Showing posts with label Backyard. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Backyard. Show all posts

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

A Backyard Fire Pit - Do It Yourself Today

If you've been looking at buying a fire pit, then you're probably already aware that you can buy ready-made models that only require some simple assembly. But wouldn't it be nice to create your own fire pit? One that's uniquely yours? You don't need a complicated set of blueprints to build your own fire pit - you just need to have an idea in your head of what you're trying to create. It doesn't take a lot to build a fire pit for barbequing or an outdoor campfire. A DIY fire pit can cost next to nothing to construct, apart from some time and hard work, and is even cheaper if you already have some materials such as bricks or rocks on hand.

The first step is to choose a safe location for your fire pit. Make sure it's nowhere near any structures that could catch fire, and locate it away from any backyard traffic zones. It's also worth talking to your local fire department in case you need to know any particular rules or information before starting. Organize to have some stones or bricks ready for lining the inside of your fire pit. Then all you need to do is dig the hole. This might take a few hours of hard work with a shovel, but that's all.

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Once your hole is deep enough, use the stones or bricks to line the perimeter of the hole, and continue these materials above the ground. You need the stones around the top to form a windbreak and to stop soil falling into the fire. If you want something a little fancier, you can build a stucco pit above the ground. Use magazines and the Internet to help give you lots of great ideas for your fire pit design. Think about your existing home and outdoor furniture, and design your fire pit to complement these existing elements in your backyard. If you're really stuck for ideas or want to create something a little more complicated, it's possible to order plans online that include a list of materials, and it's generally not very expensive.

Now you have a fire pit, safety is always important. Remember, this is a big hole in the ground, and you don't want any accidents. So it might be a good idea to cover the pit when it's not being used. You can just use a piece of scrap metal or wooden board and cut it to fit. You can also choose to buy a basic fire pit, which will generally include the basics such as a cover, log grill and spark screen, and then build a brick or stone wall around that. This will help stop pets or children from running into the fire pit by accident.

For a gas fire pit, you will need to buy either gas fire logs or a simple metal fire ring. Then you simply need to design and build the housing.

Whatever you decided, it's great to do it yourself and have a fire pit that will be the envy of all your neighbors.

A Backyard Fire Pit - Do It Yourself Today

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Sunday, September 11, 2011

The Solar Powered Pond Fountain For Your Backyard Fish Pond

Two Great Options Worth Knowing More About

The Solar Lily Pad Fountain

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There are several good options that you will come across in regard to purchasing a solar powered pond fountain. One such option, Solar Lily Pad Fountain can convert your pond into a truly refreshing place that becomes a wonderful retreat where you can watch your beautiful fountain as it drifts slowly across the water and sprouts water into the sky.

In fact, when there is direct sunlight this neat little item will continuously sprout water into the air which sprays up to a height of about 17 inches. It is a wireless water fountain so you don't have to worry about wires and, there are also minimal operating costs. You can pick a fountain head of your choosing, and it is a fountain that obtains its power from an integrated solar panel which drives a pump and filter.

Gaim Solar Island Fountain

Another wonderful back yard fountain, would be the Gaim Solar Island Fountain.  This decorative and functional fountain provides you with an excellent opportunity to relax to the gentle sounds of cascading water while also ensuring proper aeration of your pond. It is a fountain that makes use of free solar energy.  When it comes into contact with direct sunlight it too can sprout water to heights of about seventeen inches. To improve its aesthetics this aquatic fountain can be made to sit a bit lower in the water than most.  It also comes with three different fountainheads as well as a pump and a filter.

Where to Buy Your Fountain

There are many great locations where you can start your search for your backyard fountain.  Home Improvement stores, such as Home Depot & Lowes will generally offer a wide selection of aquatic fountains, and usually at the lowest cost.  A local nursery or landscaper may carry or even be able to special order that hard find item, although it may cost you more.  Finally, there are many fine online retailers which carry a wide variety of pond fountains at many different cost levels.

The Solar Powered Pond Fountain For Your Backyard Fish Pond

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Saturday, August 6, 2011

How to Build a Simple Backyard Chicken Coop

If your local township, city, or county ordinances allow for people to keep chickens as pets in their back yards, then you are in luck. But you probably would not be allowed to just let your chickens roam around free in your yard. You would need to know how to build a simple backyard chicken coop for these fine, feathered friends to have a place to live, eat, play, and lay eggs.

Fortunately, building a simple backyard chicken coop isn't altogether very complicated. If you have some basic carpentry skills, this is something you should be able to accomplish for a relatively low cost and relatively quickly. It's like building a dog house for your dog, a bird house for your bird, or a tool shed for your tools. The only difference is that you have some custom specifications that you need to adhere to, in order to meet the needs of your chickens.

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First and foremost, how many chickens do you intend to keep? You need to allow at least 4.5 square feet of space per chicken within the cook. You need to provide space for nests. You also should allow for at least 9 inches of perch length per chicken, since they obviously love to perch, being that they are birds. You would need to give them space to get access to food and water. You need to ensure that the coop provides security from predatory animals.

You need to ensure that the coop protects your chickens from the weather, while at the same time providing adequate ventilation. Also very important is the fact that you need to ensure that you, as the owner, have easy access to get into the coop to clean up their mess such as feathers, poop droppings, and such, to replenish their food and water supply, and to collect their eggs. Also you need to ensure that the birds have a door to let themselves in and out of the coop into the fenced-in outer areas of the coop, so that they can get some fresh air and exercise.

How to build a simple backyard chicken coop is easy. You can find all of the parts that you need at your local hardware store, like a Home Depot, or a Lowes. Once you have the layout figured out, it is a matter of building the floor, the walls, cutting out doors and windows, and then constructing the roof.

How to Build a Simple Backyard Chicken Coop

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