What NOT to Do on Your Decking (UNIQUE CONTENT how to keep your family safe on your garden decking)

What NOT to do on your decking

I’m sure you’ve tons of articles telling you how to maintain your outdoor decking, but what about the things you shouldn’t do on there? What is it that could ruin your deck? Well, that’s why we have written this article for you.

Don’t put your kid’s paddling pool on there
We know your decking might be a tempting place to temporarily put a paddling pool, with it’s nice flat surface and close proximity to the house, but it’s definitely not a wise idea for several reasons.

The first reason is that with paddling pools come a lot of water, and when the time comes when your children no longer want to paddle, what do you do with that water? You certainly can’t pour it all over your decking.

And the second reason is safety, wood can sometimes splinter. You don’t want one of those splinters to land in your child’s foot as they’re running barefoot to the water, or worse you don’t want a splinter to deflate the pool.

Don’t BBQ on your decking
Many people don’t observe this rule, but it is definitely not recommended to have a barbecue on your decking. Some wooden decking is treated with flammable materials, and this combined with hot flames could land you with a scorched deck that no amount of decking paint will be able to conceal.

Instead we suggest placing your barbecue in an area of its own. Whether that be in a concrete area in a separate part of the garden or on the lawn it’s up to you. You can still use your deck as an area to congregate and eat.

Don’t Put Pot Plants on Your Deck
Plants look great, there’s no doubt about it. But you should try and keep potted plants away from wood. The reason for this is because the bases of the pots often have drainage holes which dampen the wood. This dampness can wear away any wood stain you maybe have used, as well as encouraging mould.

Another thing to remember is that the sun causes natural changes in the tone and shade of your wood. If you have potted plants covering certain areas then that can lead to uneven shading.

Conclusion:
Though decking is perfect for many things, it’s not suitable for every activity. By remembering these simple do-not’s you can ensure that you don’t damage your decking or yourselves.

Plasma Makes the Cut

For industries and hobbyists who depend on accurately slicing through metal sheets, the ultimate device, which has come to widely replace the traditional sawing and shearing techniques, is the plasma cutter. This machine offers near laser precision through any conductive material up to 5cm thick, making it an ideal tool for heavy metal industries and home hobbyists where minimizing wastage is very important. Put simply, an inert gas is blasted at high speed from a nozzle with an electrical arc running through it and connecting to the target material surface. The extreme heat melts through the metal without creating loose shards.

Choosing the right plasma cutter for your needs is vital to ensure an efficient and accurate cut and a safe work space. There are several factors which must be taken into account before you decide which tool is right for you. Firstly, the average thickness of metal you will be cutting is usually a known quantity which can help determine the maximum power and size of the machine. It is helpful to know the maximum possible thickness of metal to ensure that sufficient power is applied, and knowing your power supply will help ensure the machine is compatible. You then need to consider the type of metal as some are softer or more brittle than others, and the speed at which you will be hoping to cut.

When viewing plasma cutting machinery you will be looking out for certain key facts and figures, such as the operating voltage, the cut rate and the maximum thickness. As you may have already guessed, the more powerful the cutter, the faster it will cut through thicker metals. You may also be interested in how long the machine will last and at what sort of operating cost. Choosing between Pilot Arc technology and High Frequency Plasma Cutters is another important decision. The former method allows the user to create an arc in the air without needing to be close to the operating surface and it does not interfere with other electrical equipment, so a slightly safer option. The High Frequency Plasma Cutter on the other hand has a much more stable arc and is generally cheaper than the Pilot Arc. Also, most electrical equipment nowadays is protected against interference. You may also be after either a Rated Cut which is quick and smooth, or a Quality Cut which is slower but much smoother on thick metals. Also your machine will need a large Duty Cycle if it is going to be operated for long periods.

Purchasing a plasma cutter is quite easy online, and prices range from £120 for a small handheld cutter right up to £3,000 for the industrial installation or £13,000 for a cutter with a table, which can reach over £20,000 on its own. Alternatively it is possible to rent plasma cutters, which is very useful if you are creating a one off project and just need a few days of usage. The price will depend upon the thickness which the cutter can slice through, so you may be looking at £80 for one day’s use of a 10mm cutter (or £135 for a week) or up to £170 for one day’s use of a 40mm cutter (or £285 for a week). However, some brands of plasma cutters are a little cheaper, from £70 to £150 per week for 12mm to 50mm cutters, so it  is worth making a thorough comparison across the web.

Once you have purchased or rented a plasma cutter, make sure you read the safety procedures and are wearing appropriate protective equipment to shield from the heat, the glare and the fumes.

This article was written by Emily Banham on behalf of Kerf Developments, the leading British supplier of plasma cutting machinery from brands such as Kaliburn.

How to Do Proper Garage Door Maintenance

The garage door is considered as an important part of your house. As a matter of fact, the garage door helps enhance the security of your house and avoids exposing your car or vehicle from the harsh elements of the environment. Unfortunately, your garage door can also encounter functional problems. These problems can occur especially when there is no proper maintenance provided to these garage doors. The garage door is also considered as one of the largest moving objects in your house. This means that regular care should be provided to make sure that you and your vehicles will have a very convenient access in and out of your house. In order to make this happen, here are some tips that will help you do effective garage door maintenance.

 

More Facts about Garage Doors
These days, there are already several types of garage doors available in the market. Some of the newer and insulated garage doors are highly recommended since they can help save energy. However, moving doors can experience a lot of technical difficulties. Although there are some tasks and techniques that can be done on your own, severe garage door damage should already be handled by professional technicians from any Phoenix Garage Door Installation Company. Some of the things that only experts are capable of doing include the replacement of the garage door spring and as well as the installation of the garage door.

If you are living in a house with children, it is also very important and highly advisable to teach them how to use and operate the door. It is necessary that children should be aware that these doors are not toys. This is one way to protect the doors from any problem that can be caused by kids.

How to Maintain Your Garage Door
Usually, garage door repair and maintenance is not part of your regular household chores list. Nevertheless, there are several things that you can do in order help maintain your garage door's top condition. Here are some of the easy strategies that you can use.

• Always provide enough lubricant -- Since all garage doors contain rollers, hinges, tracks, and latches, it is necessary to apply a very good penetrating solvent. It is also important to include the pulleys that are located on the extension spring openers and as well as on the torsion spring openers.
• Wipe every part of the door clean -- Just like any other furniture piece or appliance in your home, you should also make sure to wipe all parts of the garage door clean. A good 3-in-1 lubricant can be the perfect solution for this task.
• Check the doors for weather-stripping, which are usually found on the side of the doors -- if the doors are jammed, it is necessary to adjust them to make them work or if necessary replace them with new ones.
• Soak rollers on kerosene -- Aside from lubricants, kerosene is also a good option in solving stuck garage doors. You can use a small brush to apply the kerosene on the small cracks of the door. You can also remove the rust from the door using a steel wool.