Build A Wood Fence With Galvanized Posts

Fences are sturdier with metal posts.

While most fences are either all wood or all metal, using a mix of the two materials has both design and functional benefits. The advantage to using galvanized metal posts to support wood fencing slats or panels is their resistance to rot and warping. Metal posts add to the sturdiness of the fence, while adding a modern look to its appearance. The process of setting metal posts is similar to wood posts; however, attaching the wood rails to the posts requires special hardware and a few more minutes of your time. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Hammer a stake into the ground at each end of the fence line. Tie string around one stake, pull it taught and tie it around the other stake. Measure along the sting line and hammer a stake into the ground every 8 feet to mark the location for the posts.

2. Dig the post holes with a post-hole digger. Make each hole 2 feet deep and 10 to 12 inches in diameter. Pour the cement mix into a wheelbarrow, add water and mix the cement according to the instructions on the bag. Each hole should hold half of an 80-pound bag of cement.

3. Put a post into the center of the first hole. Ask an assistant to hold the post while you shovel the cement into the hole. Pack the cement with a scrap piece of lumber to eliminate any air pockets. Check the post for plumb with a carpenter's level. Repeat the process and set all the posts. Allow the posts to cure, undisturbed for 24 hours.

4. Attach three U-shaped metal post fence brackets to each post with 1-inch sheet metal screws and a drill. Place the bottom bracket 8 inches up from the ground, one 8 inches down from the top and one evenly spaced between the two.

5. Attach three treated, 2-by-4 lumber rails to each bracket on one post and to the corresponding brackets on the next post with 1 3/4-inch deck screws. Repeat the process and attach all the rails between all the posts.

6. Attach treated fence pickets to each rail with 1 3/4-inch deck screws. Leave a 1-inch gap between the bottom of the pickets and the ground to keep the bottoms from rotting and to help with drainage. Check for plumb after every three or four have been attached.

7. Pack some of the excavated dirt around the base of each post for a clean look. Finish by attaching a metal post cap to each post.

Tags: each post, 4-inch deck, 4-inch deck screws, Attach three, cement into, deck screws

How A Steel Mill Continuous Caster Works

Background

Continuous casting works as a steady-state process. This means that, essentially, the state of the metal (steel in this case) at any juncture of production will always be the same no matter when it is observed. This is accomplished using a continuous caster. There are a variety of caster designs, but most steel mills use a curved casting machine. This means the steel leaves the mold and must be curved or bent into a flat piece. The continuous casting process can be used to produce a variety of thicknesses and shapes, including rectangular, circular and I-shaped (also called dog-bone). While the precise process varies among designs, most continuous casters follow a process similar to what follows.

Production

The process begins when molten steel is fed from a ladle into a tundish. The tundish is an intermediate holding container lined with refractory bricks that simultaneously holds molten steel and feeds it into the mold. A layer of slag on top of the molten steel is used to protect the metal from oxygen exposure. It is standard for a ceramic nozzle to feed the molten steel from the ladle to underneath the slag layer. The flow of molten steel between the tundish and the mold is controlled by a slide gate. The molds are made of copper and water cooled. As the molten steel enters the mold, it partially solidifies on the outside to form a shell. It is common for oil to be inserted between the mold and the shell to improve the surface production and to protect the metal from oxygen damage. The mold is moved up and down (oscillated) to stop the shell from adhering to the mold.

The shell is drawn from the bottom of the mold by drive rolls. These are set to a constant speed that is (ideally) the same as the rate of the metal flow. When the metal reaches the rolls, it is referred to as the strand. The rolls themselves are carefully spaced to minimize the potential for bulging in the strand from ferrostatic pressure (pressure put on the shell by the molten steel core that is still solidifying). As the strand moves along the rolls, it is sprayed with water at a predetermined rate to assist in solidifying the core. In some systems, electromagnetic stirrers are used to keep the molten core of the strand properly mixed during the cooling process. When the strand has been sufficiently cooled, it is cut. This is done with an oxyacetylene torch.

Tags: molten steel, designs most, from ladle, from oxygen, metal from

What Are The Gray Marks In My Whirlpool Glasstop Stove

Smooth top ranges are often Ceran or glass cooktops.

If you have a Whirlpool glass top stove, keep it clean and looking new with some care during and after every use. Gray marks on the stove are often metal marks, and these show on white ceramic tops more than on the black glass top stoves. The marks are present on either color with use of metal pots. Does this Spark an idea?

Stove Top Glass

Whirlpool glass or ceramic stove tops are made of a product called Ceran, one of the products that can withstand the heat of an electric range for regular use. The cooking element will glow red when the burner is on and may cycle on and off to maintain the temperature. Whether your cooktop is black, gray or white, the glass top is the same composition. The far left corner usually has the Ceran name on the Whirlpool models.

Cause of Gray Marks

The gray marks are commonly caused by aluminum pots, although there can be other causes, including other pot compositions, according to Whirlpool. Stainless steel does not cause the gray marks as frequently but may cause gray marks with constant use. Aluminum foil may also cause gray marks, particularly if you use aluminum foil pans for popcorn or aluminum pie plates for spoon holders.

Cleaning Gray Marks

Whirlpool and several other companies make cooktop cleaners that remove the gray marks from Ceran stovetops. This is a creamy product applied with a soft pad that does not scratch or stain the cook top. Instructions on the squirt bottle are to apply the cleaner to the cool cooktop and rub lightly with a paper towel or soft cloth. Dry the surface with a soft cloth or towel. Do not use abrasive pads. The active ingredient in this product is citric acid.

Preventing Gray Marks

Whirlpool recommends stainless steel bottom pots for use on the glass cooktop stoves. Whirlpool does not recommend aluminum or cast iron, which will scratch the glass top. You may use copper-bottom pots if you make sure they are clean on the bottom. Check the bottom of a pot before you set it on the cooktop to prevent scratches and gray marks. Look for baked-on food or heavy stains. Avoid scratches on the glass top by not scooting pots from one burner to another. Even wet pots may stain the cooktop and make more work for you. If grease or food spatters when you cook, Whirlpool recommends that you clean the entire cooktop to prevent baked-on stains. A deep stainless steel pot will avoid gray marks and most spatters.

Tags: cause gray, cause gray marks, gray marks, Gray Marks Whirlpool, Marks Whirlpool, cooktop prevent

Medieval Decorating Ideas

Stained glass adds a medieval feel to rooms.

Decorating a room or house in the style of the Middle Ages adds a richness and luxury to a space. Stone castles with large banquet halls, long dining tables of dark wood and images of knights can all inspire medieval decor. Whether decorators want to stick to a few medieval pieces or completely redesign their houses in the historical style, a medieval motif makes a bold and unique statement. Does this Spark an idea?

Small Touches

If you don't want to spend the money on a complete redesign, add small medieval touches to make rooms more unique. Placing a large, medieval-style key in a shadow box or hanging a print of a coat of arms adds a medieval feel to a room. Medieval statues and figurines--such as knights or dragons--can add a light-heartedness to the Middle Ages motif. Richly colored tapestries are quintessential pieces for any medieval room; according to the Guardian, many castles in the Middle Ages featured imported tapestries, such as Charles VIII's Trojan war tapestry.

Bigger Statements

For a more dramatic medieval style, bigger statements are necessary. Modern decorators can add a touch of medieval elegance by incorporating stained glass into their design. HGTV features a medieval-style home in Chicago with stained glass windows from floor to ceiling. Wrought iron was also a staple of medieval decor, whether used for a staircase or a fireplace gate. In a medieval master bedroom featured on HGTV, designer Brynja McGrady of Garrett Interiors includes red canopy drapes around the bed.

Complete Redesign

For a fully medieval house redesign, tall steeples, stone and dark wood are reminiscent of Gothic cathedrals. High ceilings resemble the airy banquet halls of medieval castles. Long banquet tables made of dark wood and rich-looking curtains in deep colors--such as purple, the color of royalty--add to the medieval theme. HGTV's medieval master bedroom showcases beige or light brown wall, carpet and bedspread colors, accented with rich reds, blues and golds. To complete the style, an elaborately-painted ceiling adds a final artistic touch.

Tags: dark wood, Middle Ages, adds medieval, adds medieval feel, banquet halls, master bedroom

Make Furniture With Wrought Iron

Creative designs make park benches stylish.

Elegance and style come in many forms, but a piece of furniture made from wrought iron adds a turn-of-the-century appeal to decor, whether in the home or outside in a park. Wrought iron furniture, such as benches along a walkway or path, are made of darkened iron with great attention to detail and skill. The intricate details and elaborate designs are what makes these pieces stand out in unique beauty and creativity.

