Bamboo fences can bring an appearance of the East to your yard back. Bamboo is durable and weather resistant, and its color and natural texture complement almost any landscape. The best part is you can put up a bamboo fence simply by following these steps.

Instructions

1. Digs holes that measure 1 foot (0.3 meters) deep and at least 4 feet (1.21 meters) wide, using a whole digger or shovels
2. Insert bamboo poles into the holes; use a string to ensure that the caps are properly balanced. Pack down the post holes after filling.
3. Mark the side of the posts at intervals of 6, 12 and 24 inches (15, 30 and 61 centimeters) from the top. Drill pilot holes through the posts at each mark to prevent the bamboo splits.
4. Attach a drill bit to your drill and drill the holes. When the bit is in the hole, increase the speed slowly and go completely through the post. Repeat for each post.
5. Hammer the posts about 24 inches (60 cm) into the ground to secure them.
6. Use short straight stems for cross beams that match the dimensions of the bamboo fence. One additional inch (2.54 cm) of bamboo should be allocated to insert ½ inch (1.27 cm) into the post. Once you know the position of each piece, drill a ½ inch (1.27 cm) hole in each position.
7. Insert studs and when they are placed, rotate them in both directions. Stick it to the post with an adequately long nail, penetrating the post. Avoid hitting the nail or the bamboo may break. If you have trouble installing a cross beam, enlarge the hole with a wood file.
8. Add vertical rods. Use a string to make sure they are level.

Tips & Warnings

• The addition of a vertical pole is optional. It is mainly used to provide a more finished look; it does not improve the structure of the bamboo fence.
• Never screw directly on bamboo; use a drill and nail driver.
• Use gloves to avoid splinters.
• Apply petroleum or natural preservatives.
• Bamboo poles vary in color, righteousness, cracking and joint position. Count on that in your design.

If you have air vents installed in your premises, you no doubt have noticed dirt streaking around them. The dirt streaks form ugly marks on walls and ceilings, especially when those surfaces are brightly colored. This will not leave a good impression whether in an office establishment or a residential building.

What’s worse, too much dirt streaks around vents and ducts can indicate that your whole air supply system is not working as it should. For this reason, dirt streaking should not be ignored. Cleanup should not only focus on the surfaces surrounding the air vents, but should also enter deep into your air supply system.

What could be causing the dirt streaking?

Usually trouble shooting the problem will reveal what is causing the dirt accumulation.

First, heavy dirt streaking on a new air vent and duct system could mean that the system is malfunctioning, the installation was not installed properly, or the quality of the air vent and ducts is poor.

Secondly, external environmental conditions could also impact how much dirt goes through your vents, such as if you live in a heavily polluted area. The interior of your room could also be to blame. If your building is dirty, you have dusty carpets, pets that shed fur or sources of smoke such as cigarettes and candles, this might cause faster accumulation of dirt in your vents.

Thirdly, air vents and ducts that are always working round the clock will have more air turbulence flowing through them per day, hence more dirt. For instance, you might find it impossible to air your house by opening windows if you live in noisy areas or areas with air pollution. In winter or hot summer, you have to keep your windows and doors shut, leaving air vents and ducts as the only air supply line.

Fourth, humidity in the room will influence how much the dirt adheres to air supply outlets.

Fifth, spaces around walls or floor boards at the duct entry points can cause the air being sucked into the vents to go in with dirt particles.

Lastly, if you don’t routinely get your air vents and ducts cleaned, then you should expect to see visible dirt streaks at the outlets.

How to resolve this problem

Cleanup of air vents and ducts should begin with locating what is causing the dirt.

• Technicians should examine the ducts for leakage, spaces, poor quality material and proper installation. If any of these are the source, then repairs will be needed.
• If the problem is coming from your room, such as if the room is dusty, the professionals might recommend thorough cleanup of the room. Dusty rooms are a hazard to occupants because ventilation systems disperse dust particles faster.
• In commercial buildings, it’s advisable to install antismudge rings so that air is forced downwards as it exits the vents. This saves on the cost of cleaning up streaks from ceilings.
• Regular and consistent cleanups performed by a professionally trained crew is important because all air ducts and vents will always accrue problems after a period of time.

Remodeling a kitchen, or any room for that matter, is not an easy job. Unless you approach your remodel with specific guidelines in mind, you will be overwhelmed by the flurry of activities around you. So, the key to any successful remodel is to prepare thoroughly.

Below are basic steps to help you prepare for kitchen remodeling, particularly the first day of the project:

1. Ensure you that all material and items needed to successfully complete the construction have been purchased and are onsite.

Many separate pieces have to be purchased. For example, you need water faucets, kitchen cabinets, appliances, tiles for your backsplash, floor tiles, etc.

Arrange all items in categories to avoid missing anything. For instance, for plumbing, you’ll need a checklist that includes faucets, piping, sink and other related items.

2. Secondly, make sure that you and your contractor are aligned on what to expect for the kitchen remodeling

This is a two-way discussion. You might have a list of expectations but your contractor might not believe they are realistic. Start by discussing every aspect of the renovation and agree on what is realistic within the budget you’re working with.

Other factors that should be discussed are:

• The expected length of the remodel
• What you need to do to prevent unnecessary delays.
• Dust and noise control.
• Debris removal and cleanup expectations.
• The sequence of work. That is, what part of the kitchen will they begin with and which part will they finish with?
• Lastly, it’s polite to notify your neighbors that you’ll have a construction project going on so that you don’t give them a rude surprise. Setting up reasonable construction times to accommodate your neighbors might also be a good idea.

