| |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Selecting Outdoor Benches
Outdoor benches are an excellent way to enhance a garden, create additional seating in a backyard or add a resting spot for a business. With outdoor benches, you will discover a huge selection of materials such as stone, wood, concrete, brick, etc. Keep in mind that one type of material is not necessarily better than another with a few exceptions. As an example, if you choose something like granite, marble, stone, or concrete, the seats will be hard so if you are looking to provide a comfortable resting area, cushions would be required. In addition, some types of wood do better than others. Teak, redwood, beech, birch, cherry, ash, maple, oak, mahogany, poplar, walnut, pecan, and cedar are excellent choices for outdoors. Since wood outdoor benches are the most popular, we will address those in particular for this article. First, wood is easy to work with, offers a warm, rich, and inviting appearance, and is very durable. Depending on the design of the outdoor bench, it may or may not be made with a combination of solid wood and veneer. Regardless of the type of wood being used, the quality of construction for the outdoor bench is crucial. First, the outdoor bench needs to be made using the best joint method and second, the outdoor bench must be stable and sturdy. For the joints, manufacturers use a number of methods. The tongue and groove method is very popular in that it looks nice and neat while providing the needed stability. Another method is known as mortise and tenon, which involves a socket and two pieces of projecting wood. Other options for the joints include a doweled joint where a wood pin fits tightly into a drilled out hole, rabbeted and butted joint that has two pieces of wood placed at angles, glued, and stapled, bolted or corner blocked if rigidity is a concern, and finally, the least expensive method for outdoor bench joints is with stapling. The downside to this is that as people sit down and get up from the outdoor bench, the staples can eventually work free. The second factor for selecting wooden outdoor benches is the stability and sturdiness. Since people of all sizes will be sitting down, you obviously want a bench that will accommodate various weights. To ensure sturdiness, you would need to make sure the bench meets certain criteria. If the bench has a back, then the outside posts or rungs on either side will need to go all the way through the bench seat to the underside, making the posts and rungs less likely to break. In addition, the legs of the outdoor bench need to be solid and large enough to handle weight. One way to tell if the bench is not sturdy enough is to sit on it. If you hear a creaking noise, then you should be concerned. While sitting, move your weight back and forth a little to see if the bench feels secure or wobbly. You can also do a push/pull test with your hands, pressing on the bench's legs to see if they feel solid or loose. Most manufacturers will provide specifications on the various types of outdoor benches so you will know exactly the weight limitations, type of wood used, the joint process, and so on. Use this information to your advantage when selecting an outdoor bench so you end up with the type that best suits your needs. Jennifer Akre is a successful business owner of numerous furniture websites such as http://www.SimplyBenches.com. Her sites provide product and information about garden bench styles and other furniture and decor for your patio or home.
MORE RESOURCES:
landscaping gardening - Google News |
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Growing Orchids as House Plants One of the long standing myths that I still hear is that orchid house plants are difficult and finicky to grow. Well, plain and simple, the answer is No. Flower Meanings Certain types or colors of flowers mean different things, and you don't want to send the wrong message if you give them as a gift! Of course, not everyone knows what a particular flower means, but you can never be too sure!FLOWER NAME and/or COLOR -- FLOWER MEANINGSCarnationsCarnation (General) -- Fascination Carnation, Pink -- Emblem of Mother's Day, I will never forget you Carnation, Purple -- Antipathy and Capriciousness Carnation, Red -- Admiration, my heart aches for you Carnation, Striped -- No, Sorry, I cannot be with you Carnation, White -- Pure Love, Sweet Love, Innocence Carnation, Yellow -- Disdain and RejectionLiliesLily, Calla -- Majestic Beauty Lily, Day -- Coquetry Lily, Orange -- Hatred and Disdain, Wealth, Pride Lily, White -- Majesty and Purity, Virginity Lily of the Valley -- Purity and Humility, SweetnessRosesRose, Coral/Orange -- Enthusiasm, Desire Rose, Dark Pink -- Thank you Rose, Light Pink -- Admiration Rose, Musk -- Capricious Beauty Rose, Pale -- Friendship Rose, Peach -- Let's get together, Closing of the deal Rose, Pink -- Love, Grace, Gentility, You're so Lovely Rose, Pink & White -- Love, Desire, Respect, Courage, Job well done Rose, Red -- Majesty and Purity, Virginity Rose, Red & Yellow -- Congratulations Rose, White -- Charm, Secrecy, Silence, You're Heavenly Rose, White on Red -- Unity/Flower Emblem of England Rose, Yellow -- Infidelity, Joy, Friendship, Welcome Back, Remember me Rose, Yellow & Orange -- Passionate thoughtsTulipsTulip -- Symbol of The Perfect Lover Tulip, Red -- Believe me, Declaration of love Tulip, Variegated -- Beautiful eyesOthersDaffodil -- Emblem of Annunciation/Regard, Unrequited love Daisy -- Gentleness, Innocence, Loyal love Iris -- Faith, Wisdom, Valor, Your Friendship means so much Orchid -- Magnificence, Love, Beauty, Refinement Sunflower -- Homage and DevotionA Heath is a gift researcher for http://www.the-gift-wizard. The Basics of Growing Roses So you want to grow roses? They are a beautiful choice for your garden and not nearly as difficult to grow as you might think. Choose a rose that is easy