Shed Building Plans: own

Showing posts with label own. Show all posts

Create Your Own Magazine With Flipboard!

Ill be the first to admit, Im an infoholic. I love reading, I love research, and I love that we are so fortunate to have the internet as a tool that offers us the ability to access information on any topic we can imagine - literally at our fingertips.

But for anyone who has ever looked up information on a specific topic on the internet, you will find that there are often too many search results that are not what you were looking for, or information that is inaccurate, and sometimes even articles that are poorly written. When I want to read about something, I want well written, factual content that comes from a reputable source. Cue: Flipboard!

You can do so much with Flipboard!

Whats it all about? The attraction of Flipboard is two-fold. First, its an awesome tool that is all about finding and collecting content that you love. You can "follow" just about any topic you are passionate about, and Flipboard presents that content to you in a beautiful, organized, and easy-to-read Flipboard magazine. You can use Flipboard on your desktop or on your mobile device with the Flipboard app, so you can take that content with you wherever you go, and read it whenever you like. Flipboard is the one place for all your interests!

Here are a few of the topics I am following:

Once you start choosing some topics of interest to follow on Flipboard, it will offer you suggestions of related topics that you might be interested in. There are more than 25 million Flipboard Magazines on just about any topic you can imagine!

Here are two screen shots of some of the topics I am following:

This is what my main page "feed" looks like when I open it up on my phone:

Additionally (and this is the really cool part!) Flipboard gives you the ability to share your own content from your blog or website as well, giving your content an entirely new audience. Not only that, but everything is easily organized in an attractive Flipboard Magazine that can then be shared socially with friends and followers. "Flip", discover, share, and collect the stories you care about. Check it out !
Here is a screenshot of my Flipboard with five Flipboard Magazines I created using my own content from my blog:

The magazines I created are: Upcycled Home Decor, Bohemian Home Decorating, Craft Tutorials, Jewelry Making Tutorials, and My Favorite Eats. Heres a closer look at each of my magazine "covers":

Check out the magazines that I created with Flipboard!

Thats another one of the things I love about Flipboard - its beautiful! Flipboard Magazines are stylish and attractive. When you create a Flipboard Magazine, you are creating a visually stunning package of content. So not only does Flipboard give you one place to collect and share articles, blog posts and information, it allows you to add and share your own perspective on whatever it is that you are passionate about and then share it all - all in one beautiful package. Imagine sharing the things that inspire you with friends, followers, and customers. What an amazing resource! Here is a closer look at my "Craft Tutorials" Flipboard magazine:

Craft Tutorials magazine cover

Title page for article "How To Create Awesome Tie Dye T-Shirts"

Two example pages from article "How To Create Awesome Tie Dye T-Shirts"

View my Flipboard Magazine.

Looking for a memorable present for your loved ones this holiday season? Give them Gift of Flipboard!
Choose from a range of 21 special pre-configured packages that cover a wide range of topics. From travelers to tech enthusiast, Flipboard is sure to have something for everyone!
Your Flipboard recipient can fill their feed with more of what you love by clicking the “Get More” button at the bottom of the app. Find out more information about the Gift of Flipboard here.

Here is one that I will be gifting this year!

Create Your Own Magazine With Flipboard!

Building Your Own Patios Easily

The advent of do-it-yourself project or DIY has certainly encouraged many people to customizing anything and everything around their home. There’s just something about being able to say that you built something with your own two hands – like it’s a testament to skills you never knew you had and admirable ones at that.

This is the reason why the idea of building a patio on your own doesn’t sound like a bad idea…in fact, it may be your best idea yet considering you can do everything according to exactly how you want them, which may come in handy if you’re the type who is a stickler for detail. DIY patio kits are exactly what you can invest in to get everything just right.

Patios as you know, are outdoor spaces that are not enclosed or covered. They are often used to enhance outdoor living areas and serve many purposes like acting as a relaxation area or as a place to entertain guests for example. It is important that you are able to personalize your outdoor areas just as much as you are able to customize your indoor areas to be able to really live comfortably.

As far as materials go, patios are usually made of stones, bricks and pavers. They are much larger than a deck which means you have more options as far as designs and decorations go. This is the greatest advantage of buying customizable patios because you can browse from a wide variety of pre-designed kits and simply choose the best one for your home. If you are doing this for the first time, you also have the option of hiring professionals to help you with it but more importantly, they should be chosen with careful thought and consideration to make them not only worth your effort but also your money.

