DIY Outdoor Kitchens in High Demand During Recession and Low Gas Prices

Homeowners Are Building Their Own Outdoor Kitchens and Saving Thousands of Dollars.

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With the current recession combined with the huge savings on gasoline prices many homeowners are going ahead with their Outdoor Kitchen projects. But unlike the good old days when they would take out an equity loan for ,000 and pay their contractor to build it. Homeowners are now more frugal and going with the DIY approach.

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"It's amazing how much money our family saved by building our own outdoor kitchen" says Jacqui Webb of Santa Barbara. We used a BBQ frame kit that screwed together. My husband was able to put the frame together in half a day. He then installed the cement board and finished it with a Travertine countertop and stucco siding.

We saved with a 5 burner Jenn Air grill from Lowes, a Firemagic access door, a Costco fridge and a bar sink form the Home Depot. This combination of appliances cost us under 00. This is very inexpensive for an outdoor kitchen. We are very happy with the results and it is something we use all the time.

The average homeowner can build an outdoor kitchen. Most homeowner have experience with projects such as tile, basic power tools, etc. However, many have no experience with steel framing. Homeowners find steel framing to be wobbly and difficult to make 90 degree angles because they have not been taught the professional techniques to avoid these common problems.

There is little information about framing BBQ islands at your local book store. The truth is that no one in the industry wants to teach people how to build their own BBQ islands. They much rather sell it to you for 20 or 30 times the price of materials as a luxury item. For most homeowners it is best to purchase a pre-cut steel frame kit. These kits assemble similar to Ikea furniture.

Make 2009 the year your family adds this wonderful amenity to your home. Stay home, invite the family and friends over and enjoy a great time with your new outdoor kitchen. And just thinking of all the money you saved in the process will really make you smile.

DIY Outdoor Kitchens in High Demand During Recession and Low Gas Prices

Willie The BBQ Coach
http://www.BbqCoach.com

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Top Reasons to Buy Fiberglass Entry Doors With Sidelights

The front door is the first most visible part of your home. Just like eyes are windows to the soul, the front door is the first glimpse into your house's personality. For this reason, there is immense value in bringing it to its most beautiful and useful form, and one of the ways to do this is with sidelights. Door sidelights are panes of glass, typically narrower than the actual door, set along one or both sides of the door. Fiberglass entry doors with sidelights are some of the elements that architects and homeowners use to enhance houses. Sidelights add charm as well as strength to entrance and patio doors like a fireplace does to a hearth. The choice of fiberglass as surface material for doors is because it does not split, bow or rot, which wood does prematurely due to climate fluctuation and continual use. It is also believed to be eight times stronger than vinyl and twice as strong as steel.

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When the entryway of a house is wider than any of the common door sizes, the solution are external sidelights. Some entryways can accommodate one sidelight on just one side but other entryways are very wide and need bifold sidelights to flank the door. Popular models of fiberglass entry doors with sidelights are ones finished with a wood grain surface that resembles solid hardwood doors, in a variety of wood textures. They will have been made using fiberglass and composite material that resist air and water intrusion plus insect damage, with several parts made using corrosion-resistant stainless steel. Fiberglass is also energy-efficient. It does not conduct heat, insulates up to five times more than wood, and permits natural light inside homes. Door system features like protection against forced entry in the jamb, lockset & deadbolt areas are further enticing.

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It adds magnetic appeal to the product when priming, pre-finishing or pre-glazing is standard. It takes a load off buyers when the surface of the door is primed for painting on, normally pre-finished with a staining like mahogany, oak or cherrywood. Glass is more fortified and easier to clean when pre-glazed. It should be emphasized that the door and the frames of the sidelights are usually connected, or a frame has a joiner to contain the door and sidelight units. In fact, the threshold underneath the door and sidelights is usually a single continuous unit. These components do not disconnect easily. Disconnecting the frame from the threshold, or replacing just the door and not the sidelights, is knotty and will probably cause some real damage.

In this electronic age, fiberglass entry doors with sidelights are staple products of leading door manufacturers, thus backed by their established expertise and capabilities. Masonite has one of the largest research & development centers, for example, and Milgard runs a vertically integrated production in which most parts of a door are built internally. Lowe's stores exclusively carry Benchmark doors by Therma-Tru, and Home Depot stores do the same for Feather River doors. Full-service installation and sales support are the promise marketed with SureFit doors.

Top Reasons to Buy Fiberglass Entry Doors With Sidelights

Ward Eichelberger reviews how to get the best from Fiberglass Entry Doors With Sidelights. Please visit his Fiberglass Entry Doors site for latest news.

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Do it Yourself Prefab Garage Kit

For homeowners searching for a way to gain a little extra space a metal garage may be the ideal solution. Prefab garage kits can easily be added to a property providing storage space that is protected from weather damage while remaining easily accessible. One other option that makes this a particularly economical solution is to build it yourself using a prefabricated metal garage kit.

