Winterizing Your Pond
August 22, 2008
For many parts of the country, it’s getting to be that time of year again. Time to start thinking about getting your fish and plants ready for old man winter…
Every year, as the weather gets colder and we start heading into winter, many of our customers ask us how to prepare their ponds for winter. Pond owners should be aware of several simple things to do in preparing their ponds for colder months.
Fish and plants need very different things in the winter, but can be kept in top condition for the following season if the appropriate steps are taken (see related articles).
Fish should be fed less, floating annuals should be thrown out, potted hardy plants should be cut down and moved to the bottom of the pond, filters should be cleaned & drained, and pumps shut off.
Another good practice that we recommend is to do a partial pond cleaning and water change. It’s not necessary to drain the pond completely, but we recommend draining 25% - 50% of the water and net out or remove as much organic debris as possible (IE: leaves, plants, etc.)
Single Pane Window Glass Repair in an Aluminum Frame
August 22, 2008
Let’s suppose you still have those old aluminum single pane windows in your house,and one of the neighbor kids throws a ball through it. ( Your kid would never do that!) Depending on where you live in the country, you can pay anywhere from $75 to $150 to get it repaired. Well, if you’re willing to spend an hour or two, you can get the window fixed for around $20 or $30. I’m not going to try and explain how to cut your own glass. I am going to explain how to get the old glass out, measure for the new glass, and install the replacement glass. So, let’s use this article to explain the most common type of aluminum frame window.
Tips for Designing with Hardwood Floors
August 21, 2008
Hardwood floor styles come in strips, planks and parquet, and are available with numerous edge treatments such as square, micro, and beveled edges. The state-of-the-art technology and almost limitless choices of today’s stains, finishes, styles and designs makes hardwood flooring one of the most practical and versatile floor coverings available.
The shade of hardwood flooring you choose can dramatically change the look of your room. You can compliment the other design aspects in the room, bringing continuity and balance to the overall design. Lighter colors of hardwood help small rooms appear larger, while rich, dark tones add drama to larger rooms to create a warmer, more intimate feel.
One of the most popular attributes of hardwood flooring, is its’ natural coloration. Natural flooring adapts to any style, now or in the future. For rooms with plenty of natural light, you may want to consider some of the darker tones available. If the room doesn’t have natural light, you can lighten it up considerably by choosing a floor with a lighter color. Just remember, you can avoid being tied to a particular scheme by choosing natural colors.
Bamboo Flooring for the 21st Century
August 20, 2008
Bamboo flooring has emerged as a new material for the commercial design market. It’s unique look and earth friendly properties have made it popular for flooring and panels. Although bamboo has been used as a construction material for centuries, it has only recently emerged as an engineered flooring product.
Here are some important facts you should know before selecting your bamboo flooring:
Bamboo is a grass not a wood. As a grass bamboo regenerates faster than wood. In fact, bamboo is typically harvested within five years of sprouting, making it a truly renewable resource. Its use can provide a positive impact on the environment. Harvesting bamboo serves to stimulate the growth of very extensive underground root systems, which develops fast growing sprouts the following spring. Sprouts breaking through the soil can grow as much as 2 feet the first day.
Bamboo flooring’s hardness varies. While northern red oak’s characteristics are the same regardless of where it is grown, the same cannot be said for bamboo flooring grown in the different Provinces in China. Although bamboo used for flooring is always the same species, there are significant differences caused by environmental conditions. Where it grows, what time of year it is harvested, the age of the bamboo, the soil chemistry and the amount of rain are all variables that will affect the hardness and stability of bamboo flooring.
Wildlife in Winter Ponds
August 19, 2008
This may seem contradictory, but you want to leave a little bit of debris in the pond when preparing it for winter.
Some water gardeners net out the fish, completely drain the water and scrub out the pond, refilling it with fresh water.
Frogs, tadpoles, snails and microscopic pond life need to burrow down into mud and leaves to survive the winter.
Fish also hibernate on the bottom, settling in around a bed of leaves and mud. I remove about 90% of the leaves and silt that have accumulated over the summer.
Leave the rest as “bedding material.”
You’ll be amazed at the diversity of pond life that emerges in spring. Keep in mind that tree leaves will continually blow into the pond as long as the water isn’t frozen.
I recommend covering the pond with bird netting.
This black plastic netting is almost invisible and prevents tree leaves and debris from getting into the pond.
About The Author
Brett Fogle is the owner of MacArthur Water Gardens and several pond-related websites including macarthurwatergardens.com and pond-filters-online.com. He also publishes a free monthly newsletter called PondStuff! with a reader circulation of over 9,000 pond owners. To sign up for the free newsletter and receive a complimentary ‘New Pond Owners Guide’ for joining, just visit MacArthur Water Gardens at our website.
