BY HOME AND GARDEN Saving Walls From the Weed Eater Monster
Did you ever notice that when you weed eat around your home that the weed eater leaves scores in the bottom of the walls, particularly if you have stucco? You can prevent this from happening, and create a decorative border for your home at the same time. There are quite a few ways to prevent weeds and grass from growing against the side of your home.
METHOD 1: Use square pavers against the side of your home. Mark off an area the same width of the pavers against the house. Using an edger, edge along the marking. Apply weed killer to the area between the wall and the line made by the edger. The next day, use a narrow spade to remove the sod. Place the pavers against the wall and coat with weed killer.
METHOD 2: Measure an area of 2 feet out from the wall. Mark it off with a hose, rope or marking paint. Dig the area out. Apply weed killer to be sure there are no live roots in the area. Lay newspaper at least six pages thick in the bed. Cover with 3 inches of decorative mulch, such as the red cedar mulch. Place potted plants, garden statuary or other decorative items in the area.
For both methods, apply weed killer every three months, even if you do not see weeds growing in the area.
Splashbacks - Featuring article
Not only are splashbacks a decorative addition to your rooms, they serve a definite and useful protective function. Splashbacks are the materials placed at the back of a counter or sink area, extending up the wall high enough to protect the wall from water or food splashes. They are particularly useful in kitchens, along the countertops, behind the sinks, and next to the stove.
The splashback is designed of materials that are easy to clean, a big plus for kitchens where water and food are likely to be splashed about or spilled and spattered. In the bathroom or laundry room, the splashback protects against destructive water damage. Again, being easy to clean is a benefit, and materials used are selected for this purpose.
Materials for the splashback include tiles, glass, stainless steel, mirror, acrylics, stone, laminate, or protective paint. These materials can be decorative, patterned, coloured or plain. Smooth materials are best, as you do not want holes or crevices that might hold bacteria or mould. Splashbacks used near or next to the stove should be non-combustible. There should be at least 200mm clearance from the nearest stove burner or hotplate.
Splashbacks can be made as long as needed. In height, they are usually 400mm to 600mm tall. All joints or spaces and any porous stone surfaces should be sealed tight. They should be a colour or pattern that is compatible with your room decor. If you are in a bathroom area, you may not want to use mirror or glass that shows a lot of water spots and may be dangerous if broken. Stone or acrylic or metal may be a better choice there. In the kitchen, you want surfaces that are easy to clean and that look good with countertops and appliances.
Different materials have different costs. Paint is the least expensive, while stone may the costliest. Acrylics are widely used and have many decorator patterns and can match countertops. Ease of installation is another factor to consider. Maintenance is another point to look at. Stainless steel looks great, but can be harder to maintain.
Splashbacks in some fashion are found in most homes today, and in remodels, because of their protective qualities. Since they last a long time and may cover a large area, it is wise to select neutral colours and use your utensils or accessories to bring in the bright colours and patterns to the room.
Gazebos
If you are contemplating renovating the outside of your house a gazebo can be a very good investment. You will find yourself very pleased with your gazebo whether you use it to relax in a hot tub or use it in the morning to enjoy your coffee while reading the day's newspaper.
You can make your gazebo different shapes, sizes, and heights. Before you build your gazebo lay out a plan and construct it exactly like you would like it onto a blue print. When you build your gazebo you will want to use Certified CCA treated lumber. Another option to treated lumber is redwood covered with a coat of polyurethane. The redwood is a very hard wood and bugs will not eat at it. The polyurethane you will use to coat it will keep the elements of mother nature from breaking it down and rotting it.
Using screen and a screen door to keep the mysquitoes out will be an option that you will never regret and always be happy that you installed. It will also allow the sunshine in without making it feel like an oven like traditional windows would do. Feeling the breeze that will be allowed to blow through the interior of your gazebo will be another ability that you will love on those hot, sultry, lazy, lemonade days.
It is possible to do the floor of the gazebo also if that is what you would like or you can just leave it done in wood. There are many options out there if you would like to cover the floor of the gazebo. You can choose between outdoor carpet, tile, and linoleum. Tile is the best option. You will not have to worry about it mildewing between the tile and the wood. You will not have to worry about it peeling up around the edges every couple of years. The best option of the tile is that you will not have to drag the vacuum out everytime it gets dirty with dust or mud. All you have to do is keep a small broom somewhere close and sweep it off occassionally. With all the options of how you can design a gazebo there is surely a design for you!
Spas
Eventually, some homeowners decide to turn their patios or backyards into an individualized vacation area. Instead of spending the money to take the family away from the home, in today's economic conditions, some folks are opting to spend that money on improving the home and upgrading or installing great features like spas for their own private enjoyment.
There are many options available when it comes to finding the right spa for your home. Most often, people choose the outdoors for the right spot for their hot tub. There are so many benefits to owning a spa (or hot tub). Relaxation, (a necessity in today's hustle and bustle world), family togetherness, marital bonding, not to mention the soothing, bubbly hot water that works out the muscle aches and pains. Relaxing in a spa promotes good sleep and also increases blood circulation throughout the body. Other maladies that are helped by the relaxing waters of spas are diabetes, tendonitis, cerebral palsy, carpal tunnel, and bursitis.
Some questions should be considered before shopping for spas. Things like, do you want the spa to be used in all seasons (more of a consideration in the north), and is the location you'd like to have the spa in large enough for the spa you're considering? What features are you looking to add to the spa (because there are many available and that number grows nearly every day), how much do you want to spend on a spa? Will you need to call in a contractor to prepare the area for the spa? What is the maximum number of people that will be using the spa at one time?
There are three possible spas to consider, outdoor spas, indoor and portable spas. The features available for these spas can enhance your family's spa experience exponentially. Aromatherapy kits, stereo options, extra jets, filtration systems, some have computerized control panels, as well as many other options. Some even have a radiant, multi-colored waterfall. If you plan to use your spa often, find out all of the features available.
When in a showroom, it is best to, when possible, test out the spa while it is filled with water. Some things to consider while doing this are the depths of the seats, how many seats are available, how much foot room is available, how easy it is to access the spas controls, how easy it is to get into and out of the spa, and whether or not the spa comes with cushioned headrests.
The power behind a spa is also important. Are you looking for a spa simply to soak, or do you need something with a lot of power? This aspect is called hydrotherapy performance, and when considering this aspect, make sure to look at the types of jets installed, as well as jet placement within the spa.
© 2008 BYHOMENGARDEN