From the category archives:

Outdoors

Although cleaning a fishpond is a dirty job, you have to do it to maintain your pond and keep the residents happy and healthy. It can be once a year for the minimum care that you need for a complete cleaning for most of the fishponds. The most suitable and great time for cleaning your [...]

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  1. Koi Pond – Angling And Rounding The Corners
  2. Maintaining Your Swimming Pool
  3. Keeping your concrete clean
  4. Why do you need a Salt Water Pool
  5. Designing & Planning a Koi Pond

Constructing a Rusty Iron Fence

by Mike on March 18, 2010

A rusty iron fence not only gives an antique look to your garden, it also provides space for your creeper plants to grow. Constructing a rusty iron fence is dangerous and thus, remember to put on gardening gloves (not rubber gloves) before you handle them. It can also prove to be quite hard, especially if [...]

Related posts:

  1. Constructing a bamboo cane fence
  2. Constructing a Brick Fence
  3. Constructing a Bottle Fence
  4. Building a Gate for a Wooden Fence
  5. Building a cheap fence

Constructing a Brick Fence

by Mike on March 14, 2010

Brick fences can be considered the most secure fence as it is permanent and offers complete privacy. Not only that, they can also act as noise barriers if your house faces a busy road. However, it is very hard to construct and might require professional skills. The simplest brick fence that you can construct yourself [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building a Brick Wall
  2. Constructing a Rusty Iron Fence
  3. Constructing a Bottle Fence
  4. Constructing a bamboo cane fence
  5. Building Brick Columns

Constructing a bamboo cane fence

by Mike on March 14, 2010

Bamboo cane fences are a cheaper, sturdy, environmentally friendly alternative to wood or barbed wire fences that provide a more natural look to your garden. They offer as much privacy and protection from intruders as its tips might be sharpened to prevent unwanted visitors from climbing over or under the fence. Constructing a bamboo cane [...]

Related posts:

  1. Constructing a Rusty Iron Fence
  2. Constructing a Bottle Fence
  3. Constructing a Brick Fence
  4. Building a cheap fence
  5. Why do you need a solar electric fence

Building a cob home

by Mike on February 22, 2010

Cob home is structure-made from a material called cob. It is one of the oldest methods of building low cost homes. The principal construction materials are all environmental-friendly and organic which makes it a good thing in common with rammed-earth homes or adobes. A cob house is basically made from a mixture of clay, sand [...]

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  1. How to expect the unexpected when building a home
  2. Planning Your Budget For Home Building
  3. Building an earthbag home
  4. Steps before building a new home
  5. Building a Brick Wall

Building a wall block using concrete

by Mike on January 12, 2010

Some times when you think you can build a wall block by yourself, think again because it is better to do it with the help of friends rather than doing it alone. It looks like a simple task to work on but two heads are better than one. In order to make a wall block, [...]

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  1. Building a Brick Wall
  2. Koi Pond – Concrete block filter units
  3. Building Brick Columns
  4. Designing a Brick Wall
  5. Building something using concrete

Building a gate for your porch

by Mike on January 11, 2010

The way to preserve your porch and keeping the stray animals or unwanted people out from your home area is by building a fence (something like a protection). That said, it is also known that in good nature without a gate, the fence will be inconvenient and unusable. If you want to increase the entire [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building a Wooden Driveway Gate
  2. Building a gate for your own driveway at home
  3. Building a Driveway Gate
  4. Making Driveway Gates
  5. Installing a Sliding Fence Gate

Covering your patio

by Mike on December 27, 2009

A patio is where you extend the front portion of your house usually up to 12 feet long and it is single storied. The patio can be fully covered on top of it or without a cover. In order to built a patio, you need to have a lot of patience, know the correct dimension [...]

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  1. Laying a Brick Paver Patio
  2. Building a wood patio deck
  3. Covering up a hole in your wall
  4. Installing solar patio lights
  5. Building a gate for your porch

Protecting your plants in Winter

by Mike on December 26, 2009

The snow covering your garden maybe is a nice view to look at during the winter but as the temperature drops, the snow, frost and waterlogged soil will become major killers of most of the tender plants or dormant plants. The protections that you need to give to your plants definitely depend on the weather [...]

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  1. Growing plug plants
  2. Planning Your Winter Flower Garden
  3. Keeping a Garden Journal and Labeling Your Plants
  4. 10 Must-Grow Plants for the Self-Sustainable Garden
  5. Killing weed plants easily

Laying a Brick Paver Patio

by Mike on August 16, 2009

A brick paver patio is a great accent to include in your yard and adds to the aesthetic value to your home. Before you can begin the actual breaking ground on a paver patio, you need a design. The design of your patio must reflect and compliment the overall look to you home, not one [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building elegant brick edging for your landscape
  2. Constructing a Brick Fence
  3. Building Brick Columns
  4. Building a Brick Wall
  5. Designing a Brick Wall

Constructing a Storage Bench

by Mike on August 16, 2009

A storage bench can be built easily and will be a useful feature in your home not only providing you with a simple spot to rest but also some storage place where you can place items in and away from view. A entry room, garden or courtyard bench seat can be constructed in the most [...]

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  1. Installing Ceramic Tile Countertops
  2. Building your own storage shelf
  3. Building A Deck Table
  4. Constructing a Brick Fence
  5. New Cabinets

Building an Outdoor Kitchen

by Mike on August 16, 2009

An outdoor kitchen is a great addition to your home and provides you with an alternative space in your home to entertain your guests. It invokes a casual and relaxed atmosphere that is such as welcome retreat after a hassling week at work on a Friday evening with friends and family. Getting a Permit Before [...]

