The Garden Of Your Dreams Is Within Your Reach - Read On!
Gardening is a fun and interesting hobby that has the potential to improve the life of you, your family, or your business. Determine what you need so you don't spend money on equipment you do not need, or on seeds that don't work in your area.
Make sure that your sod is laid properly. You want to prepare the soil before you lay down the sod. Break the soil into fine tilth and make sure you remove any weeds as well. Compress the soil lightly yet firmly, and make certain it's flat. Water the soil until it is saturated. Lay the sod in straight rows, ensuring the seams meet perfectly. Pat down the sod and fill any gaps with soil. According to your climate, you will likely need to water the new sod daily over a period of a couple of weeks. This will insure proper root formation and establishment.
Plant a variety of annuals, biennials and perennials to keep your flower beds bright. You can use biennial and annual flowers to brighten the bed, and let you change how it looks. Use these beautiful flowers to line your driveway, surround trees and shrubs, and for decorative hanging baskets. Notable collections include sunflower, marigold, hollyhock, rudbeckia, cosmos, and petunia.
All soil is not the same. You need to check the soil to make sure it's the best for what you're planting. A soil analysis report can be acquired for a nominal fee. You can then use the results of that report to determine if the soil needs to be modified before you begin planting. Ask about this service at a local university or the county Cooperative Extension office to improve the soil and insure fruitful crops.
Whenever you are planting a veggie garden, it is vital that you place them in a location where sun shines down on them for six or more hours per day. Proper sunlight is a prerequisite for proper growth. This is true of some flowers.
One very good way to deal with weeds is to boil them away. Considering that boiling water is rather safe, you don't have to worry about toxins in your soil or at your dinner table. Pour boiling water over the weeds to kill them, but make sure not to pour the water over any plants you don't want to kill. Boiling water damages the weed roots and will inhibit future growth.
All that is required is a little research, patience, and putting in some work time out in the garden itself. Once you look upon your amazing garden, you'll realize that the work has paid off!
Insider Secrets Of Hydrovac Services Unveiled
For years, excavation jobs have been certain to cause a nuisance, particularly in highly inhabited communities. This is an very tough task and it may take a lot of time before it is accomplished, but it became easier through Hydrovac. This is the most recent strategy to remove the soil from the ground and it is using high pressure water to soften the soil while it's being sucked by a powerful vacuum. This strategy will offer a wide range of benefits to the community so the laborers usually prefer this approach. Here are a few things that you need to know about the different advantages of hydro excavation.
To find out more on the subject of hydrovac excavation; visit here http://en.gravatar.com/hydrovacedmonton.
Hydro excavation eliminates the potential risks of hitting underground utilities like pipe lines or water main. This is actually the typical problem that lots of professionals are experiencing throughout the excavation process.
Hitting an underground utility may impact the daily routines of the people residing near the excavation site. If you're using excavators or any other excavating materials, there is a chance that these pipe lines will be hit.
You are only utilizing water and vacuum to excavate the soil so this strategy is very helpful. It implies that even if you could find pipes or water main in the soil, it'll not be ruined.
Everyone knows that conventional strategies may take a lot of time before it is completed and this is definitely inevitable. This can be a good option if you're planning to dig in a highly populated location since you can finish the work in just a few hours. If you could finish your job faster, you may also reduce the disruption in the neighborhood so this is definitely a more sensible choice.
You could expect that hydro excavation will be advantageous to all the folks who are living close to the excavation location because they can continue their routines without delay.
Hydro excavation can also be identified as a non destructive approach so most laborers prefer this. The landscape will not be totally damaged when compared with traditional digging tools. You can even restore the excavation location in a few hours because the landscape is not damaged completely. This is advantageous for all the people who are currently residing within the site because mishaps can be prevented. The soil will be removed and they will be transferred.
Hydrovac is the explanation why excavation has become much easier these days and it's the main reason why these projects are being finished quicker. This is going to be the future of excavation and these benefits will tell this to you.
Profitable renovations: in a plunging housing market, renovations can make the difference between getting a great sale price or no offers at all.
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IN MANY WAYS THE HOUSING MARKET RESEMbles a high-stakes poker game. For the last few years, people across the country have been snapping up big, unaffordable mortgages, putting their financial security on the line. Now more cards have turned over--falling prices, evaporating equity, resetting interest rates--and it's time to make a final, momentous decision: Call, raise, or fold?