Instructions

1. Heat the propane forge to 1800 degrees Fahrenheit, keeping the forge heat level stable to prevent increased gas pressure.

2. Draw the design for the legs, back, and arms of the bench before starting work. Draw the entire bench on one piece of paper and the parts of the bench on separate pieces. This will help in keeping the different details of each section separate when hammering the steel on the anvil.

3. Cut the needed amount of steel from the rolled amount during each step. For the arms, cut out 5 feet for each arm. Cut 10 feet for the feet and use the remaining 20 feet for the back and base of the bench. Use the chisel and hammer to cut the steel.

4. Hold the steel into the forge with the tongs. Heat the steel in the propane forge until the steel is yellow-white. Once the steel is the appropriate color, it is essential to move quickly or the steel will cool and become too hard to mold. When removing the metal from the forge, make sure no one is in the path of the metal to prevent severe injuries.

5. Use the thin tip of the anvil to create the intricate scrolls in the design. Use the flat top to create flattened areas of the design for the bench. The arms, legs and back will have special designs decided upon by the creator, however the base is a 3-foot-by-1-foot rectangle of rolled mild steel.

6. The arms must have a height of at least four inches and a length, for an arm to rest, of at least six inches. Within these specifications, the rest of the detail is in the creator's mind.

7. The legs must be at least 1.5-feet tall. This will ensure the person seated upon the bench can easily rise again.

8. Set aside each section as it is finished. Once the arms, legs, back and base have been finished, use the propane torch to weld the pieces together. To weld the pieces together, heat sections of the pieces with the propane torch until the steel glows to the same yellow-white as in the forge. Hammer the heated sections with the ball pein hammer until they are melded into one piece. Using precision rather than strength will guarantee the pieces retain the shape desired without denting.

9. Set a flat 3-foot-by-1-foot piece of mild steel upon the base. Weld it into position with the propane torch and ball pein hammer by hammering the corners after heating them to 1800 degree Fahrenheit.

10. Soften the edges of the seat with a sander to ensure the seat does not scratch or cut the occupant. The bench is then finished.

Tags: legs back, propane torch, arms legs, arms legs back, back base, ball pein, ball pein hammer

Log Cabin Decoration

There are several forms of rustic decor that work well in a log-cabin setting. Primitive, country, Adirondack or ski lodge and Western themes are used for log cabin decoration. Comfort items, wood pieces and animal images are a common thread that runs through the themed decorations that are used to decorate a log cabin home. Does this Spark an idea?

Primitive

Rustic primitive decor is a combination of wood, tin, soft fabrics and items from nature that are used to create a casual atmosphere. These rustic elements are used as reproductions of the simple decor of original hand-hewn log cabins. Log pieces, slab wood, unfinished wood furniture embellished with wooden twigs, caned seats, bark inserts and leather trim complement the walls of the log cabin. Hickory, pine, aspen, cedar and oak are favored for primitive cabin decor. Rustic lanterns, antlers chandeliers and parchment shades add to the warm ambiance. Fiber tapestries, curtains, pillow covers and bedding are designed with warm colors and prints with natural elements such as leaves, cones, acorns and woodland creatures.

Country

Americana, fishing, hunting, canoeing, animal and bird themed items are found in the rustic country decor of a log cabin. Designs are painted, woven and embroidered on pillows, bedding, wall hangings and room accessories. Country decor is rich with warm colors that support a cozy environment that blends with the log interior and stone fireplace. Cast iron, wrought iron, tin ware, antique tools, twig wreaths, canoe paddles, braided rugs and antique glassware embellish the rooms of the cabin. Creative pieces such as a half-canoe bookcase or handmade quilts are decorative elements in a country-themed log cabin.

Ski Lodge or Adirondack

Hudson Bay blankets, animal image prints, knit, crochet pillows and afghans on bedding and furniture contribute to the cozy feel of the ski lodge cabin. Mountain paintings, skiing and animal posters or art work decorate the log home walls. Antique skis, wood sleds and snowshoes are used for decor in the cabin. Birch bark, peeled cedar, twig furniture and rich wood floors are features in the rooms of the Adirondack log cabin.

Western

Wagon wheel features, cowboy articles, richly colored blankets and artificial or real animal skins help create the Western decor atmosphere in a log cabin. Cattle, buffalo and horse statuettes, art or equipment such as reins, stirrups, horseshoes and saddles add to the Western theme. Denim, leather and cowhide are used on furniture, pillows, bedding and rugs laid over wooden floors. Horses, cowboys, branding symbols and beautiful Western tribal patterns are dominant in Western-style design.

Tags: decor cabin, pillows bedding, that used, warm colors, with warm

Cozy Restaurants In Indianapolis

Indianapolis offers a selection of cozy restaurants.

It doesn't matter if it's your first date or your 25th wedding anniversary, if you are planning a date in Indianapolis, you may be seeking a cozy restaurant. The ambiance of such a comfortable place lends itself to quiet conversations and secret whispers, starting a fire or keeping it going. Add this to my Recipe Box.

The Rathskeller

The Rathskeller was first opened in 1894, making it the oldest operating restaurant in Indianapolis. The Bavarian-styled furnished and German food bring a richness to any date. The Biergarten outside offers a casual atmosphere for drinking a variety of beers.

The Rathskeller

401 East Michigan St.

Indianapolis, IN 46204


(317) 636-0396

rathskeller.com

The Eagle's Nest

The Eagle's Nest sits atop the Hyatt Regency in downtown Indianapolis. The restaurant offers unparalleled views of the Indianapolis skyline, with a selection of seasonal meals. Join your date there for dinner or drinks and desserts from an extensive menu. The Eagle's Nest is a quiet getaway from the bustle of the city.

The Eagle's Nest

One South Capitol Ave.

Indianapolis, IN 46204

(317) 632-1234

Indianapolis.hyatt.com

Mama Carolla's

Mama Carolla's Old Italian restaurant brings the coziness of a California or Mediterranean style home to diners' experiences. Originally built as a model home in 1920, Mama Carolla's warms guests with a central fireplace and wrought iron furnishings. The menu is filled with a variety of meat, pasta and seafood options.

Mama Carolla's

1031 E. 54th St.


Indianapolis, IN 46220

(317) 259-9412

mamacarollas.com

Ambrosia

With dark red and orange walls and dark wood furnishings--in contrast to the white table linens and dishes--Ambrosia offers a clean, warm ambiance for any dining occasion, from a romantic date to a professional business meeting. Guest can enjoy fresh, traditional Italian meals. Ambrosia also offers separate rooms for meetings and banquets.

Ambrosia

15 East Maryland St.

Indianapolis, IN 46204

Ambrosiaitalian.com

(317) 635-3096

St. Elmo Steak House

St. Elmo Steak House was founded in 1902. In 1996, the current owner Steve Huse upgraded the Indianapolis staple to accommodate the growing interest in downtown dining. While maintaining the tiger-oak bar and the rich, dark woods of the restaurant, Huse added more table space and private dining rooms. St. Elmo's Steak House offers quality steak cuts, as well as chicken and pork chops. It also offers a St. Elmo's famous shrimp cocktail appetizer.

St. Elmo's Steak House

127 South Illinois St.

Indianapolis, IN 46225

(317) 635-0636

stelmos.com

Tags: Eagle Nest, Elmo Steak, Elmo Steak House, Mama Carolla, Steak House, Indianapolis 46204

Decorate A Front Porch Swing

A swing is a classic porch decor element.

Swings are decorative and functional accessories for the front porch area of a home. They create a simple, country-style atmosphere and an inviting environment. Decorating a front porch swing can be an enjoyable and rewarding home improvement project. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Choose a dark chain for a rich-toned porch swing design. Many porch swings have stainless steel or white support chains, but for a more rustic design, choose a wrought iron style.

2. Select patterned seat cushions. Weather-resistant seat cushions are a valuable addition to a front porch swing. These decorative accessories add color and texture to the traditional front porch decor. A bold, striped pattern, in rich color hues like red or brown can be a focal point on the front porch area.

3. Add solid-colored throw pillows, a throw blanket and a floor rug. Across one arm of the porch swing, throw a soft throw blanket in a solid color that is also found in the stripes or pattern of the seat cushions. Add a couple of friendly throw pillows in a coordinating pattern. For example, a striped seat cushion with floral print throw pillows can work well. Place below the swing a rug that matches the color of the throw blanket.

