Household Fixes

Making outdoor patio furniture covers is easier than you think. By making your own covers you get the design and colors that you want. Making your own covers will also save you money. I have seen patio set covers made out of a variety of different fabrics. There is no right fabric. The choice of fabric is up to the individual taste.

It is important that your patio furniture be protected from the elements. The amount of protection your furniture will need is dependent upon where you live. Those people that live in tropical areas will want to protection their furniture from the blazing sun or salt spray every chance they get. The tropical sun will remove an entire layer of varnish in less than 6 months. Unless you don’t mind sanding and re-varnishing you best acquire some covers for your patio furniture.

The first step to making your own covers is material selection. There are more factors to consider than color or pattern alone. The price point of the material is going to be dependent on the quality. There are some specially formulated materials which are more weather resistant than others, which will obviously be more expensive than a generic fabric. This is not necessarily always the case, so it is important that the material you choose is worth the cost, both in terms of protective value, as well as esthetic appeal.

Now you are ready to design the shape of your patio covers, and take measurements to cut your material and assemble it. When creating custom designed covers, you must think in terms of the volume that your furniture occupies. Most pieces can be simplified into very basic shapes, such as rectangles, cubes and tubes. Covering a table will require you to create a simple box, cutting the top and side cut a few inches larger than the table measurement to allow for seams and a little extra ‘wiggle-room’. You will also want to create a slight widening taper towards the bottom so the cover slides easily over the table without getting stuck halfway down.

Creating a custom fitting cover for your chair is as simple as creating essentially a cube with one side shorter than the other. The back will be a rectangle measuring the same as the back of the chair, and the front will measure the same as the front of the chair, either as high as the seat, or the top of the arms if your chair has arms. The sides are slightly trickier, since they are not rectangles, but rather they are cut with one side as high as the arms or seat at the front, and the other side cut to the height of the chair back. Make sure that all your pieces have a seam allowance, and a bit of extra size so they will slip easily over the chair once constructed. As with table covers, you can add a hem with a drawstring at the bottom if you chair covers need extra securing.

With a little planning, and a little measuring and a little sewing, you can see how easy it is to create your own set of completely custom outdoor patio furniture covers. The best part about making your own set is the ability you will have to create an entirely unique look for your back yard or patio, not to mention the cost savings compared to having a custom set of furniture covers made to order.

Tags: b, backyard, f, furniture, g, garden, garden furniture, h, hobbies, Home, home and garden, home design, Home Improvement, home;accessory, house and home, o, outdoor decor, outdoor design, outdoor furniture, P, patio furniture, patio furniture covers
Posted in Home | No Comments »

Solar lights have become popular and are lights for today and the future. We have been using energy from the sun for years, but it has only been recently that we can use this power in an efficient way. With solar lights, we are able to take another big step towards keeping the earth cleaner and safer.

Not only are solar lights able to be used in many ways, but they are earth friendly too. The sun is a source of energy that is renewable and we can use the energy from it without causing more pollution to occur. Using solar lights allows us to light up our world without having to increase negative effects on the earth.

It’s a good idea to take a look at how solar lights actually work. The light fixtures actually have a little solar power on top of them. They are a lot like the panels you see on roofs for homes, but much smaller. During the time that the sun is out, the panel collects energy from the sun, which is transferred to a battery that can be recharged again and again. When the sun is out, the battery charges up, and then when it gets dark, that energy is taken and used on the LED light, which provides light through the dark hours.

For the most part, solar lights are used for backyards, pool lights, lights around doors, and for lighting up the gardens as well. You can find various types of solar lights, and some of them are merely functional, while others are beautiful and decorative in nature. Solar lights can be hung from trees, put up on buildings, or even mounted on posts to provide even more light. Various lantern style lights are available, and they can be put near the ground to help you safely be able to walk down a sidewalk or path. There are even floating lights available, which look great on pools or in ponds, and add a bit of decorative charm.

