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April 3, 2015 in Home Improvements, Idea Corner

Add Green Style To A BackYard With A Window Frame Greenhouse

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A greenhouse can be a great addition to any blank canvas of a backyard. But there’s no need to spend a bunch of money on products. After all, the best way to be the most eco-friendly is to re-use and recycle materials. This window frame greenhouse does this in spades.

Here’s the materials required:

  • Old window frames
  • Lumber
  • Screws
  • Caulk
  • Latches

Once enough window frames have been gathered, create a frame for them to fit in. Use 2X4’s for the studs and 4X4’s for corner posts. There has to be at least 14″ of the stud to be placed in the ground for support.Place the walls up and brace them with lumber. Bury cinder blocks and then pour a concrete foundation over it to keep it stable. Then use screws to fix the windows to the frame.

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Cover this foundation with rocks and stones for drainage. For the roof, use siding for coverage, leaving at least 20-30 percent of open space for ventilation. Add some fans and shelves for easy access and displays.

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Finally, it’s time to caulk and paint the outside of the frames. This will create consistency in the look.

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Once the paint dries, begin to hone plants and flowers. And revel in the fact that this space is all handmade.

For step-by-step tips, check out TreeHugger  for a full overview and other DIY greenhouse ideas. 

March 27, 2015 in Home Improvements, Idea Corner

Plumbing Handyman 101: Pipe Insulation

plumbing pipes insulationHome ownership can make you a plumbing handyman, you just need a few tricks up your sleeve. Want hotter water for longer? Want to save on energy bills? Want to spend less time adjusting the temperature of the water heater? By insulating pipes in a simple, inexpensive process, all of this and more is possible.

Plumbing handyman: pipe insulation tools and materials

Begin by acquiring these materials:

  • Pipe insulation (foil or fiberglass)
  • Mild cleanser
  • Rag
  • Duct Tape
  • Plastic Wrap

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The first step, as in most projects, is making sure the pipe surfaces are completely free of debris and dust. Using the mild cleanser, clean the pipes thoroughly and allow drying time before installing the selected insulation.

Once clean, start to wrap the insulation around the pipes fully, allowing a 1/2″ overlap for foil or fiberglass insulation. For an easier (but honestly unnecessarily expensive) option, get tubular-sleeve insulation which only requires cutting to size and sliding on.

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If using fiberglass insulation, make sure to wrap it in plastic wrap to avoid any dripping condensation.

Once all the pipe surfaces are covered, secure the corners and bends with copious amounts of duct tape. Take special precaution with T-Joints, which may require slits in the insulation for a proper fit.

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This project may not be very glamorous, guest won’t even notice it, but could save anywhere from $400-$600 on energy bills and result in warmer, longer showers needed after a hard day’s work.

For a step-by-step guide, check out DIY Network’s instructions.

Have more plumbing needs or need a plumbing handyman? Contact us for a quote today!

March 25, 2015 in Idea Corner

Top 5 Eco-Friendly Garden Containers

What could be more eco-friendly than a garden? A garden full of recyclable garden containers! These simple, easy projects will add visual interest, color and layers to an already wonderful home garden.

P1070597Want to add an industrial edge to a natural garden? Check out this garden container from Eclectically Vintage!

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Don’t throw out an old pair of shoes! Repurpose them to hold all the best plants.

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Have old parts from a car or an already intact tire swing? Add cute color flowers to any garden!

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Does a toolbox really need to be packed into the back of a garage? Use it in the garden instead!

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Make rusted tin cans like new again! Grow any plant possible in these old gems.

For more ideas, check out The Garden Glove.