Tags: front porch, porch swing, seat cushions, throw blanket, throw pillows, front porch area

Decorate Your Master Bedroom In Victorian Style

The Victorian style master bedroom has an antique, typically feminine feel. Because the Victorian era lasted from the 1830s until about 1900, the style has wide variations, but general tips follow. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Note that Victorian couples' beds, often showy wooden affairs or cast-iron, brass or combination-metal bedsteads, were the "full" or "double" size. A skilled carpenter may be able to adapt an antique full bed to queen size or merge twin beds into a king size, or you may want to purchase a modern reproduction.

2. Dress the bed elaborately, with canopies and draperies, pillows, flounces, ribbon and other trims. Period-appropriate quilts, lace, eyelet and florals are appropriate selections.

3. Use a marble-topped table or cabinet, wicker table, bamboo or faux-bamboo table, or round, skirted table as a nightstand. Or choose from a bevy of turned and carved wooden tables made during the era.

4. Top the night tables with traditional lamps, including classic ginger-jar porcelain, crystal, brass and candlestick styles. Set each lamp on a crocheted doily for an authentic period look.

5. Use dressers and chests of drawers, typically dark-stained oak, mahogany or walnut, that are embellished with carving, pediments and ornate case-brass or carved-wood drawer pulls. Some pieces may have candle stands, tilting mirrors and marble tops.

6. Use area rugs such as Orientals, straw-type mats, hooked rugs and machine-loomed rugs with floral or swirly abstract patterns.

7. Accessorize with period pictures, including subjects such as botanicals, children, maidens and animals. Choose mirrors in elaborate golden or stained-wood frames. Place fresh flowers in period-style vases, and seek out Victorian-style collectibles such as china dishes and figurines.

8. Dress the windows with full curtains or drapes that include ruffles, valances, braid, lace, bows and tassels. Fabrics can include velvet, brocade, delicate florals and eyelet, possibly layered atop lace sheers.

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Remove Paint & Rust From Steel Mailbox Posts

A mailbox sees all sorts of weather throughout the year, from rain to sleet to snow, and everything in between. It all takes its toll on the metal used to hold up the mailbox, usually in the form of rust. If you take care of it quickly, fixing rust isn't a problem. But to do it, you must refurbish the mailbox post by stripping the paint and rust from the surface. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Put on rubber gloves, and spray aircraft stripper over the mailbox post. Allow it to work for 10 minutes. This will cause the paint to slough off the post, leaving a clean surface.

2. Use the hose to rinse off the paint that has peeled from the post.

3. Clean the bare metal using a cleaner/degreaser and paper towels. This will leave a clean surface for the new paint to adhere to.

4. Spray the post with the rust encapsulating primer, which will seal the metal from any future damage, and stop the current rust in its tracks.

5. Finish painting with a spray paint in your choice of colors.

Tags: clean surface, mailbox post, This will

Interior Home Decor In The Southwest

Rich colors of the earth make up the Southwest design palette.

The design trend of over-the-top, cheesy Southwestern decor is long gone. In its place is the cooler, more sophisticated style of using colors, fabrics and accessories that celebrate materials native to the American Southwest. Does this Spark an idea?

Colors

When designing a Southwestern-style room, consider the hues found in the desert: terracotta, deep brown, rust, and every shade of sand imaginable. Mix in a flash of a turquoise sky, yellow and red sunset, or pinks, purples and oranges of cactus flowers, and you have your color palette in place.

Texture

The dramatic mix of textures, from rough-hewn pine, wrought iron, glass, woven grasses, natural clay and cool ceramic, identifies a Southwestern-style room.

Fabrics

Long inspired by Native American tradition, Southwestern-style decor is replete with woven blankets, throw pillows and tapestries. Rugs are most often wool and woven in geometric designs, with rich, deep colors that help anchor the space.

Furniture

Think scale when it comes to Southwestern-style furniture. Large, sturdy pieces dot the rooms, each designed with a practical purpose in mind. Most homes of the 19th century did not have closets, so huge cabinets served that purpose. Wood furniture is rugged and details are kept to a minimum. Wrought iron, glass and wood are often blended in a modern Southwestern-style home.

Tags: iron glass, Southwestern-style room

Install A Wrought Iron Gate

Hanging wrought iron gating adds a historical design element to many homes.

Where they were once used for utilitarian purposes, wrought iron gates add an historical element to an existing garden, residence or property in modern times. The gates are heavy, and the advent of cheaper -- and easier to use -- aluminum once made wrought iron gating a thing of the past. Nowadays, those looking to add a little bit of flair to their homes may choose to hang a wrought iron gate, the trouble being go about doing so. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Choose the location of your gate; common sites are entryways onto properties or small passageways. Choose to place the gate between two masonry-based supports such as stone or brick, as the weight of the gate may not hang well on wooden supports. The gate must also be grounded into concrete or stone at ground level to prevent it from falling forward or backward.

2. Check local building code laws prior to beginning work. Although hanging a gate may seem to be fairly simple, some zones require any home additions have a valid, posted building permit. If you need one, purchase or apply for one.

3. Drill the ground placement post for the gate (should your particular model require one) into the stone or masonry support on the ground. If none is present, dig a small footer with a hand trowel and mix some concrete to pour into the footer, following the directions on the concrete's packaging. Use the level to ensure your footer is level before pouring.

4. Measure the correct placement of the gate-mounting hardware brackets. Drill the bolt holes well into the support, following the instructions included with mounting hardware/iron gating you purchased. Attach the bolts and hold the gate level with the mounting holes on the brackets. Secure the gate to the brackets.

Tags: wrought iron, iron gating, with mounting, wrought iron gating

Types Of Verandas

The vaulted roof and stand alone structure identify this as a gazebo design veranda.

A veranda should provide a welcoming outdoor spot for you, your family and your friends to enjoy. A beautiful veranda does not just add aesthetic appeal to your home; it can provide a great spot for entertainment, boost the value of your home and provide additional space for a growing family. However, when faced with the exciting challenge of building a veranda, you must first choose which type of veranda will best complement your home and your ideal uses. Does this Spark an idea?

Curved

The curved veranda provides a contemporary addition to your home. It boasts smooth, clean and curved lines to form a convex canopy over the outdoor living space. The curved veranda can be attached to a home or freestanding. Furthermore, it can be combined with both the flat and pergola verandas to create a unique design aesthetic. If combined with another veranda style, the curved veranda is generally constructed as the central piece of the entire veranda design.

Flat

The flat veranda design is the most simple to construct, as well as the most versatile. A flat veranda can be constructed to fit and complement just about any outdoor space. It can be built to any desired dimensions, and like the curved veranda, the flat veranda can be attached or freestanding and can be added to other veranda designs.

Pergola

The pergola veranda creates an open air, outdoor setting that will let in light while still adding shade and aesthetic appeal to a home. The roof of the pergola veranda is slotted. Therefore, it is best utilized in dry, sunny climates. Some pergola verandas can be outfitted with a screen that will serve to block more sunlight and any leaves or debris.

Gable

The gable design exhibits a sloping roof line that provides a nice aesthetic change to the existing roof line of a home. The roof of a gable is solid and is often constructed out of clear roof sheeting to provide a sun-room effect. The pitched, gable veranda is typically combined with a flat veranda to provide increased coverage for the outdoor area.

Gazebo

The gazebo design adds tremendous charisma to any outdoor space. Most often, the gazebo veranda is built as a stand alone structure. Its characteristic design element is a vaulted roof. The unique roof design, and its freestanding form, provides the constructor of gable verandas with a multitude of design options from various base designs, such as octagon to square, and roof designs with both open air and closed air elements.

Tags: curved veranda, flat veranda, your home, combined with, aesthetic appeal

Buy A Cast Iron Woodburning Stove

Buy a Cast Iron Wood-Burning Stove

You've always been drawn to those sturdy, no-nonsense cast iron wood-burning stoves. Your childhood home had a wood stove, and you're impressed by the stoves' utilitarian construction and tremendous amount of warmth they provide. Now you want to add a cast iron wood stove to your own home. However, first you must consider the cost of operating the stove compared to the cost of central heating via gas, electric, or oil. Factor in the firewood costs (if needed), yearly stove cleaning, and gasket repairs. Decide if it's more cost effective to keep your current heating system, upgrade your insulation, and replace any drafty windows. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Choose the stove's location. According to industry group The Wood Heat Organization, a wood stove is actually a type of space heater. Space heaters are designed to provide heat directly to a finite area, unlike a central furnace with ductwork that heats the entire house.

Consider your home's layout, and identify the room where your family spends the most time. In many cases, it will be the living room, kitchen, or family room. If your home has an open layout, you may be able to heat the entire space with one heat source.

