can help with emergency situations such as car lockouts. A professional has all the tools to unlock car doors if you have left your child or pet inside, or if you need to unpick your lock to the apartment without damaging the lock through forced entry. Always keep the contact details of a trusted 24 hour locksmith for such situations.

A Guide to Commercial and Residential Painting

Posted by Editor in Home Improvement on Aug 14th, 2018 | Comments Off

Looking for the best painter in Singapore to complete a condo painting project? Or is your office in need of the best painting services for exterior and interior makeover? Check out the different options you can enjoy from HBD painting service, the best painting contractor in the country.

Professional Preparation
Painting services should always include professional prep right after the inspection and estimation. Any furniture and item that can be removed must be covered and relocated, including outlet and switch covers, down spouts, and shutters. Commercial buildings in Singapore might also include parts such as metal surfaces, steel panels, paneling, siding, cladding, roofs, framing and support structures. The walls must also be prepared to make sure that the paint will last for years. Scraping, caulking, sanding, and priming are part of the painting preparation.

Professional Cleanup
Exterior painting projects take more preparation time than when doing interior painting. Commercial buildings in need of repainting will need power washing (hot or cold), treatments, sandblasting, and repairs before any work can commence. For large-scale projects such as these, you should only contact a reputable painting contractor. They will also make sure to take precautions when safeguarding other areas in the building such as gardens or landscaping, so that the daily operations can continue. Most commercial buildings have different services rates compared to a residential paint contractor.

Interior Painting
Condo painting for interiors can be done room by room. A good house painter in Singapore, however, has more considerations to keep in mind when doing interior versus exterior painting. The occupants and the property must be protected, and if possible, daily routine must only be minimally interrupted while the interior house painting is ongoing.

Several steps are taken to ensure that the interior painting project is a success. These include the moving of furniture, removal of outlet and switch covers, drywall repair, sanding, taping and back filling, priming, drywall review, finishing coat, and cleanup. Commercial buildings need not worry about having their business interrupted by the HBD painting contractor, because they can work around the business hours to finish the project on the agreed schedule.

Exterior Painting
Condo painting for exteriors is a bit more complicated than interior painting projects. That’s because the preparation can take some time before the crew will start to paint the wall. The painter ensures that the following steps are followed: power washing of the exterior surface, scraping to reveal solid edge, removal of the down spouts and shutters, caulking (for seams and cracks), masking and covering of landscape and features that cannot be removed, and painting. The type of paint applied, the cost of paint, and the paint colours appropriate for the building depends on the material of the surface and the effect the owner wants to achieve, especially if it’s a commercial painting service job.

Project Follow-Up
A good painting contractor will guarantee that the result of the work will last for years. They will ensure this through inspection and follow-ups in case retouches are needed. Before a project is completed, the painting services company will schedule a final inspection and walkthrough of the building. Always hire a painter if you need touch-ups and to enjoy more options for a cheap house painting service.

5 Hand Tools You Should Have at Home

Posted by Editor in Home Improvement on Aug 10th, 2018 | Comments Off

Whether it comes to maintenance or repair, hand tools are a must-have for any home, and you don’t want to be caught unprepared whenever something you need breaks, or if you need something installed. After all, living in Singapore is expensive, and the last thing you want is having to replace an expensive appliance.

There are many advantages to having these tools at hand – they make general repairs and basic maintenance faster and so much easier. Perhaps the best part about having these tools is that you can buy them at any hardware store, and are generally cheap.

1. Screwdriver
A third of every problem you will encounter at home will be because of a few screws loose, from faulty door knobs to shelf joints. With a screwdriver, these are avoidable.

Having both flathead and Phillips head (star screws) screwdrivers is a must, since most screws come in these shapes. Appliances with less common screw heads, such as a Robertson head (square drive), would usually come with their own special screwdrivers.

2. Hammer
If you need a pesky nail in place, you can stop scrounging around for something hard to hit it with until its head stops sticking out. Having a hammer in hand lets you not just stick nails in, but also remove them.