Non Slip Maintenance Of Honed Interior Marble
August 18, 2008
A honed finish is a satin surface with relatively little light reflection. It is specified for floors, thresholds and other locations where the presence of water might make a polished finish slippery, or where heavy traffic would wear off the polished finish.
As a rule, honed finishes are more susceptible to soiling than polished finishes, because a honed surface is slightly more porous and absorptive than polished finish. However, the honed finish is easier to restore because it will sustain harsher cleaning efforts.
Normal maintenance of honed finishes involves as-needed washing with clean water and mildly abrasive cleaners, which retain a pumice-type finish, while the cleaners remove soils. There are thick liquid cleaners and chlorine-bleach type scouring powders commercially available.
The marble should be wet with clean, hot water. Then using a mildly abrasive alkaline cleaner and stiff bristle brush, wash in overlapping, swirling strokes. Suds can be left to stand for several minutes to permit the bleaching agents to work on the stains and dirts. Rinse thoroughly and dry with cotton, cotton flannel, burlap or chamois skin. Wipe well to avoid streaking.
If You Want to Bring Your Bathroom Up to Date, Consider Fitting a Shower Stall
August 17, 2008
Modern shower stalls look sleek and stylish. If you have the space, adding a shower stall in addition to your bathtub can be a great way to improve your bathroom. As much as people enjoy relaxing in the tub, with the time pressures of everyday life if can be very convenient to just have a quick shower, without having to wait for the tub to fill up. It can be a real luxury to have the choice!
There’s a wide range of different designs to choose from, depending on your personal preferences and your bathroom’s style. These days shower stalls made from tempered glass are a favorite choice. Glass can let light through, which can help create a fresh and open feel in a small room. Acrylic shower stalls are another popular option. Shower stalls are designed to be leak free and easy to keep clean. A well made model should provide many years of performance.
Improving Your Bathrooms Appearance can be as Simple as Changing Your Bathroom Cabinets
August 17, 2008
Your choice of bathroom cabinet can affect the look and feel of your entire room. If your bathroom could benefit from a fresh new look, then consider replacing your old storage cabinets with stylish new ones. This is a relatively easy way of giving your bathroom a facelift, compared to the work involved to install a new shower stall or bathtub. Cabinets can easily be fitted to your wall without the need for messing about with your plumbing!
When it comes to choosing a style for your new cabinets, the possibilities are huge. It helps if you have a vague idea of the sort of look you’re after. For example, would you prefer a modern, country or old fashioned look? But if you don’t know where to start, the internet is a great place to browse a wide range of products from different manufacturers, without the inconvenience of visiting the stores in person. You are sure to find loads of inspiration and handy hints online.
Hot-Weather Fish Feeding Facts
August 16, 2008
Summertime provides the best time of the year to water garden ? and also to be on the alert for high-temperature problems.
To remain healthy and continue growing, fish need to get all the nutrients available from their food, so feed them food they can easily assimilate in their systems. If fish seem hungry, feed them once to three times daily.
Feeding small amounts guarantees all the food gets eaten, preventing leftover food from spoiling in high, summertime temperatures and dirtying the water. Don’t feed fish that aren’t hungry ? it only wastes money and soils their environment.
Oxygen dissolves easier in winter, when water temperatures are low. Warmer temperatures mean harder-to-acquire oxygen in water.
In summer, therefore, fish sometimes find it difficult to get enough dissolved oxygen ? particularly in severe summer heat. Even when fish eat, the motion caused by their feeding further depletes oxygen supplies.
Avoid stressing your fish in the summer by feeding them in the cool, morning hours of the day. And to increase oxygen in the water, add a fountain or other aeration method to circulate and add air to your pond water. Submergible plants also help to increase the amount of soluble oxygen.
With A Stylish Bathroom Vanity You Can Take Pride In Your Bathroom?s Appearance!
August 15, 2008
An easy way to instantly improve your bathroom’s image is to buy a stylish new bathroom vanity set. Bathroom vanity sets come in a huge range styles and finishes. They typically include a sink cabinet, a mirror and a stool or a chair. A vanity unit can become a stunning focal point of the room and also has a practical function. Combining practicality with elegance and style can be a surefire winner in any bathroom!
Your choice of vanity set can reflect your personality and individual style, as well as being a perfect fit with your bathroom’s character and design. There are so many different types of vanities out there that it helps if you have a general idea of the style you’re after. Perhaps you want a continuation of the theme from the adjoining room, be that a modern, antique or country look.
If your house has period features an antique vanity unit can add to its charm. There is a huge variety of vintage vanity sets available on the internet these days, including genuine Victorian sinks. If you are looking for a quintessential symbol of a bygone age, then the beauty and quality of an antique vanity can be a wonderful way to achieve this. Alternatively, there are many brand new vanity cabinets made in an old fashioned style and finished to suggest an aged look. Furniture styles with design features such as Queen Ann legs or decorative toe kicks are a popular choice.