If your heart is thumping over these economic conditions, you're not alone. For most American families, their home is their single greatest investment. But if things seem dire, you still have an ace in the hole. Smart, targeted renovation projects can help you sell your home quickly and for a higher price.
"Some markets, like Miami, now have several years' worth of [condo] inventory on the market," notes Mark Foreman, vice president of the National Association of Realtors and owner of Cornerstone Capital Mortgage and Real Estate in Fairfield, Connecticut. "So when you have more choices as a buyer, you're obviously going to look for a house that's in the best condition"
Before we get to the good news--including four projects that could rev up your home's value--here's the bad. In March, national home prices were down 7.7% from a year ago, according to the National Association of Realtors. What's more, existing home sales were down 19.3% over the same time period, and recently the inventory of unsold homes reached 10 months, the largest overhang since October 1981.
In light of these statistics, smart, economical home renovations could be a crucial strategy for home sellers. Spending money on low-return projects or whims that are out of sync with your neighborhood is the same as tossing cash out of a window. On the following pages, we'll review the most economical ways to allocate your dollars, cover legal bases, and avoid renovation nightmares. And since all real estate is local, we reveal how to tailor home improvement efforts to meet buyer expectations in any market.
By doing things right, you may be as successful as Donald and Christine Harvey. The Fairfax, Virginia, couple--she's a stay-at-home mom to 6-year-old Michael, and he's a vice president with a large staffing firm--loved their location but weren't crazy about the builder's grade fixtures in the home they bought for $525,000 in 1999. So at the end of 2005, they gutted the place and created their dream home. Today, the Harveys live in a five-bedroom, 6,500-square-foot French country-inspired manse complete with a saltwater aquarium and top-of-the-line kitchen.
The national housing market is still a risky business and will probably stay that way for a while. But the Harveys proved that through proper planning you can renovate your home to your specifications and increase its value. They created a luxurious villa that they plan to enjoy for another 10 to 15 years. "Every time we come back to the house, we go 'Aaahh,'" says Christine, smiling. "We just never tire of it."
DON'T RENOVATE YOUR WAY INTO THE POORHOUSE
In economics, it's called the law of diminishing returns: The more you put into a project, the less you get back. While every home and community are unique, it's a sound principle to keep in mind when it comes to home improvement. "The important thing is for the consumer to make sure they don't over-improve for their area," says NAR'S Foreman, because buyers compare sales of other homes in the neighborhood to determine a property's fair value.
It's usually a better investment to own the least expensive home in a great community than the priciest. "You never want to have the most expensive house around, a $2 million home in a $1 million neighborhood," says Foreman.
So what should you do? Target your renovations to meet local expectations. Some buyers might expect hardwood floors, but you don't need to buy wide-plank Brazilian cherrywood. Imported Italian granite in the kitchen is lovely, but it might be overkill if a decent acrylic surface countertop would do the trick
Spending no more than 25% to 30% of your home's value on renovations is a rule of thumb, according to John Frazier St., owner of John E Design and Remodel in Portland, Oregon. That means that a tricked-out, $250,000 kitchen may make sense in a $900,000-plus home since it would likely push the selling price into the million-dollar range. But "you never want to put a $250,000 kitchen in a $100,000 house," advises Tamara Ruffin-Walker, a senior associate vice president with Bethesda, Maryland-based Case Design/Remodeling Inc., the nation's largest fullservice remodeling firm with franchises nationwide. "You should keep with the style and scale of other homes in the neighborhood."
For the Harveys, who hired Case to redo their home, their expenses were quite high at more than $600,000, but considering that the home has since been appraised at a cool $1.5 million, the costs were not outrageous. Moreover, the couple didn't renovate just to flip the property; they wanted to create the ideal setting in which to raise their son. "Don't price yourself right out of the market," advises Christine. "We're now at the high end of the neighborhood, but we did it with the long-term in mind, knowing we're not going to move for a while."
To determine a reasonable renovation budget, figure out how much equity you have in your house. If you've been living there long enough to build up significant equity, you'll have more leeway. On the other hand, if you've been in your home only a couple of years and taken out 90% or even 100% financing, you won't have enough equity to work with and will likely need to scale back your plans.