This type of kit is designed to be easily assembled by the purchaser. Standard hardware is used so that the metal garage can be installed using common tools. Doing the assembly work personally saves the money that might be spent to hire a professional builder. Since they are available in a wide variety of styles and sizes prefabricated metal garages are easily customized.

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To aid in the construction process each prefabricated metal garage kit comes with a building manual that is easy to understand. Before starting the materials should be checked against the list in the manual to be sure that all pieces were shipped. This would be everything from the larger frame and panel pieces to the smaller standard sized bolts and polyethylene washers used in all the connections.

Building the metal garage would follow a process similar to these guidelines:

1. The major components of the garage are the build arches, raise arches, and end wall panels. To make construction quick and easy these pieces are pre-cut and pre-drilled and have weather stripping and heavy-duty curved angles. A local hardware store should have any tools needed for assembly if you do not own them.

2. A foundation must be laid before the building is installed. To ensure a stable building a solid, durable foundation should be chosen. The land to be used should be level and firm. An easy to install foundation is concrete that can be poured as a floating concrete perimeter footing.

3. The build arches and raise arches are put up first to form the side walls and roof. To avoid leakages the joints must be tight and the arches firmly attached to the foundation. Raising the arches may require assistance and for taller garages scaffolding may be needed.

4. The metal garage is finished with the end wall panels. To assist in accurate installation the panels are pre-cut and numbered. Their design allows them to easily be bolted onto the base connector and end arch panel. The end walls can have door and window openings installed that are steel-framed. Any type of door can be used to finish the project.

Prefab garage kits are useful for a multitude of situations. They provide extra storage and organizational space. This can function as storage for items used on occasion such as gardening equipment or outdoor activity gear. It can also be used for large, awkward items like lawn mowers or snow blowers. For recreation they can be formed into children's playhouses or into workshops. Whatever the need the installation of a prefabricated metal garage kit can add the needed space while remaining cost effective.

Do it Yourself Prefab Garage Kit

Bob has been writing articles online for nearly 4 years now. Not only does this author specialize in home improvement, you can also check out his latest website on steel buildings for sale which gives a source of manufacturers for prefab garage kits.

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Patio Furniture Sale - 3 Great Places to Look

If you have look around at any stores of websites, then you probably know that patio furniture is not always the cheapest thing that you can get. If you find the right kind of patio furniture sale, then you have a great chance at saving a few hundred dollars or more. Before you go and get a set of patio furniture though, you should think about what kind you want to get.

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You can get patio furniture that is made from all kinds of materials. Aluminum is known for being light weight and reasonable in price. Plastic is actually one of the more expensive kinds, and it can be made to look like real wood. Wrought iron has a very traditional look and is known for being very stylish and fashionable. Metal is very similar to aluminum.

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You should also think about what kind of set you are looking to get. If you are only going to be using your furniture for one or two people, then a set with two chairs and a table should do just fine. If you are going to be having lots of people over, then you may want to get a lot more pieces so everyone has somewhere to set.

So, where do you get the best deals? Here are a few places you can look...

1. End of Summer Sales

A lot of stores like Home Depot and Lowes get new inventory all the time. If they have some stuff that they did not sell, then they will likely want to make sure they get rid of it. This often happens at the end of summer because no one plans on sitting outside in the cold during the winter. If you look at the right times, you can find a great sale and get an excellent price.

2. Amazon

The main reason that Amazon is a great place to get a new set of patio furniture is because you can read the user reviews at the bottom. This allows you to see if the other people who bought the same furniture set liked it or did not like it. You can usually find positive and negative reviews of just about everything, so don't let one negative review necessarily sway your opinion.

3. eBay

Buying a new set of furniture on eBay is great because you can often get an excellent deal if you win the bidding war. Just be sure to look at the sellers rating to see that they are a reputable vendor.

There are some excellent places to find a patio furniture sale and get an excellent deal. Good luck! 

Patio Furniture Sale - 3 Great Places to Look

Charles Mullin writes about patio furniture sale at http://www.Discount-Patio-Furniture-Sets.com

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Luxury Apartments Fort Worth Texas - Residences of Museum Place - A Personal Review

True Luxury Apartments with Top Quality features:

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Residences Of Museum Place is a very special apartment complex built right next door to the World Famous Kimbell Art Museum. Its architecture is a work of art in itself. There are no other apartment complexes in Fort Worth that have the artistic look, luxury amenities and extreme construction quality that these luxury apartments have.

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These apartments have solid concrete walls and floors. The concrete floor is covered with authentic hardwood flooring except for the bedroom areas which have beautiful Berber carpet. The solid concrete helps provide for a relaxing quietness while living downtown near the city. The concrete walls are covered with Sheetrock and custom painted.

