Posts Tagged ‘easy’
Bathroom additions made easy
Bathroom additions made easy
(NC)—Anyone who’s ever done it knows that adding a bathroom to the home can be quite a challenge. Finding the right plumber and installing the drainage line can take days of construction, not to mention deep pockets.
“We can help with that,” says Daniel Cayer, the national sales manager for Saniflo Canada, an industry leader in macerating toilet systems.
“Not only do our systems provide a cost-effective solution to homeowners and renovators, the macerating toilets also provide an alternative when standard plumbing fixtures are impossible or cost-prohibitive due to the positioning of existing drain lines. With our products, anyone can install a bathroom where needed: a basement, garage, attic, or even under the stairs.”
Cayer says the macerating toilet systems eliminate the need for conventional rough-in with below-floor drainage. Because walls and floors remain intact, these above-floor systems do not require expensive renovations, and installation is quick and easy.
“Whether you are considering adding a spare bathroom to your home or even renovating an existing one, we offer a more simple solution to what can be a complex problem,” Cayer continued. “Our toilets can be installed in as little as half a day.
With macerating systems, he explained, flush water is routed through the toilet into a macerator where a rotating blade reduces waste and toilet paper, so it can be pumped away through 3/4-inch piping to the nearest drain line. This small-diameter pipe means drain lines can run without opening up walls and floors. Macerating systems also feature additional drainage inlets, allowing for the connection of a sink, bath and shower. The result is a desired bathroom installed quickly and cost effectively, anywhere you need.
More information is available online at www.saniflo.ca or toll-free at 1-800-363-5874.
www.newscanada.com
Related posts:
- Bathroom systems advance for building efficiency
- Even toilets can get friendlier
- Adding a Bath Where None Exists?
Ten Easy Ideas for Winterizing Your Lawn
Many of us take great pride in our lawns. If you prepare your lawn for winter you will have a lawn you can be proud of next spring. Here’s how to get your lawn ready for the cold months ahead.
- Gradually lower the height of your mower blade. Cut your grass no more than two inches high for cool-season grasses, shorter for warm-season grasses. Higher than that and the long blades will become home to rodents, who will tunnel through your lawn. Also, long blades trap moisture, which can encourage the growth of fungal diseases in the spring.
- Remove leaves from your lawn. I chop up leaves with the mower. I let a scattering of leaves stay on the lawn and rake up the rest to use for mulch or to compost. A layer of leaves on the lawn keeps out air and light and can smother your lawn.
- Add nutrients after the lawn stops growing but before the ground freezes. Your lawn will store the nutrients through the winter and start using them early in the spring. I apply compost tea, which I make by steeping compost in water, to add microbes to the soil. If you over-seeded your lawn during the summer, apply a fertilizer high in potassium. Some experts recommend a nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium fertilizer specially formulated for winter.
- If you have small bare spots in the lawn you can sow grass seed before the ground freezes. This is called dormant seeding; the seed stays dormant until spring.
- If you have had a very dry summer and fall, water your lawn well before the ground freezes.
- Also before the ground freezes, put stakes up so it’s clear where the pavement ends and the lawn begins. You want to prevent your lawn from getting compacted, so keep vehicles off the lawn (foot traffic too if you can). In fact, take everything you can off the lawn: toys, garden debris, branches, garden equipment, storage bench, outdoor furniture, etc.
- De-thatching and aerating (which are two different processes) improve air circulation and the overall health of a lawn. You can rent aerating and de-thatching tools or hire a professional lawn service to do the work.
- Watch for soil erosion and excessive pooling of water. If you see either of these you need take action before your lawn is seriously damaged. You can install a basin, drainage ditch, dry well, or water garden to prevent the excess water from causing a problem. I recently noticed a slightly sloped area of my lawn where water seemed to back up and not drain properly. I replaced the soil at the bottom of the slope with stones so the water will drain more quickly.
- Sodium-based ice melt will damage your lawn and your plants. Use calcium chloride (salt) or sand instead.