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To-Do List: Four smart renovations
So you've lined up your finances and now you're ready to renovate. Where do you begin? Real estate experts say the following four areas bring enjoyment, increase property values, and get potential buyers to sign on the dotted line.
Curb appeal When picky buyers drive up to your open house and don't like what they see, they keep moving--especially in these times, when it's a buyer's market. "We're now seeing a lot of renovation shift to the exterior: new siding, new windows, new landscaping," says Foreman. "After all, that's your first impression," Indeed, unsexy projects such as siding replacement can recoup up to 88% of the costs upon resale; window replacements recoup up to 81%, according to Remodeling magazine's annual Cost vs. Value Report. And landscape design can power up your home's value by as much as 12%, according to the American Society of Landscape Architects.
Kitchens This part of the home is the perennial champion of home renovations. Even bargain hunters now feel entitled to an island, granite counters, and stainless steel appliances. "That's the big one," says Leonard Woods, a board certified consumer/commercial law specialist with Austin, Texas-based Davis Wilkerson, a law firm that has represented scores of remodelers and homeowners over the years. "All buyers I've ever met imagine themselves in that space most of all." The kitchen's importance is born out in the analysis contained in the Cost vs. Value Report: You'll recoup 83% of the cost of even a minor kitchen renovation.
Bathrooms In our busy, complex world, buyers want to come home and relax in a spa--or something close to it. That's why you might want to take your vintage bathroom up a few notches and create a personal sanctuary. A bathroom redo, according to the Cost vs. Value Report, will recoup 78% of the costs, but it might mean paying for pricey touches such as jetted tubs, double sinks, and large imported tiles. Bathroom improvements require a lot of time and resources, so do them a few years before you plan to sell; that way you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.
Maximizing existing space By extending a home's living quarters outdoors, you'll recoup 85% of your expenses, according to the Cost vs. Value Report, especially in Southern and Southwestern locales. For example, you might build a deck on a portion of empty backyard. "In warmer climates like Austin's, people enjoy their outdoor dining and entertainment areas 11 months out of the year," says Woods. Transforming an old basement into an entertainment room, in-law suite, or play area for the kids not only ramps up useable space, it can often seal the deal for many potential buyers.
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Don'ts: Four projects to avoid
As the adage goes, all real estate is local. And every renovation project is individual. You may love the pricey home theater with cinema-style seating and wall-sized flat screen, but a potential buyer might want to take a sledgehammer to it. With that in mind, the following projects might not be worth your time or money--and might even turn buyers off.
Swimming pools Only undertake this project if your family is passionate about swimming, because many buyers will cross a home with a swimming pool off their list, sight unseen. Why? Safety. As the authors of the best-selling book Freakonomics (William Morrow; $27.95) cited, a loaded gun in a house poses less danger to a child than a backyard swimming pool. A child is far more likely to die in a pool. In addition, ongoing pool-related construction can jack up costs beyond what you've budgeted.
Unwanted additions You may think that adding a sunroom will make your house irresistible to buyers, but the numbers don't lie. According to the Cost vs. Value Report, sunrooms often recoup the lowest percentage of dollars compared with any other renovation project--not even 60% of the expense. Thinking of a master suite or garage addition? You'll only recoup 64%. "Expanding the footprint" doesn't necessarily do a whole lot for the value of your home, says Foreman. By simply finishing a basement or attic you can often achieve the same results of increasing useable space without having to knock down walls and spend thousands of dollars.
Formal living and dining rooms They may look pretty, but people hardly use them anymore. Today's trends are all about casual living: great rooms where open spaces flow into each other, or outdoor patios where guests dine by a barbecue pit.
Home offices If you need an expansive office for your home-based business, by all means design one. But don't think the space will provide you with a gusher of cash if you sell your house. The Cost vs. Value Report singles out home office renovations as one of the most lackluster projects, recouping only 57% of expenses. Instead, think about marketing that space as an additional bedroom. Four-bedroom homes naturally fetch higher prices from growing families.
--Chris Taylor
A prenup for the home
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Think of a home improvement job as the beginning of a marriage, full of dreams and optimism. But unfortunately, with remodeling, as with marital bliss, sometimes it all ends up in court. "On the front end, everyone is 'in love' and willing to agree," says Leonard Woods, an Austin-based attorney. "Once there are problems and the 'divorce' starts, no one will agree to anything."