A ceiling fire sprinkler system covers the entire complex for your safety.

Custom molding, trim, granite counter tops, gourmet kitchens and 6 inch tall baseboards are just a few of the fine characteristics you will find in the Residences Of Museum Place. Black GE appliances, luxury faucets, and stainless steel sinks decorate the gourmet kitchen.

Beautiful wood blinds emphasize the large windows. Every unit has a romantic gas fireplace that starts instantly with the flip of a standard light switch.

Large rooms and useful layouts are highlighted with convenient track lighting, perfect for emphasizing artwork or architectural details. Configure your own lighting scheme that's custom made to your unique individual needs.

Garden tubs, shower stalls, large bedrooms, and huge closets brings you that comfortable cozy feeling.

This complex is not your typical large complex. It only has 40 units total. Most of the tenants are either doctors, lawyers, medical students, home/office business people or retirees.

The patios are huge and gorgeous. Some have views of the museums and others overlook downtown Fort Worth. Living here is like living at a resort. The Kimbell Art grounds are basically your front yard. The Kimbell's peaceful infinity pool will warm your heart and inspire your soul.

All entries are secured with video surveillance, security lights and remote entry locks.

The Residences Of Museum Place has two elevators that are super convenient when bringing home your shopping and groceries.

There is a secured parking garage on the first floor that looks as though it could withstand a tornado. The concrete structure beams there are both massive and impressive.

No More Sitting Garbage:

In many apartments you will find numerous complaints about sitting garbage. The standard is to leave it sitting in front of your door until picked up thus causing a stinky, unsightly, unhealthy mess at your main entrance. Not here in Residences Of Museum Place. There is a convenient enclosed garbage shoot within a few feet from your entry door at every elevator location. Simply drop your garbage down the shoot and it is gone forever.

Prime Location:

Residences Of Museum Place is the only apartment complex located directly across the street from Fort Worth's five World Class Museums.

Nestled within the heart of the Fort Worth Cultural District you have the Amon Carter Museum, the Kimbell Art Museum, the Modern Art Museum, the new Science Museum, and the National Cowgirl Museum. All are at your fingertips less then two minutes away from the Residences Of Museum Place front entrance.

One street over there is the Will Rogers Memorial Center which includes Will Rogers Coliseum, Auditorium, Equestrian Center and Amon G. Carter Jr. Exhibits Building. The center generally has something going on every week including dog shows, bridal shows, art and craft shows, car shows, animal stock shows, and the Camp Bowie Jazz Fest just to mention a few.

If you love theater you have the famous Casa Mañana located next door to the Will Rogers Center.

Two blocks south of the apartment complex you will find the Fort Worth Botanic Garden and Trinity Trails. Photographers and artist flock to the 109-acre garden, best known as the oldest Botanic Garden in Texas home to over 2,500 species of exotic plants within its 23 specialty gardens. Trinity Trails, a popular spot for joggers and bicyclers has miles of winding trails with a fabulous river view.

2.71 miles down University Drive there is the Fort Worth Zoo which has a new museum itself opening soon appropriately named Museum of Living Art (MOLA). The Zoo is open 365 days per year.

The Cultural District is probably the most relaxing, interesting and convenient area of Fort Worth to live.

There is a Super Target shopping center five minutes away with everything including Pier One, Marshalls, Subway, Starbucks and many others. The center is located right behind the Montgomery Plaza, one of the nearby neighbors whose condo units sell for well into the millions.

CVC and a brand new 7-11 are within walking distance of your front door. Central Market is 2.99 miles away.

All the large name retailers such as Walmart, Sam's Club, Home Depot, Loews, and many major malls are no more then a ten to fifteen minute drive.

Popular restaurants such as Eddie V's and Del Frisco's are just down the road. Lanny's, a Fort Worth favorite is within walking distance of your front door. Less expensive restaurants such as the Flying Fish, Angelo's Bar-B-Que, and Pulido's Mexican food are available also.

There are hundreds of restaurant choices nearby or surrounding this apartment complex.

Nearby Health Facilities:

One of the many benefits of living in this complex is that the Fort Worth Hospital District is only 9 minutes / 4.22 miles from your doorstep. Harris and John Peter Smith are two of the major hospitals in the area. Health facilities are abundant in Fort Worth.

Pets:

Smaller pets are welcome and the great part is that you are unlimited in places to walk your dog. Huge parks and museum grounds are just across the street. These apartments are located in the one of the best areas of Fort Worth to walk your dog. There is a PetSmart in the Super Target shopping center mentioned above.