- Take care of equipment and supplies. To avoid the heartache of cracked pipes, drain your hoses (store them inside) and open up the outdoor faucets. If you have a sprinkler system, drain the lines and close down the system. Store your lawn products properly. Above all, keep all chemical fertilizers and pesticides out of the reach of children and animals. Keep liquid pesticides from freezing. Keep grass seed and granular fertilizer dry.
When spring comes and your lawn is healthy and beautiful, you’ll be glad you took the time to prepare your lawn for winter.
Author Bio
Stan Horst owns a family cabin rental business in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia (www.cabincreekwood.com). A former cabinetmaker, Stan likes to share his expertise, especially his appreciation for outdoor benches from the Kingsley Bate furniture company. Stan spends his spare time enjoying nature with his wife and two teenage children.
Related articles
- Simple Lawn Care Tips To Keep Your Lawn Green And The Planet Clean (hbb2obm.com)
- How To Do Your Lawn Edging (backyardgardeningtips.com)
Finding Easy To Follow Raised Bed Garden Plans
Why do I love having raised bed gardens in our yard? Well if you ever tried digging in our yard you immediately find one big reason, the dense clay soil we have.
But that’s not all. They yard, well anywhere we’ve dug so far, is full of tree roots that make it so hard to dig a flower bed or a hole to plant a shrub.
At the time I am writing this post we have two raised garden beds in our backyard. It’s so cool that I can see them from my home office window.
Those raised beds have been here for many years and have seen better days. It’s time to replace the two we have but I would also like to build two more on the opposite side of the garage where they will be seen from the street so others can enjoy them as well.
Learning How To Build A Raised Bed Garden
Last spring I tried to dig up and amend the soil in one of the raised beds and it actually fell apart. I wasn’t sure how to fix it as it was getting pretty rotted so I just patched it up for the summer and decided to look online to find raised bed garden plans that would teach me how to build raised bed gardens. The plans also had to be easy enough for me to follow as I don’t do well with instructions, at times.
Hey, I’m a guy and usually throw those instructions away. 
I’d like to have a raised bed for our strawberries and another for our rhubarb, as a way to contain them. Plus on that side of the garage they will get about 3 maybe 4 extra hours of sunlight.
Raised Bed Gardens Save My Back
I think good looking raised beds makes our home even more beautiful but raised beds do so much more. The big thing for us is saving our backs as we are hitting sixty in another year.
Raised bed gardens not only save my back working the garden they also save our back due to the dense heavy soil we have here that grows little more than weeds. The raised beds allowed us to fill them with clean healthy tops soil, compost and peat moss without digging into that concrete we call our backyard.
A raised bed really just means that your garden as well as the required soil will be constructed above the ground level. So much easier than digging in our yard, so take a few minutes and checkout How To Build Raised Bed Gardens.
Easy Organic Lawn Care Tips To Get Your Lawn Looking Its Best
This is a guest post from Jason Holbrook from Georgia Lawn. Georgia Lawn provides lawn care in the metro Atlanta and surrounding areas.
For every lawn care problem that you come across it is pretty safe to say that there are great organic solutions that will help you avoid having to apply synthetic man made products that can leech and deplete your soil. Today we will go over a few great methods of taking care of your lawn to get it to its fullest potential.
It’s Worth Having Your Soil Tested
Before you go and put anything on your yard besides water you need to invest the couple of bucks and buy a soil test. Most county extension offices have them and all that you have to pay is the shipping and the simple test. It usually takes a couple of weeks or so for the test results to be mailed back to you. Be sure to get different areas of your yard in the sample and make sure to not put down any fertilizer, as it will sway the results. Having a soil test will not only tell you what kind of soil you have it will tell you what and how much you need to add to it.
Be Sure Your pH Is Balanced
Once you have your test results back be sure to check the pH section of the test. Making the necessary adjustments to this section alone can make a huge difference in how your lawn responds to you.
If you live East of the Mississippi River then more than likely soil is going to be in the acidic range. Your soil will have an acidic pH especially if you have pine trees and red clay in your yard. To remedy acidic soil add garden limestone per the pound per 1000 sq ft that is recommended on your soil test.