2. Select the type of wood stove. The Wood Heat Organization defines two general configurations: free standing in the best location, with a flue pipe easily routed up into the chimney; and fireplace insert, which is similar to a modified wood stove sized to fit into the dimensions of a masonry fireplace. This insert consists of a firebox encased by a steel shell. This shell transfers the heat from the firebox into the room, instead of being kept in the fireplace. Finally, note that some wood stoves also have built-in cooktop surfaces.

Wood stoves feature one of two types of combustion. In catalytic combustion, the smoky exhaust travels through a ceramic framework where the exhaust is burned. The result is an even heat that lasts a long time. However, the stove must be operated properly or the framework will break down prematurely.

Noncatalytic stoves have firebox insulation, a large baffle for a bigger, hotter gas flow path, and pre-heated air used for combustion. Noncatalytic stoves do not provide the even heat output of catalytic stoves, and the baffles and other parts must be replaced periodically.

3. Size the wood stove correctly. The Wood Heat Organization emphasizes the consequences of choosing the wrong-size wood stove. If the stove is too large and supplies too much heat for the chosen space, you will need to operate the stove with a less intense fire to avoid overheating the room. Conversely, if the stove isn't powerful enough to heat the space, you could risk stove damage by operating the stove at too high a temperature for too long.

4. Compare wood stove sizes and heating capacities, and visit several dealers. Cast iron wood-burning stoves vary in size, features, and square footage heating capacity. For a comparison of cast iron stoves with different heating capacities, visit the Regency Fireplace Products website at regency-fire.com/Products/Hampton-Wood---Gas/Cast-Iron-Stoves,-Fireplaces---Inserts.aspx.

5. Purchase your cast iron wood burning stove. Visit a local wood stove dealer, and purchase the best wood stove for your needs and budget. Because your wood-burning stove will generate a great amount of heat in a confined space, your dealer can provide specific information on local fire regulations. He can also address venting and other installation requirements. If you prefer, the dealer can perform the entire installation for you. To find a U.S. wood stove dealer, visit wood-burning-stove-dealers.com.

6. Install your cast iron wood-burning stove. Before installing your wood-burning stove, add a chimney liner to prevent potentially deadly gases from leaking back into the house. The liner also protects brick or masonry chimneys from overheating and potentially causing a fire. U.S. homes built after 1940 are required to have a chimney liner.

Consult local fire regulations to determine fire protection requirements. A specially treated mat can catch sparks or coals; a stone hearth will also offer protection. Consult a wood stove installation guide for detailed installation information.

Tags: wood stove, cast iron, Heat Organization, iron wood-burning, Wood Heat

Vinyl Vs Wrought Iron Fence

Wrought iron rod fences have a timeless appeal, while newer vinyl fences don't need as much maintenance.

When Robert Frost wrote that good fences make good neighbors, vinyl fences were still decades away from existence, but centuries-old wrought iron fencing enclosed everything from front yards to cemeteries. Today, both types of fencing have advantages and disadvantages that are related to cost, maintenance and aesthetic factors. Does this Spark an idea?

Vinyl Fences

Vinyl fences never need painting and resist peeling, decay and rust, making them a low-maintenance alternative to wood and metal fences. Vinyl fencing cannot be harmed by wood-boring insects, and their color generally doesn't fade from direct sunlight. The fences often come with lifetime warranties that sometimes can be transferred to a new owner when the house is sold. Vinyl fencing is available in many styles, from ones that mimic wood picket fencing to taller, solid privacy fencing. Some feature a wood-grain finish.

Wrought Iron Fences

Wrought iron fences can be found most often on the grounds of historic properties with early American or Victorian buildings. Newer wrought-iron-style fences are made from aluminum or steel, making them lighter and more flexible. Wrought iron fences offer more opportunities for decorative elements, from diamonds to fleur-de-lis, than vinyl fences. Graffiti is less a concern with wrought iron fencing, but the design provides less privacy than vinyl fences.

Cost

In general, vinyl fences cost less than wrought iron, but the price depends on the brand and style of fencing purchased, as well as installation. As of November 2011, you can expect to pay from $2,142 to $2,682 for 150 linear feet of vinyl fencing, according to home improvement website homewyse. This does not include installation, which can vary widely depending on the company used and area of the country in which you live. The same amount of wrought iron fencing will cost between $2,817 and $4,040.

Durability and Maintainence

Unlike wood, vinyl fences do not require painting or staining, nor do they peel or chip. Many companies advertise them as maintenance-free. You can use a hose to wash off dirt and debris when needed. Although vinyl is less flexible in cold temperatures, it does not break or crack unless it is hit with significant force, such as by a car. Wrought iron fences can rust and the paint can peel, so they require more upkeep. Rust-inhibiting exterior paint can add life to the fence. Individual rods can be replaced if they are damaged. With proper maintenance, wrought iron fences can last more than a century.

Tags: vinyl fences, iron fences, iron fencing, wrought iron, wrought iron fencing

Ideas To Build A Raisedhearth Fireplace

A raised hearth makes the fireplace the focal point of the room.

A raised-hearth fireplace will keep pets and children away from a fire and also provides a place to showcase some of your best decorating treasures. It calls attention to its end of the room, inviting people to gather around the fireplace and relax. A raised hearth can be made of many different materials, making it easy to integrate a raised-hearth fireplace in your home's decor. Does this Spark an idea?

Fieldstone

Build a raised hearth out of fieldstone that matches the fieldstone surround of your fireplace. Use large slabs of fieldstone for the flat top of the hearth, extending the sides to hold fireplace accessories and wood. Paint the outside of the firebox black for a bold contrast, or add gold-toned metal fireplace doors to provide a warm, inviting feeling to your hearth. Add a matching gold-toned or black wrought-iron wood basket to hold logs and kindling. Place matching fireplace accessories at the other end of the raised hearth.

Brick

Build up your hearth using a herringbone pattern of red bricks and gray mortar. Use a straight brick pattern as a contrast for the fireplace surround. Build in square cubbyholes on either side below the hearth to store wood and kindling. Install a gas fireplace insert in the fireplace so that it is flush with the fireplace opening. You could also install a fireplace insert that extends out over your raised brick hearth.

Wall Hearth

Recess a gas fireplace insert into a wall, and build out the bottom of the recess to act as a raised wall or shelf hearth where you can display glass or crystal decorations that take advantage of the light from the gas fire. The recess becomes a combination raised hearth and mantel. Leave this raised hearth the same color as the wall to focus attention on the decorations, or paint it a darker color to draw attention to the fireplace.

Slate and Tiling

Build up your fireplace hearth with a light stone base, and use dark slate as its flat top. Tile the fireplace surround and the base of the raised hearth with matching or contrasting-color tiles that pick up other colors in the room. You can also extend the tiling out from the base of the hearth to create a matching tiled floor space around the hearth area.

Textured Cement

Build your hearth base and fireplace surround out of dark-red brick with a light-colored mortar. Use a textured cement for the flat base of the raised hearth that matches the brick mortar. Use the same material to create a mantel with edges that appear to be rough hewn. Add some gold andirons and fireplace accessories to create a smooth contrast to the roughness of the bricks, mortar and cement.

Tags: raised hearth, Build your, fireplace accessories, fireplace insert, fireplace surround, your hearth, base raised

Ways To Display Your Art In An Outdoor Canopy

Art shows can be held in a variety of venues, ranging far beyond the traditional gallery space. Outdoor art shows serve as a relaxing environment in which to view work, while typically allowing for more space and creativity in terms of the setup. When art is set up outdoors, canopies are often used as a protective covering for both the art and the audience. Art can be displayed in an outdoor canopy in a few different ways.

Wall Space

Most outdoor canopies have sturdy wall space that the art can be secured to, just as in a traditional gallery. While nails cannot be used, extra strength double-sided adhesive can attach frames and prints to the canopy's walls with ease. You can set the work up in a linear fashion, setting them side by side along the inside of the tent, or you can create clusters, covering the canopy's entire wall space.

Easels

Easels serve as a hassle free and creative way to display work. Ask all participating artists to bring in easels, or borrow them from a local high school or art group. Place them around the walls of the tent or in the style of a path for patrons to walk through. You can simply set the art on the easel's edge, framed or unframed. You might also paint the easels to suit a particular color scheme, something that can be accomplished quickly with spray paints.

Tables

Using tables to display art makes for an easy setup, while the pieces are accessible to the public. Gather some tables from friends and family, or rent some from a local recreation hall. Place them directly against the canopy's interior walls. You can then set the artwork on the table, leaning pieces upright on the walls. Take further advantage of the table space by taping the details of each piece in front of the art.