Rent:

Dollar for dollar square footage cost cannot be beat here when speaking of true Luxury apartments. The one bedroom units alone are as large as some two bedroom apartments. You may pay a little more then the cheaper standard apartments but you will soon see that it is well worth every penny.

There is a secure feeling in knowing that your peace of mind will be assured. The complex offers a variety of floor plans for both one bedroom and two bedroom units.

Residences Of Museum Place Management:

Management actually lives on site and provides extraordinary service. The carpeted hallways are spick-and-span with art and flower arrangements placed throughout the entire complex.

The manager works relentlessly to make sure every single tenant is happy and satisfied. Watching them prepare a place for a new tenant is an experience in itself. They spend days going over every square inch in fine detail.

If you are looking for a new place to call home and you want to live in the Fort Worth Cultural District then you should give the Residences Of Museum Place a strong consideration.

Luxury Apartments Fort Worth Texas - Residences of Museum Place - A Personal Review

I personally live at the Residences Of Museum Place. See pictures and my full review Luxury Apartments Fort Worth

http://www.LuxuryApartmentsFortWorth.com

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Eliminate Flies - 5 Surefire Ways To Get Rid of Flies

Flies generally attack households in summer, but in some areas, we see them buzzing all throughout the year. Houses that have animal farms attached to them are more vulnerable to files than those who live in cities or suburbs. And unfortunately, these days, the ordinary and out-dated methods of eliminating files don't work at all! In this article I will tell you of five surefire ways to eliminate flies fast!

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1. Identify the place: First of all, you need to inspect your whole house and identify the areas in which files are breeding, or are likely to breed. Generally, files breed in places which have animal manure, rotten fruits, garbage, etc. Then there are places through which a house fly can enter your house. You need to plug such cracks too! Look for small cracks in your foundation, in window screens, in doors, etc. Even the smallest crack is enough to let the fly in.

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2. Sanitation: Once you have identified the breeding grounds for house flies in your house, it is time to take steps to sanitize those places. For starters, you need to make sure that your trash cans are regularly emptied. You need to clean your trash can and trash bags regularly before you can use them.

3. Plug the holes: House files will sometimes enter your house through a crack on the window panes, through a hole in the window screen or through the opening of a door that doesn't shut properly. Your job is to fix those things and see to it that all possible holes and cracks in your house are properly plugged so as to make it impossible for the fly to gain entry to your house.

4. Use chemical sprays: You can easily procure a spray for houseflies from your local stores. Most sprays eliminate house files by killing them. However, it would be stupid to rely solely on the chemical sprays. Chemical sprays can only give you temporary relief and if you have not properly followed the sanitization procedures above then it is unlikely that you would ever be able to eliminate houseflies from your house. While you should use chemical sprays on a short term basis, for long term results, you should take steps to eliminate the very breeding grounds of the files.

5. Fly baits: Fly baits are not always effective, but if you can use them properly, these baits can give you some temporary relief. To be effective, you need to place the bait at strategic locations, especially near your trash cans and receptacles. Make sure you don't place baits in places where children or dogs are likely to visit.

Eliminate Flies - 5 Surefire Ways To Get Rid of Flies

Discover How To Make Your Own Fly Trap Easily! For more information on how to eliminate flies, visit us at:
http://flies.besthelptips.com/eliminate-flies-2.php
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Storage Shed Kits

To set up a storage shed or warehouse to store valuable equipment, a wide range of storage shed kits are available. Storage shed kits offer a fantastic solution for storage expansion needs. Storage shed kits are designed to make the task of building a storage shed simple and hassle-free.

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Storage shed kits are best suited for the do-it-yourselfer and can be treated as an alternative to frame, brick or block construction. They are available for every budget and can be purchased online. Storage shed kits save the time spent for building storage sheds from a set of storage shed plans. Most of the storage shed kits are engineered to handle the worst weather conditions.

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Storage shed kits include lumber and other building materials precut to exact sizes. Precut materials include floor joists, floor deck, floor plates, roof panels, wall studs, wall plates, angle brackets, stud brackets, prefabricated siding, prefabricated door stock, prefabricated rafters, and more. In addition there are doors, windows, and detailed assembly instructions. To build a storage shed, all one has to do is to assemble the pieces according to the instructions given.

Metal building kits are ideal for the home, farm, and industry. Steel storage shed kits are suitable for garages, workshops, and boat or RV storage. Steel storage shed kits contain steel building package that can be assembled easily. Lowes and Home Depot, Duro Shed of Virginia, Inc., and SteelMaster are some of the places where you find storage shed kits. Many storage shed kits also come with an optional warranty that many may wish to take advantage of, as well.

Storage Shed Kits

Storage Sheds provides detailed information on Storage Sheds, Outdoor Storage Sheds, Storage Shed Plans, Storage Shed Kits and more. Storage Sheds is affiliated with CD Storage Cabinets.

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