If you live West of the Mississippi River then more than likely your soil is of alkaline pH. In the case of an alkaline pH you will want to add sulfur in the form of rock sulfur and peat moss. There are of course exceptions to the East and West rule of the Mississippi rule such as the Pacific Northwest, which has acidic soil due to high levels of rainfall, more the reason to get the soil test.
Replenish What’s Lacking in Your Soil
The next thing that the test will tell you is if you are lacking in any of the major or minor nutrients that plants need to survive and thrive. If your test shows that you are low in nutrients such as say N- nitrogen and P- phosphorus then opt for an organic slow release fertilizer such as bone meal or Milorganite. These two organic fertilizers will do wonders for your yard without you having to worry about synthetic chemical runoff or chemical burn. The soil test will also tell you how much of a certain nutrient that you need to add to the soil.
If you have done all of the above and are still not getting the results that you are looking for then consider getting your yard core aerated. The core aeration process will pull plugs from your yard and deposit them onto your yard. This will allow for oxygen, nutrients and water to readily reach your lawn’s root layer. This process will also help your grass to decrease its thatch layer down to an acceptable amount and let the grass receive the things that it needs to grow thick and strong.
Water Your Lawn Early And Deeply
Another great thing that you can do to get your lawn looking tiptop is water it in the early morning and water it deeply. A great way to check and see if you are watering enough is to put out an empty tuna can and turn on your sprinkler system. You will want to leave the system on as long as it takes for there to be one inch of water built up. Once you have your sprinkler time only run your irrigation once or twice a week, less if it has rained recently or there is rain in the forecast.
Last but not least you should keep your lawn mower blades as sharp as possible. Doing this will make sure that you are cutting the tips of the blades of the grass not ripping them as you do with dull blades. Also make sure that you are only taking off one third of the grass blade to ensure that you dot not put your grass into shock and stunt its growth.
If you follow these easy lawn care tips you should have one of the best looking yards on the block and one of the eco-friendly at the same time.
Easy ways to create a year-round oasis in your backyard
Easy ways to create a year-round oasis in your backyard
More homeowners are seeking function and efficiency from their outdoor living spaces, according to a recent survey by the American Society of Landscape Architects. Demand is growing to make outdoor spaces unique and usable year-round. Experts say one of the first ways to create this personal year-round oasis, is by bringing the indoors outside.
“A great outdoor space serves as an extension of your home,” says Dan Berger, expert landscape designer, HGTV.com contributor and owner of LandPlan Landscaping in Pleasanton, Calif. “When planned properly, your backyard can provide you extra square footage of living space and serve as an inviting retreat throughout the year.”
Berger offers some design hints to help turn your backyard living space into a multi-functional, multi-season oasis:
1. Define your space with a base
“You need to define your space based on function,” Berger says. “Once outside you need to feel cozy, enclosed within your new space while oriented to other rooms within your house and yard.”
You can start with an existing porch, deck or patio, or build new ones, to establish boundaries for your space. Consider how you will use it – for living, dining or entertaining – and include features that will make the space easy and efficient for those intended uses.
2. Use natural materials that compliment the outdoors
Eco-chic – materials that are environmentally friendly and beautiful – remains a hot outdoor living trend. “I always like to use natural materials as they just make me feel more connected to nature and more relaxed,” says Berger. Natural, organic, eco-friendly materials create a warm, inviting feel and are better for the environment.
Fortunately, some tried-and-true materials, like Western Red Cedar are spot-on with this trend. This versatile material holds a finish for an extended period of time or weathers beautifully naturally, making it a green choice for everything from decks to flower boxes and furniture. You can learn more about Western Red Cedar and locate a retailer or distributor in your area, by visiting www.wrcla.org.
3. Add dimension
Pergolas, gazebos and trellises add height and dimension to your outdoor environment, and can enhance the feeling of privacy whether in an outdoor kitchen or entertainment space. Consider building outdoor walls to help achieve that feeling of privacy, coziness and orientation. Explore walls made of real wood, rock or fabric.
For extra detail and shade, drape a thin veil of papyrus or other vine over a pergola to create an intimate lounging area. Consider adding a tall plant in the corner or edge of the deck to balance the space and add height. During the holiday season, wrap tall plants with string lights to brighten the space. For more how to tips, visit “WRCLA’s Channel” on YouTube.
