Author Archive for Spencer Wilkins

Childrens Playhouses for the Garden

Published
by
Spencer Wilkins
on June 13, 2008
in Home & Family
. 0 Comments
by Spencer Wilkins

Timber playhouses as any child knows offers them the chance to allow their imagination to run riot as they play either by themselves or with their friends. When it comes to parents selecting the right kind of playhouse for their child they will soon discover that they have plenty of options open to them. So actually finding one that meets their child’s own particular needs will not be that difficult.

Actually purchasing such an item is extremely easy a visit to your local garden centre or DIY store and they will have a number of different designs that you can select from. Also if you find that you do not have the time then a quick search of the internet will provide you with some ideas as well. A lot of the playhouses that are currently available come in prefabricated kit form and can easily be installed by you as they come with a good set of instructions as well.

As well as prefabricated playhouses the other option open to you is to have one that is custom made. Although these are more expensive you will be able to design a playhouse that is completely unique. Plus the standard of finish often means that these types of playhouses are far more durable as well.

Once you have decided on whether you are going for a custom or prefabricated playhouse you now need to take other factors into consideration before you make your purchase. Below we look at just what these are and which should help you with selecting the right playhouse for your children.

The first thing you need to consider is where you are actually going to be placing it. Ideally it should be not only somewhere that they children have easy access to it, but in a position where you can also see it from your home. If you can place it in a location within the garden where it gets plenty of natural sunlight throughout the day.

Once the location has been chosen you now need to make a decision on just what size of playhouse you want built. If you intend to install anything over 100 sq ft then you may well need to seek permission from your local authority to do so. Also before you purchase the playhouse depending on its size it might be advisable to see if your neighbors are bothered about such an installation or not.

The actual size of the playhouse you select should be one that can meet your child’s requirements at the time of construction, but also as they grow older. Certainly a custom built one is more likely to ensure that all their requirements will be met and you will not need to spend more money replacing it at a later date.

After choosing where the playhouse is going to be located and the size you need to next decide on what style you want. Because there are so many to choose from this is probably going to be the most difficult part of the selection process, therefore why not get your children involved (unless it is a surprise for them). By doing this you will be ensuring that you get exactly what they want and something that they will actually use.

About the Author:
There are a number of playhouses available to purchase from online stores and can keep the children busy! Also look at purchaseing some garden toys that can accompany the playhouses.

Tips for Buying a Log Cabin for your Garden

Published
by
Spencer Wilkins
on May 23, 2008
in Gardening
. 0 Comments
by Spencer Wilkins

The cost of log cabins varies greatly depending on the kinds of logs which have been used and the size of the property. You will find that those cabins that have been built using handcrafted logs will cost much more than those where the logs have been milled.

Therefore, before you actually go ahead and get a cabin built from logs it is crucial that you actually know what the difference is between milled and handcrafted logs. Those that have been milled will have been placed through a sawmill, lathe or planer. This will ensure that they all come out in the same uniform size, shape and have the same profile.

Also, logs, which have been milled for a cabin, will have been air or kiln, dried to remove any excess moisture before construction begins. This will ensure that sufficient amounts of moisture have been removed and prevent the possibility of the building shrinking too much once the wood dries out further.

As for the surface of these logs, they are generally smooth and flat and could even have been coped as well. Also in a large number of cases, they will have tongue and groove joints along the sides where they are to join. This not only makes the construction process easier but helps to provide a much stronger and stable outer shell to the cabin. But if you want, the outer side of the log can remain rough to provide a much more rustic look to your cabin.

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.

Above we have explained something about what milled logs are, now we will provide you with some information regarding handcrafted ones. These will be prepared using either a drawknife so the wood will be hand peeled or they will be water peeled. In most cases, the wood will still be green, as the trees from the which the logs are being produced have only been cut for a few days or a week. Where as milled logs can be either air or kiln dried, with handcrafted ones the only way is to extract moisture is through air-drying. There are unfortunately not enough kilns around which are large enough to accommodate these logs.

The types of trees that are most favoured for handcrafted log cabins are the Douglas fir, Pine and Spruce. However, there are some log cabin companies who prefer to use woods such as Oak, Juniper, Cyprus and Alpine Fir (also known as True Firs).

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.

About the Author:
There are a variety of log cabins available to purchase online which can add something special to your garden. You could also consider choosing from the variety of summerhouses which are very alike to log cabins.

Tips for looking after your Garden Furniture

Published
by
Spencer Wilkins
on May 22, 2008
in Gardening
. 0 Comments
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.

Teak is a hardwood and this is what makes the furniture so it is very durable. Plus this type of furniture will last quite a considerable amount of time because it is a very dense timber and contains high levels of resinous oil within it. It is this oil which actually not only makes the wood resistant to drying out but also from absorbing too much moisture.

Today you can either purchase teak garden furniture in its raw state or when it has been oiled. Furniture, which is still in its raw state when it arrives, will have a golden color to it. However, as time passes and if the wood is left, untreated it will fade to a silver grey color instead.

Certainly if you are after the silver grey look then once the wood has reached this stage there is very little that you will need to do to make sure that it retains this color. However, if you would prefer your wood to retain the golden color of when it arrived you need to start applying teak oil to its surface.

For furniture, which will be outside in the garden throughout the year, you will need to apply the teak oil every 6 months. However, before you actually apply the oil you will need to clean the furniture first.