That's why you need to conduct due diligence up front. Think of it as a remodeling prenup. Here are a few tips about how to protect yourself in case a home renovation goes sour:
Do your homework. Check out your prospective contractor with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org), and investigate whether the company has received complaints from past customers, "A lot of people get scammed" by fly-by-night operations, says Case's Ruffin-Walker. Also, beware of rip-off artists who knock on your door and ask to inspect your roof or repair your driveway.
Get everything in writing. Every detail of the job should be spelled out in an ironclad contract. If not, legal disputes may arise, Don't try to draw up the contract yourself. You'll find that it's worth the expense of hiring an attorney who specializes in commercial litigation or consumer law. Contact your local bar association for referrals.
Check up on insurance coverage. Make sure any crew working on your property is fully insured. They should have a general liability policy and a workers' compensation policy, Remember, if a worker steps on a nail or suffers any other type of injury on your property, you'll be liable if the contractor isn't adequately protected. Obtain a completion bond. What happens if your contractor builds a backyard gazebo and it promptly collapses? The firm's insurance policies might not even cover such an incident. Obtaining a completion bond ensures that all work will be done according to specifications.
Expect the unexpected. Experts say you should expect construction costs to exceed, at a minimum, 25% of the budget. Also, factor in unpredictable elements, like uncooperative weather and material shipment delays, which can push back your ideal schedule.
Websites to ease the renovation process
It seems that everyone In the U.S. has either been through a home-remodeling nightmare or knows someone who has To help maximize your chances of avoiding one, visit the following Websites:
Consumer Advocate Jody Costello; You might come across some bad apples in the remodeling field (as in any industry). If you do, Costello's site will help you review your rights, find an attorney, and get out of a remodeling fiasco with minimal damage to your home and finances. www.contractorsfromhell.com
National Association of Home Builders: Primarily for those building a home from scratch, this site is chock-full of information on the building process. Click on "Resources" then "For consumers" for a terrific soup-to-nuts guide. www.nahb.org
National Association of the Remodeling industry: A great resource for finding qualified contractors, this site also offers consumer-friendly tips. For example, an insurance certificate isn't enough because it doesn't tell you whether the policy is still current. www.nari.org
Remodeling magazine: Not only does this site tell you if your planned renovation will recoup much of your costs, it breaks down numbers by nine different regions in the country. www.costvsvalue.com
COPYRIGHT 2008 Earl G. Graves Publishing Co., Inc.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2008 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
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How tough is pergo flooring?
Pergo flooring is a laminate flooring and can be susceptible to cuts and scratches if you draw large objects over it. It is also susceptible to water damage if you do not dry it thoroughly. However, with normal use and proper care, it is a fairly durable floor.
References:
pergo:Install_Essentials_Guide
http://www.answerbag.com/q_view/2285526
Tips For Growing Celery In Your Home Vegetable Garden by Michael Podlesny
By itself, I believe celery is very bland and tasteless, but throw some peanut butter on it and all of a sudden you get a crispy, crunchy, healthy snack. Celery is so versatile because it can be added to a variety of dishes, such as soups and salads, to actually add flavor.
Celery has been dated as far back as 30 A.D. where it was written that celery seeds were used as a means to relive pain. More recent studies show that celery contains a compound called 3-N-butyl-phtalide that has shown to reduce blood pressure in rats, so maybe back in 30 A.D. they were on to something.
Beyond all the background and scientific data on celery you will find it most interesting if you enjoy vegetable gardening like I do, that growing celery is easier than you think. If you are going to give celery a try in your next growing season, here are some tips to help you out.
As always, start with an excellent foundation and that is your soil. Make sure your soil is in the 6.0 to 7.0 pH range. That makes it neutral to slightly acidic. You can test your soil's pH level with a $4 home testing kit available from any home or garden center.
Always start your seeds indoors. They will have a better chance for survival and once they have germinated they will more easily adapt to the environment in which you are going to move them to. You can start them indoors as early as 10 weeks prior to the final frost of the season in your area.
When you do plant your seeds indoors, because celery seeds are very tiny, you can just slightly cover them with soil with very little soil. Do not bury them deep as they are not large enough to produce enough energy to break through large amounts of dirt.