4. Simplify the installation
Choose materials that are easy to install over alternative, composite building products.
Durable materials last longer by avoiding the damaging effects of mold and mildew, and can save you money long-term. They are also lighter than man-made products, making it easier to design and create an ideal space. Instead of spending the last days of summer fixing material that splits, breaks or crumbles, you’ll have more time to relax in your outdoor oasis.
5. Update seasonally
As the seasons change, so should the look of your outdoor accessories and furnishings. Berger recommends decorating your outdoor rooms as you would inside. Add holiday decorations in the winter and pictures to your walls in the spring. From summer barbecues to enjoying fall colors or even gathering around the fire pit after the big football game, select accessories and furnishings that will facilitate year-round use.
“The most important thing to remember is to have fun,” Berger says. “Enjoy turning your plain backyard into the outdoor oasis of your dreams. Take your time and make choices that are right for you and your family, and you will enjoy the space for many years to come.”
Related posts:
- How to create an outdoor entertaining oasis
- Bring the sunshine and backyard into your home this summer
- Easy ways to create a dream bedroom for your child
Easy Arts & Crafts Kid’s Projects: Construction paper decorative Paper Lamp
For more kids crafts visit and info: www.simplekidscrafts.com info@simplekidscrafts.com Also visit: www.artsandcraftstv.com Manualidades para niños en Español www.manualidadesconninos.com Manualidades para adultos en Español: www.manualidadestv.com Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts: www.muslimkidstv.com Background Music: Free Royalty Free Music from: www.partnersinrhyme.com Free Music by Kevin MacLeod from: incompetech.com Public domain music downloaded from: www.virushead.net About Simple Kids Crafts: Simple Kids Crafts is a blog dedicated to reviving the old art of handicrafts. and art that has been lost to fabricated toys. We provide easy fun crafts, with step by step instructions, coloring pages, home school resources, educational resources, kids arts and crafts projects for teachers and all for free! The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts. Make wonderful, easy, simple crafts with things found around the house featuring: paper crafts, animal crafts, decoration, painting, beading, gift making, gardening, felt crafts, puppets, play date tips, scrapbooking, yarn and needle crafts, photography, home decor, reading, poetry, jewelry making projects and science projects. About the author of the videos: My name is Merve, I am a Muslim, an engineer from New York, a mom, a wife and a crafter by nature. My parents introduced me to arts and crafts at a very early age. I love doing arts and crafts as a hobby but most importantly to …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Download the wheel here: www.simplekidscrafts.com For more kids crafts visit and info: www.simplekidscrafts.com info@simplekidscrafts.com Also visit: www.artsandcraftstv.com Manualidades para niños en Español www.manualidadesconninos.com Manualidades para adultos en Español: www.manualidadestv.com Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts: www.manualidadesconninos.com Background Music: Free Royalty Free Music from: www.partnersinrhyme.com Free Music by Kevin MacLeod from: incompetech.com Public domain music downloaded from: www.virushead.net About Simple Kids Crafts: Simple Kids Crafts is a blog dedicated to reviving the old art of handicrafts. and art that has been lost to fabricated toys. We provide easy fun crafts, with step by step instructions, coloring pages, home school resources, educational resources, kids arts and crafts projects for teachers and all for free! The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts. Make wonderful, easy, simple crafts with things found around the house featuring: paper crafts, animal crafts, decoration, painting, beading, gift making, gardening, felt crafts, puppets, play date tips, scrapbooking, yarn and needle crafts, photography, home decor, reading, poetry, jewelry making projects and science projects. About the author of the videos: My name is Merve, I am a Muslim, an engineer from New York, a mom, a wife and a crafter by nature. My parents introduced me to arts and crafts at a very early age. I love …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Easy Kids Crafts: How make a pom pom seal
