Category Archives: Yard & Outdoors

Landscaping Photos, Capturing Every Step

November 19, 2022   Matt

Landscaping Photos, Capturing Every Step

In landscaping design, once you’ve decided to venture into one, even if you are not a professional, you’ll be amazed as to how many the possibilities are about what you can do.

Observing is the Key
It may be true at times that you won’t know how the process was done by simply looking at the outcome. But by keen observation, you would have an idea as to what to do with your own project and by asking around, you would know how they were done. Sometimes you’ll be amazed to know that such complex structures were not that complex to do.

Observing other landscapes is good. But for you to have many other options and ideas, browse through gardening magazines and books. Sometimes, you don’t even have to read thoroughly on the articles about the process, you just have to look at photos to gather more ideas and add up to what you already have.

The Web is the right resource to go to when it comes to landscaping photos. Browse through sites of the professional landscapers to see their ideas. But the blog posts and personal sites of simple people who would just like to share what they made and how they made it with regards landscaping would also be worth seeing.

Through research, you’d have an idea as to what to do and what to avoid if you are planning on making your own.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words
This phrase is true for landscape enthusiasts, when presented with different pictures as to how other people have done their project, one could come up with their own ideas, maybe inspired from what they have seen or a combination of two or more styles.

When you look at the photos, you’ll be aware as to what colors of plants look good when they are side by side or what other structures could be built in the space provided. In this case, the research that you have to do would be minimal. Of course, you still have to be knowledgeable about the place conditions, the weather, the kinds of plants that grow in it, the soil properties. These all contribute to the success of the project.

Document it Through Photos
Pictures are really of a great help with people who wants to venture into landscaping or are pondering about what they could do with their land, even the professionals would find a great deal of help with pictures.

This is why when you are already doing your own landscaping, it is important to document each step, especially the outcome, by taking pictures. You never know how these photos could eventually help others who, in the future, may look for such and would find your pictures very useful just like how such pictures were able to help you when you were starting on your own project.

Make it a hobby to keep landscaping photos even though you are not a professional. It may serve others in the long run, but it would also remind you as to how you’ve transformed simplicity into an art form.

And keeping such isn’t only for memorabilia’s sake but also to avoid mistakes in the future regarding such activity and to learn from the process.

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Bringing Architects and Their Partners Together: The Power of a Secure Extranet

November 14, 2022   Matt

Bringing Architects and Their Partners Together: The Power of a Secure Extranet

An extranet is a private network within which document sharing can take place by specific groups of users outside the organization through a network administrator. An organization may allow authorized customers and partner’s access to the system after verifying the usernames and passwords.

The extranet: Enhanced document sharing and collaboration

Architectural firms have increasingly been using extranet to send and receive documents in a secure environment. All the relevant information about a particular project can be made available to all the individuals who are part of the project, be it the clients or other partners in the venture. Construction companies can access the CAD drawings and plans immediately, without much waiting. It also enhances the relationship with the clients who can receive the relevant documents and send their approvals accordingly.

Outsourcing Extranet Services

Some firms have not shown interest in implementation of the extranet because of the complexity involved and the high cost of installation and maintenance. It requires purchase of equipment, the necessary hardware and software for its implementation and training to maintain the system. However, there are hosting companies to whom the implementation and maintenance of the extranet can be outsourced. These hosting companies, also called application service providers (ASPs) not only provide the technical support, they also provide all the security measures required to keep the data secure. An architectural firm need not worry about the purchase and installation of any hardware or software installation or setup. The hosting company also provides maintenance and training to the staff. The firm just requires paying a fee to the application service provider for all the services it renders.

Advantages of an extranet

Extranets allows all the team members working on the project, be it the employees, vendors, suppliers or clients to share the design plans, documents and hence collaborate online. This aids in a better customer service and prevents unnecessary lengthening of project schedules. A lot of money is invested in any architectural venture and all the delays lead to substantial amount of money going down the drain. An extranet gives a platform to the workers to perform multi- site collaborations. Since all the data exchanges take place in real time, there are chances of less rework. With the usage of extranets increasing, special software packages have been developed specifically for the architectural firms. They support project management, e-mail management, accounting and scheduling. An extranet not only enhances the process of decision-making but also improves the relationship among clients and partners.

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Pluming Tips Everyone Needs To Know About (2)

November 09, 2022   Matt

Pluming Tips Everyone Needs To Know About

How can you go wrong with knowing the best information available when it comes to plumbing? You have come to the right place if you want to know the most reliable and well proven tips and tricks to use. Take a few minutes and read the advice we provide here in this article.