to grow. Wind Chimes Soothe The Soul They can be pretty to look at and soothing to hear, but did you know that that wind chimes also have healing effects? Just listening to the tones of the chimes can help calm your mind and release stress. Calming your mind, the tones of the chimes help to release all that stored up stress. Home for a Gnome? Kitsch is defined by several dictionaries as relating to poor quality or gaudy art objects that appeal to "low-brow" taste. But in the garden, kitsch categorizes folksy or commercial art that's viewed condescendingly by some, and with irony by others. Decorate Your Outdoor Spaces on a Budget! Many times when the weather becomes sultry, the only place we want to be is in our favorite chair on the porch, sipping ice-cold lemonade! So, if we are to spend our summer months languishing with Mother Nature, why not treat our "outdoor room" to a little freshening up, and make our time outdoors more enjoyable! Here are some great, easy ideas you can use to add your own personal style to a much used "summer home"!Treat your outdoor space just like an indoor room when you think about decorating it. Mother Nature has got the ceiling covered in most cases, but you should think about floors, furniture, accessories, color, and, yes, walls, just like any other project! Choose a theme, even if it's just color!Use existing fencing, tall plants, trellising, etc. Organic Gardening "Organic gardening is not just the avoidance of chemicals, in the larger view, it is organic living using nature's laws." I read this quote by an unknown person sometime ago and realized that my parents and others like them were organic gardeners long before the current resurrection of these principles. Tarragon: A Favourite of French Chefs Long a favourite of French chefs, the herb Artemisia dracunculus, known as French tarragon or dragon herb is an essential ingredient in Béarnaise sauce, tarragon vinegar, and certain Dijon mustards. A perennial herb, tarragon grows 2 - 4 feet (60 - 120 cm) and has dark, shiny, narrow grey-green leaves about 3 inches (8 cm) long with smooth edges. Adirondack Furniture - What It is and Why You Want It Adirondack is the name given to a style of furnishings that date back to the late 1800's. During this time period, immediately following the civil war, upstate New York gained notoriety as a popular tourist destination. Gift Ideas for Bird Lovers Some of the best gifts you can give to a bird lover are those that have to do with birds! :)Here are a few favorites of all bird lovers:* Bird HousesYou can find a wide variety of bird house designs and styles. Usually anyone that really loves birds also really loves different types of bird houses too. February in the Garden Often in February there is a surprisingly warm day. Everybody sheds their coats and puts a bounce in their step. How to Control Poison Ivy Poison ivy is found throughout southern Canada and most of the United States except Alaska and Hawaii. It is readily found along road sides, fences, railroads, and streams. How to Decorate your Outdoor Space without Breaking the Bank Noted English clergyman Sydney Smith (1771-1845) is quoted as saying, "Economy in the estimation of common minds means the absence of all taste and comfort." But finding thrifty ways to decorate your outdoor living space doesn't mean you have to sacrifice either of those things. The Home Garden The garden should be near the house and away from trees. If it's some distance away from the house, it will not be as well looked after, nor will most use be made of vegetables grown. How to Grow Basil Today there are sprays, scented candles, plug-ins, and even discs that promise to freshen your air by putting a variety of aromas into your home. However, when you know how to grow basil, you can have enough variety of fragrance to package your own potpourri! The most commonly grown basil is the annual, ocimum basilicum that carries a minty fragrance that smells like? well, it smells like sweet basil. Using Push Reel Mowers If you're not familiar with push reel mowers or if you haven't used one since "back in the day", there are a few points you should be aware of before using a push reel mower:Don't expect to cut tall weeds or dandelions. You notice how your gas-powered mowers get a little "overwhelmed" when cutting weeds or very tall grass? Those issues are a bit worse with reel mowers because they become harder to push and they are limited in the height of what they can cut. Enjoy Creating and Growing a Sustainable Garden While Feeding Your Family A sustainable garden means one that can be sustained over time, and would necessarily involve I) growing food you want to eat, so you are motivated to continue growing, II) growing economically, so that it is worthwhile doing, as well as III) taking care of environmental issues, so that the ground will continue to support growing.I) The plants to be grown should be chosen primarily on what your family wants to eat, and what will grow in your locale. Growing Organic! Herbs, Flowers and Fruit Creating no dig gardens on top of the soil gives you many immediate advantages over the usual garden. It is quick and easy It will improve the soil underneath the bed It is weed free and organicWhile my site has concentrated on the vegetable garden, the same garden building techniques can be used for flower beds, herbs and fruit trees. Koi Pond Aeration To achieve Koi pond aeration, there are some things you can do. One, you can go to your local hobby store or pet supply store and purchase one of those small air pumps, hook some tubing to it, along with an air diffuser or sometimes called an air stone, and place it in your pond. Patio Design - Expanding Your Home Outdoors A patio can be just like another room in your house. Effective patio design can mean that your increase the floor space of your home, by adding an outside room that allows you to entertain like never before.
|