It is also good to note that there are many types of DIY patio kits available, each one designed to cater to a specific budget, need and lifestyle but one thing that you need to make sure you do is to check if the construction of your patio will require any kind of permit or that it adheres to local building laws and regulations.

If you want your patios to be both functional and beautiful, you will need to consider several factors to ensure that it not only blends well with your home surroundings but that it is also one that will be of real use to you and not just a waste of space. Before buying your patio kits you will need to decide first where you want to position it. If your property overlooks spectacular views of valleys and mountains for example, you will most likely want your patios to face in that direction. If you plan to use your patios as sunbathing decks on the other hand, you should consider placing it facing south since it is the direction that offers most sunlight throughout the day.

Your patio flooring as well, is a major consideration when building your own patios. Consider going for concrete flooring since this is the most durable and also the least expensive option. If your backyard doesn’t offer any natural shade then you may want add a patio cover, the easiest of which is to mount an awning to any structure adjacent to your patio. If you opt to install your patio in an open area for example, you can also build a pergola or set up four-posted canopy tent or plant trees that have large and dense foliage.

As far as patio kit inclusions go, some kits will contain everything but the stones while some will come with come with everything including the stones. In addition, they will also include instruction manuals which you need to follow the letter if you are building it yourself. To start plotting out your construction area, you can dig out the area and remove the sod and the weeds then use wooden stakes to map out the area and create a grid. You just need to make sure that all corners are at a 90 degree angle.

DIY patio kits are the easiest projects you can tackle and if you are an avid DIY-er, it can take you just a whole afternoon to finish it, provided you don’t have any other design or structural requirements other than what the kit specifies. Just follow the instructions in the manual and you will find yourself with a patio you can be proud of.

Building Your Own Patios Easily

How to build your own workshop

Nick Abson converted his selfbuild garden room into a workshop and has blogged excellently about the experience over the last three years from the intital build right up to the present at The Small Workshop. Its extremely thorough and a definite must-read for anybody thinking of doing something similar. Heres what Nick says:

I did the building work myself, with some help on the heavy lifting, and it took a while (about a year), with the slow progress mainly down to my complete lack of relevant experience. The designs were done in Sketchup, and the building is constructed with the materials typically used in commercially available garden rooms: structurally insulated panels, cedar cladding, ‘mini plinths’ footings and epdm rubber on the roof. Now the building is done I am focused on the inside and turning it into a small but useful space.

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Monday posts are sponsored by garden2office, the Swedish garden office specialists. Click here for more details.

How to build your own workshop

Steps In Building Your Own Shed

In my previous article, I talked about the things you need to consider before you actually build your own shed. If you haven’t read that one, I’ll break it down right here for you real quick. First you need to choose a design and decide on what materials you want to use. I recommend using sustainable and eco-friendly materials. We’re all about reducing our carbon footprints here. Next, gather all your materials and your tools. Have all of them set and ready to go. Last and most importantly, you need a basic know-how in carpentry or have someone skilled to help you on this project. Safety should always be a primary concern.

Now that that’s out of the way, let’s get down to business. I will be presenting an overview on how to build a basic shed. Building one is easy and very cost effective. Not to mention, it’s a great feeling knowing you built something with your own two hands. Read here for the other benefits of DIY cheap sheds and garages.

Step 1

Get the necessary building permits. Different cities have different rules when it comes to building a shed. There are places where it is not necessary to get a permit because a shed is considered an accessory to a house and is not really qualified to be called a building. While other places have jurisdictions where if a piece of housing exceeds a specific square by foot measurement, it will be subject to limitations and restrictions.

Step 2

Armed with a permit and all your materials, it’s time to build the floor or the base of the shed. Construct the frame and the skids. Then equally space your joists and lock them into place. Then cover with your actual floor.

Step 3

Then proceed to the walls. First, build the wall frame with equally spaced wall studs. Make sure you get the correct measurement so when you put up the walls, they will fit perfectly with the base. After you have lifted the walls locked them in place, next thing to do is to cover one side of the wall with your choice of sheathing. Then cover your sheathing with a house wrap. A house wrap ensures that your walls will always remain dry throughout the year.

