Building a deck can be a major home improvement project. It can also be extremely expensive. If you want a large deck then materials such as decking, supports and even hardware can rapidly add up. If you know when and where to look however, you may be able to shop smart and get the deck of your dreams without breaking the bank.
You will need to consider a number of different items when building your deck. They include all of the materials used to build the surface of the deck, the support structure materials, the hardware you will use, railings and any accessories that you want to incorporate into your design.
The surface of the deck can be made out of natural wood or out of composite materials. Composite materials are new and exciting but natural wood has a number of excellent qualities as well. There are a few different shop smart techniques you can use in order to purchase any of your needed decking materials.
A wooden deck can be lovely and as it is the traditional decking material it can be easy to find what you need to build one. Of the two main types of wood used to build a deck, pressure treated lumber is more reasonably priced and very long lasting. The other type of wood used to build a deck is Western Red Cedar. It is beautiful and durable but very expensive. Both types of wood will give off slivers and will require some care from time to time. This could mean replacing or sanding broken boards or pressure cleaning it once or twice yearly. Because it can be so expensive to ship heavy items, you are farther ahead to purchase the lumber from a store, but order plans and how-to-books online.
There is also composite decking material. This is synthetic material but it does contain wood pulp. There is also synthetic resin decking material. Composite decking is more expensive than wood but can be completely maintenance free. You should check out websites to find a list of dealers where you can purchase decking. Good ways to save money are to wait until the seasons change and stores want to get rid of their decking supplies over the winter.
If budgeting is a concern you need to make sure that you are not putting in a huge deck if you will only use a small one. You can always add more panels of decking later to expand the deck at a later date. A carefully designed deck plan will keep you from wasting building materials.
You might want to consider some of the different accessories that you can get for your deck. Consider finding ways to economize on the amount of space you will need by building seating into the railings. There are also storage bins and flower boxes which can earn their keep by doing double duty as storage for tools, toys or even food. High end decks could have a BBQ which is connected to a house's natural gas line and incorporates refrigerated storage to keep food and drinks cold.
Building a deck does not have to cost a massive amount of money. If you take the time and decide what you will use the deck for, use a well planned design and choose only those options which will be used most, you can find a way to get a wonderful space suitable for entertaining, dining or simply relaxing.
12/26/2009
12/14/2009
Backyard Fun - Ways to Entertain Toddlers
When summer rolls around, finding new and entertaining ways to keep toddlers outdoors can be a challenge. Supervision is a must for young children but finding ways to encourage children to learn to play on their own is important too. Whether you choose the right toy or just come up with the needed techniques to inspire your little one, the backyard can become their favorite spot this summer. Here are a few ideas to help get you started:
•The Bilibo. Use it at the sandbox to fill it with sand and/or water or as a space helmet. Save it to use as a sled in the winter! This bowl shaped plastic toy was designed to unlock imaginations of children ages 2 to 7. The beauty of it is its versatility. When they get tired of using the Bilibo for one thing, they can switch and use it for something completely different.
•Inflatables. These toys have become extremely popular in the last couple of years and they are available in all sizes and with a variety of games built right in. You can get one that has a jumping ring and provide them with a safer play area than that of a trampoline. Some of them have a ball pit and others have slides. Bigger toys may have several features combined and can be a little more expensive, but the smaller versions are ideal for toddlers and offer only one or two features at a lower price.
•Playhouses. You can find relatively inexpensive playhouses that are designed with the toddler in mind. In addition to offering children their very own place to spend time, these playhouses come with slides, swing sets, and different types of climbing access. Plus, you can stock your house with all types of furniture, dishes, and activities to occupy their time and spark their imaginations while they play. Playhouses aren’t just for girls anymore, either. Little boys will love having their own special “clubhouse” to share with their friends!
•Sand and activity tables. Not only do these offer hours of entertainment for little ones, it is also an educational form of play. They learn about textures and, depending on the built-in activities, and the behavior of different substances. There are many brands on the market but make sure you get one with a cover to keep pets and pests out while it isn’t in use.
There are lots of activities that are designed for toddlers to enjoy outdoors. The best toys are those that offer versatility of play rather than allowing for a limited range of thought or action. For instance, corn hole games are great fun for a little while, but you can’t count on a toddler to want to throw bags at a board with a hole in it all summer long. Anything that requires a child to use his imagination will help develop important skills and provide them with the entertainment they need to thrive outside.
•The Bilibo. Use it at the sandbox to fill it with sand and/or water or as a space helmet. Save it to use as a sled in the winter! This bowl shaped plastic toy was designed to unlock imaginations of children ages 2 to 7. The beauty of it is its versatility. When they get tired of using the Bilibo for one thing, they can switch and use it for something completely different.
