Wood or metal playground equipment

What better surprise for a child than a fantastic playground in your own backyard. There are few things children love more than slides, swing sets, and playgrounds in general. Instead of making the trek to your neighborhood park, installing a playground in your own backyard is a great solution. There is a spectacular selection of quality playground equipment on the market, but the main choice you will have to make is between the actual materials. There many reasons why to make a backyard playground, but evaluate the differences between metal and wooden sets carefully before your purchase. Regardless if you choose a piece of wooden or metal playground equipment, be sure that it follows all the proper safety standards. Also, keep in mind that children each year are injured by improperly playing on playground equipment without appropriate supervision. Even though this playground is in your own backyard instead of at the neighborhood park, your children should still play under adult supervision. Years ago, most playground equipment was made from metal. Even today, most swing sets are still made from metal tubes attached to which is a chain. Metal equipment, although still available, has been far surpassed by wooden equipment. The main reason for the rise in popularity of wooden playground equipment is the customizations options. Also, many individuals choose wooden playground equipment since it can be built for less money than the purchase of a metal play set. If you are the handy type looking to build your own fantastic outdoor playground creation, then wood is the best way to go. There are numerous kits that allow you to combine different types of slides, swings, climbing walls, and a variety of other aspects to customize the set. The planning and construction process required in creating wooden playground equipment is a great project for the entire family. Involve your children and allow them to express themselves in creating a custom set. Let your imagine roam wild! Picking up a hammer and nails not sounding so attractive? Look to pre-made sets instead. Although you will not be able to customize the equipment, there are many fantastic options available in both metal and wood. Keep in mind that metal equipment should be regularly inspected to avoid and prevent rusting. If necessary, apply a rust-preventative paint or topcoat. Also, wooden playground equipment should also be evaluated for potential splits or splinters. Just like metal equipment, those made out of wood should have the proper weather coatings to keep the wood looking fresh.

Materials and styles for different deck railing ideas

Finding your deck railing idea will depend on many factors. Foremost, you need to find which of the styles out there would match better into your home decoration. A nice idea is to combine the benefit of the garden with the warmness of a living room. The decision is into your mind and up to you. Railing Materials And Styles Most rails materials look and feel attractive and match almost any deck railing style or home decoration. If you want to invest your money in deck flooring and sophisticated railings that have a natural yet long lasting appeal. You would certainly benefit from considering composite over other synthetics. Since iron railings are probably the most beautiful amongst all railing styles, they need over time a proper care. An iron railing may lead to corrosion and rust or decay if an you do an improper care. Water is the most common culprit in these cases, but a good lacquer and cleaning may minimize corrosion over time. Wooden railings offer many benefits over other traditional materials such as brick, stone or metal. For one anyone can install a railing made of wood with just a few supplies and a couple of hours time on their hands. Many homeowners add better wrought iron railings than wooden ones because of their long-lasting and reliability, amongst many others characteristics, such as the maintenance. While pleasant to view and durability an iron railing does present some unique challenges to consider. In terms of maintenance, the best choice may be the cedar ones, because they are both practical and easy to maintain. You can also add cedar furniture into the decoration style. It use to be very lightweight and can be moved around the deck surface. Getting a high contrast of elements you wish may be easier with cedar. Again, how to get a natural style or design for your house depends on you. Installing your deck railing Finishing nails, a saw, drill, measuring tape, finials, balusters and posts are all important components of professional looking rails. You can buy a majority of the supplies you need whether for a traditional or Victorian style railing online; if this is the deck railing idea chosen, at your local home improvement supply store or at a lumberyard.