3. Make sure you’ve emptied all the kitchen cabinets

Before construction begins, you need to remove everything that’s inside your kitchen cabinets. This might not be the most enjoyable task and you might indeed be dreading it. However, think of it as a chance for you to clean out and dispose of any clutter you don’t need.

To make it easier for yourself, arrange everything in an orderly manner so that it becomes easier to put it back when the renovation is completed.

4. Set up a temporary area that you’ll use as a kitchen

Unless you intend to eat out every day and for every meal until the renovation is complete, you need to figure out which part of your house you can convert into a temporary kitchen.

Eating out can be expensive and if you have kids, it can be impractical because you never know when they’ll need something to eat. Even without kids, you’ll still need to make a quick snack every now and then.

A temporary kitchen can include a simple movable table, microwave, toaster, a hot plate, and a few items for food preparation such as a chopping board and knife. To make cleanup a lot easier, buy some plastic plates and cups instead of using your usual cutlery.  You’ll also need a few storage containers for food leftovers, though it might be a better idea to only cook what can be eaten in one seating.

Exterior walls take quite a beating from the sun, wind, rain and snow storms. Within a couple of years, you’ll begin to notice your exterior begin to develop all sorts of problems such as paint coming off, rusting, mold, gaps or spaces developing in the siding, accumulation of dirt and grime in spaces and surfaces.

You should not to leave these problems unattended. A power washing session is all your walls need to remove these blemishes and return the walls to perfection. Below is everything you need to know about power washing:

The benefits you get from power washing

Cleaning an exterior with soap and a brush is time consuming and impractical when you’re dealing with large areas such as walls. Not to mention, most cleaning items are not designed to reach into cracks and spaces, nor are they designed to blast dirt off surfaces.

With power washing, a professional will handle the cleanup for you, blasting away all dirt and hazards that are hiding in nooks and cracks.

How often your exterior needs to be power washed

Different factors will determine how often you need to power wash the outside of your home.

If your location is humid, mold, mildew and lichens are more likely to accumulate on your walls faster. Therefore, you’ll need to power wash more frequently.

If you live in an area that gets heavy storms, you might need to power wash after every storm because dirt and bits of vegetation will be blown into spaces within the walls.

Additionally, if you have a lot of plants in your yard, such as trees that are close to your roof, you might need to power wash frequently. Pest infestation is also another factor that will determine how often you power wash.

In a nutshell, the most advisable thing to do is to perform routine checkups on your exterior walls every few months and call in professional power washers if you are not pleased with the appearance of them.

The safest time to power wash your walls.

Power washing uses water and as you know, water accumulation on your walls is never a good thing. You should therefore choose a time of day and year when it’s sunny so that water can dry off quickly.

Choose the season wisely. For example, in autumn all your trees are shedding leaves and even after you power wash, the leaves and dirt from them will be blown right back on.

Only a professional should power wash your property

Power washers use a lot of pressure. There’s a risk of damaging your walls or injuring yourself if you give the job to someone who’s not trained in using the equipment.

Power washing damaged walls will not fix your problem

There’s a point where you have to admit to yourself that your walls are damaged beyond repair and need to be replaced. If your siding is deteriorated, the pressure from a power washer will only make things worse.

Reed fences are a good way to add a simplicity and give some personality. Due to the construction of the cane, they are very good as private fences and to keep small pets and children in a designated area. Reed fences come in full or half cane. These fences come in standard rolls or are prefabricated in different lengths and heights of 4 to 6 feet (1.22 and 1.83 m). This type of wall is available in most home improvement stores, lawn and garden and hardware stores.

Instructions

1. Choose the type of fence you need and determine the height of the cane. Measure the area to be fenced with a tape measure so you know the exact amount needed to buy. Place stakes with a line of rope wrapped around them to show the line of the new fence.
2. With a shovel dredge holes about every 6 feet (1.83 m) along the chord line. Dig the holes 6 inches (15 cm) deep and about 6 inches (15 cm) in diameter. Fill 2 inches (5 cm) of the hole with crushed gravel.
3. Place a 7 foot (2.13 m) metal post in the center of the hole and placed four good size stones around to keep it in place in the hole. Check the post with a level.
4. Mix water and concrete mixture in a large bowl until it has the consistency of porridge. Fill up the hole with concrete and smooth it with a metal blade. Repeat these steps for all other posts and allow to dry overnight.
5. Unroll cane in front of the posts. Check for damaged areas and that all rods are still securely attached.
6. Raise the fence and place it against the nearest post. Cut garden mesh with wire cutters and wraps through the upper end of the fence. Also wrap it around the top of the pole and then tie the two ends together with pliers. Repeat this for the bottom and about half way up the pole. Check that all three connections are secure.
7. Firmly put on and connect the next pole in line with the same number of connections as the first. Repeat this with all poles. If you’re going to join pieces of the fence double the number of wire connections so the connection is strong.

Tips & Warnings

• The plastic slips also function as the cable, but don’t look as good.
• Have someone help hold the fence in place while they affixed to the posts.
• For windy areas, consider adding two half joints instead of only one space.
• Beware that the fence is not damaged while working with it. It becomes stronger when connecting to the post and most of the damage occurs during construction.