BUILDING A GARDEN PATIO

Building a garden patio with brick or stone pavers is probably the best way to accomplish any patio project. Laying the correct patio can be a relaxing and idylic retreat for those lazy summer days, but that's why it is important that you make the right choice. That means you have to make sure it is ideally positioned in your garden.

You should not erect/build your patio in an area where it will be isolated, but consider to build it in an area with the best views. This means that the positioning is especially important, I would place my patio in a positioned where I get the sun and a degree of privacy! But this is personal preference and is upto you and your lifestyle.

DIFFICULTY LEVEL CONCRETE PATIO OR BRICK?

To build a garden patio can be very satisfying and look really good. The work is fairly straightforward if you are relatively decent with your hands. The first and foremost points to remember are good planning and preparation, without the two you will find the project harder than you expected and your results will be sub-standard.

Remember to look at the positioning of the sun, not a massive point but none the less a factor worth considering! Check out your landscape, have you got any trees obstructing the light?

YOUR CHOICE

The patio can be many shapes and designs, but if you're not confident, then it is probably best to have a square patio, although a circular one is also possible, but you would have to start cutting bricks. Circular patios can be purchased from most do-it-yourself stores and at reasonable prices.

Don't forget that you will need at least two inches on the edges to place brick edging. Clear the area you have chosen by digging it out to a depth of about 8/9 inches. Make a frame up the same size as your project and place it around the edges. Don't forget you will need to put a slight slope onto your patio to enable rainwater to run freely off. Make sure you run the slope off in the opposite direction of the house and below any damp courses!

After this you should now do a run with your bricks just to make sure everything is lined up and going to fit.

PRACTICAL GUIDE

Pour Lime Stone or any hardcore aggregate into the area to a depth of about 5/6 inches. When the area is covered with this you need to tamper it down ideally with a whacker plate. Alternatively, get a plank of wood about 8" wide by 3" thick and as long as needed and simply place it across the hardcore and hit it down with a lump hammer.

Once this procedure is completed you now need to place a weed blanket over the area to protect your patio from weeds growing up through the surface. Now you can pour your sand and it must be a minimum of 2/3 inches deep. You now need a screed to level the sand , check for a good level up against your framework.

START LAYING BRICKS

At this stage you can begin to lay your brick. Make sure you have a line to keep you on the straight and narrow. Keep checking for level as you go along laying your bricks. Always start at a corner and work your way along, you will need a rubber mallet at this point to gently tapp the bricks into place whilst using a spirit level for trueness.

Assuming you will be using standard 4 x 8 bricks at 2 inches thick, you can continue with the weave pattern this pattern looks good and is very effective because it interlocks the bricks very well and makes for a stronger job! Once your bricks are laid you need to put sand on top and sweep this into the cracks and crevices.

SIT BACK AND ENJOY THE VIEW

If you are using paving slabs then the principles are basically the same. But remember to continuously check for the right level, using pavers will probably be quicker but visually just as effective. Any cutting you need to do can be done with either a grinder, hammer and chisel or a brick splitter, I recommend purchasing a simple brick/paving slab splitter.

By: Dane Plant
http://buymyworld.com

Home improvements are a great way to get more money for your home when you get ready to sell it. But some improvements will bring more value to your home than others. Recently, installing vinyl siding has been recognized as the best thing you can do to add value to your home. Here are a few of the reasons this improvement is the single-best thing you can do for your "bottom line" when selling your house.

It looks good. Vinyl siding comes in a variety of colors and styles to fit your preferences. But in addition to that, the trim and soffits complement your home's color perfectly. You can even get several accessories to complete the look for your home that you want to create. Whether you have a ranch home, a modern-style home or a turn-of-the-century Victorian, you can find a style of vinyl siding that matches your needs.

It lasts for decades. Vinyl siding is the most popular type of siding now. Its durability adds to its popularity because it stands up to rain, snow, sleet, and rain. It won't crack or peel in the sun or hot weather. And it can take a beating without showing signs of wear and tear. If the neighborhood kids hit it with a ball, it won't dent or scratch like other types of siding. When it needs a cleaning, all you need to do is rinse it with soap and water. Afterwards, it looks like you just added a fresh coat of paint to it.

It's a great value. When you get ready to sell your home and you add vinyl siding to it, you can usually recoup about 100 percent of the money you spent for the siding. Sometimes you can add even more value to the house than what you spent for the siding. Vinyl siding is typically less expensive than aluminum, too. And you don't need to worry about people ripping off the siding to sell at the scrap yard, either.

It's easy to do. Many handy homeowners have been able to install their vinyl siding without hiring a professional company to do it for them. This can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars depending on the size of your house. It's more flexible and you don't have to worry about creases in the metal or deep cuts from the jagged edges.

If you have to choose which home improvement project to do for your home, vinyl siding should be at the top of your list. With its appearance, durability, and affordability, it's the best thing you can do for your home's overall value.

By: Jeff Lundquist
Jeff works in Edina, Minnesota home of the first indoor mall. His website provides information about Edina realty. If you are looking for a property in Edina his site has a search of the Edina MLS along with information on Edina homes.