You are ready to move them outdoors when day time temperatures remain steady above 70 degrees Fahrenheit and night time temperatures do not dip below 60 degrees. Should temperatures fall below 60 make sure you cover them to protect your celery from the elements.
Space your celery plants out at least eight inches to give them plenty of room to grow and thrive. A weekly heavy watering schedule combined with adding a fresh supply of compost to ensure they receive the high amounts of nitrogen, potassium and phosphorous they need should do the trick.
Celery makes for a great companion to plant to nearly all vegetables. However in a plant rotation avoid following members of the cabbage or lettuce family.
As you can see adding celery to your home vegetable garden is not that difficult of a task. Just follow these tips and suggestions and you can be adding fresh celery from your garden to your next plate of Buffalo wings.
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_4743.shtml
Netanyahu apologises to Arab Israelis over remarks
Netanyahu apologises to Arab Israelis over remarks - The Hindu
TOPICS
World
Israel
politics
politics (general)
But Arab politicians are not impressed with "deceitful" apology.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday apologised to Arab Israelis in a bid to walk back a controversial comment he made at the height of last week's parliament election.
Just a few hours before polling stations were to close across Israel, he had said the Arab Israelis are being bussed "in droves" by left-wing organisations in order to topple his government.
In a statement, Mr. Netanyahu apologised to members of the Arab community in an apparent attempt to heal rifts and quell criticism from home and abroad, Xinhua reported. His election day statement garnered harsh criticism from within Israel and abroad, from centre-left politicians, from the Israeli president, as well as the White House.
"I know that what I said a few days ago offended some of Israel's citizens, offended Israeli Arabs. I had no intention in doing so, I am sorry for this," Mr. Netanyahu said in the statement. "My actions as Prime Minister, including major investments in the minorities sector, prove the complete opposite. I also think no element outside the state of Israel should interfere in our democratic process," Mr. Netanyahu added, referring to his claims that Europe and foreign bodies funded left-wing organizations in order to topple his regime. He did not offer prove for these claims.
"I view myself as Prime Minister of each and every one of you, all Israeli citizens, regardless of religion, race and gender," Netanyahu said. However, Arab politicians were not impressed by Netanyahu's apology. Leader of the Joint List, Aymen Odeh, wrote on his Facebook page that Netanyahu's apology is "deceitful."
"As long as Netanyahu promotes racist legislation and does not promote real equality, his apology is not accepted or credible in any way," Mr. Odeh said. Members of the Arab Joint List also turned to Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein last week, following the controversial remark, in order to try Mr. Netanyahu for his comments.
According to the final election results, the Zionist Union list got 24 seats, and will serve in the opposition in the next parliament. Netanyahu is tasked with forming the next Israeli government, after 67 members of parliament recommended him to the president as the candidate with the best options of establishing a government.
Keywords: Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Arab Israelis
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Gardening :: Making Compost is Easy
We love composting. It reduces the waste we send to landfills, teaches our boys about green living, and provides nutrient rich matter for our backyard garden. Here's a simple recipe for making your own compost right in your backyard. Step 1 talks about location and container features. Step 2 covers the ingredients to add and those to avoid. Step 3 addresses mixing, watering, and time. Are you ready to get started?
The first thing you'll want to do is find a good location and build or acquire a means of containing your compost. The compost needs to get hot and needs air flow for ventilation, so a sunny, open location seems right. However too much sun and too much wind can dry out the compost which will slow the decomposition process. Find a warm protected area with partial sun. If you have neighbors nearby, you may want to consider that as well!
You will need a means of containing the compost matter. This will reduce its footprint in your yard, aid the decomposition process, and limit matter being blown out of the pile and littering your yard. Size depends on how much you want to compost and how much space you have. Compost piles can be built in four foot square fenced areas with the compost getting as much as four foot high. Don't exceed six foot in height or the weight will compress the compost and hinder decomposition. An area this big can be built with wire fencing, wood pallets, or even hay bales. Most of us don't need such a large area nor do we have the back yard space to spare for it. But if you are building your own area, shoot for at least three foot by three foot. Optimal decomposition requires three cubic feet of matter. There are number of commercially available compost containment options available for those of you that don't want to build your own or for those looking to compost smaller amounts of material.