Do not put stringy or fibrous items into your garbage disposal. Substances like banana peels, gristle, or celery may not completely break down in the disposal, and may clog your pipes instead of flowing out of the waste lines as they are supposed to. When in doubt, do not try to dispose of something that may not break down completely.

To clear mineral deposits from your showerhead, try a soak in white vinegar. Simply add a cup or two of vinegar to a plastic bag and tape it around the showerhead, ensuring that it is submerged. Leave the bag on for an hour, and the vinegar will dissolve the mineral build-up, allowing water to gush through like it was when it was new.

Many people deal with clogged toilets. However, if your toilet will not flush every time, the water rises to the top, and there is bubbling effect occasionally, this can be due to a much deeper blockage in the main pipe. The main pipe must then be cleaned in order for your toilet to work properly.

One of the things that you can do to maximize the security of your home is to seal all of the cracks in your outdoor faucets. Even a tiny crack can intensify as the season progresses and lead to serious problems down the road. Reduce drips and leaks for optimal protection.

To prevent exposed pipes under your home from freezing during the winter, use foam pipe insulation or electric heat tape to cover your pipes according to the manufacturer’s directions. A burst pipe can cause damage and high water bills, so preventing freezing and bursting is essential during the coldest months of the year.

A leaking bathroom fixture does not necessarily mean that a full replacement or costly visit from the plumber is necessary. Often times, a simple rinse of the individual parts or repair of a rubber seal is all that’s needed to keep your bathroom fixture running properly for years to come.

Certain things shouldn’t go into your plumbing system. By knowing what you can and cannot flush or throw into the garbage disposal and sink, you can save yourself from a costly repair or disaster. A plumber can usually get your plumbing back into working condition, but can be avoided if you know how to dispose of items correctly.

If you have hard water, check intake hoses for washing machines and ice makers often to prevent them from splitting open from buildup. Lime scale remover can be used to remove buildup, but replacing hoses is an economical method as well to take care of the issue. Change out hoses when you change the batteries in your smoke alarms to stop unexpected floods.

In conclusion, you know that it is more than significant to obtain reliable and helpful information when it comes to plumbing. Your time is important and so is the work that you do. Go out and use the advice provided here and be assured you are doing the right thing.

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Plumbing Tips You Need To Hear Today

November 04, 2022   Matt

Plumbing Tips You Need To Hear Today

There may come a time when you have issues with your plumbing, whether it’s a clogged sink or plugged up toilet. Check out the tips and suggestions in the article below that will show you easy things you can do on your own to solve these issues, and save a call to a plumber.

Check to make sure that the walls behind the tiles in your bathroom are not soft. Push into the tiles to confirm that the foundation is firm and robust. If the area is delicate and brittle, there is a good chance that water has created damage behind the tiles over time.

During the winter, preventing frozen pipes when you live in a small dwelling can be something good to know. Frozen pipes will not only stop your flow of water but can crack and damage pipes. By running a little water out of every faucet during the coldest parts of the day, you can avoid this.

Before you can fix a toilet that does not flush properly, it is important that you find out what is causing the problem. Depending on what the problem is, you may be able to fix it yourself. However, more complicated toilet flushing problems may require the services of a plumber.

Be careful about using liquid clog cleaners. These liquids can contain chemicals that are extremely bad for your pipes. Instead, use a snake or a plunger to dislodge any clogs you might encounter. Be sure to try these things before giving up and calling a plumber, who will probably re-perform those same acts.

You should never dump grease, fat, or cooking oil down the drain. These fats and oils could solidify in cold pipes and clog your sink. Instead you should put the fats and oils in a dish and wait for it to solidify, then throw it away for garbage men to pick it up.

Check your toilet for leaks. Once a month, put a couple of drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. After half an hour, check the toilet bowl. If the water is slightly colored, the tank is leaking. You can fix the leak by replacing the stopper in the tank. People waste a lot of water through leaky tanks, without even knowing it.

Make sure that you disconnect all hoses outside your house when the fall season hits. This is important to reduce the chance of freezing, which can cause damage to the connecting pipes. Disconnect all of your water hoses and store them safely to put your family in the best position for the fall.

Back flow can happen to anyone on municipal water systems, so it’s important to prepare your plumbing for it. For example, put a vacuum-breaker fitting on your outdoor faucets to ensure that the water never ends up flowing backwards and causing you a massive headache due to water damage in your home.

As was shown in the above article, there are many plumbing issues that can be handled by someone other than a plumber. Once you take the time to read how to do it, you will be amazed at the things you will be doing without the expense of an expert.