Step 4

Now all that’s missing is a roof. Figure out the height and the slope that you want for your roof. Then install the ridge and connect the rafters. For the actual roof, you have the choice of either roof shingles or a tin roof. Follow the instructions on how to install your roof from the manufacturer.

Step 5

For the finishing touches, install the door, the windows and the wall cladding. All of these are fairly quick and easy to install so it should not be a problem for you.

That’s it. A basic guide on setting up a simple shed for your house. Use it however you like. For more detailed information on construction, visit this site and get cheap sheds with fuss-free installation.

Steps In Building Your Own Shed

A Tourist in My Own Town

At the end of May, a fellow blogger will be sharing posts written by bloggers across Canada who are acting as tourists in their own towns. You'll get a tour through Canada - from sleepy towns to hot spots with insider scoops on where to go and what to do! For my American readers, this is a great year to travel to Canada with the exchange rate so hugely in your favour. I'll be sharing links to the series on my Facebook page, so be sure to pop in there to catch up on all the cool places you can visit - click HERE to like my Facebook page. Meanwhile, I'm sharing my tour with you today.

Welcome to Kimberley, British Columbia!

I've moved many times in my life, from one end of Canada to the other and back. These days I live in one of the most majestic areas of Canada. Kimberley is located in the southeastern corner of British Columbia, near the Alberta and Montana borders. It is in a valley between the Canadian Rocky Mountains and the Purcell Mountain Range. We have views like this to enjoy:

A Tourist in My Own Town

Saving on Construction Costs by Building Your Own Patios

Building your own backyard patio is easy enough, assuming you’ve done the proper research and have bought all the necessary materials. But while it’s not a piece of cake, it is also not an impossible project to do even for a beginner in the realm of DIY. In fact, if you do things right, it can take you just a whole afternoon to finish and come up with the patio of your dreams.

These days, homeowners engage in DIY projects, focusing primarily on the patio because they also want to improve their outdoor living areas but are trying to save on construction costs by doing the whole thing themselves. Those with considerable carpentry or construction skills do it easily enough because there’s just something to be said about building your own patioswith your own two hands, like it was some sort of testimonial to admirable skills you never knew you had.

Often, when you build your own patios, you’ll need just some mason’s string, a spade or a shovel and a level. You’ll just need to first outline the patio with your mason’s string, adding an allowance of 1 ½ inches all around the perimeter to make space for the lumber border. Then you dig about 10 inches deep, checking with the level to make sure the surface is even, then dig another 2 inches around the perimeter to create a trench that is about 1 ½ inches wide and 2 inches deep.

Next, you’ll need to saw some lumber to fit the edges of the patio. Insert the cut lumber on the 2-inch edge of the trench then using a mallet, tap it down to flatten them evenly on the border. The next step is to smooth on the gravel onto the floor of your patio using a screed to even it out, and then dampen it with a hose. Using a hand tamper, compress the gravel until it is approximately 4 inches thick to form a solid base.

Then comes the sand that you smooth over the compressed gravel again using a screed. Again, you need to compress the sand just as you did with the gravel until it is about 3 inches thick. Then you layer the patio pavers over the sand and make sure it is at level with the top of the border. Spread a ½ inch of dampened sand over the payers, then tamp them together. And lastly, work the sand into the paver joints with a hard-bristled broom then sweep off the remainder to finish.

Of course, you can also go with diy patio kits and get the job done a whole lot faster and easier. Usually, you will need to consider positioning, patio flooring and patio covering but with these ready-to-assemble kits, you already have everything you need in place, complete with building instructions and materials so that all you’ll need to do is follow the instructions and have yourself a patio before the afternoon is done. The great thing about using ready-made patio kits is that you can customize your orders online and they arrive exactly the way you want them and what’s more, it didn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.

And lastly, to further save on your patioconstruction costs, you should also consider using furniture and materials that are sustainable like wood. Wood is a renewable resource, especially when it comes from a managed plantation and it will withstand any weather condition in addition to being the most customizable and able to blend in with almost any kind of home décor or surroundings.

These days, it’s all about saving money and being a wise spender. Check everything out thoroughly, do your research and you will not only save bucks but also time.

Saving on Construction Costs by Building Your Own Patios