To do this you take some warm water (with a mild detergent mixed into it) and then use a soft damp cloth to wipe off and remove any dust or grit. After you have done this, you now need to leave the wood to dry naturally before you actually apply the oil.

Once the furniture is completely dry, you can start applying the oil. You can either do this by wiping it over the surface with a clean lint free cloth or by use of a spray gun. Using a cloth is much better as this allows you to spread the oil evenly over the surface of the wood. Once you have covered all the wood with the oil you need to leave it try until it is tacky to touch.

Once it is at this stage you should then dry with another clean lint free cloth and this will remove any excess oil on the surface of the wood. The final thing that one needs to do when oiling teak garden furniture is to buff or polish the surface with another clean rug an hour later.

About the Author:
Caring for your garden furniture allows it to last much longer and remain in good condition. There are a variety of garden furniture sets available to buy online such as garden benches to make a great feature.

Garden Sheds

Published
by
Spencer Wilkins
on February 24, 2008
in Gardening
. 0 Comments
by Spencer Wilkins

Rather than employing the services of a builder to construct sheds in their gardens, today people prefer to do the work themselves. This is because there are plenty of easy to assemble shed kits that they can use and will cost them a fraction of the price of employing someone else to do the work for them. Such kits can either be purchased from a local DIY Store or Garden Center or by getting one at the many websites offering such items online.

As you will soon discover there is a wide array of different types of kits to choose from. There are those which are small and designed to store all your garden equipment in to those built and which can be used as a playhouse.

As well as sheds coming in different designs, they are also made from a wide range of different materials as well. For those who want to add a touch of elegance and natural beauty to their garden then those made from cedar wood are perfect. However, these are quite expensive and need a high level of maintenance as well. But for those who want something practical and easy to care for those made using metal (galvanized steel) or PVC vinyl are the perfect options.

A quick search online and you will soon just see how many different types of sheds you can select from and be able to choose the one that meets your particular requirements exactly. Before you do make your purchase however, there are a number of things, which you will need to take into consideration and below we, take a look at what some of these are.

Firstly, you will need to check with your local authority to see if you require building approval before you erect the shed you have chosen. In most cases, sheds do not require any prior planning or building approval, but there are some that will. What ones do depends on the materials from which they are made and how big they are once constructed.

Next, you need to make sure that you have the right tools for actually constructing the shed after you have got it to your home. In most cases shed kits come with all the materials that are need to construct it you will just have to ensure that you have good quality screwdrivers and hammers to actually put each part of it together.

Thirdly, you need to decide on to what base the shed is going to be placed. If you want it to last then ideally you will need a good solid foundation, which is made from concrete. So you need to factor into your budget the cost for either laying the base yourself or getting someone else to lay it for you.

Finally, before you actually start constructing your sheds you should first read through the instructions that are provided with it carefully. Also, it is a good idea to lay out everything to ensure that you have all the necessary parts and can complete the build easily and efficiently.

About the Author:
There are obviously a wide range of sheds available at both online and offline stores so it can be difficult to pick which one is the most suitable for you. This website splits the various types of sheds up well so that you can look through easily.

Metal Sheds For The Garden

Published
by
Spencer Wilkins
on February 23, 2008
in Gardening
. 0 Comments
by Spencer Wilkins

If you want to add extra storage space to your home then why not consider getting yourself one of the vast array of metal sheds that are available. More people prefer to buy metal rather than wooden simply because they are much cheaper to purchase.

But along with being cheap to buy these kinds of sheds for your garden are a lot cheaper to maintain as well. Also actually assembling them is a lot easier to complete as well because all the parts are prefabricated and just need to be slotted and then screwed together.

When selecting which kind of metal shed it is that you want, you first need to choose what it is going to be made from. Most people prefer those, which are either made from aluminium or galvanized steel, simply because they are extremely strong.

We have mentioned a number of benefits that getting a metal shed has over a wooden one, but there are plenty of others as well. One such benefit is that because the base of the shed is also made from metal then you do not need to place on any kind of pre-built foundation, whereas with the wooden one you will. So you are again saving money because you do not need to either lay the foundation yourself or employ someone else to do it for you.

In a large number of cases, many of the sheds that you can now purchase in kit form in order to allow you to set them up quickly. Usually you can expect it to take around half a day to have one of these kinds of sheds up and ready for use. Plus in most cases, they also come with additional shelves that quickly attach to the insides of the walls.

However, one of the biggest advantages to be gained from having a metal rather than a wooden shed in your garden is the cost of maintaining it. Where with a wooden shed you will need to regularly protect it using either a good quality varnish or wood protector. Many metal sheds are coated in a layer of protective material that makes them impervious to what the elements are likely to throw at them.

Previously metal sheds were considered somewhat of an eyesore and so very few people would choose to have them in their gardens. But over the years, changes have been made and they now seem to blend much more into the background.

Yet, when you are trying to choose which of the many different types of metal sheds, you want for your own home you need to take many factors into consideration. You should select one that meets your requirements perfectly and also where it is going to be located. Spend time if you can visiting various DIY Stores and Garden Centres to see what they have on offer and this will further help you to make a decision, which is the right, shed for you. Also, a quick search of the internet will supply you with a list of good quality sheds that you may want to consider also.

About the Author:
You can see that there are many benefits to using metal sheds in your garden. But there is still a wide variety to choose from, so take your time in deciding which type is best for you and browse the metal sheds categories of online shops.