What exactly is crown molding

By definition, a molding is an ornamental piece of wood, metal, or plaster, used to decorate or outline something. It can be used on the interior or exterior of a home. Moldings frame walls, ceilings, windows, and door openings. Examples of moldings used to decorate with are baseboards, crown molding, and chair rails. Today, I want to talk exclusively about crown molding as a decorative architectural choice. Crown molding, also referred to as crown moulding, or cornice, is probably the most important architectural accent used to detail any interior space. Most interior designers today would agree that every room can be improved with the use of crown molding. Crown molding smoothes the transition from the wall to the ceiling and does a wonderful job of defining the architectural style of a room. The size and style of crown molding used may vary widely, from a simple cove in a farmhouse kitchen to a large built-up cornice in a grand entry. The initial use of a cornice in building design is anyone's guess. By the time the ancient Greeks had gained power, rules had already been created to define the use and design of crown molding. Originally, it was used as a structural element to help support the weight of the roof. It also served to keep water away from the building, thus protecting the lower walls and the foundation. However, the use of cornice as a decorative element was not considered any less important than it's more utilitarian functions. Most of the ornamental design patterns that you see on today's crown molding originated from the ancient Greeks. Egg and dart, dentil and acanthus leaf are the most obvious examples and these were used extensively in ancient times by both the Greeks and the Romans. With the rebirth of the arts in the Renaissance period came a renewed interest in classical architecture as well. The rules of the classical orders were applied to the interior decoration of rooms. These were the rules of “3”. A column, the basis of classical architecture, is divided into 3 parts: base, shaft and capital. The base and the capital were then further divided into 3 parts and prescribed rules applied to the relationship and the proportion of these divisions as well. The same divisions that apply to a column are also applied to the wall. The wall is divided into the baseboard, the wall and a crown molding. The lower wall can be further divided into the base, dado and chair rail. Finally, the upper wall is divided into the picture molding, frieze and crown molding. When beginning any decorative project to include several types of molding, it is recommended that you choose the style and size of crown molding first, as it is the most prominently displayed. Then select the rest of the moldings to match. Regarding the proper sizing of the crown molding, advice is abundant and many guidelines have been written. Most often the advice directs you to select the size of the crown molding based on the height of your ceiling. This may be a common approach to this aspect of the design process, though, as larger crown moldings have often been used to impressively decorate rooms of more modest proportions. What IS important is to properly scale the casings and other moldings to the size of the crown molding that you wish to use. When choosing crown molding for your interior, feel free to select the size and style that YOU like. Historically, larger crown moldings were more frequently used than what is recommended today by many interior designers. Change is anticipated as the current architectural renaissance continues and more designers and homeowners endeavor to add warmth to their homes and to personalize their interiors. So have a go at it and don’t be intimidated . You are limited only by your imagination. copyright 2005 goceilingmedallion

Spa filters everything you need to know

Spa filters are one of the most important parts of the spa, although they are generally forgotten about. It is very important to change your filter on a regular basis, because that is what keeps bacteria, dirt, bugs, and all other kinds of nasty things out of your spa. The spa circulates all of the water through the filter to trap these contaminates. How often you change your filter depends on the type of filter you use, but normally you should replace it every year or two. Below are the three types of filters you can buy, however you should check with the manufacturer as to what type of filter they recommend you should use with your particular spa. The most common type of spa filter is the sand filter. As the name suggests, this type of filter uses a specific type of sand (and gravel) to remove contaminate particles from your water. The only problem with a sand filter is that it will not remove all particles on its own. To help, you have to add something to the water to cause the smallest particles to clump together into bigger particles, thereby allowing the filter to remove them. You should also note that the sand in the filter should be replenished every few years of regular use. These filters must be backwashed to be cleaned. The second type of spa filter is the cartridge filter. The cartridge filter uses a folded polyester mesh or paper material to trap the particles contained in the water. The more mesh that is used and the more folds used, the more thoroughly this type of filter cleans the water. You can often buy cartridge filters right from the manufacturer of your spa, or you can get filters made by third parties, usually at a discounted price. The third type of spa filter is the Diatomaceous Earth filter. This type uses fine mesh AND Diatomaceous Earth (DE) particles (which is simply ground up fossils). This filter works the same way as the others, trapping contaminate in the mesh and DE. Some places have laws governing the removal of DE, so you need to take that into consideration. The DE filter has to be backwashed to be cleaned, and then a new coating of DE has to be applied to it. To make sure the water in your spa is properly filtered, you should run it EVERY day for at least an hour. That way, even if you aren’t using the spa, the water is still being thoroughly cleaned. Finally, to add to the life of your filter, you should make sure that all individuals using the spa are relatively clean before getting in. The more contaminates you put in, the harder the filter will have to work, thus shortening its lifespan. These contaminates may include hairspray, sweat, deodorant, hair, skin lotions, dirt, and even dead skin cells. In fact, people themselves are the major source of spa contaminates. Insist that those intending to use the spa shower beforehand. This can lead to a large savings on spa filter maintenance and replacement.