•Inflatables. These toys have become extremely popular in the last couple of years and they are available in all sizes and with a variety of games built right in. You can get one that has a jumping ring and provide them with a safer play area than that of a trampoline. Some of them have a ball pit and others have slides. Bigger toys may have several features combined and can be a little more expensive, but the smaller versions are ideal for toddlers and offer only one or two features at a lower price.
•Playhouses. You can find relatively inexpensive playhouses that are designed with the toddler in mind. In addition to offering children their very own place to spend time, these playhouses come with slides, swing sets, and different types of climbing access. Plus, you can stock your house with all types of furniture, dishes, and activities to occupy their time and spark their imaginations while they play. Playhouses aren’t just for girls anymore, either. Little boys will love having their own special “clubhouse” to share with their friends!
•Sand and activity tables. Not only do these offer hours of entertainment for little ones, it is also an educational form of play. They learn about textures and, depending on the built-in activities, and the behavior of different substances. There are many brands on the market but make sure you get one with a cover to keep pets and pests out while it isn’t in use.
There are lots of activities that are designed for toddlers to enjoy outdoors. The best toys are those that offer versatility of play rather than allowing for a limited range of thought or action. For instance, corn hole games are great fun for a little while, but you can’t count on a toddler to want to throw bags at a board with a hole in it all summer long. Anything that requires a child to use his imagination will help develop important skills and provide them with the entertainment they need to thrive outside.
How to Buy New Window Blinds
Window blinds are an extremely popular covering because of their appearance, durability and their affordable price. Since window blinds come in so many different styles and materials the prospect of buying the right set for your home may at first seem a little bit overwhelming. Nothing could be further from the truth as buying blinds is in fact quite simple, however it does require a some knowledge of the product as well as a bit of careful planning. Here are a few pointers that will make your shopping a whole lot easier.
First you need to decide whether you are going to purchase some horizontal or vertical window blinds. Which style you choose to go for depends on factors such as the size of the windows themselves, their position in the room as well your own personal taste. Horizontal blinds are the more traditional choice for bedrooms as they are able to block out more light. You tend to find vertical blinds fitted to oversized windows as it is possible to get them custom fitted and ordered to almost any size. In addition to this you may find that horizontal blinds can be heavy and harder to operate on longer windows so vertical blinds will be the more practical option in this case too.
As with any important purchase you should predetermine your budget. The cost of installing window blinds throughout the home can quickly add up. The total will of course depend on your personal taste. Even the most expensive blinds on the market are generally much less expensive than curtains or drapes. Aluminum mini-blinds are commonly the cheapest and wood blinds the most expensive.
Decide what material you want your blinds to be made out of. Vertical blinds are made from either PVC vinyl or fabric. Some fabric blinds are sheer and allow some light through when partially open. Horizontal (venetian) blinds come in materials such as aluminum, wood and faux wood. faux wood window blinds look like the real thing however they are a little bit heavier and considerably cheaper. The most important thing is that you should buy the blinds which come in a material that will complement the decor of the room.
Make sure that you measure your windows as it is vital that you take accurate measurements, especially if you are paying extra money to get some custom made blinds that are non-refundable. When measuring always use a metal measuring tape and note down each measurement twice. How you go about measuring depends on whether you'll be mounting the blinds inside or outside the window and of course it will also depend on the type of blinds you are buying.
Finish of the look buy buying some accessories for your blinds. A valance can add quite a classy, finished look to vertical and venetian blinds and they come standard with some models. Motorized blinds are much easier to operate via remote control and have the additional benefit of eliminating the child safety risks that are often associated with cord operated blinds.
First you need to decide whether you are going to purchase some horizontal or vertical window blinds. Which style you choose to go for depends on factors such as the size of the windows themselves, their position in the room as well your own personal taste. Horizontal blinds are the more traditional choice for bedrooms as they are able to block out more light. You tend to find vertical blinds fitted to oversized windows as it is possible to get them custom fitted and ordered to almost any size. In addition to this you may find that horizontal blinds can be heavy and harder to operate on longer windows so vertical blinds will be the more practical option in this case too.
As with any important purchase you should predetermine your budget. The cost of installing window blinds throughout the home can quickly add up. The total will of course depend on your personal taste. Even the most expensive blinds on the market are generally much less expensive than curtains or drapes. Aluminum mini-blinds are commonly the cheapest and wood blinds the most expensive.