3. Pliers
It’s ill-advised to handle wiring without pliers, even if it’s disconnected from the power source. Even if you don’t run the risk of electrocuting yourself, scissors happen to be at cutting wires, and some wires aren’t exactly the most pliable with hands alone.

You should get at least two of these: one for cutting wires and rods (wire cutter), and one for gripping them (flat-nose or long-nose).

4. Duct Tape/Electrical Tape
Do you have exposed wires at home that could lead to potential electric or fire hazards? If you don’t, good for you. However, if it turns out that this is unavoidable, keep a few rolls of electrical tape at hand.

Be careful with electrical tape, though, as the adhesive eventually wears off when exposed to open air and heat.
A good option is duct tape. Why, you ask? The answer is simple – it’s reliable enough that Formula One pit stop crews use it on racecars to make quick repairs.

5. Hand Drill
You usually wouldn’t need a hand drill for the most part, but if you need to install a joint or a fixture, or even add screw slots in a wooden shelf, then this would certainly come in handy.

Electric drills often do the job for most things nicely, but a manual drill (reserved specifically for wood) is good as a last resort if the power goes out.

Be sure to store these tools in a dry environment, preferably a good-sized toolbox, to keep them from rusting. When kept well, you’ll never have to buy another one again.

Top 4 Phones You Can Get On a Budget

Posted by Editor in Information Technology on Aug 10th, 2018 | Comments Off

In the twenty-first century, smartphones are a must-have. That doesn’t mean we have to shell out a fortune just to get the latest models – there are plenty of good quality phones that you can get your hands on without having to burn a hole in your pocket.

Here are five models you can get on a budget right now:

1. Nokia 6
The once-iconic brand has been back in the mobile phone industry for a while now, and Nokia 6 the flagship model for their current model line-up to be released on July 10 this year.

The phone runs a stock Android interface, which many purists are sure to rejoice over. The lack of pre-installed software ensures a smoother interaction with the device. If that’s not enough, the handset also packs a Snapdragon 430 processor along with 3-4GB of RAM, which is more than capable of handling your camera and general usage.

2. Sony Xperia XA1
Released in April this year, this model is the go-to when it comes to having a minimalist phone that looks polished and high-end while still on a budget. Sony’s trademark pocket-friendly but classy design makes it easy to forget that it isn’t actually made of metal and glass.

Xperia XA1’s screen not only packs a sharp 720p resolution, but also has a really bright display with pretty good contrast and outdoor visibility if you put the backlights on full.

3. Samsung Galaxy C5 Pro
Released in May 2016, the Galaxy C5 Pro is perhaps the closest model Samsung has to an iPhone. With a polished interface thanks to the Android 6.0.1 Marshmallow, it now runs more smoothly thanks to less pre-installed bloatware.

The C5’s specs get you 4GB of RAM and can support up to 128GB of storage, which goes perfectly with the 16-megapixel front and back cameras that let you take high-definition pictures and panoramas, along with improved face detection and touch focus.

4. Nokia Lumia 635
With this phone, you can keep on enjoying the Windows Phone experience that you know and love without worrying about dropping it. Its small build is also perfect if you hate dealing with phones that are too big for your hands.
Like all flagship models, the Lumia 635 can handle 4G along with its 1.2GHz quad-core processor, which gives it an edge comparable to many high-end smartphones. Combined with its expandable memory of up to 128GB, this phone will definitely save you during those long commutes.

4 Cute and Festive Desserts for the Holidays

Posted by Editor in Holiday Season on Jul 16th, 2018 | Comments Off

The holidays are a great time to get together with friends and loved ones, and there’s nothing that brings loved ones together like decadent desserts. And what’s better than dessert, than dessert you made yourself? Whether for a huge party or an intimate get-together, here are a few simple desserts that you can make for your friends and loved ones.

1. Candy Cane Cake
Candy can cake is quick and easy, and is perfect for those who don’t want too much of fuss for holiday desserts. All you need is a box of chocolate cake, white vanilla frosting, and mints or candy canes.

