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Monday, November 26, 2012

Railings - Adding Safety And Style to Your Home!

What do balconies, staircases, decks, and viewing areas have in common? They all have railings. Without railings, these structures are not only bland and unmarked but downright dangerous. Railings are very important for high balconies and viewing areas, in particular. People often enjoy seeing as much as possible when they are at these high vantage points, and railings provide this for folks by allowing for a secure, safe area to lean on. Without railings, some more daring people may try to lean forward regardless of the danger, potentially causing grave harm to themselves.

Railings are important for staircases as well, but for a slightly different reason. The act of going up or down stairs can throw many people slightly off balance, so the presence of a railing both provides a handhold and also a straight line that the eye can follow up or down, aiding in maintaining balance. Unless they are very high up, railings are not as necessary for decks, safety-wise, unless the presence of small children is likely. In this case, the presence of a visible barrier can help kids stay on the deck.

Railings are also a very easy way to lend an architectural style and beauty to a structure or building. In fact, some cities are well known for their beautiful balcony railings, such as New Orleans stateside and Paris internationally. A building does not even have to have a balcony in order to benefit from the architectural beauty that railings can provide. False or "Juliet" balconies, so named after Juliet of Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet for the balcony she stood on while her lover courted her, are very narrow balconies that cannot reasonably fit an adult, but can provide a place to lean out of a window and keep flowerboxes. These balconies can have railings just as ornate or grandiose as those of full balconies.

Window railings are a further reduction of your standard balcony, and they are precisely what the name indicates-railings that go across the window at around chest height or lower, depending upon the proportions of the window. These too can easily lend interest and beauty to the appearance of a building. Deck railings are typically made of wood and limited, design-wise, to the capabilities of wood (unlike iron, which can be shaped into ornate designs including filigrees, flowers and vines). Sometimes iron can be combined with the wood to add extra visual interest.

Staircase railings can be either wood or iron, or other metals, or even glass, depending upon the designer. Since most staircases are located indoors, this makes choosing materials much easier-no need to consider the weather!

Showcase the Beauty of Your Deck by Using CAMO Hidden Fasteners Outdoor Slipcovers, Make Your Patio Furniture Look New Again Choosing the Right Deck Builder Understanding Pressure Washing

Hang a Deck Gate - How Tos and Expert Tips

GATE INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Tools Required:

Power Drill/Driver Screwdriver Pencil Awl Center Hole Punch or Centering Drill Bit (optional) Plumber's Level and/or a 24" long Level Styrofoam block length to support gate (included)

STEP 1 (Clean Working Area):

Using the Gate box and/or Styrofoam packaging material as a cushion, place the deck gate on your deck floor (being careful not to scratch or mar the finish).

STEP 2 (Install Hinge to Gate):

Make certain that you have purchased a good quality outdoor gate hinge and hardware of sufficient size and weight-grade to support a gate weighing at least 35 pounds! Also, be certain to use all of the screws that are provided by the manufacturer. Before continuing, determine the orientation needed for the hinges purchased so that the gate opens from the correct direction (inward or outward).

Place your first hinge just about even with the bottom of the Top Rail in a vertical alignment that is square/perpendicular to the edge of the gate. If available, have a second person hold the hinge in place for you.

(Note: Depending on the hinge product used, a small Plumber's Level may be helpful to ensure that the hinge is plumb & aligned properly.)

Use a Center Hole Punch or an Awl to mark the center of the screw holes. Using a Centering Hole Drill Bit will be more accurate and will allow you to skip this step.

Using a drill bit that is smaller in diameter than the screws being used, pre-drill the hinge holes to a depth that is slightly less than the length of the screw. If you have a Drill Bit Gauge, use a bit that is two sizes smaller than your hinge screws.

Use a power driver to attach/screw the hinge to your gate being careful to NOT over-tighten or strip the screw holes. If you are not experienced in the use of the power driver, be sure to practice on a piece of scrap material. Repeat above for the bottom hinge.

STEP 3 (Attach to Deck Newel Post):

Special Note: Depending on the material, size and final weight of your gate, it is critical that your newel post is plumb and strong! Preferably, the post should extend down through the deck floor and be blocked to the joists/beams underneath the deck. This is required for Trex Accents gates.

It is helpful to have a second person to attach the gate to your deck. Hold the gate up next to the newel post at the proper height desired (close to the top of your railing).

A long piece of Styrofoam (the same as the width of your gate) is provided. Place it underneath the bottom edge of the gate to help hold it in place.

Properly align the top hinge where it attaches to the newel post (according to the hinge design being used).

Use a 24" level to make sure the gate is positioned plumb & level. It will be helpful to use wood shims as part of this step.

Use a Center Hole Punch or an Awl to mark the center of the screw holes. Using a Centering Hole Drill Bit will be more accurate and will allow you to skip this step.