For more kids crafts visit and info: www.simplekidscrafts.com info@simplekidscrafts.com Also visit: www.artsandcraftstv.com Manualidades para niños en Español www.manualidadesconninos.com Manualidades para adultos en Español: www.manualidadestv.com Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts: www.muslimkidstv.com Background Music: Free Royalty Free Music from: www.partnersinrhyme.com Free Music by Kevin MacLeod from: incompetech.com Public domain music downloaded from: www.virushead.net About Simple Kids Crafts: Simple Kids Crafts is a blog dedicated to reviving the old art of handicrafts. and art that has been lost to fabricated toys. We provide easy fun crafts, with step by step instructions, coloring pages, home school resources, educational resources, kids arts and crafts projects for teachers and all for free! The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts. Make wonderful, easy, simple crafts with things found around the house featuring: paper crafts, animal crafts, decoration, painting, beading, gift making, gardening, felt crafts, puppets, play date tips, scrapbooking, yarn and needle crafts, photography, home decor, reading, poetry, jewelry making projects and science projects. About the author of the videos: My name is Merve, I am a Muslim, an engineer from New York, a mom, a wife and a crafter by nature. My parents introduced me to arts and crafts at a very early age. I love doing arts and crafts as a hobby but most importantly to …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Easy Kids Crafts: Sparkling Winter Mask from a paper plate
For more kids crafts visit and info: www.simplekidscrafts.com info@simplekidscrafts.com Also visit: www.artsandcraftstv.com Manualidades para niños en Español www.manualidadesconninos.com Manualidades para adultos en Español: www.manualidadestv.com Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts: www.muslimkidstv.com Background Music: Free Royalty Free Music from: www.partnersinrhyme.com Free Music by Kevin MacLeod from: incompetech.com Public domain music downloaded from: www.virushead.net About Simple Kids Crafts: Simple Kids Crafts is a blog dedicated to reviving the old art of handicrafts. and art that has been lost to fabricated toys. We provide easy fun crafts, with step by step instructions, coloring pages, home school resources, educational resources, kids arts and crafts projects for teachers and all for free! The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts. Make wonderful, easy, simple crafts with things found around the house featuring: paper crafts, animal crafts, decoration, painting, beading, gift making, gardening, felt crafts, puppets, play date tips, scrapbooking, yarn and needle crafts, photography, home decor, reading, poetry, jewelry making projects and science projects. About the author of the videos: My name is Merve, I am a Muslim, an engineer from New York, a mom, a wife and a crafter by nature. My parents introduced me to arts and crafts at a very early age. I love doing arts and crafts as a hobby but most importantly to …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Easy Arts & Crafts Kid’s Projects: Felt Frog Puppet Japanese Style!
For more kids crafts visit and info: www.simplekidscrafts.com info@simplekidscrafts.com Also visit: www.artsandcraftstv.com Manualidades para niños en Español www.manualidadesconninos.com Manualidades para adultos en Español: www.manualidadestv.com Muslim Kids Videos and Crafts: www.muslimkidstv.com Background Music: Free Royalty Free Music from: www.partnersinrhyme.com Free Music by Kevin MacLeod from: incompetech.com Public domain music downloaded from: www.virushead.net About Simple Kids Crafts: Simple Kids Crafts is a blog dedicated to reviving the old art of handicrafts. and art that has been lost to fabricated toys. We provide easy fun crafts, with step by step instructions, coloring pages, home school resources, educational resources, kids arts and crafts projects for teachers and all for free! The focus of the site is mainly on preschool, kindergarten, and elementary school crafts. Make wonderful, easy, simple crafts with things found around the house featuring: paper crafts, animal crafts, decoration, painting, beading, gift making, gardening, felt crafts, puppets, play date tips, scrapbooking, yarn and needle crafts, photography, home decor, reading, poetry, jewelry making projects and science projects. About the author of the videos: My name is Merve, I am a Muslim, an engineer from New York, a mom, a wife and a crafter by nature. My parents introduced me to arts and crafts at a very early age. I love doing arts and crafts as a hobby but most importantly to …
Video Rating: 4 / 5
Vegetable Garden — Picking Okra the easy way
Vegetable Garden — Picking okra the easy way. Don’t laugh, it use to take me 2 hours now it only takes about 30 minutes. Visit The Bayou Gardener in South Louisiana at www.thebayougardener.com