Installation of solar lights is quite easy. There are no trenches to dig for the lights and no complicated wiring to deal with either. It’s very simple to press these lights into the ground or to hang them up somewhere. These lights are independent from each other, and only need to be placed in an area where they get plenty of sunlight.

LEDs are much longer lasting than regular light bulbs and use very little power to keep going. More often than not the LED will last as long as the solar light fixture itself, years. Because LEDs are dimmer than regular bulbs, fixtures are manufactured using reflective surfaces and are available with numerous LED to increase brightness.

Solar lights are going to vary in costs. Some home improvement stores offer great prices, while a boutique with garden enhancing lights may charge a bit more for the lights. No matter what you pay for them, you won’t have to keep paying for electricity to use the lights, since sun light doesn’t cost a thing. If you replace other lighting fixtures that use electricity with these solar lights, you will probably notice that you save some money on your electric bill.

There are so many benefits to using solar lights. Even during the winter when the days are gloomy, the battery will still get enough sun to charge them. The lights will go on and off on their own as long as the sun rises and sets. There is no heat coming from the LED’s either, which means your kids and pets are totally safe. If the power goes off, you can go outdoors and enjoy the light from your solar lights. They also benefit the earth, and they make great choices for your outdoor lighting needs.

Tags: e, energy, g, gardening, global warning, green homes, green living, h, home & family, home and garden, home;improvement, l, o, organic living, r, renewable energy, s, solar energy, solar power, t, technology
Posted in solar power | No Comments »

Things to Think About for Stair Gates

Child safety is the number one consideration in every families’ mind. This is why deciding upon the right products like safe and trusted stair gates needs to be done with concern. Simply because a product is being promoted for children and pets doesn’t mean that it is actually safe and reliable.

Parents should know that there are some tips to keep in mind to make selections of safety stair gates and other child protection devices an easy and worry free process.

Stair gates that are JPMA or CPSC certified are preferred.

Select stair gates made from sturdy material with secure latch fittings.

Make certain that the stair gates are appropriate for the area where they are to be used. Some of these safety stair gates are only appropriate for use at the bottom of a staircase.

Mounting systems that will work for your location should be a primary consideration.

Certifications

Possessing a certification seal from JPMA or CPSC is considered a highest standard for any products designed to be used by children. This makes sure that parents are selecting a product that has met or exceeded guidelines that promote safety and security. One of the biggest groups that monitor how well certain products meet the required standards is the JPMA. Safety features and other quality principles are listed by ASTM.

JPMA is a separate product authority that works with ASTM and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to develop and maintain the highest level of standards and quality for the juvenile marketplace. When you notice the JPMA certification seal of approval you are assured that the product you purchase has been tested both during and after the manufacturing process. JPMA will only approve juvenile products like child stair gates after these items have met the most stringent criteria standards.

Materials Durability and Mounting Types

When choosing safety stair gates parents should always select those that are made from sturdy, dependable material. Cheaper items are readily available and these are constructed from flimsy plastics or cheap wood. These types of safety gates will not hold up under the weight of a determined small child and can result in a serious accident.

The mounting structures must also be produced from materials that will be stable after installation. Metal hardware is preferred and this type of mounting system can hold steady against the weight and force of small children who are trying to get to the other side of the safety gate.

Aesthetic Appeal

Of course, families want not only the safety features but a visually appealing quality as well. You can find a variety of styles for child safety gates that prevent access to dangerous areas and many of these stair gates and safety gates come in colors and designs that complement into any type of decor.

Parents need to make certain they are not sacrificing any safety features when they select one of the more aesthetically pleasing gates.

Only the Best for Our Children

Deciding upon and installing trusted and quality stair gates to make your home a safer environment is of the utmost importance. A child’s safety should never be in jeopardy because of a poorly chosen safety item.

Parents should always choose child gates that are made of high quality material, have a certification seal from JPMA or CPSC, and have a strong, durable mounting system. This will give your home the child friendly safety features that you can trust.

Tags: baby products, child safety, Home, home and garden, parenting, pet products, pet safety, safety gates, shopping, stair gates
Posted in Home | No Comments »