Decide what material you want your blinds to be made out of. Vertical blinds are made from either PVC vinyl or fabric. Some fabric blinds are sheer and allow some light through when partially open. Horizontal (venetian) blinds come in materials such as aluminum, wood and faux wood. faux wood window blinds look like the real thing however they are a little bit heavier and considerably cheaper. The most important thing is that you should buy the blinds which come in a material that will complement the decor of the room.
Make sure that you measure your windows as it is vital that you take accurate measurements, especially if you are paying extra money to get some custom made blinds that are non-refundable. When measuring always use a metal measuring tape and note down each measurement twice. How you go about measuring depends on whether you'll be mounting the blinds inside or outside the window and of course it will also depend on the type of blinds you are buying.
Finish of the look buy buying some accessories for your blinds. A valance can add quite a classy, finished look to vertical and venetian blinds and they come standard with some models. Motorized blinds are much easier to operate via remote control and have the additional benefit of eliminating the child safety risks that are often associated with cord operated blinds.
When to Trade Your Car In
I would love nothing more than to be able to trade my car in. On top of that, I would even take it a step further to say that I would not only love to trade my car in, but I would love to trade it in and actually get something back for it that I could then take and apply to whatever next vehicle I was going to purchase. But, alas, this is not going to be a possibility for me because we are currently living in an economic climate that is not really conducive to anyone with a sport utility vehicle trading their car in (unless you count the 'Cash for Clunkers' program).
People trade in their vehicles for all sorts of reasons. For some of us, we trade in our vehicles because we have just finished making our last payment and cannot wait to jump into a newer car and an even newer car payment (note the sarcasm here). For others of us, perhaps we work for a corporation or some other company in which we get the pick of the litter when it comes to company cars. A great example of this is my father.
When I was younger (and even up until a few years ago), my father worked in upper management at Avis Rent-A-Car. When he first started working for Avis, they used to allow a large number of their employees to have company cars as long as they worked there. Over time, they changed this policy to only include upper management staff members, but for as long as my father worked for Avis (20+years), he was always afforded a company car. At first, I never thought anything of it, and for a while I can remember being annoyed that just as I was getting used to “one of daddy's cars,” all of a sudden he would have a different one the next day it seemed. Truth be told, he was allowed to switch out cars every year, and for a while there, he did. Whatever new cars came on the market and were being rented out by Avis, my father had one. I didn't realize what was going on until some of my friends in grade school pointed out the fact that my dad always had a new car.
In reality, most people aren't this lucky. My father has since retired from Avis and is now a lawyer, thus he no longer has a company car. I am only too sure, however, that it must have been nice to have that privilege. Imagine that: no car payment ever, no vehicle tax to pay, no gasoline or payment for any of the maintenance or upkeep! Those are the sorts of things that put people in the hole financially! If you do own a car, you should make it a point to occasionally check the blue book value of it, this way you'll be sure to stay up with what is currently going on in the market. Knowing how much your car is worth is great information to have and to arm yourself with as well when you are going to a dealership where they assume that you don't know as much as they do.
People trade in their vehicles for all sorts of reasons. For some of us, we trade in our vehicles because we have just finished making our last payment and cannot wait to jump into a newer car and an even newer car payment (note the sarcasm here). For others of us, perhaps we work for a corporation or some other company in which we get the pick of the litter when it comes to company cars. A great example of this is my father.
When I was younger (and even up until a few years ago), my father worked in upper management at Avis Rent-A-Car. When he first started working for Avis, they used to allow a large number of their employees to have company cars as long as they worked there. Over time, they changed this policy to only include upper management staff members, but for as long as my father worked for Avis (20+years), he was always afforded a company car. At first, I never thought anything of it, and for a while I can remember being annoyed that just as I was getting used to “one of daddy's cars,” all of a sudden he would have a different one the next day it seemed. Truth be told, he was allowed to switch out cars every year, and for a while there, he did. Whatever new cars came on the market and were being rented out by Avis, my father had one. I didn't realize what was going on until some of my friends in grade school pointed out the fact that my dad always had a new car.
In reality, most people aren't this lucky. My father has since retired from Avis and is now a lawyer, thus he no longer has a company car. I am only too sure, however, that it must have been nice to have that privilege. Imagine that: no car payment ever, no vehicle tax to pay, no gasoline or payment for any of the maintenance or upkeep! Those are the sorts of things that put people in the hole financially! If you do own a car, you should make it a point to occasionally check the blue book value of it, this way you'll be sure to stay up with what is currently going on in the market. Knowing how much your car is worth is great information to have and to arm yourself with as well when you are going to a dealership where they assume that you don't know as much as they do.
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