Sprucehaven Farms

Archive for June, 2010

A few summers ago my wife’s creative instincts inspired her to plant a garden. In no time at all, she’d accumulated a wheel barrow, hoes, shovels and other gardening equipment. She’d also bought bags of potting soil and a supply of flower pots of all shapes and sizes.

But, for me, the real kicker came when she tried to store it all in our already overflowing garage.

That’s when I fired up the computer and went onto the Internet to find a good set of outdoor garden shed plans for a shed design that suited our needs. I’m certainly glad I did.

In addition to saving me a ton of time, money and stress, having the plans and the step-by-step building instructions, manuals, drawings and building materials list that came with them was like having a master carpenter to guide me through the project.

I was surprised to learn the variety of important things to consider when selecting a design that fit my needs along with the right building materials for an outdoor garden shed.

Here are six vital points you must consider when building an outdoor garden shed

• Roof design

I live in an area that often receives at one and maybe two or three heavy snowfalls every winter. A deep accumulation of snow can be quite heavy, and most shed plans include a fairly flat roof pitch. Plus, most shed designs call for small spec lumber that could sag or even collapse under a heavy load of snow. I’m glad I thought of this and got building plans for a shed that has a strong, steeply sloped roof.

• Strength and Security

Another consideration is that outdoor garden sheds are great targets for thieves looking to steal your lawn and garden equipment. They can sell your tools quite easily at flea markets and neighborhood street sales. The message here is that your garden shed needs a heavy, solid door held shut with a high quality lock.

• Storage capacity

I also recommend you get a set of plans for a garden shed that’s somewhat larger than you think you’ll need. Sheds provide convenient storage space, so they tend to fill up fast with the tools and equipment you intended to put there in the first place. But they also make a convenient place to store bicycles, sports equipment and other stuff.

• Adequate ventilation

The next consideration is how hot it gets where you live. In most areas, it’s probably wise to get a set of building plans that include efficient roof venting. A shed’s interior can get quite hot and possibly cause damage to the things you store inside.

• Building materials

Make sure you build with strong, high quality lumber that will hold up to moisture and insects. You’re asking for trouble if you use cheap lumber that will rot. Use pressure treated wood that you’ve sealed and painted to make it really last.

• Complete and easy-to-follow building plans

Building an attractive, functional outdoor garden shed is worth the investment. But if you intend to build it yourself, make sure you get a complete set of garden shed plans. No doubt they’ll save you lots of time and money. Plus they’ll enable you to build a really nice, long-lasting shed you can be proud of.

Get everything you need to plan and expertly build an outdoor garden shed and to tackle virtually any other do it yourself woodworking or carpentry project you envision

Whether you’re an expert carpenter or a beginner, this is where you get clear, detailed outdoor garden shed plans along with step-by-step building instructions, manuals and drawings.  For expert advice and a galaxy of woodworking and carpentry projects that will enhance your home and property: Go to http://Woodworking-Plans-and-Projects.info

Home relocation has now become much easier than before. ABF U-Pack, a reliable relocation service company, is ready to serve you and give you the most affordable and convenient mechanism to relocate. The traditional way of renting and driving movers to perform full-relocation all by yourself is no more the only thing that you can do.

Once called, ABF U-Pack will send truck with container or trailer right to your house, all you have got to do is loading your goods and belongings and unloading them once the moving boxes or container arrives at your new place.

Using ABF U-Pack service means using a caring professional partner to relocate. Though you might see it as a self-service relocation, the excellent drivers and trusted armadas used by ABF U-Pack will precisely give you peace of mind which does not cost a lot. ABF Freight System, one of USA’s most credible carriers service and has won several award on its excellent security assurance, will be the excellent mover on which your shipping is loaded. All you have to do is, just relax,

ABF U-Pack provides several service package which you can choose to fits your own interest: Door-to-door relocation services, terminal-to-terminal relocation service (for this you could find the nearest ABF terminal to your home), Corporate relocation services, Military relocation services. All the services are guaranteed by ABF U-Pack to arrive at the destined place right on the day you need it.

Car shipping companies deal in the transport of a vehicle from a seller in one place to a buyer in another place. This includes country to country shipping as well as state to state shipping. Auto shipping and transport was largely a commercial activity conducted by dealers, manufactures and brokers until the last ten to fifteen years. The explosion of Internet use has allowed this niche service to grow and reach the general consumer marketplace. This car shipping companies has grown explosively since the advent of the Internet. People are now able to purchase cars from anywhere in the world and have them shipped to their doorstep. In fact, more and more dealerships are marketing online towards people from all over the world. Even the small used car dealers are selling cars online.