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  1. Building a Green house
  2. Building an Outdoor Hydroponics Garden
  3. Choosing Your Building Site
  4. Remodeling A Kitchen
  5. Kitchen Remodeling

Building a Smoke House

by Mike on August 16, 2009

A smoke house is traditionally used to prepare and cure meats long before refrigeration was invented. A smokehouse creates flavorful meats and the different types of wood chips used for smoking creates particular flavors. A smokehouse can be built from cinder blocks. Things to Consider When Building a Smokehouse Permits Before starting your project of [...]

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  1. Building a deck for your house
  2. Removing smoke odor out of your clothes
  3. Building a Green house
  4. Different types of smokehouses
  5. Installing Deck Stairs

Building A Pergola

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Pergolas are outdoor structures that can be stand alone units or structure attached to the sides of the house that provide semi-protection from the elements. You can even add climbing plants or vines that will provide shade. Before you start building your own pergola, check with the local building authority if you need any building [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building a deck for your house
  2. Building a wood patio deck
  3. Deck – Post and Girders
  4. Deck Installing the Outer Joists
  5. Installing your own home’s Fencing

Re-staining Your Deck

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Exposed to weather, and usage, your new deck will one day look worn and tired. You will need to maintain it by regularly making sure that the area is clean, as well as stain it to upkeep the luster of the wood . Below list some steps on how to re-stain your deck. Prepping the [...]

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  1. Staining your deck
  2. Waterproofing Your Deck
  3. Deck – Railings
  4. Building a deck for your house
  5. Building A Deck Table

Installing Deck Stairs

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Steps can be built in a number of different ways depending on aesthetic preference, but most municipalities have specific codes that must be taken into consideration. Some terminology that you may encounter when planning and building your deck stairs are as follows: Vertical Rise : Distance between 2 steps which is usually 6 – 7 [...]

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  1. Building Steps for your Deck
  2. Building a wood patio deck
  3. Building A Deck Table
  4. Installing the Deck Boards
  5. Deck – Installing a Ledger

Waterproofing Your Deck

by Tom on June 7, 2009

There is one final step that many builders take before completing the deck. To protect the wood and extend the life of the deck, you will need to coat the deck with water-repellent sealer. This will prevent rotting due to exposure to moisture, AND prevent the costly effect of needing to repair your deck. Also [...]

Related posts:

  1. Building A Deck Table
  2. Staining your deck
  3. Installing the Deck Boards
  4. Re-staining Your Deck
  5. Deck – Railings

Deck – Railings

by Tom on June 7, 2009

There are several types of railings that you can choose from when building a deck. Just remember that there are certain local codes that you may have to adhere to, and this applies to railings. Check with the local building authority about the types that you can and can not use when you are planning [...]

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  1. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  2. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  3. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  4. Installing the Deck Boards
  5. Deck – Post and Girders

Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Making sure the outer edge are flushed As you apply the last few deck boards, you will need to make sure that the outer edges of the deck boards are exactly flush with the ends of the joists. After the second to last course is in place, measure to the ends of the joists. This [...]

Related posts:

  1. Installing the Deck Boards
  2. Deck – Layout Joist
  3. Deck – Railings
  4. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  5. Deck – Installing a Ledger

Installing the Deck Boards

by Tom on June 7, 2009

This part is where you will start seeing all your hard work and preparation come to fruition. Before you install the deck boards, make sure you plan and layout the boards properly. Look at each piece and try to put the most attractive pieces in the high-visibility areas. Also, look at each side of each [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  2. Deck – Layout Joist
  3. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  4. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  5. Deck Installing the Outer Joists

Deck – Layout Joist

by Tom on June 7, 2009

You need to layout your joist, by marking layout marks on the ledger and girders that show which joist will be located. Joists are located “on-center” distance, where their centers occur exactly every 16”, 24”, or 32”. The distance between joists depends on several important factors: 1. Size of the joists 2. Spacing of the [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  2. Deck – Post and Girders
  3. Installing the Deck Boards
  4. Deck Installing the Outer Joists
  5. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology

Deck – Post and Girders

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Post and Girders You can install the girders in two ways: If the posts and girders are not too long or heavy, you can pre-build the girders/post system, bolt or nail the entire thing together, and then move it as one large piece into place. The other way is to build it piece by piece [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck Installing the Outer Joists
  2. Deck – Layout Joist
  3. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  4. Installing the Deck Boards
  5. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints

Deck Installing the Outer Joists

by Tom on June 7, 2009

Once you’ve installed the ledger, you can now install the outermost joists at the either end of the ledger. The outer joists should cover the exposed end of the ledger. Have someone support the furthest end of the joist in a more of less level position and nail the joist into the ledger using 3 [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Post and Girders
  2. Deck – Layout Joist
  3. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  4. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  5. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology

Deck – Installing a Ledger

by Tom on June 7, 2009

A ledger is used when you are attaching a deck to your existing home. This board is bolted to the house, and the deck is hung on it. If a freestanding deck (not attached to the house) is being constructed, then you do not use a ledger. What you need is to add more bracing [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Tools, Material and Terminology
  2. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  3. Building a deck for your house
  4. Deck – Layout Joist
  5. Deck Installing the Outer Joists

Materials: • 2 x 6 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 2 x 2 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 2 x 8 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 2 x 12 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 2 x 8 boards (pressure-treated pine) • 4 x 4 posts (pressure-treated pine) • 6 x 6 posts (pressure-treated pine) • Carriage bolts and nuts [...]

Related posts:

  1. Deck – Cutting Ends and band joints
  2. Deck – Installing a Ledger
  3. Installing the Deck Boards
  4. Deck – Railings
  5. Building A Deck Table
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