Getting rid of stains on your hardwood floor

The most common and, perhaps, annoying damage to your precious hardwood floor are stains. Be they ink stains, water stains, or whatever, the fact that that particular stain was caused by someone's negligence and not because of normal, time-driven wear makes us feel a little cross. This is because stains are very evident and, for serious cases, may force us to replace the entire wood board altogether. But when you see a stain on your hardwood flooring, you shouldn't panic just yet. It could be a damage that can be addressed by minor repair methods and without having to call in and pay for professional help. There are certain hardwood floor stains that you can repair yourself. For instance, if there is a huge water mark on your floor, you might be tempted to replace the entire plank to get rid of it. This is not always the remedy. You should first try if it's a problem that can be remedied by sanding and refinishing the affected spot. Taking care of a small spot yourself will not be a nuisance, compared to changing the entire surface. However, if the stain is really not manageable, you may still attempt at doing the replacement job yourself. The first thing you should do to get rid of stain is to come up with an oxalic acid crystal solution, which will be dabbed onto the stained area. Oxalic acid acts as a bleaching agent and can get rid of minor stains. If the stain is not bleached out the first time, you can repeat the procedure for several times more until the stain is gone. Make sure you wear protective gloves, though, as the oxalic acid might be too harsh for your skin. After you apply oxalic acid, you should return your floor to its usual acidity rinsing it with vinegar. The one you find in your kitchen will do. Of course, you will need to wipe the area dry of excess moisture and allow it completely dry first before you leave it alone. The result should be bleached but stain-less finish. Finally, choose an oil-based stain you can apply to the bleached surface to get the original look of your hardwood floor. You may do a number of applications before you get your desired shade. However, before you decide on which stain shade to buy, make sure first that it is compatible with the rest of the floor's color and the kind of wood your floor is made of.

Preventing basement and crawlspaces mold

Mold is a very common basement and crawlspaces problem as it presents a real challenge in controlling air quality. Basements and crawlspaces are is usually damp and in many cases use as a storage area, providing optimal growth conditions to molds. There are two important aspects to basements and crawlspaces mold prevention: 1. Controlling Humidity Levels The first step to mold prevention is to successfully control humidity levels. Start with measuring humidity levels and detecting any unusual readings. Take measurements every 3 months to keep track of any changes that may occur when the weather changes. If humidity levels readings are higher than 45 percent, your basement is likely to suffer from mold and you must take action to detects and fix any moisture sources to lower humidity levels. Regularly inspect your basement for any water damages that generate visible or hidden moisture sources. Act fast to fix problems such as leaks or standing water. Another way to control humidity is to allow air circulation. Although it may be hard to generate air flow in the basement or crawlspace it is important. You can improve air flow by keeping you basement tidy and opening the basement door from time to time and leave a fan running for a few hours. Consider installing a dehumidifier in the basement to reduce air moisture especially during warm months. If you detect any cracks in walls or floor, seal them immediately. 2. Smart Storage If you organize your basement and crawlspaces you take another important step towards mold elimination. Try to avoid storing papers, clothes, in the basement and crawlspaces because these materials can be used as nutrition for molds allowing it to spread even faster if humidity levels rise above 50 percent. If you must store these materials in your basement or crawlspace, do your best to reduce the amount of these stored materials and discard if badly damaged. In addition, if you must store these materials in the basement or crawlspace, make sure to place them properly. Proper placement means that you need to store them away from outer walls, since that is where moisture is most likely to originate. For the same reason, raise these stored materials from the floor and place them on a table or a raised surface. Never store firewood in the basement or crawlspace because it is common for firewood to become likely to become moldy within hours from the minute humidity levels raise. When firewood becomes moldy, it generates airborne mold spores that may contaminate your indoors air quality and in some cases penetrate the HVAC system and contaminate your home by traveling through your ducts. For more information visit restorationsos Free guides are available