The Code for Sustainable Homes is a sustainability assessment tool for new built housing. The tool is developed by the UK government and is used to set minimum sustainability standards in government sponsored residential development. In addition to this many local planning authorities are using this tool to set benchmarks for private and commercial residential development projects as well.

The Code for Sustainable Homes considers a number of topics in nine different categories. Of these categories the one on energy use can be considered as the most important category: it accounts for more than 35% of the total score. Scoring well in the energy section is therefore essential to gain a good Code for Sustainable Homes rating. In this article I review the credit requirements and discuss how feasible it is to meet each these.

Dwelling emissions rate
The first issue in the energy category regards the energy performance of the building. This is considered in relation to the national building regulations. The national building regulations set minimum requirements for the energy efficiency of a building in terms of carbon dioxide emissions.

The dwelling emissions rate issue is the biggest contributor to a good score in the energy category. A total of 27 credits are available in the energy section and there are a maxi,mum of 15 credits available in the first issue. The minimum improvement over the building regulations that is awarded with one credit is a 10% improvement. The maximum of 15 credits is available for what is referred to as a “Zero Carbon Home”. In addition to reduce the regulated carbon emissions from the building with 100% over the requirements in the building regulations a number of additional requirements are put on a building to qualify for the title Zero Carbon Home. This includes a minimum standard for the Heat Loss Parameter and a requirement to prevent carbon emissions from energy used for appliances in the building. Clearly the higher reductions of carbon emissions can only be achieved when using energy generated though the use of low or zero carbon technologies. Issue 7 of the energy categories deals with low and zero carbon technologies and I will discuss this in further detail in that section.

Aside from the way energy is generated, the energy performance of the building envelope is by far the largest contributor to the energy efficiency of a building and the focus should therefore be directed to improving the energy performance of the building envelope. Improving the building performance is achieved through the use of materials that reduce the heat loss of a building. This means that materials with a large insulating value should be employed for the construction of roofs, walls and exposed floors. In addition windows that achieve a rating of the British Fenestration Rating Council in band C or better and glazed doors with U-values better than 1.5 should be used. Efficient boilers for space heating and hot water should be specified. Studies by the Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust have demonstrated that a 25% reduction in the carbon emissions can readily be achieved using high specification materials that improve the energy performance of the building envelope.

A 25% improvement of the carbon emissions is awarded with 5 credits. This improvement is also a minimum requirement to achieve a total Code for Sustainable Homes rating of level 3. It is possible to achieve better than the score outlined here. For instance homes that are build to the “PassivHause” will score significantly better.

Building fabric
The Code for Sustainable Homes also awards credits for the energy performance of the building envelope directly in the second issue of the energy category. There are two credits available. When the strategy as discussed in the previous section is followed at least one of these credits and in many case both credits will be achieved.

Internal lighting
Two credits are available encouraging the use of energy efficient internal lighting. When 75% of the fixed internal fittings are dedicated energy efficient fittings both credits will be awarded. Clearly this is a simple and straightforward way to improve the CSH score.

Drying space
The fourth issue in the energy category requires the provision of an internal drying space for laundry. One credit can be awarded when there is 4 or 6 meter of drying line available. Again this is a relatively simple and low cost measure to implement.

Energy labelled white goods
Two credits are available when energy efficient white goods are installed. The energy efficiency of the appliances is taken from the EU Energy Efficiency Labelling Scheme. To qualify for the two credits the following minimum standards apply:

Fridges and freezers or fridge-freezers A+ Washing machines and dishwashers A Washer-dryers or tumble dryers B or information about the scheme when not provided

There is of course a slightly higher cost associated with better performing white goods. This would only be in the order of a few hundred pounds. Otherwise these credits are straightforward to achieve.

External lighting
Two credits are available when external space lighting and security lighting are designed for energy efficiency. Again it is relatively easy to achieve these credits at low cost.

Low or zero carbon technologies
Under issue 7 in the energy category, the Code for Sustainable Homes awards up to two credits when low or zero carbon technologies are implemented in the scheme. Because implementing these technologies will also have a significant effect on the carbon emissions of the building as described under the first issue (ENE 1), the actual gain in credits will be higher. In many cases another 2 credits will be awarded through the improvement in issue ENE 1.