Using a drill bit that is smaller in diameter than the screws being used, pre-drill the hinge holes to a depth that is slightly less than the length of the screw. If you have a Drill Bit Gauge, use a bit that is two sizes smaller than your hinge screws.

Use the power driver to attach/screw the hinge to your Post being careful to NOT over-tighten or strip the screw holes.

Keeping the length of Styrofoam in place and using available shims, level the gate in place. Then attach the bottom hinge in the same manner as described above.

STEP 4 (Attach Latch to Gate):

After making certain that your gate is hanging properly in the correct position and smoothly swings open and closed, begin to attach the latch purchased.

First attach the gate latch part by placing it at the desired comfortable height (normally about even with the top hinge). Depending on the hardware design being used, you should attach it on the inside face of your gate.

Hold the latch in place on your gate and lightly mark the holes with a pencil. After verifying you have the latch marked in the proper position desired, pre-drill your screw holes in the same manner as mentioned above. Then attach/screw the latch using a power or hand screwdriver.

STEP 5 (Attach Latch to Newel Post):

Hold the latch part that attaches to your newel post in position so that it lines up with the gate latch part and closes/locks in place properly. Make a light pencil mark to keep the position.

After verifying that you have the latch marked in the proper position desired, pre-drill your screw holes in the same manner as mentioned above. Then attach/screw the latch part using a power or hand screwdriver.

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Pergola Plans: Choose the Right Pergola

By installing pergolas, you can make your backyard look absolutely gorgeous. However, as you will have to spend a significant amount of money for getting a pergola installed, you must ensure that you have the right pergola plans to follow. First, you will have to choose a pergola design that will complement your backyard's architecture perfectly. Below, you will find information about the different types of pergolas currently available on the market.

While searching for the right piece for your backyard, you will come across varied pergola types. Some are more popular than the others. At times, people look for pergolas that will simply act as a beautiful destination in their yard. A standalone garden pergola can help you in creating a patio like region in the yard. It can also act as a partition between the patio and the remaining part of the yard. If you want, you can also improvise its appearance by furnishing it.

Pergolas can be categorized into two major types based on its position, the entryway and the walkway pergolas. An entryway pergola might appear like a large arbor. Usually, they are used for generating a fascinating visual transition within the yard. They are more attractive and creative alternatives to the fence gates. If you want to further enhance their looks, you can use climbing plants such as clematis, ivy or roses for decorating them.

The basic features of the walkway pergolas are similar to that of their entryway counterparts. However, unlike an entryway pergola, which is generally placed near the door, a walkway pergola is placed along a path within the yard or a sidewalk. There are some who use them for adding drama to their yard. Some, on the other hand, use them for creating functional coverings for pools, gardens or garage walks.

Other than deciding on the pergola type, you must consider a few other factors while drafting pergola plans. Read through the pointers below to know about those factors:

Size: You will first need to find out how much area of the yard you can dedicate to a pergola. The price of a pergola is directly proportional to its size. This means, your budget is one of the primary factors to consider while deciding on the size of the pergola.

Shade: Based on your preferences, you can pick pergola designs that either come with a little shade or a lot of it. The shading can be increased later using vining vegetation. A major advantage of using vining plants as shade is that they would offer more shade during summer and less during winter.

Materials: Like size, the material used for manufacturing pergolas also has a significant impact on their costs. If you are ready to make a big investment, you should opt for pieces boasting wood works. The most frequently used wood type for this purpose is cedar. Individuals with limited budget should opt for the ones made using vinyl. Individuals looking for smaller pieces however can purchase aluminum pergolas.

Shape: Your pergola plans would remain incomplete, if you do not decide on its shape. The shape of pergolas tends to vary depending on the area they cover. Some pergola kits come with extensions that can be used for modifying the shape, when required.

Making Better Use Of Your Garden

Many of us pay a premium in order to find a property that has a reasonably large garden. We do this because we believe that having such a garden is a real advantage, although the reality is that we may end up using it a lot less than expected.

Why should this be the case? It may often feel like there's a certain level of effort associated with spending time outdoors. If we feel like a lot of preparation is involved, for instance, then this may be enough to cause us to pause and think about other options.

It seems to me that the real key to making better use of such outdoor space is to ensure that it becomes more integral to your way of life. That's possible and often a lot easier than you may think. To begin with, it's worth putting the focus of your attention on the reasons why you opted to buy a home with such a large garden in the first place.

You may have envisaged spending time dining outdoors, or maybe you thought that it would be a great space for the kids. When you think about those original aims, you may also find that they reveal quite a lot about why things aren't turning out in the way that you had planned.

Let's look at these examples and see why things might go wrong. When you're thinking about dining outdoors, it seems to me that there are some basic areas that you need to tackle. You may wish to have a hard surface available, such as a patio. On that, it makes sense to use a table and a set of chairs. These basic elements should allow you to dine in this way more often.

