Before you start a patio or any other home improvement work, make sure you have the time and commitment to see it through. It might have only taken the builder 2 or 3 days to do your neighbours patio but he’s doing it for money. After a hard days digging its easy to think sod this, I’ll finish it next weekend. The next thing you know your garden spends the whole summer looking like a building site and your wife takes herself and the kids to her mothers!

Planning your patio. Keep it nice and simple, forget curves and other fancy shapes. Choose a paving slab that matches the colour of your house, you want it to blend in not stand out like a sore thumb. Plan the size of your patio to suit the size of your slabs so that minimal cutting is not required. Remember to allow 10mm for each joint when measuring out your area.

Tools required. A spade and shovel. A fork if grass needs to be removed. A rubber mallet. A spirit level. Lines and pegs. Wheelbarrow. Safety gloves.

From the hire shop. Small cement mixer and compactor (also known as a wacca) plate. If cuts are required an angle grinder or disc cutter with safety goggles.

Marking out. Use pegs and lines to mark out your area. To check your angles measure from corner to corner. The distance between corners 1 and 3 should measure the same as corners 2 and 4.

Digging out. You should dig down about 100mm (4inch). As your patio is going to butt up to your home you must make sure that the top of the paving slabs will finish at least 150mm below your damp course. Also, it is important that your patio slopes away from your house. 2.5cm for every 2m or 1inch for every 6ft.

If you are only digging out top soil you should be able to get away with dispersing it around your garden. Anything else and you will require a skip.

Laying the hard core. Spread the hard core approx. 100mm (4inch) deep. Run the wacca plate over the hardcore, adding more to any low points. Your hardcore should finish about 75mm (3inch) in depth and should be solid under foot.

Laying your slabs. Mix sand and cement without water at a ratio of 5 sand to 1 cement. If you are using a small mixer, 10 shovels of sand and 2 of cement is just enough for the mixer and gives you a good wheelbarrow full.

Spread out your sand and cement mix in a corner. If you are butting up to your house, start against the wall. Using a straight edge such as a length of 2×4 timber, level out the mix. It wants to be fairly firm but not so firm that you can’t tap down the slabs into place.
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Place your first slab down and tap it in place with your rubber mallet. If the mix hasn’t been packed down too hard you should be able to position the slab. Use your level to make sure this first slab is bang on. All the other slabs work from this one so take your time to make sure its correct. It wants to be level following the brickwork of your house but with a very slight slope away from your home.

Always work off the hardcore. Don’t stand on your paving slabs for a few days while the sand and cement sets. Use a spirit level to check each slab as you lay them. If a slab goes down too easy, lift it and spread more sand and cement.

Once you have laid several square metres worth of your paving slabs, spread some mix on top and brush it into the joints. You may have to do this several times as the mix settles in the joints.

Alternatives. Consider using block pavers instead of slabs or building your patio in decking. If your patio needs to be raised because it finishes above ground level you will need to build a base. An alternative to raising in brick is to use railway sleepers.

For more general building advice visit building contract

Adrian Kinley is the author of the e-book “Builder Secrets Exposed”
Builder Secrets Exposed

Do you know just how durable teak wood really is and what makes it that way? Have you ever thought about where it is harvested from and how long it has to grow before it can be harvested?

Well, if you have pondered some of these questions you are in luck because you will find some answers here. If you haven’t pondered these questions, or questions like it, then this will just be a fun learning experience for you. And hey, this article will make an excellent conversation starter at your next family get together or your next party. You will be the hit of the gathering!

In researching this article, I could only go back in time about 600 years. That was the time frame when the Chinese Ming Dynasty had a pretty powerful fleet of ships called “junk” ships. These ships were built out of teak wood. These were huge, powerful sailing ships that could carry thousands of men and cargo for extended periods of time. The Teak wood used was said to have been buried for several years before the Chinese deemed it usable to build into one of these ships. The Chinese knew that teak wood could withstand the sun while out on the ocean. They also knew that teak wood would not shrink when exposed to the wind, the heat, the rain or the salty ocean water itself. These are some of the main reasons why boat and shipbuilders today still prefer to use teak wood when building ocean vessels. Because teak wood experiences such little shrinkage, it makes an excellent choice for the ships doors and cabinets.

Teak wood contains a very large percentage of silica (sand) and natural oils. It is also a very dense wood. Because of these characteristics, teak wood is the preferred wood for decking either on ships or at the home. Believe it or not, the silica content in teak wood actually helps to attain sure footing when used in the flooring of a ship. The oil content assures its durability. To maintain it, it just needs to be cleaned off periodically. The benefits do not end there. Because of the oil content, the silica, and the density of the wood, teak wood does not react with any metals that may come in contact with it. These are the same characteristics that have caused people around the world, and companies that operate resorts and retreats to invest in outdoor patio furniture made of teak wood.

