Author Archives: schatzi

Different Types Of Outdoor Garden Furniture For Relaxation

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Outdoor garden furniture will improve the looks of your garden so that you can relax and at the same time you will enjoy the time you spend in there. Gardening is the most relaxing activity you can and that most people do it during their extra time. Although you can choose different types of furniture for your garden there are things you need to think about and not just because you want the certain furniture. If you are not wise enough in choosing product that you put on your garden, you will only ruin the view of it. Among the furniture that you can put on your garden are sets of table and chairs, benches, swing seats, fire pits, hammocks and many more to mention. Those products had their own pros and cons that you nee to understand before you include it on your garden decorations.

A set of tables and chairs are good for flower garden in which you want to relax and spend early morning coffee in there. The ambiance of the garden will make your morning great. You can choose form plastics, steels or woods types of table and chairs. It is also available in different designs and styles. Benches and loungers are also great to add on your outdoor garden furniture. Although this also for relaxation but it can be good if you want to spend moment with your family and that you want to stay under the sun. You can also include fire spits in which are good for weekend activities like family picnic or barbecue party. It will only be great if you have big trees on your garden so that you can have natural shades. Barbecue party is most children love and it is among the activity you can do as family. Swings seats are also great for your garden. This will make you spend a relaxing and sweet moments with your wife. There are lots of marriages that have been broke because of lack of sweetness. Even though it is just a small thing but if you can do it, you can strengthen your relationship as husband and wife.

Improve the looks of your garden now by choosing the proper outdoor garden furniture in the market. There are also online stores that you can search if you don’t want to hassle and go to the garden stores. With this you can make your order online and they will deliver your order in your doorstep.

10 Things to Know Before Shopping for Wood Furniture

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1. What is your budget?

Quality, construction, fine or rare wood could be pricier, so you may have to make adjustments to your budget. Many qualities should be put into consideration to determine the desired amount to spend on each piece such as how long you will keep the item and whether it is one of the central pieces in the room or just an accent. Assigning a budget will help you set limits for yourself, so you don’t end up spending all your money before you purchase all the units you need.

2. Where will it be used?

It is important to know the scale of an item to make sure it is going to fit in your intended space. Knowing the area that you are shopping for will also help you determine what major items you will need for that room and how much space they can be allowed. For example, a family room would require plenty of seating as well as maybe a couple spare chairs.

3. How often will it be used?

Pieces that are going to go in a family room for daily use have to be durable. Pay close attention to the components that will be used several times per day, like drawers and doors. Furniture that is going to go into a guest room or any other room could be purchased with appearance in mind with shape, size, and design being the most important qualities to look for.

4. How long will you have it?

Wood furniture pieces in your dining room, bedroom, or living room may remain in your family for many years. You may even decide to pass this furniture down to future generations. For heirloom quality pieces, allow yourself to spend more money. Accent pieces, on the other hand, shouldn’t be so expensive if you intend on updating your style occasionally. Children’s furniture that your child will eventually grow out of shouldn’t be so expensive since you will have to update it as he/she grows older. Have fun with these items and just shop with aesthetic appeal in mind.

5. What is your personal style?

Find your personal style by studying your wardrobe, car and favorite things. Pay attention to your favorite colors, textures and patterns. Also consider your lifestyle when purchasing furniture. Are you single? Do you have any children, pets, etc.?

6. What kind of wood do you like?

Wood furniture is made from seasonal hardwoods or year round softwoods. Hardwoods come from broad-leafed trees (not needles) such as maple, oak, teak, and finer woods such as walnut, mahogany, and cherry. These woods are found in the most expensive furniture pieces. Softwoods come from needle-bearing evergreens like pine, spruce, redwood, or cedar. Such lumber is used in less-formal pieces. Rubberwood is plantation-grown in tropical countries. It is very durable and resistant to most varieties of fungi, bacteria, and mold.

7. What is the difference between solid and veneer?

Solid wood furniture usually means all the exposed parts of the piece are solid, while the frames and inner parts are made of other less expensive material. When thin layers of decorative wood are bonded to the face of furniture pieces, this is called veneer. While solid wood is valued for its durability, veneer provides a greater variety of styles, patterns and textures.

8. What finish do you prefer?

A finish on wood furniture can enhance its natural look or change it completely. A simple oil or wax finish will enhance the grain on an item, but for increased durability, furniture with a lacquer finish is best. Lacquer protects against spills and rings. A distressed look means that the wood is made to look older by beating and hammering the wood before the final finish is applied.

9. How good is the workmanship?

Ensure that drawers fit and slide well on glides and stop flush with the front of the piece. Dust panels on the drawers are best for keeping your belongings clean. Make sure that the hardware is installed correctly on any doors. The legs on tables should be even and not rock. If your table has leaves, make sure they match the rest of the table. Higher quality pieces will have dovetail joints, but always make sure to pay attention to how the drawer fronts are attached. Chair joints should also be examined carefully. Make sure they are snug and free from excess glue. On tables, corners should be reinforced and legs securely attached.

