Tag Archives: home improvement

Gardening

Simple Steps On Building A Deck Or Patio Awning

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During a hot summer day, patios and decks tend to absorb a lot of heat. Sitting in these open outdoor spaces can definitely get uncomfortable as you sit there sweating and burning in the sun. Many people add awnings to solve this problem, but they can be a bit expensive. If you want to have the luxury of sitting in the shade on a beautiful summer day, there is a cost-effective way of doing this. By building your own awning, you’ll save a ton of money and you’ll be able to enjoy some shade as well! This article will guide you on how to build your own awning.

The first step in building your patio awning is making sure you have the proper materials. You’ll need a measuring tape, electric drill, four grommets, four stakes, four sections of rope, two key rings, two screw hooks, two support poles, a sewing machine with a large needle and a large piece of canvas. These materials are extremely cost efficient as well.

Let’s begin building! Step one will require setting up the canvas. One thing you must do is be sure you purchase enough canvas and always get a bit extra since you’ll need to hem it. Sew the hems around the material so the canvas won’t fray. The canvas will be outdoors and with the rain and other outdoor conditions, you need a durable thread. Use a nylon thread for the sewing as it’s on the durable side of materials. On each corner install one grommet.

Once the grommets are in place, take the tape measure and measure from one grommet to the other. On the side you plan on having the awning branch out from, drill two pilot holes on the wood siding. These holes will make it much easier for you in the next step; screw the hooks into the pilot holes.

Take a single key ring and install each key ring on each grommet. Start on the side that’s going up against the house first. You’ll need to place the first two key rings on the two hooks and at this point, one entire side of your awning should be complete!

You’re awning should be hanging off those two hooks and it will need support from the other side. You currently have support from the house, but the awning needs two poles to support the other side. Pull the canvas out in order to determine where the poles will stand and make sure the canvas has a tight and clean look. Once you’ve determined a place for the poles, either place them into the dirt of use a sturdy flat base stand to support the poles. The poles will then go through the grommets on the canvas awning.

Now it’s time to use the rope. The rope will play a major role as a support system. Take the rope and tie it to the grommets, on the side of the poles. Since you have four ropes, use two ropes on each side of the pole. You’ll want to stake the ropes into the ground for support. One rope should point directly straight out from the pole and the other should point directly to the side at a ninety degree angle for more support. Do this to both poles.

This process should only take a few hours. Once complete, you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy some shade on those hot summer days. This is extremely cost-efficient and a pretty simple project! Good luck!

This writer is a specialist on building custom home awnings. He truly believes that the right awning fabric will play a major role in how long your awning will last. More information can be found at this authors blog, awningfabric. net.

Gardening

Easy Ways To Maintain Drains And Pipes

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Drain in the bathrooms and kitchen are often not noticed until some serious problem occurs in them. This problem can however be avoided if you follow some preventive measures to keep you drain running smoothly. In case the problem is serious then you can hire a plumber for solving the problem. But before you call a plumber to solve the problem try to do it yourself by following some simple steps.

Both newly constructed and old house pipes need regular maintenance and care. Check all the pipes in your house two times in a week for any leak or broken connection. It is always better to notice a leak before it becomes serious. This way you can prevent a big damage or an urgent call.

You can also be practical about preventing clogs in your drains and pipes by taking a few minutes every other week to do some simple cleaning. For example, your kitchen sink, will unavoidably suffer some build up of grease and food if you don’t keep the drains clean.

For cleaning your drains, you just require some normal dish wash detergent and boiling water. First of all, pour two spoons of detergent in the drain to be cleaned and then after 10-15 minutes, pass boiling water through the drain. This is a simple process of doing the cleaning that can easily keep your drain smooth.

An old plumbing is more susceptible to any kind of leakage. Therefore, if you have old plumbing then don’t forget to put a bucket or tub under the kitchen sink pipe that will prevent spilling of dirty water on the floor and hence prevents the floor damage.

But what if you already have a clog? Before you call a plumber, try pouring a cup of baking soda into your drain followed by a cup of vinegar. Wait for few minutes and then pour very hot or boiling water in to it. This mixture will break up most ordinary clogs very quickly and won’t harm your pipes like harsh chemical treatments.

If the problem is out of your control then only a plumber or drain cleaner can handle it. In such situations you need to urgently call them. Therefore, keep the information about few good plumbers in advance.

It is always better to have their contact number at your home. Try to keep their number at a place where you can easily reach and this way you can quickly make a call to them in case of emergency.

Scott Rodgers is a noted author who has been providing ample guidance on plumbing works all across the nation. His luxurious knowledge has, in fact, sparked significant rise in revenue for talented plumbers across the nation, from Severna Park Plumbers (Need one?click here!) to Shady Side Plumbers (Need one?click here!).