If you're really keen to ensure that you increase the chances of using the space, then you might also think about buying something to offer cover or shelter. There are various products on the market, with shade sails and parasols being obvious and effective choices.

Should you be cooking in the garden too? That's really up to you and is likely to be defined by your own approach. If you're the sort of person who particularly enjoys barbeque cooking, then this is something that could spur you on. If, on the other hand, you see this as being something of a hassle, then it's probably best to avoid it.

So that's taken care of your outdoor dining options, but we haven't stopped to consider why your kids don't play more outdoors. One reason for this could be that you haven't created an environment that's safe enough, or that offers enough fun. This may simply be a case of ensuring that adequate fencing is in place and taking the time to show your kids how much fun they could be having.

Shade Sail Standard Installation

When visiting outdoor theme parks, recreational areas, restaurants, and commercial buildings, you will often see installations of fabric stretched across an area and attached to posts or walls of buildings etc. These fabrications are what have come to be known as shade sails. They are used to provide shade over areas of seating, car park areas and children's play areas.

The sails are available in varying sizes. Manufacturers offer the product in retail stores in standard pre-manufactured sizes that are generally a lighter grade of product aimed at the home user. Along with the light grade product, better quality, commercial grade versions of the product are offered by stores specializing in their supply. You will also find that they offer the ability to order custom sizing and fabrics. There are two other important aspects to the shade sails, the posts or connection points and the hardware used to connect the shade to them.

Due to the physical dimensions of the sails, they are susceptible to strong forces exerted on them by wind. To provide for a product that can withstand these forces it is important that they are installed in a manner that ensures that they do not move in a wind. This is attained by applying tension on the sail across its' surface and also by a radius which is cut into the side of the sail, which ensures that no excess fabric is left to flap once the product has been tensioned. Depending on the size of the covering, support may be required along the edges in the form of steel cabling. Any sail requiring the cabling is going to be sufficiently large to warrant being designed, manufactured and installed by professional contractors.

When referring to the attachment hardware you are looking at the piece of hardware that connects the sail to the post or wall attachment. Use of a good quality, marine grade connector is important to ensure that it can withstand the stresses placed on it and for longevity and rust resistance. In most instances attachment to the sail is via a solid ring that is sewn in on the corners of the product. Ideally the distance between the connection point and the attachment point should be kept as short as possible. This will ensure that the least amount of movement is possible in wind.

For the attachment points you will want to use a minimum of a 4" diameter steel pole, the size used dependent on the dimensions of the shade fabric. When attaching to a wall or fascia you want to be sure that the attachment location is well reinforced, again, because of stress put on the sail by the tension and wind.

Fabrics most often used for the shade sails are a woven Polyethylene while some custom manufacturers are also offering the products in Sunbrella fabric. Many people look for a product that they say will be waterproof. Generally speaking the product is installed at a height that would allow rain to come in from the side of the installation. Irrespective of the fabric used for the product, when installed at certain angles they will still prevent the majority of water passing through the fabric. It is important when installing a fabric like Sunbrella that he angles are maintained to ensure that the water runs off the product and doesn't pool, resulting in damage or total destruction of the product.

Deck Post Covers: Expressing Your Creativity

Obviously, any home construction you engage in is an expression of creativity to some extent. You build a new room onto the east side of the house, you transform your garage into a gaming room, and you put a screen around your back porch. But there are different levels of creativity. Building a patio can be a very creative endeavor, but it usually isn't. It's about picking something out of a catalog or trusting a contractor to meet some general specifications. However, there are opportunities to go a little deeper. Deck post covers give you the chance to add an artistic touch to an otherwise plain project. Here are some of the choices you'll need to make when picking them.

Types Deck post covers come in three primary types, any of which can complement your patio railings in a unique and artful way. The main styles are stacked stone, fieldstone, and cobblestone. By comparing the patterns of the brick available, you can get a sense of the different feelings they convey. Some offer an interesting, historical vibe. Others have an almost worldly quality. If you want to feel as though walking onto your back patio is a trip into the past, you may make a different choice than someone who wants a modern, forward thinking element. Most of the colors available are very neutral, so you won't have to worry about contrasting with your home's scheme.

Size Stepping away from the somewhat arbitrary color and style decisions, you'll need to make a more practical choice: size. Deck post covers should match the posts themselves, of course. It usually makes no difference what the posts are made of. That said, most experts recommend treating the wood for moisture repellant before putting the caps on. A sealant can keep rain from getting into the wood and creating rot down the line. This can happen even after you've fitted them with the caps. Don't be fooled by any manufacturers claiming differently. Wood rot can make your patio structurally unsound, so it is nothing to mess around with.

Connectors There are a few accessories you'll need to consider before making your final choice. Deck post covers need connectors to attach to the railing. You'll have a few choices to consider. You'll also need to think about the caps themselves, which go on top of the post and bring everything together. Here again, you'll have several designs and colors to choose from, allowing you to once again express your creativity.