Tips for Buying a Log Cabin for your Garden

By Spencer Wilkins

How much you pay for log cabins depends not just on the size of the building but also what types of logs have been used to build it. There are some, which have been built using handcrafted logs, which are quite expensive, and there are those that have been built from milled logs and these types of cabins are a lot less expensive.

In this article, we explain some more about the differences between milled and handcrafted logs. This will help you to make a more informed decision as to which is the best option for you. Milled logs are those which have either been passed through a sawmill, planer or lathe to get them to the right lengths and widths. These as you will soon find generally are of a much more uniformed size and profile.

Logs, which are milled to help extract moisture from them, will either be allowed to dry in the air or be placed in a kiln. The time it takes for the exact amounts of moisture to be removed depends on the size of the log and the method of drying used. But by extracting moisture from the wood helps to prevent too much shrinkage occurring once, the cabin has been constructed.

Because the wood will have been either planed, sawn or lathed the surface of the logs will be smooth. Plus in many cases, they will also have a tongue and groove joints so actually putting the logs together is much easier. This means that building the cabin is a lot easier and will often take a lot less time to complete. However, if you want to retain that rustic look to your cabin the outer face of the log can retain its rough bark coating.

The most favoured types of woods, which are commonly used to produce milled logs for cabins, are pine, cedar, spruce or fir. The least expensive type of log cabin using the milled process are ones that are made from pine or spruce whilst those from cedar tend to be the most expensive.

As for handcrafted logs, these will have been prepared by being hand peeled using either a drawknife or through the use of water. The actual logs themselves when being prepared are green and will only have been cut and hauled a few days or weeks before. Unlike milled logs these are allowed to air dry only as kiln drying is a very expensive process, as these need to be dried whilst they are still their full lengths after cutting.

As well as pine and spruce being favorite trees for making handcrafted log cabins from other trees that are used are the Douglas fir, Oak, Juniper, Cyprus and Alpine Fir. The last tree mentioned is also known as a True Fir.

As mentioned the cost you pay for buying and having log cabins constructed will not only depend on the way in which the logs have been prepared. You also need to take into consideration the size of the cabin you are having built. The bigger the cabin then the more labour intensive and the more logs will be needed in order to build it. If you want to save money but would like a large cabin then you are better off going for milled rather than handcrafted logs. - 30228

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Using Herbs from a Home Herb Garden

By Tony Stevens

Anyone who knows anything about herbs knows how useful they are in so many ways. You may have purchased your herbs at the local market or from a health store but now you are ready to reap their benefits from the comfort of your own home. Herb gardening can be very rewarding but once you have planted the herbs and watched them flourish, it will take a bit of work on your part to actually be able to use the herbs from your home herb garden.

Before you can use your herbs, they will need to be harvested and this is best done in an environment free from wind and heat as these elements can disperse the essential oils in the herbs. The best time to harvest is on a calm and dry morning in midsummer. On wet days, fewer oils will be produced so make sure the dew has dried before beginning. When harvesting, do not remove the entire plant, just take a certain amount of growth for use and try not to take more than a third of the plants foliage at one time as the plant will need a certain amount to help it grow again. Another important thing to do is inspect the plant for insects and damage. Harvesting also does not mean using the herbs as soon as you pick them because they can be preserved for later use.

Preserving your herbs can be done in three ways:

1. Drying

2. Freezing

3. Preserving them in a salt or vinegar.

When drying herbs, bundle six to twelve stems together and remove any foliage near the base of the stems and secure the bundle with a string. Hang away from sunlight in a cool area. To dry individual leaves, place them on a screen or rack and turn them often so they dry properly. Some people claim appliances such as dehydrators and microwaves are a good way to dry herbs, but the results are not as good.

One of the easiest ways to preserve your herbs is to freeze them. You will want to cut them into small manageable pieces ready to freeze. Place them on a tray as you would if drying them but place them in the freezer. Once they are frozen you can now keep them in a container, jar or bag just make sure it is freezer friendly. Put them back into your freezer until you need them. A quick way to freeze your herbs is to place them in your ice cube tray with a small amount of water.

The third way to preserve herbs depends on the type of plant you are trying to preserve. For example, a medium like vinegar can be used to preserve herbs such as chopped mint, basil and tarragon. This method of preservation will keep your herbs good for several months.

You may not want to preserve all of your harvested herbs. Instead, you may want to use some of them straight from the garden. An important thing you must do before using herbs in fresh recipes is cleaning your herbs. Place them in a bowl filled with cool water, add two table spoons of salt and watch as it drives away insects without causing any damage to the plant. To dry the herbs, use a salad spinner.

You will need to do some more research about your home herb garden as every herb you are thinking of using will be different. They will require different elements and specific needs to help them grow and thrive. - 30228

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Why You Should Consider Buying An Intex Pool Pump

By Jimmy Bartlett

If you own a pool it is important that you that you have a good system to allow you to properly clean and filter out your entire pool. Failing to properly clean and filter the pool will sometimes cause you to have a dirty pool. The right kind of pump is important for anyone who is looking to run a clean pool. Intex pool pumps are the best swimming pool pumps because they are extremely effective.