To be eligible for the credits a study into the feasibility of the various technologies needs to be carried in or before RIBA stage C. In addition the low or zero carbon technologies need to contribute to a carbon emission reduction of at least 10% for one credit and 15% for two credits.

When a building design includes a high energy performance of the building envelope a significant source of the energy demand of a house lies with the need for domestic hot water. Providing a solar thermal system is a relatively cost effective way to provide about 50% of the energy required for hot water. This often accounts for a carbon reduction of more than 10% in energy efficient houses. Further improvements can be made using other technologies. It depends on the nature and the location of the project what technologies would be best suited to achieve these further reduction in carbon emissions. It is worthwhile to mention that in the UK photovoltaic cells to generate electricity will likely become much more cost effective from April 2010. From that date the new system of Feed-In-Tariffs will go live. The UK government will set minimum rates that electricity companies will pay for energy generated from small-scale installations. It is proposed that electricity generated with photovoltaic cells will receive up to 36p per kWh.

Cycle storage
There are two credits available when sufficient and dedicated space to store cycles is provided. This credit is relatively easy to achieve in detached and semi-detached houses, although more challenging when considering terraced housing or flats.

Home office
The Code for Sustainable Homes awards one credit when dedicated space is made available for the use as a home office. Although in principal this is a relatively easy and low cost credit to achieve, there is one element that requires careful consideration. The room that is chosen to be adapted to allow its use as a home office is required to have a day-lighting  factor of at least 1.5%. Whilst this is not an overly onerous requirement to meet, not all rooms will necessarily meet this criterion in all new homes.

Conclusions
Focusing on the energy performance of the building envelope is an important element in a strategy for a good score within the energy category of the Code for Sustainable Homes tool. It will provide good credits in its own right, but also makes it easier to achieve the credits associated with the provision of low and zero carbon technologies. Combining these two topics should enable a project to achieve eight to ten credits. In addition to these credits, the remaining issues are usually straightforward and cost effective to implement. This would achieve another eight to ten credits. Achieving more than 70% of the available credits in the energy category is therefore feasible without having to resort to advanced methodologies for most residential development proposals.

Garden fountains are indoor water fountains that may require necessary types of materials to be used in the installation and maintenance as well. If you have your own personal statement then garden fountains would be great for your indoor decorations.

The running water from the garden fountains creates beautiful sounds that can cover-up unwanted sounds coming from the external environment. With the beautiful sounds coming from the running water, birds got attracted thus making the surrounding garden fountain area enjoyable and lively to look at. These scenes at the garden fountains give the kind of relaxation needed while reading a newspaper or drinking a cup of coffee. Also, you can be eager to invite your neighbors and friends as you impressed them with such scenes.

In choosing the types of materials for garden fountains, you need to think about the benefits it can bring to your landscaping and gardens. Though there are common materials used in garden fountains, you still need to take note of the advantages and disadvantages it can bring if you actually purchase.

The types of materials used for garden fountains may come in various kinds of materials, sizes, and shapes. There are some materials used as rock waterfalls whereas actual rocks are resembled while water is cascading down from the garden fountains. There are garden fountains that are made in tiered form fountains wherein the water flows from bowl to bowl. This kind of garden fountains is usually installed at the middles of the garden yard. There are garden fountains made from solar that can fit everyone. It is basically a tiny water fountain that comes in many solar birdbaths, colors and styles. Solar garden fountains do not require power cords only solar panels that should be placed in portion where it can absorb plenty of sunlight.

Once you have chosen the kind of garden fountains for you, the next thing to do is to choose the materials to be used. Among these materials include ceramic, stone or granite, copper, slate, stainless steel and fiberglass.

Today, garden fountains made from fiberglass are very common and may come in various styles and unique designs. It can be in lightweight, rocks, and tiered styles. It may have a stone-like finish to make them appear real and natural. One advantage of garden fountains made from fiberglass is its weight feature. Since it’s very light, the garden fountain is manageable to move, clean and maneuver around. Some of the garden fountains that are made from fiberglass may also have a spin lock system for easy storage and cleaning.

Another popular and common garden fountains today are the ones made of stone or granite. This kind of garden fountains is totally exact opposite of the solid granite or concrete. One great advantage of this kind is its strength and beauty. Despite its heaviness, a stone garden fountain is very stunning to look at.