Dividers

Dividers are common for all types of art shows and exhibits. They can be purchased or even rented from an art store, or you can create your own with standing poster board. Set them up in varying areas around the tent so that visitors can easily walk about and view the work in sections. Place like pieces and series on the inside of the same divider.

Tags: from local, Place them, traditional gallery, view work, wall space

Kinds Of Paint For Furniture

Preparing to paint.

The kind of paint used for furniture depends on what the furniture is made of. On metal, like a wrought-iron lawn chair, one might use latex with a moisture-proof primer, or enamel or flat enamel. Interior flat latex, flat enamel, sealer and stain preservatives, exterior latex, semigloss enamels, primer sealer or varnish can be used on wood. Screen enamel can be used on screen wire without the risk of filling in the holes between the wires. Does this Spark an idea?

Properties of Different Paints

Latex paints have resins, pigments and other ingredients suspended in water. They actually don't have rubber tree latex in them, and dry much faster than oil-based paints.

Enamel paint dries with a glossy or semiglossy finish.

Primer is a gritty undercoat that helps the fresh paint stick to the surface. There are primers for most surfaces.

Oil-based paints are good for wood. They're also good for painting in cold temperatures.

Epoxy paint dries by means of chemical action as opposed to evaporation to a very hard surface. Epoxy is good for porcelain, ceramic tile, plastic and metal, and requires a well-prepared surface.

Equipment

A painted house.

For painting furniture, you might need an angled brush, which will allow for more precise painting, and maybe a 1 1/2-inch brush for trim, a paint scraper or sandpaper for removing old paint from wood, tack cloth for dusting woodwork, and drop cloths or newspapers, sponges and protective clothing. A sprayer might be useful. If the job is small, spray cans of chosen colors of paint can be used.

Technique

It is best to paint furniture out of doors, but if that's not possible, the windows should be open for ventilation. Children and pets should be removed from the area. The surface to be painted must be absolutely clean, and drop cloths should be used to protect everything that is not to be painted.

Cleanup

Spray paint can.

If a brush was used for oil-based paint, it should be soaked for a few minutes in turpentine. Then the solvent should be worked through the bristles. The brush should then be washed and rinsed unless it's made of natural bristles. Natural bristles will swell. The brush should then be combed through and any excess solvent squeezed out. For latex paints, the same should be done, but warm soapy water should be used instead of solvent. Brushes should be wrapped in butcher paper and stored in a cool dry closet, shed or cabinet.

Spraying equipment should also be thoroughly cleaned with lacquer thinner, even when using latex paint.

Tags: brush should, brush should then, drop cloths, flat enamel, paint dries, paint used, should then

French Antique Paint Techniques

French antique paint techniques can be used on furniture, picture and mirror frames, door and room moldings, or room accessories such as boxes, lamps, and candlesticks. These finishes work well on wood, but wrought-iron pieces, if cleaned, sanded, and primed, can be finished the same as wood. Wrought-iron pieces will need a final coat of non-yellowing polyurethane sealer to complete. Create wear, age, and add a hint of wealth and prosperity to any room with these French painting techniques. Does this Spark an idea?

Show Wear

Duplicate the intensely laborious painting technique incorporating gesso that the French used by using latex or acrylic paints and a wax finish---to obtain a sheen very similar to gesso. The most dramatic look occurs with a light-colored paint such as a white or off-white, but the process will work on pastels or lighter hues of blues, greens, reds, and yellows. Apply the paint in several coats, allowing each to dry to the touch. Mix a raw umber pigment (a dry powdered pigment found at professional art stores) with a beeswax polish---locate a polish that does not contain toluene, it's a carcinogen---and rub the mixture over the dry paint. If painting a wrought-iron piece, use a glazing mixture of raw umber and water (half and half), apply, and wipe off with a damp cloth when paint is slightly tacky. Use a fine grit sandpaper and rub the surfaces to reveal wear. Rub at corners, edges, around handles, and across the top and sides allowing some color to remain---but revealing the texture and surface underneath in sanded areas.

Show Age

The French love the use of a crackled background to show age. Decorative painting can be applied before or after the crackle effect has been applied. Crackle mediums are popular and each will have its own directions for use. However, there are a few ideas that need to be understood with any crackle product. Use at least two, preferably three, base coats before adding the crackle medium. Any color can be used for a base coat, but if adding decorative painting (fruits, florals) on top of or below the crackle, a pearl white works especially well. Do not use quick-dry paints. Allow the paint to dry naturally over the course of a day or two. Do not play with the crackle medium surface after it has been applied because it disturbs the chemical process taking place. The crackle pattern can be emphasized by brushing a dark glaze (half water, half paint) of burnt umber, black, or even a dark black-green over the dry crackle finish---and then using a damp cloth to wipe it away when it is still slightly sticky. Crackle finishes can be applied to wrought iron. Check the product before purchase to make sure wrought iron is listed as a safe surface.

Show Wealth

During the reign of Louis XIV, gilding was added to French antique painting techniques. This decorative technique is best used on furniture that has carved details, but it can be applied with a steady hand to a smooth surface along edges and curves to create a detailed gilded look. It works well over a painted surface that is then sanded away to show wear by applying it before the sanding occurs. An inexpensive way to apply gilding is to use a bright gold metallic paint and a small, pointed paint brush that fits easily into the cracks and details. Place the item being painted on a work surface so it can be seen at eye level.

Tags: been applied, crackle medium, damp cloth, French antique, painting techniques

Projects On Halloween Yard Haunts

Create a spooky Halloween graveyard display in your yard.

Outdoor Halloween displays often are as simple as a lit jack o' lantern or two. You can up the ante next Halloween, however, by investing some time and creative energy in to create a "haunted" area in your own yard. Create an eerie graveyard, a secret lair for witches, or a haunted garage or pumpkin patch. Does this Spark an idea?

Graveyard

Create tombstones out of foam or Styrofoam and spray-paint them an aged gray color. Use black paint to create the description on the front of each. Drape fake cobwebs across your tombstones, lean some of the gravestones, and have some that are broken. Use solar yard lights to illuminate your graveyard or, if possible, light it with safety candles or lanterns. To take this yard haunt to the next level, dig a makeshift grave, piling the dirt beside it. Have someone dress as a creepy mortician who guides visitors through the tombstones and tempts passersby toward the open grave.

Haunted Garage or Shed

Use a garage or shed to create a mini-haunted house. You can drape sheets over old furniture or boxes that are already there, and also use the stuff already stored inside as part of your environment. Set up spotlights to cast the images of bikes and tools and other everyday items in large shadows on the walls. Use lanterns or candles to illuminate old dolls, toys or paintings, creating a spooky effect. Allow this display to spill out into the yard, creating a sort of haunted flea market. Add a person dressed as an ancient antique dealer who can guide visitors, telling invented stories about the haunted history of the illuminated objects.

Witches' Lair

Your front porch or an area next to the front of the house can be transformed into a haunted witches' lair. Use an old metal washtub to create the centerpiece: a witches' cauldron. Prop the cauldron up on stacks of firewood or suspend it from a wrought-iron plant hanger. Inside the cauldron, create an eerie glow with LED lights that are water-submersible or stock it with dry ice for a smoky effect. Around the cauldron, arrange familiar witches' items: old-style brooms made from twigs lashed to wooden dowels, and two-dimensional metal or wooden black cats. You can also up the creepiness factor by placing jars of plastic bugs and body parts nearby. Add a person costumed as a witch stirring and mixing things into her cauldron.

Haunted Pumpkin Patch

Arrange a plethora of carved pumpkins on one area for a haunted pumpkin patch effect. If your yard has a garden, arrange the pumpkins among the greenery and dried, dead plants to give them the appearance of "growing" in a pumpkin patch. Add some smashed and chopped-up pumpkins that suggest the work of a deranged pumpkin carver. You can give this yard haunt a sense of dynamic energy by having someone act deranged by sitting among the pumpkins and carving the same pumpkin over and over in a creepy, repetitive fashion.

Tags: your yard, pumpkin patch, this yard, this yard haunt, yard haunt

Separate A Cast Iron Pipe

Cast iron pipe is still used in household sewer lines today.

Sewer systems use cast iron pipes around the world due to their strength. Today, though PVC and ABS plastic piping are mostly used, cast iron is still installed where code permits. You separate cast iron pipe with a snap cutter. The cutter has two long handles, with a chain attached to the end of one handle. With a chain wrapped around the pipe, the other handle has a hook which the chain connects to. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Mark the point to separate the cast iron sewer pipe with a carpenter's pencil.

2. Open the snap cutter's handles and wrap the chain around the pipe. Pull the chain taut, making sure it rests on the mark and that the chain fits perpendicular to the pipe.