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Tips for Landscaping Your Lawn

October 30, 2022   Matt

Tips for Landscaping Your Lawn

The front yard is an ideal place to design and plan a landscaping project since it is easily visible and offers a good view of your creation. Making a good looking front yard need not be expensive. Here are some things that you can do when landscaping your lawn.

Some landscaping ideas

Pine Straw Theme – this theme involves planting shrubs and flowering plants as a good way to lessen the area that has to be mowed. It is easier to maintain and improve upon.

Boundary Island Theme – this theme is designed to be placed along the side of your residence. It is perfect for planting different kinds of greenery.

Pond – ponds not only look great in a well landscaped front yard, they also make the area cooler and it also brings the water element into the total look of the design.

Setting up paths

Before setting up paths along the lawn, it is important to determine what type of grass you have in your lawn since there are types that are okay to walk on. If you think that your lawn is rather sensitive, then constructing a path will keep the lawn from getting appearing worn which makes it visually appealing.

Problem with low areas

Various levels applied when landscaping your lawn provide an attractive look but is important to keep an eye on lower areas as they could become the start of problems like excessive moisture and insufficient air circulation.

Regarding trees and bushes

Trees with lots of shade or beautiful plantings in the center of the lawn will be a sight to behold, but this great view also entails some difficulties. Lawns require sunlight and having too much shade can encourage the growth of fungus and moss. Roots from trees or even bushes may grow in undesirable spots. To prevent this from happening, choose trees that will grow to a size that is proportional to the size of the yard. For bushes, this can be prevented by pruning the roots when planting so that they will grow down instead of along the surface.

Reducing your mowing trips

Landscaping your lawn with colorful wild flowers, plants, and shrubs can greatly reduce the time you spend mowing the lawn and at the same time it adds beauty to your home. For problem areas in your lawn, it is important to research the types of plants that will be suitable for the problem spot.

These are some of the things that you can do to improve the appearance of your lawn. Always remember to attend to the needs of your lawn and expect it to have a good, long life.

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Steps to Go Through Before Residential Landscaping

October 25, 2022   Matt

Steps to Go Through Before Residential Landscaping

Whatever the project may be, if it is a big time one or a simple residential landscaping, design is the most important factor that one must consider to be able to lay out a plan and eventually act upon.

Residential Landscaping
In whatever we decide to do in life, there are things to ponder about before coming up with a plan. The same thing is true if you’d like a lawn makeover, there are factors to go through and ideas to think about before actually starting the process.

Why Do You Want to Do It?
If the idea is to give your yard some kind of a renovation through landscaping, then the possibilities as to what you’d like the outcome to be are endless. You call the shots according to what you like at the moment that you want it to be done.

But on the other hand, you have to give the landscaping design a more posh look if you decide to sell the property. This is also a way to be safe, not every potential buyer would want an unfamiliar style, but with being simple and classy, one could never go wrong. It would also be to your advantage because it will add more value to what you’re selling and more people will be enticed to look at it and consider a deal.

What Do You Want to Be Done?
For people who’d like to do their own landscaping, the American Nursery and Landscape Association or ANLA says that it is important for the property’s salability if you choose to maintain large, old trees in it. Those mature trees are said to be of great impact to those who are looking into the land.

In designing for your own landscape, remember the basic elements which are color, form, line, scale and texture.

Look at the project through an artist’s eye. Choose plants that look good when placed together or side by side in terms of their colors. Imagine what other people, especially the would-be buyer of the property would feel upon seeing the colors that you chose for the project.

Form is looking at the plants to be placed in the project in terms of the shape and branching patterns. Such factors should blend in with what one has planned for the whole landscape.

Line is the according to the arrangement of the materials to be used in the design, how you plot them accordingly as well as looking into their borders.

Scale or the size of the plants that you want to use in the landscape design also determines the texture. The placing of each plant depending on its sizes would give one an idea about the texture because this factor is a visual matter.

Who Do You Like to Do It?
You could seek out professional help if you think that you cannot do it yourself. But with vast resources on landscape design, you might want to try browsing through first and challenge yourself if you can do it before shelling out your penny for someone else’s services.

First, you need to observe other people’s backyards. You might also want to ask how they have done it. Or if you see someone else doing such, all you have to do is watch the process and get inspiration from it.

You can also find a wealth of information from landscaping books and magazines, television and, of course, the Web.

Are You Up with the Plan?
Upon having the plan ready for your residential landscaping, you just have to ask yourself if you’re up for it. Consider everything, the budget, the materials, your purpose on doing such and the property itself, before plunging in and starting out the process.

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