People who are interested in keeping their pool clean need to make sure that they do a comprehensive search online for different products and services that can help them out. An intex pool cover is essential for people looking to keep foreign objects out of their pool.

It is very important to have a good filtration and pumping system in your pool. If you don't have a good system together you will probably find that it is difficult to maintain a clean pool. Having a good filtration system will help to ensure that your life is a lot easier when it comes to pool cleaning.

People who are looking to get heating for their pool need to look at the different costs that are involved. People need to realize that you actual geographical location will have a major impact on your bill. If you are living in a hot climate you won't need to pay as much as someone living in New York.

One of the reasons why intex pool pumps are so effective is because of the quality. These pumps will last you an extremely long time. Most intex pump owners are able to keep their pumps for the duration of their pool.

Anyone who owns a swimming pool needs to make sure that they buy the proper pool filters. A good pool filter will ensure that you swimming pool is crystal clear. A comprehensive search will ensure that you find a good filter system that can work for your particular pool and pump.

People who are interested in buying the best pool brand should consider using intex pool parts. These parts are designed to be highly effective and are very durable. Anyone who owns an intel pump won't have to worry about replacing it for a very long time.

There are many different reasons why you should consider replacing your pool pump. Probably the most compelling reason is to ensure that you have a clean and function swimming pool that you can use. - 30228

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Don't Build Your New Patio Out of Concrete

By Norm Manter

Constructing a new patio this summer or redoing an old one will present you with a lot of choices for materials. Each one of them has its advantages and drawbacks but they will all go a long way of contributing to a beautiful patio.

If you are from a place that has winters and summers and the full array of temperatures associated with each, you may want to choose flagstone as the material to use. Flagstone is a very strong rock and it withstands the elements better than some of your other choices. If you have cold winters, you will need your patio to be made out of something that doesnt crack and flagstone is very sturdy. Flagstone can be bought as the real thing or as a man made material at any shop that sells stone.

Another one of your options for patio materials is tile. There are as many tile patio ideas as there are kinds of tile. Tile comes in all sorts of textures and colors and this is one of the main advantages of using it for your patio surface. The possibilities are endless of what kind of design, color, and look you can make your patio when you use tile. Another benefit is that tile is very smooth which makes it easy for walking with little chance of tripping. Some other patio materials might not be a smooth and the patio furniture might not sit perfectly square on the patio surface.

One of the ways to have a great looking patio this summer is to use brick. People use brick patio ideas because brick looks good almost anywhere and it is relatively easy to lay. A brick patio can be built by someone that does not have a whole lot of experience if they have the help of someone who has laid brick before. Brick is a substantial looking stone and a patio constructed with brick has that hardy look. Brick is also a colorful stone and if you add a nice garden around your brick patio, you will have an area where your guests will love to hang out.

Patios can be made out of many materials but one of the advantages of using slate is the variety of patterns you can get. Slate patio designs make slate one of the best stones to build your patio out of. You can get slate in a variety of colors and textures which allow you to build a patio that is truly unique. Most houses are built with concrete patios and you might not have the opportunity to get anything else. However, if you are going to be building your own patio that is the time to build one that will look different from all the others and slate is a great place to start. - 30228

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Some Tips On Picking Out Pool and Patio Furniture

By Melvin Sentrovski

Those of you who just got their new swimming pool probably want pool and patio furniture to go with it. No matter what your tastes are, you can find pool and patio furniture that will suit it, because of the sheer number of shapes and sizes out there.

Before shopping for the pool and patio furniture, however, take into consideration the patio and pool area that it is going to occupy. For a pool in the classic style -- the blue bottom with light colored concrete deck -- metal or wrought iron furniture is going to provide the traditional, clean lines that will enhance the look and feel of the setting. To complete the scene, you may want to add a bright umbrella and a few tropical plants, or even palm trees.

If you have a more natural aesthetic to your pool, with stone surrounds and waterfalls, this particular style of pool and patio furniture might not be what you are looking for. You can instead go for stained wood furniture, like chaise lounges and Adirondack chairs, which will accent the natural attributes of your pool nicely.

Flowers and other forms of greenery will make the area more serene and pleasant. You also want to ensure that you get pool and patio furniture of the best quality, so that it will remain beautiful for years to come with only minimal maintenance.

Resin is something that is found more and more in pool and patio furniture nowadays. Resin furniture will stand up to punishment very well. It doesn't cost much either, so if you're on a budget, this is perfect.

It can also be purchased in a fantastic array of colors and styles so you are sure to find something that will fit with your pool and patio. You can even get resin pool and patio furniture that looks like natural wood, but will have all the benefits of resin.