10. What safety issues arise with the purchase of your furniture?

The drawers on dressers and chests should have drawer stops that will prevent the drawer from falling out on unsuspecting children. When buying a bookcase, makes sure it contains big enough shelves so that there is no danger of you having to overload the shelves. You may also want to secure the top portion of the unit to the wall so that it won’t tip over. When searching for entertainment centers, make sure to use the correct size furniture to hold your television. If your television is too large for the unit, it may fall forward. Storage and toy chests should have safety latches on the lids to prevent the top from falling freely and possibly slamming shut on fingers or a child’s head.

Acrylic Floor Coating Vs Epoxy In The Garage

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There are several choices if you want to apply a garage floor treatment so you can seal and protect your floor. Even though applying an acrylic garage floor coating can provide a great shine for a short time, it is really not durable enough to endure vehicular traffic. Acrylic floor coatings are made to cover different kinds of flooring like fired tiles, vinyl and even concrete but they are only designed for protection against light to medium foot traffic.

If you want to have full protection for the floor of your garage and additional anti-slip attributes, your best option would be to put on an epoxy coating which comes in two parts. Epoxy is an extremely strong and durable material which is made up of a resin and hardener. If you want to have an idea how hard the floor coating of epoxy is, imagine fiberglass products like leisure boats. They are epoxy— resin and hardener— applied over a woven mesh which is actually the structural support. The real hardness of the shell is shaped because of the chemical bond between the epoxy and catalyst triggered when the hardener is poured in.

It is so easy to apply an epoxy garage floor coating and you just have to schedule it on a weekend as a do-it-yourself project because it only requires two half days of real work. The first day is dedicated to cleaning and to degreasing the current surface of the floor. Begin these tasks by using a high quality degreaser product so that all or most of the remnants of petroleum are scrubbed off from the surface. Then, you have to use a detergent and stiff floor broom to clean off all the stains which are not taken off by degreaser. At this time, you spray water on the surface and see if water beads up. If there are beads, you have to degrease again and scrub this area more or else the epoxy will fail to bond. Then, you have to let it dry out over night, if possible using a space heater.

The next day, start the project by mixing a large enough amount of epoxy so you can cover at most a 6′ by 6′ area and spread it starting in the outermost corner from the door. Otherwise you will be painted literally into a corner. Spread out the mixture using a nap roller and, after this batch is applied, you should cast the non-slip material over the surface like the way you feed chickens. Continue repeating this step for every area until you cover the whole floor.

Drive Green – Choose An Electric Car

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When I was a kid, electric cars were something only seen on the Jetsons! Never did I feel that I would see them in my lifetime, but now every single major automaker has a plan for an electric or plug-in model. Although we’ve talked about the best way to make your vehicle maintenance greener, let’s look at how your choice of a car can make an impact too.

Personally, we drive a Prius (and yes I do love obtaining 54 miles to the gallon!). Nonetheless, with Chevy about to ship its Volt, Nissan its leaf and Ford working on an electric version of the Focus, it seemed only fitting to talk about electric cars plus the impact they’ll have.

So, why electric cars now?

Up until now, it didn’t make sense. Battery technology had to catch up. Without that, electric cars were too high priced. But now, with the improved battery technology coupled with pollution concerns and soaring gas prices, it is the time for alternative fuel vehicles.

The new green cars available on the market have made the buying method much more challenging. You will discover new questions to ask yourselves: What’s less costly per mile: gas or electricity? How far can I go on a charge? How much more will it cost me to purchase a green vehicle? Is it worth having to figure out where charging stations are? Do the government credits offset the increased price enough for you?

To answer some of your questions:

Electrical contractors are partnering up with the local utilities to install home charging systems for these cars. Some consumers may even get subsidies from utilities to cover part of the costs if they agree to share their data or cheaper electricity rates if they charge at night (when demand is much less). These home charging systems are going to cost a few thousand dollars too depending on the provider. (There’s a federal tax credit for 50% of the charger and the installation price up to $2,000). On the other hand, in the event you have an older home, you may well have to upgrade your electrical system too. The majority of older homes have a 60-amp or 80-amp service and to run a house charging system, you will will need a minimum of 80 amps (if not extra). A trusted electrician ought to have the ability to let you know what you require.

If you want an electric automobile at the end of this year, your only choices might be the Nissan Leaf or the Chevrolet Volt. The Leaf’s range is limited to about 100 miles and will cost (beginning) $32,780. The Volt can go a lot farther because technically it is a hybrid. It goes about 40 miles on a charge and when that runs out, the engine kicks on and extends the car’s range by another 300 miles. The Volt’s beginning price is $41,000.

Besides the tax credit I mentioned above for the home charging station, the federal government is offering a $7,500 tax credit. Owners will also have some relief with lower maintenance and operating fees. According to Nissan, the very first three years will only cost $440 to maintain your vehicle (which is about a third of what you’d pay for a similar sized gas vehicle). The Volt savings are just a couple of hundred dollars.

According to Nissan, individuals who charge at home will pay an average of $2.75 each time they plugin. That amounts to around three cents a mile (depending on driving conditions and your driving habits). Volt drivers will pay about 8 cents a mile.

We are coming to the end of gasoline combustion engines. If you are in the market for a new automobile, be sure to check out these electric cars plus the other hybrids available on the market to get the vehicle that best fits your needs. It doesn’t hurt that you’ll be helping save the Earth with this purchase.