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Home improvement and renovation tips

Gravel types and uses

Gravel, crushed stone, or aggregate â€“ to use a few of the words for those little rocks â€“ is a versatile material for a variety of projects. Here's an idea. Drainage. If you're building a flagstone patio or walkway, or if you're laying down a concrete driveway, adequate drainage is important to avoid problems such ...

Garden tool care

Summer chores are just about over, but before you put away all your gardening tools for the winter, take a little time to take care of things now, so you'll be ready to go come spring. Clean all your garden tools now, rubbing off rust with a steel wool pad dipped in turpentine. Then file ...

Solar powered lights for outdoor lighting revisited

Outdoor lighting can be complex or simple. Regular voltage lighting provides more control, the potential for brighter lightâ€¦ and requires proper electrical wiring techniques. Low-voltage lights give you some control (in that you can set them up to turn on and off from the house), lower light levels, and pretty easy installation. Solar garden lights ...

Start planning your spring landscaping now

Believe it or not, now's the time to start planning your garden building projects for next year. You have an idea of how the light falls, what's shaded and what's not, and where you might enhance the view with structures, plantings and patios.Here are some ideas to get you started.Concentrate on one area at a ...

How to repair concrete (Part II)

Last time, we looked at materials and helped you decide how to tackle your concrete repair. Let's get down to patching that damaged area.Remove any loose or crumbling sections of concrete, and brush the area firmly with a steel brush. If the surrounding area appears loose, tap it lightly with a mini-sledge to test its ...

How to repair concrete (Part I)

Concrete's a hard material, but water and temperature changes can damage it, particularly if it's cracked. Water seeps into the cracks, where freezing and thawing causes it to expand and contract. The secret to long-lasting concrete is to repair cracks and damaged concrete as soon as possible.Here are some of the materials you can use. ...

How to dig a plot quickly

If you're putting in a new garden, replanting sod or preparing a new garden plot, you should turn over the soil and kill off any living grass or weeds.Here's a simple, methodical technique to help you get it done faster.Rent a rotary tiller.Well, okay, maybe you'd rather have the satisfaction of doing it by hand. ...

How to make concrete garden ornaments

Got some spare concrete lying around from that sidewalk job. Here's a fun way to use it up before it dries. You can make garden accessories -- stepping stones, ornaments, even statues if you want to get really fancy -- without much trouble.Now, ideally your mix should be a little smoother than the normal sidewalk ...

Design a pathway

If you'd like to spice up your garden or backyard with a path, don't rush into it. Take some time to consider the various options available to you.DesignThe more you curve or meander a path, the more sense of mystery (and discovery) you get as you walk it. On the other hand, if the path ...

Concrete paver, interlock paving patterns

You've done all the prep for your brick (concrete paver, that is) patio, walkway or driveway. What about the pattern?Basic styles include the "running bond", an alternating pattern similar to bricks in a wall, and "jack-on-jack", a stacked pattern in which each course of bricks is exactly the same as the previous.Here are a few ...