Simply bake the cake according to the instructions in the box, and do the same for the vanilla frosting. Then add frosting to the cake, and decorate the cake with mints along the side to create a festive (and edible!) wonderland scene.

2. Confetti Shortbread
These festive bites go well after any dish, as small squares filled with festive green and red sprinkles. They are also good to eat on their own, or with a warm glass of milk.

To make confetti shortbread, simply mix a cup of salted butter and 2/3 cups of sugar. Then, mix in a half teaspoon almond or vanilla extract. Lower the speed of the mixer, then slowly add in 2 ¼ cups of flour. Then fold in red and green sprinkles with the mixture. After chilling for about 30 minutes, cut into squares, and bake for about ten minutes.

3. Sugar Cookies
Sugar cookies are easy go-to holiday desserts because of their ease and versatility. You could decorate these sugary desserts with icing, creating any design that you can come up with. If piping isn’t your strong suit, get help from friends (or kids early to the party) to decorate the cookies with food-safe markers.

To make these sugar cookies, first beat together 2 sticks of unsalted butter and a cup of sugar. Once the mixture turns fluffy, add three large eggs, a teaspoon of vanilla extract, and a half-teaspoon of salt. Then gradually add 3 ¼ cups of flour.

Chill the mixture for two hours, then roll out the dough and cut into shapes. After chilling for ten minutes, bake for 12 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool before decorating.

4. Candied Stars
If you’re tired of sugar cookies, these candied stars are great alternatives. These cute deserts are created by mixing candied popcorn and cinnamon candies, then shape into stars. Simply combine a cup of sugar, a cup of water, 1/3 cup of corn syrup and two tablespoons of sugar. Melt in a saucepan, and bring to a boil.

Remove the pan from heat, and stir in ¼ teaspoon of salt and 1 teaspoon vanilla, and pour quickly over 8 cups of popcorn. Quickly shape the mixture using star-shaped cookie cutters.

5 Useful Packing Tips for a Year-Long Trip

Posted by Editor in Travel Guide on Jul 16th, 2018 | Comments Off

One year is quite a long time to travel. Most of us cannot even tell where we will be in our lives in a year’s time, let alone foresee the things we will need for the entire 365 days and fit them all in a suitcase.
The key here is to pack for a long trip around the world just like any other short trip. Here are some tips on how to make it possible to pack reasonably for a year-long travel.

1. Ditch the ‘Just in Case’ Thinking
If you have travelled before, you probably have a good idea how much ‘just in case’ thinking can make you over pack. Instead of bringing extra clothes because just in case, pack clothing items that are double-duty. Bring a pair of sandals that you can wear from an afternoon tour to a nice place for dinner.

2. Skip the Heels
Well, unless you’re travelling for work, you may need a pair of office heels. But if work allows you to wear flats shoes, then a pair of black flats is a more versatile pair to bring than black heels. A pair of flat shoes and flip-flops will take you to any place around the world.

3. Bring a Couple of Scarves
Scarves are your fashion saviour when you have very limited clothing options. They can easily jazz up plain outfit, not to mention how they can disguise bad hair day, keep you warm on a chilly night and serve as bikini cover up when at the beach. You’ll be surprised how much more use you can get from a scarf over a pair of jeans.

4. Stock Up on T-Shirts
T-shirts can be dressed up or down. You can layer them scarves, cardigans and coats. They take up very little room in your suitcase and closet, they do not need ironing, and they are very cheap when your need to replace them. a well-fitted shirt, a pair khaki skinny jeans, silver bangles and slides and a bold lip will get you anywhere looking stylish.

5. Wear Your Clothes More than Once
It’s not practical to just wear your clothes once and then wash it right away. Get the most out of every piece you bring by using them at least twice before washing them. Even if you’re travelling with friends, no one will notice you’ve been wearing the same jeans three times in a row.

When packing, especially for long-term travels, you do not need to bring everything for every situation. Remember that you can always go shopping when the need for something you don’t have with you arises. Also, having a lot of free room in your luggage means more space for you to fill up with new finds.

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