Now that you have decided on a location and acquired a means of containing your compost, you are ready to start adding material. You'll want to add about two thirds dry or brown material and one third green or moist material. Dry materials include leaves, newspaper, and wood chips or saw dust. Shred the material first to aid in decomposition. Green matter is made up of grass clippings and kitchen waste, like fruit and vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, eggshells and nutshells. You can grind kitchen waste to help the composting process. Avoid materials that cause odors, attract pests, or promote disease. These include meat, fish, poultry, dairy products, pet feces, weeds that have gone to seed, and diseased plants. Layer the material in your pile, starting with approximately four inches of dry matter and adding roughly two inches of green matter. Continue layering until you are out of material or the compost container is full. Once your compost pile is full, you should avoid adding new material. It is best to start a new pile for the fresh material.
The last step is proper maintenance. The organic matter will decompose naturally in about a year, but proper maintenance, including mixing frequently and managing moisture levels, will cut the processing time significantly and reduce odors. Mixing or turning the compost can be done with a pitchfork. This provides oxygen that is necessary for decomposition. You should mix our turn your compost once or twice a week for faster results. Odors indicate more frequent mixing is necessary. The pile should remain damp, about the moistness of a squeezed sponge, so occasional watering may be necessary in dry conditions. Covering the pile with black plastic or using an enclosed container will reduce moisture loss and, as an added benefit, it will reduce rainwater from leaching out valuable nutrients.
Time takes care of the rest. In one to three months, you should have a dark brown, crumbly product that has an earthy odor. Now that you know how easy composting can be, you should get started today.
http://www.articlebiz.com/article/1051626772-1-making-compost-is-easy/
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Pamela Anderson's Son Brandon Is All Grown Up
Pamela Anderson brought her son, Brandon Thomas Lee, as her date to the premiere of "The Gunman" in Los Angeles Thursday. Anderson donned a plunging gold wrap dress and rocked a bob hairstyle for the event at Regal Cinemas L.A. Live. Brandon, her 18-year-old son with ex-husband Tommy Lee, wore an...
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The Beauty and Efficiency of Wood Fencing
Any home will need an elegant compound or fencing to ensure privacy and safety. Wood fencing gives a touch of style and character to your home and makes it stand apart from the rest of the community. Wood fencing looks beautiful and can be maintained and looked after to ensure long life. Wooden fencing with strong wooden planks not only offers you good security, they can also block your private space from public view and thus give you the privacy required.
Urban home as well as farm homes use wood fencing not only as the main boundary wall, but also to cordon off their swimming pool and children's play areas. Wood fencing gives you total privacy and helps you keep your toddlers and dogs from wandering away.
When you are planning to go in for wood fencing, make it a point to go through various catalogues which will give you a wide variety of products and designs to choose from. Picket fences are by far the most popular style which goes well with both cottages and mansions, be it in urban city or by the woods. Farms and ranches will find split trail fencing style making a good style statement on their prope
rty. Wood fencing is something that you can enjoy installing by yourself. Besides you can also pain the wood fencing with colours of your choice. A bright coloured wood fencing always gives a bright and sparkling look to your home. If you do not want a bold look, go in for natural look wood fencing. Unpainted wood fencing gives a natural look and feel and blends with the entire environment.
Timber is used not only for building houses and cottages but for fencing as well. Most favourite wood for wood fencing happens to be red cedar wood or pine wood which is pressure treated. Pine is grown especially for the building industry and is economical. Red cedar may be a little expensive but long lasting and good looking. Wood fencing requires a good skilled worker to install the fencing and the installation should be strong and sturdy to withstand the wind and rains. Fencing should be periodically painted and varnished so that it does not attract termites, ants and other insects.
For those of you who are ready for a little bit of hard work and adventure, you may want to buy the wooden planks and make your own pickets and do the fencing with your family members pitching in to help. This will give you a free hand to design on your own and you can choose the style as you like it and paint it the way you like. Any piece of wood fencing if done personally will stand out and give your home that unique personal touch.
While you choose the wood fencing for your home, make sure that you look for Eco Friendly wood which is bio degradable. You will not only contribute to saving the environment, the fencing wood can be recycled and reused as garden mulch.
http://www.infobarrel.com/The_Beauty_and_Efficiency_of_Wood_Fencing
The joy of backyard farming.