Back to the article at hand. The Ming dynasty needed to tough ships for several reasons, one very important being that it wanted the word of Zen spread to all lands to the edge of the earth. It is being reported that indeed, the Chinese did just that. It was 600 years ago that the Chinese circumnavigated the earth, and they did so in ships made of Teak wood.

Teak wood takes approximately 50 to 60 years to grow to maturity. One reason for the cost is just that. It is a commodity that is heavy demand, but with a limited, recurring supply.

In early history, Britain was very interested to grow and produce this wood. The British quickly realized they did not need to grow Teak Wood as they could annex those countries where the Teak wood was grown and have a plentiful supply: India, Thailand and Burma. I am not saying this is why the British took over Asia and India, but it certainly helped to give reason. Myanmar (formerly Burma), which is just south of India, and Yangoon became the first places where teak was being harvested for British ships. Calcutta was set up as another British shipbuilding site. All of the British merchant ships built in Calcutta were built with Myanmar teak logs which were said to be the best at that time. Once the wood was depleted from India, teak logs were harvested from Thailand and Burma. The British needed many ships to be able to go on to conquer and take control of British colonies and the naval fleet was their primary means.

Teak forests were quickly being depleted. Teak was now the preferred wood used for building ships as we have previously explored. The wood was also impervious to wood rot and insects, like the mighty woodworm, (side note: The famous Ocean liner “Queen Mary” used no less than 1000 tons of teak when built). The British quickly realized the depletion of teak wood that was taking place and developed a re-forestation plan. They appointed a leader to head this new bureau and began replanting teak trees on what are now called teak “plantations”. A set of very strict laws were enacted regarding who can cut teak wood and who can purchase it. Once these laws were set in place, one needed to have permission from the British Government to be able to cut a teak tree down and or export it. Teak was also being used by the locals for furniture, posts for houses and paneling, (another side note: India is the third largest importer of teak wood today, behind China and Japan. As much as 80% of India’s timber consumption is teak). Teak wood is used in India today for local consumption; building homes, furniture, fencing, etc. It is the one wood that can withstand the monsoons, the blistering heat and the humidity. It is the wood that all other timber species are compared to.

Due to the large demand for teak wood today, many countries that now have government controlled plantations are reviewing the possible rotation (cutting down the teak wood trees) after 30 or 40 years. The consensus with this rotation is that the wood will not be inferior at that rate. However, there are some countries that are trying tree rotation after only 25 years. This would help their particular economy by turning out teak wood more frequently. The result of this shorter rotation cycle is timber that is smaller in diameter, color, and grain.

Because most teak wood today is grown on plantations, and the demand is growing at an estimated 10% per year, teak is still heavily regulated and is sold through the auction process. It is not very easy to get. There are still the regulatory permits that must be purchased and other expenses that go along with regulation. For example, once purchased, it is usually the purchasing companies’ responsibility to provide transportation if the teak wood is to be exported, and certain countries have regulations on how many logs can be exported. Currently, Java, Indonesia is the largest exporter of teak. There are several companies located in Java that will process and fashion the teak wood into furniture or planks for flooring or siding, and then export the finished items to countries around the world.

For those who like to invest, there are several plantations that have been started and are taking on investors right now. Many countries depend on teak wood exports for their financial stability. One country for example that has two main exports: Rice and Teak, where rice was the number one money generator recently has experienced a turnaround and teak became their number one export deriving most of their money. Upon learning this, several other countries are developing strategies and seeking locations where they can begin their own teak plantations.

Remember, because of the characteristics of teak wood, teak wood patio furniture will last about 75 years. This needs to be taken into consideration when making your purchases. When regular maintenance is performed (which means to clean it periodically) the true annual cost for your outdoor patio furniture really only comes out to about $133.00 per year (based on a $1000 investment).

So, when you add it all up, you get a much better understanding of what the hype about Teak Wood is all about: the numerous qualities of Teak Wood: the supply and demand side of Teak Wood: and last but not least, the answer to the original question,“Why does Teak wood patio furniture have to be expensive?”

When investing in your outdoor patio or garden, or decorating the verranda, and even for indoor decorating, teak wood outdoor patio furniture is simply the wisest choice you could make.

Michael Ochoa operates Macs Teak Furniture [http://www.macs-teakfurniture.com] website. This website specializes in sales of Quality Teak Outdoor Patio Furniture [http://www.macs-teakfurniture.com] and provides free shipping anywhere in the United States. Make sure to visit Macs Teak Furniture [http://www.macs-teakfurniture.com] for more information about teak. Send Mike an e-mail and let him know how much you enjoyed his informative article on teak wood and Teak Wood Outdoor Patio Furniture.

