Adding a Water Feature to Your Garden or Patio
If you want to add an interesting (and relaxing) focal point to your patio or garden, consider a water feature. A water feature can be as simple as a fountain or as intricate as a pond or waterfall. Outdoor fountains are obviously the quickest and easiest choice. If you are feeling bold and are willing to commit to the maintenance, then a backyard pond may be for you. Either option you choose is sure to add a sense of relaxation to your outdoor space!
Outdoor Wrought Iron Furniture Care and Maintenance
Wrought iron has long been a popular metal used in outdoor furniture for many reasons. It is durable, heavy, and can be made into many different styles and designs. With all of the benefits of wrought iron, it does have one major drawback--rust!. The following tips will be useful for maintaining and extending the life of your wrought iron outdoor furniture:
If your wrought-iron furniture has already begun to rust, here are some ideas:
- Start by scrubbing the rust lightly with a wire brush. Scrub hard enough to remove any rust flakes, but be careful not to scratch the paint (unless the rust is so bad that you'll have to repaint the furniture).
- If you see rust stains but no flaking, use a very fine steel-wool pad dipped into kerosene, and brush out the stains. Be sure to wear safety goggles and rubber gloves when working with kerosene, and (of course) stay well away from open flames.
- If rust has developed in the joints of the furniture, it may be easier to disassemble the furniture and work with the individual pieces.
- When you've finished removing the rust, coat the furniture with liquid wax, available at most automotive stores. The wax will help protect the finish against further rust.
- Severe rust problems can be treated with naval jelly, which dissolves rust--but be careful because this will usually dissolve the paint. Some products convert the rust into a primer so the metal can be painted later.
- A good quality exterior-grade spray paint is best for use on wrought iron. These are available in many different colors at your local hardware store.
Perhaps the most important tip is the following:
Covering your wrought iron furniture is the most important thing that you can do to make it last! Investing in a good quality outdoor furniture cover will most likely prevent you from having to use the above tips!
Happy Holidays!
Sam
Keeping Your Basement or Garage Clutter-Free
The goal is to keep things accessible while maximizing free space.
My opinon of the easiest solution: Sort through your things! Something you haven't used in the past 12 months is probably something you don't need to keep. Give it to a charity or a friend or family member. Worst case scenario--throw it out!
Lastly, you will need to purchase easy-to-install, inexpensive shelving. Metal is better than wood, which can warp when it gets wet. Put boxes or loose items on shelves and you won't have to move a mountain of stuff to extricate one small thing. Store heavier items on lower shelves. Most home improvement stores will have a good selection of shelving to suit your needs.
Investing one day in organizing your "junk storage" spaces will pay off many times over in peace of mind.
Until next post....
Sam
Winterizing Your Patio
Well, it's that time of year again! It's easy to get pre-occupied with the holiday "madness", but don't forget to take some time to make sure your patio is ready for the winter. Two quick, simple steps can eliminate many headaches in the spring:
First, if you have an outdoor fountain, drain the water as thouroughly as possible. If you can't get all of the water drained from the fountain pump (or you can't bring the pump inside for the winter), you may want to run a SMALL amount of antifreeze through it. This will protect it from the freeze/thaw cycle. After your fountain is drained, it is best to cover it with a tarp or similar cover to prevent moisture from getting back in.
The next item to consider is your patio furniture. If you have room indooors (shed or garage), it is best to store the furniture there. The next best solution is using patio furniture covers. I recommend a vinyl cover. Vinyl is waterproof, flexible, and is much less expensive (up to 80% less cost) than the "Tyvek" or breathable covers. I've never really understood the need for expensive breathable furniture covers--patio furniture doesn't need to "breathe"! --Neither do grills, fire pits, or water fountains for that matter! If you keep the water out in the first place, there will be no problems.
I hope you found this information useful!
Until next post....
Sam