Suspended ceilings are like a second ceiling, it is placed underneath the existing ceiling and is used to hide pipelines or ductwork. They are generally attached and suspended on wires from the ceiling above and are laid out in a grid where tiles are fitted in. Suspended ceilings can be made with a lot of materials, for example, wood.

Once the suspended ceilings have been installed you can fit in fluorescent lights or install air ducts etc. They are used a lot to cover up this kind of work anyway so suspended ceilings being installed to cover air ducts can easily be integrated in. Also you can install insulation into your suspended ceilings which absorbs heat and sound.

Suspended ceilings are also implemented so that maintenance can take place in the void that is made when the ceiling is installed.

When designing and purchasing your suspended ceilings you are going to need to decide whether or not you want the ceiling to be demountable or completely non-accessible. If you make you suspended ceilings demountable then this will allow you to easily access the ceiling void and perform maintenance on the ceiling or on other objects that the ceiling is concealing. If you make your suspended ceiling non accessible then you will not be able to perform ceiling maintenance easily as you will not be able to get into the ceiling void.

You should consider the above very seriously as the ceilings will need to be redone if you wish to be able to change a non accessible ceiling into a demountable one.

There are many different types of suspended ceilings systems but all are different depending on your requirements yet the concept is the same. For example there is the free span suspend ceiling system that is mainly used for corridors. This kind of system is made up of ceiling planks which are held by the perimeter trim on their short edges. This kind of system can be installed quickly and pretty easily, also it can produce a very nice effect when finished which is usually smooth. These types of suspended ceilings can be made de-mountable for maintenance or non-accessible; if you opt for the de-mountable type then the ceiling planks are removed to allow you your easy access.

Another suspended ceiling system is the bandraster system; these types of suspended ceilings are very flexible and can be made to match with any kind of building architecture. Once again these suspended ceilings can be made accessible or non accessible. These suspended ceiling are design with either concealed or exposed sections which link up to achieve lateral bracing, therefore these systems can be modified to fit any building.

Another system is the exposed suspended ceilings system which is another system which can be installed quickly and efficiently and also allows for you to do maintenance work in the ceiling void easily. These types of suspended ceilings have tiles slotted into a suspended grid allowing for it to be edited easily as well.

I hope this has helped in your search for your suspended ceilings.

By: Tony Savour
AMF Ceilings

Why should you care about energy efficiency?

Perhaps the biggest reason is to save money. A home that isn't energy efficient takes more energy to heat in the winter and cool in the summer. This means you are spending extra money every month on energy bills, bills that can be significantly lowered by undertaking a few simple home improvements.

The key to making your home more efficient to correct air-flow problems. Make sure air is flowing where it needs to be and isn't flowing where it shouldn't be.

A few small cracks in your home can be as bad for your heating and cooling as a window left open. Older homes frequently have undergone small changes to accommodate updated wiring, and this can be an energy sink. Caulk all small holes where wires go through walls or floors. Check brick facades and the outside of your home for small cracks and signs of wear that may be counteracting insulation.

If your home has a chimney make sure it is sealed with high-temperature cement and metal flashing. Keep the flue closed when it is not in use to prevent air flowing indoors from it. Tight fitting glass covers can also help keep cold air where it belongs.

Plumbing stacks also need to be sealed on the outside. In general look for any holes between the attic and the heated space and seal them as much as possible. Use weather stripping on the entry to the attic as well as insulation on the attic-side of the door.

Now, how's your insulation? Making sure you have enough insulation is key to keeping your home efficient. 18 inches of fiberglass batting or cellulose will greatly improve your heating and cooling systems. The attic does need air flow, however, so make sure air vents are clear and unobstructed.

Each window needs to be checked to make sure it closes completely and locks. Windows can be weather stripped just like doors. Outlets and switches provide access for cold air to enter, but this can be prevented by installing foam gaskets behind them. Child-safety plugs for the outlets also reduce cold air flowing from the sockets.

Old windows and doors need to be checked every year. If one doesn't fit properly, seal it with caulking or weather stripping. If the piece is warped heavily replace it with a new energy efficient model. Expanding foam is also an option to use around door- and window-frames.

Every hole on the outside face of your home can increase inefficiency. Seal laundry vents, water faucets, electrical outlets, and other hookups. Install storm- windows and doors where you don't already have them to create a buffer of air that retains heat and coolness. When it comes time to change siding, add foam insulation behind it.

Basements and crawlspaces need to be checked and sealed. If you have a crawlspace, place a layer of plastic over it to help insulate. Regular basements with concrete walls can be a major problem for efficiency. Consider adding insulation and drywall over the concrete.

Appliances are rated for their efficiency. Choose products with Energy Star ratings and choose compact fluorescent light bulbs that fit in standard sockets.

These fairly inexpensive home improvements can save you a lot of money in the long run. It's definitely worth taking steps to increase your home's efficiency, and as you can now see, it's not even that hard.

By: TC Thorn
TC Thorn has written more articles on home improvements and energy efficiency at Luxury Housing Trends. Her article on green kitchen appliances discusses improving energy use in the kitchen.