3. Slip the nearest chain link into the hook on the end of one of the cutter's handles. Push the cutter's handles together, to create a clean straight cut through the pipe.

4. Open the cutter's handles and remove the chain from around the pipe.

Tags: cutter handles, around pipe, cast iron, iron pipe, pipe with

Decorate A Country Bathroom On A Budget

Use antique brass fixtures in your country bathrooms.

Decorating a bathroom with country decor brings charm and nostalgia to the room. Many of the items you need to decorate a country bathroom are inexpensive because they are refurbished pieces. Recycle old dressers, bookcases, barn boards, and antiques. You can find vintage country furniture and accessories at antiques centers, farm auctions, and thrift and secondhand stores. Use colors like antique white, weathered-wood gray, red, and blue. Country-theme bathrooms make a great choice for cottages, second homes, and country homes. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Use old barn boards to create wainscoting. Create a vertical, horizontal, or diagonal pattern 36 to 48 inches high using 2-by-4-foot or 2-by-6-foot boards. Use weathered nails to attach the boards to the walls. Top the wainscoting with a chair rail made from a 2-by-4-foot board mounted horizontally.

2. Paint the upper walls antique white, or hang wallpaper that has a vintage-inspired pattern.

3. Accessorize with inexpensive antiques and resale shop items. Choose a theme for coordinating pictures and accessories: sunflowers, American flags, stars, barn animals, farm equipment, or antique signs.

4. Use barn boards or weathered wood to make shelves to hold old books, vases, and knickknacks. Install wrought-iron brackets on the wall to mount the shelves.

5. Use a milk pail, crock, or bucket as a wastebasket. Use old mason jars to hold toothbrushes or flowers and to use as a drinking glass. Use vintage baskets to hold towels, toilet paper, or magazines.

6. Install recycled, wrought-iron hardware on the cabinets and bathroom door.

7. Create towel holders from wood pegs or wrought-iron hooks. Hang white towels on the pegs or hooks.

8. Replace the toilet seat with an oak seat. Place an oval rag rug in front of the tub and toilet.

9. Place a wicker chair or antique chair in a corner.

10. Install wood shutters on the windows. Paint the shutters white.

Tags: barn boards, antique white, boards weathered

Baker'S Rack Directions

Baker's racks are made of many different materials, from solid oak and other woods to wrought iron and pipes and wire. Baker's racks got their name from their original function: to be used in bakeries to allow bread loaves and pastries to cool after baking. They were designed originally for function; they remain useful because of their functional design, to use in kitchens, pantries, offices and just about anywhere else in the home. The pipe and wire baker's rack design is typically the easiest to find and is also the most affordable. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Remove all of the materials and shelves from the packaging and group all of the parts --- shelves, posts with threaded joiners, posts with foot levelers and plastic sleeves. Separating the parts will help you know if all of the parts you need are there. Wire baker's racks are available in many different sizes, so these parts and their counts will vary by size.

2. Screw the posts together --- one post with a threaded joiner to a post with a foot leveler.

3. Decide how high you would like the bottom shelf and snap a plastic sleeve onto the foot end of the post in that spot on all four assembled posts. With the help of another person, slide the first shelf over the top of the four posts until it sits snugly over the plastic sleeves. Push down on the shelf to lock the shelf into position.

4. Locate the positions of the remaining shelves with the plastic anchors, one shelf at a time. Lock each shelf into place as you go.

5. Position the assembled baker's rack where it will be used and adjust the feet to level the baker's rack.

Tags: baker rack, Baker racks, many different, plastic sleeves, post with

Hang A Pot Rack And Lights Over A Kitchen Island

Hang a Pot Rack and Lights over a Kitchen Island

This is a technique for hanging a pot rack and lights over a kitchen island.

You will see how to:

- Determine where to hang it

- Make sure it's sqaure and even to the island (or anything else you may want)

- Hang it Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Decide what you want:

Since a pot rack is going to be a prominent feature in your kitchen, you should spend some time deciding what you really want. A great resource for this is the Finished Kitchens Blog. There are literally hundred of kitchen photos on this site in slideshow format. The link to the site is in the Resources section below.

Another good option is to visit show-homes and kitchen stores.

2. Determine the positions (this is the most important step):

- Set the rack and lights on the island, in the positions you want them to be in when on the ceiling.

- Take time with this step. Make sure you have everything where you want it, and that all pieces are centered. Measure from side-to-side to verify centering and location.

- Have a someone else look at it and verify its correct - saving lots of pain later on.

3. Mark the main points on ceiling:

- The two pendant lights make the "long axis" of the layout.

- Put tape on the island and mark the center of the lights.

- Use a plumb-bob to transfer the marks to the ceiling.

- Checked the marks against the closest side wall, just to make sure things are square. (In this case, they were within 1/8" inch of each other, so there was no problem. I think anything 1/4" or less is not even worth adjusting for)

4. Lay out the ceiling:

- Drive a nail at the two points marked on the ceiling

- Stretch a string tightly between them. This is the key step, since the string on the ceiling is a main line for the pot rack.

- Decide where the chains to go, and mark the positions on the ceiling along the line.

- Using a square, marked the positions from the line where the pot-rack hanger-bolts actually go. The diagram gives the general idea of how this works.

- One the marks are in place, checked everything against the side wall to verify everything

- Note that I have put the pot rack chains going slightly outward in both directions in this example. This helps stabilize it, and reduce the "swing set" effect. Once a few pans were put on it, it hardly moves at all.

5. Take a break

- At this point, I suggest you take a 30 minute break from the project. Once back, look everything and re-verify.

- The reason I focus on double-checking, is that it's much faster to do this project if you don't make mistakes.

6. Mount the pot rack:

- In this example, none of the places I wanted to put bolts had trusses.

- Using toggle-bolts, etc. hoping that the ceiling sheetrock will be strong enough for the pot rack is nuts. Even if it does work today, it will come down at some point.

- Drove nails through the ceiling where the bolts go. Go up in the attic and put some blocking in place (Pulling out insulation and putting this in is a pit of a pain, but don't skip it). Lowes has a fairly good article on adding blocking for a rack - see Resources below.

- If you don't have attic access to the space, drill 2" holes, slide 1.5" wide wood strips (2x2) in the space with glue to hold them. Use decorative grommets to cover the holes.

- Once the blocking is in place, drill and screw in eye-bolts.

7. Decide on the height:

- Determine how high you want the rack and lights. Create a layout diagram as shown here. Again, this is fairly detailed, but worth the effort.

8. Hang the rack and adjust the final height:

- Cut the chain to length, plus 8 to 12 inches.

- Hang the pot rack, leaving the extra chain at the top. Use the rack for a few days before you cut the final amount off.

9. Install the lights:

- I am not going to go into light installation in this how-to, since the electrical steps are involved. I have provided a link in the resources section for this.

- If you are not comfortable with electricity, best to contract this out.

10. Hang the hooks, pots, etc.

Tags: blocking place, Hang Rack, Hang rack, Hang Rack Lights, Make sure

Decorate The Patio And Deck Areas

Patios and decks are ideal gathering spots for barbecues.

Patios and decks are places where you can host outdoor barbecues, watch your children play or simply relax while enjoying fresh air after a long day at work. Decorating this kind of area is not difficult, as long as you keep in mind how you use your patio or deck and treat the area as an extension of your home. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Pick the patio furniture with your main activities in mind, and coordinate the style with the exterior of your home. For instance, consider light-colored patio furniture if your home is painted white. Dark and wrought-iron furniture goes well with a home that's stone or brick or painted an earth tone. Include a table and coordinating chairs in your scheme. A patio with a nearby pool calls for chaise lounges for sunning. Whenever possible, choose multipurpose furniture. A built-in wall bench provides storage for gardening tools and additional seating.

2. Hang a decorative piece of wrought iron, attractive artwork or a soothing fountain on an exterior wall to create a focal point. This also helps to make the outdoor area look and feel like an extension of your home, instead of an afterthought.

3. Fill the corners of your outdoor area where appropriate. Potted plants and outdoor statuary that don't obstruct traffic or the view help to define the space. If the space is covered, use plants that do well in shady areas, such as ferns, wax begonias, periwinkle and coleus.

4. Pay attention to the area immediately surrounding your deck or patio. If you don't have them already, plant flowerbeds to add visual interest to the area.

5. Install solar lighting in nearby shrubs and trees so that you and your guests can enjoy the cool breezes during the evening hours. Candle lanterns, meanwhile, are a sophisticated and romantic touch.

Tags: your home, extension your, extension your home, outdoor area, patio furniture, Patios decks

Furniture Made With Wrought Iron

Wrought iron furniture rusts if left untreated.