It's important to take your time and shop thoroughly for your pool and patio furniture, as your pool will get a lot of use over the years and so will the furniture that is on the patio next to it. Shopping around will help you find the quality you are looking for, at the deal you are hoping for. - 30228

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Advice on maintaining your Garden Furniture

By Spencer Wilkins

Yes having teak garden furniture in your garden can really improve the look and the way in which you would use it. However, if you do intend to keep this type of furniture outside through out the year in order for it to last you need to learn how it should be cared for.

Although it is a hardwood making it very strong, it is still very likely to suffer from what the elements can throw at it. The wood in teak is much denser than some others and contains a resinous oil that can extend the life of the furniture. Yes, this oil can help to prevent the wood not only drying out but makes it far more resistant to moisture as well.

Initially you have to make a choice between whether you want to purchase furniture, which comes in its raw state, or one that has been treated using a teak oil. When you first buy your teak garden furniture, you will find that it has a golden color to it. However, over time and when the elements get to work on it, the wood will turn a silver grey color instead.

If you are quite happy for the wood to turn silver grey then once it has there is very little you will need to do in order for it retain it. For those, who however would prefer their would to retain that golden hue then it is important that they apply a layer of teak oil.

In order for your teak garden furniture to retain its golden color, then one should be applying teak oil to its surface twice a year. The first that you will need to do is actually clean the wood.

The first that you will actually need to do is mix some mild detergent with warm water and then take a clean lint free cloth soak in the water. Then wring it out thoroughly until the cloth is only damp and use this to wipe the surface of the furniture with. This will help to remove any grime or dust that has built up on the furniture. Once the furniture has been wiped down with a damp cloth you need to leave it to dry before you start applying the oil.

When it comes to you applying the oil to your garden furniture, you should only use a clean lint free cloth to do so. But if you prefer you could use a spray gun instead, but using a cloth will help to spread the oil more evenly over the surface of the wood. Then you need to leave the oil until when you touch it, it feels tacky.

When the oil has got to this stage, you now need to take another lint free cloth (clean one) and use this for removing any oil that is left on the surface. Then about an hour after this, you need to take another clean cloth that you use to polish up the surface of your teak garden furniture. - 30228

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Skid Steer Attachments Are Available For Almost Any Project You Have To Be Done

By Ron Paully

Propelled by a small engine, the versatile skid steer or slide loader also has a hydraulic system for diverse tasks. You can greatly expand the amount of work that can be accomplished by the use of various different skid steer equipment.

These power driven skid steer attachments are what makes these machines so universally favored and uniquely flexible for saving time, labor, and money. They are used in a wide variety of industries, from agricultural, construction and material handling to landscaping, demolition and snow removal.

With skid steer attachments you can easily transport items from one area to another by easily lifting, moving and depositing items to a selected destination, like a platform or truck. Attachments are available for nearly any type of loading chore.

Being able to serve as a digger is another benefit that can be gained as well, by use of the steer loader. Excavation goals can reached efficiently and quickly accomplished by the use of a wide array of skid steer's handy attachments to easily create holes or dig.

Handy attachments are currently available in a wide variety for use on your machine. Another really great thing is that the majority of manufacturers all around the industry have standardized the basic way the attachments will fit on other designs. Quick Attach will let you to keep your Construction Attachments if you decide to change brands of skid steer.

This means, that regardless of brand, most attachments will have no problem fitting the machine you use. As with most things, there are exceptions and if your attachments are powered by hydraulics, then you still need to check the flow of your machine versus the requirements of the skidsteer attachments.

You will find many that are hydraulically powered, but you will also see non-hydraulic ones in frequent use.

Forks are very common examples that come in a wide variety of sorts and different sizes. Material and pallets are moved by forks around job sites, as well as are small pieces of machinery. Specialized forks for things like moving hay can frequently be seen in agricultural settings.

A variety of different kinds of skid steer buckets are also in the non-hydraulic category. Extremely lightweight materials are usually handled with especially large buckets. Most of these are designed with a sharp straight edge designed specifically for scooping.

Buckets that have teeth instead of a cutting edge are also readily available for digging purposes of various types.

One of the more interesting parts of the skid steer attachment family is the group that uses hydraulic power to operate. One of the more commonly seen of the power operated type is a multi-purpose skid loader bucket that opens and closes under power.

Other widely used hydraulic attachments include the sweepers or brushes. Another heavily utilized group is the auger family.

A few of the other most popular skid steer attachments include:

Cement mixers, snow blowers, backhoes, buckets, fertilizer spreaders, snow blowers, bale movers, grapples, forks, hole diggers, fruit pickers, ditch trenchers, tillers, tilts, hole augers and lawn mowers.

By choosing the best skid steer attachment for your project you can maximize efficiency and accomplish your tasks in less time.

If you cannot find the perfect tool for job there also is a number of companies that will design and build almost any tool you require. When it comes to skid steer attachments you are only limited by your imagination. - 30228

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