* Sunset's article (April, page 48) about keeping backyard chickens and the joys of fresh eggs inspired me! Many of our neighbors also have backyard hens. I now have five lovely ladies who have just begun laying perfect, tiny, brown-speckled eggs each day. My children scamper around the yard looking for eggs daily, and the hens have added a lot of entertainment to our lives. Each one has a unique personality. They are named in honor of recent first ladies.
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--ANNE VALLERGA, ST. HELENA, CA
* I can't tell you how pleased my husband and I are with the September issue. Your articles now contain relevant, useful info for those of us trying to grow as much of our own produce as possible, or at least buy organic and local. We are considering getting some chickens, and this fall, my husband is going to build a portable greenhouse to fit over a couple of our raised beds to extend our growing season. We hope you will continue to write about the wonderful people in our region who are trying to save/change the world, one backyard garden and one greed-less renovation project at a time.
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--HELENE HARRISON, VICTORIA, B.C.
* Please send your comments to readerletters@sunset.com, and post a comment on our blogs or sign up for our email newsletter at Sunset.com
COPYRIGHT 2009 Sunset Publishing Corp.
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.
Copyright 2009 Gale, Cengage Learning. All rights reserved.
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+joy+of+backyard+farming.-a0211453726
Home Improvement :: Build a Simple Deck
I can't promise you a beachfront view, but I know you'll enjoy relaxing on this simple deck wherever you choose to build it. Since it's at ground level, you don't have to fuss with challenging railings or footings. All you need are basic carpentry tools and a relatively flat area in your yard or garden. The foundation is nothing more than 4x6 treated timbers buried in the soil, with decorative joists and construction-grade cedar decking and a bench. Follow the instructions for detailed measurements and building techniques.
Materials List:
(2) 4x6x12' Treated Timbers
(9) 2x6x10' Cedar Joists
(2) 2x6x10' Cedar for Blocking
(1) 2x12x10' Cedar Bench Supports
(2) 2X6X10' Cedar Bench Tops
(22) 2x6x12' Cedar Decking
(32) Metal Corner Brackets
3 lbs. Galv. Joist Hanger Nails
2 lbs. No. 8 Galv. Box Nails
10 lbs. 16d Galv. Casing Nails
1 lb. 3-in. Galv. Deck Screws
Tool List:
Shovel,
Square,
Tape Measure,
Level,
Compass,
Chalk Line,
Jigsaw,
Hammer,
Circular Saw,
Hearing and Eye Protection,
Gloves
1.) Dig the 4x6 timbers into the soil, leaving about 1-1/2 in. of the top exposed. The timbers must be parallel and the diagonal measurements must be equal.
2.) Cut each treated 2x6 joist to 10 ft. Cut a decorative curve on each end before installing them onto the 4x6 treated timbers.
3.) Lay out the joist spacing so the joists are on 16-in. centers. Cut the blocks to fit between the joists. The first set of blocks (one on each side) will be 13-1/4 in., while the remainder will be 14-1/2 in. long. Toenail each joist to the timber. Be sure the ends of all the joists align with each other as you toenail them in place.
4.) Nail your steel corner brackets to the joists and each block between with 1-1/4 in. galvanized joist hanger nails. The blocks add stability and give the deck a finished look.
5.) Start nailing the 2x6 decking from one side, leaving a 1-1/2 in. overhang. Keep the decking straight and use a 16d galvanized nail as a spacer. Depending on the spacing, you may need to rip the last piece of decking to maintain the 1-1/2 in. overhang. Once the decking is nailed, crosscut the lengths, leaving a 1-1/2 in. overhang. Be sure to use a chalk line to establish a straight guideline before cutting.
6.) Cut the bench supports from 2x12 lumber. Notch the decking to accept the bench supports. Be sure to toenail the backside of the seat support to the decking for added stability. Be sure the supports are square to the deck surface, then screw the 2x6 bench tops to the supports with 3-in. galvanized screws.
Now it's time to relax and enjoy your new deck.
http://www.articlebiz.com/article/406648-1-build-a-simple-deck/
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After 20 years as a stylist for photographers, I was ready to start a business that would let me evolve my own fashion and consulting style. More than anything, I wanted to share my passion for fashion, and watch as my clients discovered the transformative power of a knock-out look.
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