Wrought iron furniture, meaning iron furniture made by hand, dates back to around 700 B.C. and became popular in the United States during the Industrial Revolution. Today, you can purchase exterior and interior wrought iron furniture in stores and online. Does this Spark an idea?

Identification

Unlike historic wrought iron furniture that was made with pure iron, modern wrought iron furniture is made from a stronger and more durable iron and carbon blend known as mild steel. Manufacturers, retailers and consumers still refer to the furniture as wrought, however, because it is still made by hand.

Types

Much of the wrought iron furniture you see in stores is designed for outdoor use. Such furniture items include full-size patio table and chair sets, bistro sets, swings and love seats. You can, however, purchase indoor wrought iron furniture such as dining room table frames, chairs, shelves, bakers' racks and bar stools.

Care

Outdoor wrought iron furniture needs the most care. Wash the furniture with soap and water frequently to maintain its appearance. Protect the furniture with carpenter's wax, and sand and paint over areas that show rust. For further protection, cover your outdoor wrought iron furniture when not in use.

Tags: iron furniture, wrought iron, wrought iron furniture, furniture stores, furniture with, iron furniture made, iron furniture stores

Bunk Bed Tips From Moms

Bunk beds are a lot of fun and can be great space savers, as they contain one bed on top of another. However, the main concerns with bunk beds are safety problems. There are many injuries due to bunk beds every year. You want to purchase bunk beds that have a safety label from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and ensure that the beds are used in a proper fashion. Does this Spark an idea?

Lights

An issue with bunk bed safety is going up and down the ladder at night in the dark. To make sleeping in the top bunk safer, mount a cordless nightlight on the ladder. This makes it easy to get up in the middle of the night, and your child will avoid falling off the bunk bed, falling down the ladder or missing the ladder completely when trying to go back up it.

Safety Features

Ensure that the bunk beds have the proper safety features. The top bunk should have a guard rail with a maximum 3 1/2 inch gap between the side and rail. The supporting slats or wires on the top bunk must be fastened at both ends and run completely under the mattress with no gaps. A small child may get caught between the frame edge and a mattress if the mattress is too small. Make sure that the mattress is snug and does not have any gaps.

Activities

A bunk bed is made to sleep on and is not for any other activities. Avoid injuries or damage to the bunk bed and prohibit any jumping. The bunk bed is not a trampoline and does not have the proper support for jumping and other violent activity. The bed can collapse and hurt the child underneath and throw the child on the top bunk.

Age

Children who are under the age of 6 should never sleep in the top bunk of bunk beds. If your child is older than 6 and is not comfortable sleeping on the top bunk, do not push your child to sleep up high, but wait until he is ready. Manufacturers have set the age of 6 based on the child's size, but there is more than size that goes into having a child be comfortable sleeping up high.

Tags: bunk beds, your child, comfortable sleeping, does have, down ladder

Decorate Outdoor Screened Porches

Fill a screened porch with plants in decorative pots.

Make the most out of a screened porch by filling it with decorative items and comfortable furniture. A screened porch allows you to enjoy the outdoors without being subjected to all of the elements, such as insects, rain and too much sunlight. Use the space to host impromptu summer dinner parties, birthday bashes and as an overflow space during large holiday gatherings. When enhancing the space, save money by repurposing items you already own into one-of-a-kind porch d cor pieces. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Choose seating elements. Go for a casual look with woven brown rattan or white wicker chairs covered with brightly colored cushions. Pick a plush couch and chair set featuring white or ecru-colored cotton upholstery and wood bases for a luxurious lounge style. Paint antique wooden chairs with turquoise, coral or sunny yellow paint for a breezy, beach house-inspired look.

2. Set up a table and chair set for entertaining guests and hosting casual lunches and dinners. Pick a small wrought-iron bistro table and chair set or a long rough-hewn wood table with hand-carved chairs, depending on the size of the porch. Decorate the table with place mats, a tablecloth or a runner for a decorative look.

3. Place a large area rug on the porch floor in the center of the seating area. Choose a crisp white-and-navy striped outdoor cotton rug for a fresh, nautical look. Pick a raffia, sea grass or bamboo floor covering to give the porch a natural flair.

4. Display plants around the screened porch to create a relaxing ambiance. Place a large tropical plant in a woven bamboo pot and use it to fill in an empty corner. Use tree stumps as all-natural plant stands for an eco-friendly touch.

5. Cover the porch's screen to control the amount of sunlight entering the space. Hang gauzy white drapes to allow filtered light to enter the porch, which will create a dreamy ambiance. Or install natural bamboo blinds to maintain the space's earthy quality.

Tags: screened porch, Place large, table chair, table with

Make An Upholstered Headboard For A Wrought Iron Bedframe

A wrought iron bed frame can provide a classic, sophisticated look for your bedroom. However, this type of bed frame may not include a headboard, which would make your bedroom appear incomplete. You can make your own upholstered headboard that attaches to the bedroom wall to complete the look of your bed. A simple upholstered headboard does not require sewing, and can be moved if you decide to change the configuration of your bedroom. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Measure the width of your wrought iron bed frame with a tape. The headboard should be about 2 inches wider than the frame.

2. Cut a sheet of foam core board to the width of the bed frame with utility knife, using a metal straightedge as a guide to obtain a straight cut.

3. Lay three sheets of fusable fleece over the foam core board. Trim the fleece to the dimensions of the foam core board with scissors.

4. Lay a pressing cloth over the fusable fleece. Press the cloth with a warm iron to fuse the sections of fleece together, and to fuse the sections to the foam core board.

5. Measure fabric about 4 inches larger than the foam core board, and cut the fabric with scissors. Place the foam core board, fleece side down, on the fabric. Attach fabric adhesive strips to the perimeter of the fabric and fold the edges tightly over the back of the foam core board.

6. Measure and cut a section of fabric 2 inches smaller than the foam core board. Attach fabric adhesive strips around the perimeter and lay the fabric over the back of the foam core board so that it overlaps the edges of the fabric folded from the front.

7. Measure and cut hook-and-loop tape for the perimeter of the headboard. Remove the paper backing from the hook side of the tape and press it onto the back of the headboard.

8. Remove the paper backing from the loop side of the hook-and-loop tape. Position the headboard on the wall over the wrought iron bed frame and press the headboard into place.

Tags: core board, foam core, foam core board, iron frame, wrought iron

Remove Rust From A Cast Iron Stove

Remove Rust from a Cast Iron Stove

A cast-iron stove can be both a decorative and functional part of a home. Rust, however, can not only pose a formidable threat to the aesthetics of a cast-iron stove, but can also cause it to severely deteriorate if the problem is not tended to. If the rust is bad enough, it can make the stove unsafe to use. Fortunately, cleaning rust of a cast-iron stove is a fairly simple task that requires only a little time and effort. And you have more than a few options. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Scrape away the rust with a wire brush or paint scraper until all of it is gone.

2. Use a steel-wool pad (fine grade) to scrub powdery rust from the surface.

3. Apply bacon grease to newspaper and wipe away rust. This also helps give the stove a nice shine.

4. Apply white vinegar to a wire Brillo pad and scrub away the rust, adding more vinegar as necessary.

5. Apply Coca-Cola to a cloth and wipe the rust away.

6. Apply WD-40 to a 0000 steel wool pad and scrub the rust until it's gone.

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A Metal Puppy Guard To An Iron Fence

Puppy guards can be add to iron fencing to contain your pets.

Iron is one of the most durable fencing materials on the market. Iron fencing is solid and fashionable, and can greatly increase the value of your home. The majority of iron fence designs have large gaps between the posts, however, making pet containment a challenge. A chicken wire barrier along the bottom of the fence serves as an affordable metal puppy guard to keep your canine companions safe in their own yard.

Instructions

1. Determine the appropriate height for your metal puppy guard. The wire guard should be tall enough to keep your puppy from climbing over it, even when he reaches his full adult height. Purchase chicken wire of the appropriate height.

2. Put on your gloves and lay the roll of chicken wire against the inside of the first iron fence post. Attach it to the post at the top, middle, and bottom with wire connectors. Pull the connectors as tight as possible, trimming the excess with the wire cutters.

3. Unroll the wire along the iron fence, securing it every five fence posts with connectors. Pull the fence tight as you unroll it to prevent sagging and gaps in the event the puppy attempts to climb on it. If your fence posts are spaced closely together, you can increase the distance between connections to every ten posts.

4. Wire gate panels individually to allow gates to function properly. Measure each gate panel and cut corresponding lengths from the chicken wire. Hold the panels against the iron fence and attach with connectors.