To put this in context, think of patio covers as a simple but not easy project. Let me explain. The idea of putting up four posts (usually) and then covering it with a series of beams is what most covers will consist of. With some handy skills, the right tools and some help for the heavy lifting, you can probably manage to build your own patio cover.

However, I would recommend you get started by getting some plans or at least patio design ideas from an architect, builder or fine home magazine. Having your patio design laid out first will save you a lot of frustration. Since the pergola style for patio covers is probably the simplest, it is the most common and even most elegant looking.

Once you have your plans, you can make a list of materials. You will be able to judge how much wood you need and then you can figure out how you will anchor your posts in the ground. There are a variety of styles that help you directly mount to cement or you can pour footings and set your brackets in that as it cures. Since your whole patio cover will rest on these, you should do it right – don’t skimp here.

Now that you have your materials and you can begin construction on this exciting project. Think of the enjoyment you will have under your shaded patio and know that you built that cover yourself. Make sure that your footings are in the right place. When you set the posts, check and double check for plumb and square. Remember, your beams and other lattice cross member pieces will be sitting on this ‘foundation’. There is nothing worse than having your pergola being racked. This makes it so obvious that you built it yourself – and did a poor job at that!

Once your posts have been secured, you can move on to placing the beams. These, too, will be anchored but in this case to the posts themselves. There are brackets that you can buy at your local home improvement store. Most have a galvanized zinc metal look, so you may want to paint them. You can also make your own if you know how to weld. It is just a nicer touch, but will take you far more time – time spent taking away from you being closer to enjoying your patio cover!
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As you put the beams in place, secure them using lag screws. As you get them in, you should notice how your pergola feels more rigid. There should only be a slight amount of movement, but nothing wobbly. It is common to use 4 x 4s because they can be pulled off the shelf at your home improvement store. But, you might want to go for a more substantial looking pergola and get larger 4 x 6 or even 6 x 6 posts and beams.

What makes pergola style patio covers unique are the lattice nature of the top. This is achieved by using more beams or boards placed on end to give some height and allows for more shade. This will be a nice place to have your vines or other greenery growing on, providing ample shade and ambiance over time as they mature. A pergola provides for one of the most simple, but elegant types of shaded covered patio.

Building patio covers is hard work as you can imagine, but so rewarding. The sense of being able to sit beneath your own pergola, knowing that you built it and can enjoy your patio for years to come is a rewarding experience. If you get really fancy, you can even install outdoor lighting or a hanging chair or swing to further enhance your patio and its versatility.

The key to building pergola style patio covers according to Mike is first understanding how patio covers to make it simple.

There are several factors that must be considered when deciding on patio furniture. This is primarily due to three specific reasons which include the type of building material the home was built with, the color(s) used and the furniture itself. In most cases people prefer to get patio furniture that matches the overall décor of the exterior of their house. Color schemes and material types for the home normally dictate the style. However, in some cases the indoor ambiance may be used to determine the patio furniture. Both the indoor and outdoor will be taken into consideration throughout this article as well as other factors.

Building material and color.

Homes can be built using many different types of building materials including brick, wood, steel and other kinds of stone just to name a few. Conventional wisdom would suggest that a building structure comprised of wood would likewise have wood based patio furniture as well. This may or may not be the case though. In certain situations color may be used as a substitute for building materials. Home owners may want to purchase steel patio furniture that has the same color as the wood used to build their home. When you factor in the various colors and materials available in patio furniture, you can see that there is something available for everyone. Another example of this would be a home with green plastic siding. Green may be brought in to accent the look or green wicker depending on the homeowner’s taste. Either way, the furniture would blend in nicely to the homes décor.

Inside out styles.
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For the eccentric home owner who wants patio furniture that matches the interior furniture of their home rather than blend the exterior, this can be accomplished as well. The same principles mentioned above may be utilized to make outside patio furniture an extension of the inside. In some cases the patio is technically in the home enclosed with a roof or on a balcony. These ideal settings make it better to decorate in order to match sofas, recliners and desk located indoors. For enclosed patios, wallpaper and/or tile colors can be the basis for the color scheme of your patio furniture just as the actual colors of your home can be applied for outdoor patios. For people living with plants, trees or gardens, take into consideration the time of year it is when getting patio furniture. In the spring and summer months there may be a colorful array of flowers that aren’t present during the winter time. It should match the environment that is most commonly present year round if you decide to use the terrain as a color scheme for your furniture.

Simply by mixing and matching colors and materials any home can be brought to life with patio furniture. For more information and articles on patio furniture, please visit the following links.

For more information on patio furniture, please visit our patio furniture website.