5. Turn your puppy loose in the yard and monitor him to make sure he cannot escape. He may explore the puppy guard and push on it with his nose, but the connectors will hold it securely to the fence and keep him safely contained.

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Garden Fence Types

Garden fences come in a variety of simple and elaborate styles.

Garden fences serve a variety of purposes. They provide a barrier to keep animals and neighbors from munching and trampling on precious crops. Decorative garden fences enhance the beauty of the home and landscape. Others serve to block the wind or simply separate the garden from the rest of the yard. Choose from a wide range of materials and designs for a practical or purely decorative garden fence. Does this Spark an idea?

Wood Privacy

Commonly used to enclose the perimeter of a yard, wood privacy fences often feature prefabricated panels installed between posts. Closely positioned slats or solid panels allow for complete privacy. While typically in excess of 6 feet tall, these fence panels come in shorter versions to provide coordinated fencing within the yard to enclose a garden or pool.

Wire Mesh

Galvanized wire mesh fencing works well for gardens in a rural setting where aesthetics are not a concern. Chicken wire, chain link and welded wire fences can be installed below ground level to deter small burrowing animals such as rabbits and gophers. To add beauty to these utilitarian garden fences, train non-invasive flowering vines onto the wire structure.

Metal

Wrought iron and aluminum fencing lends an elegant look to any garden. These decorative fence types come in a variety of ornate and classic styles to coordinate with the architecture of a home. Durable ornamental metal fences will deter human intruders and keep the garden safe from inquisitive neighborhood pets. Manufacturers offer a variety of standard color choices and custom options to match existing exterior fixtures.

Picket

The quintessential picket fence provides a charming enclosure for a cottage garden. Wood or vinyl picket fence kits often include installation instructions for the do-it-yourselfer. Paint a wood picket fence to coordinate with house paint or opt for the traditional white variety. Vinyl fences require no maintenance, once installed. A picket fence will offer protection from larger foraging animals.

Masonry

A fence made from brick, stacked stone or concrete block allows for a free-form design around the garden. Masonry fencing material works with a number of house and landscape styles. Stacked stone fencing complements a Tuscan or French country garden perfectly. Brick and concrete block fences add an understated touch to a vegetable or ornamental garden. Handy homeowners can construct a modest masonry fence in a weekend.

Shrubs

Dense shrubs or dwarf tree species such as boxwood make a beautiful organic border for the garden. A living fence costs less than conventional fences constructed from wood, stone or metal. They also add color and texture to the landscape. For a natural deer barrier, select a thorny shrub species like barberry. Maintain this type of garden fence with regular pruning.

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Cut A Brass Rod

Cut a brass rod with a hacksaw.

A hacksaw will cut through a brass rod, but you'll have the best results if you use a new, sharp blade, and tighten the nut on the saw until the saw frame begins to bow just a bit. A sharp, taut blade will make for faster, easier sawing. Remember also that the blade cuts only on the down-stroke, so apply pressure only then so that the blade doesn't bind or snap as you work.

Instructions

1. Secure the brass rod in the vise so that the area to be cut is near the teeth of the vise for optimal stability, but just far enough away to allow for an easy sawing motion.

2. Put on protective eye gear, so that flying metal chips don't get into your eyes as you saw.

3. Notch the saw blade into the metal rod at the point you wish to make the cut by making a few short saw strokes. This will provide a track for the blade, and make it easier to keep the saw cutting straight into the metal.

4. Continue to saw, remembering that only the forward stroke will cut; only apply downward pressure with the forward strokes. The metal rod and the blade may become warm or hot as you saw, so don't touch either with bare hands or fingers until they've had time to cool.

5. Support the length of the rod, when you near the end of the cut, so that it won't bend and break before you get it cut through.

6. Smooth the cut edge with a metal file if it has sharp ridges or if a smooth finish is desirable for your project.

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Design A Wrought Iron Gate

Closeup, custom cane bolts

A wrought iron gate can add elegance and character to the entrance of your property, open entry, fenced area or doorway. Friends and family can easily identify your home by your unique and personalized gate. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

design a wrought iron gate

1. Research local regulations to determine if any building codes apply or permits are needed.

2. Measure the area in which you wish to place a gate. Whether it is a driveway or walk gate, size is important to your design.

3. Determine your style and budget. Page through an ornamental metal catalog or look at gates online to find a style that you like. At this point you may consult with a gate fabricator, or continue to design the gate yourself. Most fabricators are well-versed in helping you with this part of the design process and can help determine a style that will work with your home's setting. While paging through the ornamental metal catalog, you may find specific elements you wish to use, or you may just get a general idea of style.

4. Decide if you wish to open the gate manually or if you want an automatic gate opener. An automatic gate opener needs a bracket attached to the gate.

5. Draw a basic outline shape of the gate.

6. Decide on the amount of ornamentation. For example, would you like straight simple pickets or intricate ornamental scrolls? Most wrought iron catalogs have collections of coordinated pickets---for example right-, left- and middle-oriented. If you have a style in mind but have not decided on specifics, your fabricator can suggest details that will work best with your gate style.

7. When you have determined a basic design, choose three or more fabricators to which to present a quote and a more detailed drawing. Some fabricators will hand sketch at this point, while others use computer programs (CAD) to draw their initial sketches.

Note: Some fabricators will visit the job site during the quote process, and some fabricators do rough quotes. Ask details about the quote versus how the final price is determined. The more thorough and detailed the quote is, the more likely that the job will finish on budget.

8. Once you have received quotes and accepted a bid, the fabricator should visit the job site and perform precise measurements. These measurements are used to calculate scale, to ensure your gate meets any applicable codes and to make sure the gate fits into the area for which it is intended.

9. Review the final drawing of the gate with the fabricator. This drawing should be proportionately spaced and have all elements of the finished gate drawn.

10. The gate is now ready to be fabricated, finished and installed.

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Design A Fence Gate

Adding a gate to your fence can make it easier to get things done in the yard. Just as fences vary in size and style, so do fence gates. This article deals with creating a fence gate with cattle fencing. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

Creating a Fence Gate

1. Find a good place in your fence to put a gate. If your fence is supported by 4-by-4 posts, try to set the gate between two existing fence posts. Cattle gate comes in 10- or 12-foot sections, but posts are generally spaced 11 feet apart, so it's likely you'll have to insert at least one additional post to span the opening and give your gate plenty of support.

2. Dig the post holes so the bottom of the post is below the frost line. (Your local builders association should have this information.) Placement of the posts is based on the size of the fence: If the gate is 10 feet wide, set the posts to allow for the 10 feet plus the width of the hardware, about 2 inches. Dig the post holes with the post-hole digger.

3. Put the posts in the holes, adding some dirt to stabilize them until you can confirm with your level that the posts aren't leaning. Pack dry cement around the posts and add enough water to wet the cement but not make it soupy. As it's setting into concrete, the cement mix will also draw water from the ground.

4. Add the gate hardware and then the gate. You'll need to drill starter holes in the posts for the heavy support screws that hold the gate in place.

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Install A Lowe'S Vinyl Fence

Lowe's vinyl fencing provides homeowners with a substitute to the conventional rail or wood picket fences used in landscaping for decades. Vinyl fences cost more upfront, but are still popular because of their low maintenance and longevity. Installing a Lowe's vinyl fence requires two people and typically takes at least two days to complete. Contact your local utility companies to mark any underground pipes or cables before installation. Does this Spark an idea?

Instructions

1. Place a stake at each corner of the fence line, using a mallet. Tie a string from each of the corners to mark the length of the fence. Use the strings to keep the posts in a straight line.

2. Measure your fence panels to determine if they are 6 feet or 8 feet long, using a tape measure. Place a stake along the string line every 73 1/4 inches apart for 6-foot panels, and every 96 inches apart for 8-foot panels. This is where the fence posts will be located. Mark the location of gates in the fence line.

3. Dig post holes 10 inches wide and 1/3 the length of the posts, but add 6 inches to the depth for gravel and add 6 additional inches for the gate posts for added strength. Fill the hole with 6 inches of gravel.

4. Fill the post holes with the concrete. Place a post in the center of the hole and tap on the top of the post until it rests on the gravel. Use the trowel to slant the concrete away from each post.

5. Put a post level on the post and adjust as needed until level. Wait until the concrete is set before continuing. Find out how long this will take on the concrete label.

6. Attach the rail brackets to the fence posts with screws. Slide the fence panels into the rail brackets and then screw them in place.

7. Install any fence accessories, such as post tops, using vinyl adhesive. Put the adhesive inside the top and hold the top down on the post for 10 seconds. Follow the directions provided with the Lowe's vinyl fence to install any gates.

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