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Savvy Home Improvement Expert Gets an A With Her Patio Fireplace Idea

Posted on 11-07-2010 | By: admin

Category : Summer Home Improvement Articles

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I’m going to walk you through one of the most interesting summer time ideas I’ve ever seen. A patio fireplace idea, but in the most savvy way.

My former secretary who has moved on to own her own home improvement business often calls me for specific projects. We work together from time to time and we have a blast. But this one, she had to tell me about because she did it all her own.

Items You Will Need

  1. A Patio
  2. Bricks
  3. One Ventless Fireplace Insert

Of course, with the bricks you’ll need mortar. But, that’s really all there is to this list. Now, put on your business suit and get ready to do some negotiation.

First, The Patio

It’s quite obvious that the first thing you need is a patio. It’s a patio project. But, you can actually start a patio with this idea. If you have flat yard extending from the back door or if you can make it flat with no great amount of effort, all you need are a few extra bricks when you are ready to get them.

Placing the bricks in any arrangement is actually fine. But, I prefer an angled approach because it’s easier to square. You simple cut corners out of your bricks and place them in the jagged edges of your patio perimeter. If you can’t cut the bricks, don’t worry. The jagged edges will look natural.

Second, The Bricks

This is the part I love best because anyone can simply go to a lumber yard or a home improvement store and buy bricks. But, it takes a savvy business person to get paid to haul bricks away.

I have been in construction for years. And I have always offered my services to clients that I will haul their excess bricks away. I’ve only had to deal with a few clients who wanted them sent back and a discount on the service. Most homeowners are happy with my work, have already written the check and are more than happy to let me haul their bricks out of sight out of mind.

But, my former secretary tried a new thing this last time. She drove through a home development community where there are houses in all different stages of completion. She found homes where the brick was finished and stacks of bricks sat in the driveway. Instead of offering to haul the bricks away for free, she contacted the homeowners and told them she would give them a great deal on their hauling expenses. When the homeowners agreed, she told me she couldn’t believe it. Not only was she getting what she needed for free, but she was getting paid to take it. Now, I couldn’t do that. But, hats off to her for having the gumption to attempt such a thing.

Finally, The Ventless Gel Fireplace Insert

Just off the patio, you want to build yourself a brick casing. Build a solid foundation that is about three feet high. Then build four columns that rise about another four feet. Then, build a nice roof on your patio fireplace. If you pay attention to what you are doing, you can do this by yourself.

Use string to keep your bricks in line. Use your trowels to scrape excessive mortar off the bricks after you stack them. If you take your time, you can look like a professional.

In the opening that you’ve created with your four columns is where you will put your ventless gel fireplace insert. Of course, you can stack real wood in the fireplace and light it. But, you’ll have fire control to deal with and it’s a heck of a mess when you are finished. Light some Sunjel gel fuel and place it in the insert for just as much fire and heat.

A patio fireplace for less then $300? No, wait a minute. For free. Because with the money she was paid to haul the bricks away, my former secretary was able to purchase a ventless gel fireplace insert no problem at all. Now, that’s a home improvement project with the maximum business savvy.

Jessica Brylan has been a student of construction under her father who retired in 2004. Jessica has since handled her own clients and been awarded major renovation jobs from real estate gurus such as Jason Stead and Gerald Fitchett. Her construction work leads her to solve many problems builders face, but her articles try to solve daily problems everyone faces. Home remodeling, home repair and home decor in addition to home building are all in Jessica’s field of expertise.


Improve the Look of Your Fireplace With a Log Rack

Posted on 09-01-2010 | By: admin

Category : Home Management

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On a cold winters day, there is nothing quite like sitting around a crackling fire. That is why fireplaces, and accompanying log racks, are so popular and are considered a essential item on almost everyone's home improvement shopping list.

Even though fireplaces are no longer necessary to keep houses warm, their popularity has actually been increasing in recent years. This is in spite of the fact that other sources of heat are usually more convenient.

So, what is it that makes fireplaces so popular? Well, the obvious reason is that they offer a feeling of comfort. People since the dawn of time have huddled around a fire to keep warm, and there is probably something inbuilt within us that still draws us to do the same thing. You could say that it is our natural instincts kicking in.

There is no denying the aesthetic value of fireplaces either. Put simply, they just look great! They create a focal point for a room, and give even the most modern of homes a traditional and rustic feel.

Though they look great just on themselves, a log rack can make a fireplace look even better. They offer a functional purpose too, as, without one, the wood needed to keep the fire going can end up getting in the way and making a mess of the floor.

Log racks are made of a variety of materials, including wood and acrylic, but those constructed of wrought iron or steel are the most common. With its strength and durability, metal is the best material for them, especially when you consider that they will be placed so near an open fire.

There is no need to be concerned about a log rack looking out of place either, as the wide variety of designs and finishes means that you can get one to perfectly match the fireplace itself, and also the other furnishings in the room.

Going back to function, a log rack / wood carrier combination might be the way to go if you want to make your fireplace as hassle free as possible. These products fit together perfectly, but can then be taken apart, which means that you can take the carrier out to wherever you keep your wood and then, when you bring it back, you can just place it right back in to the log rack, with no unloading of the wood being necessary.

Finally, if you are someone who would love to have a fireplace but can not due to one reason or another, then opt for an artificial one instead. These now look incredibly realistic, as they have life-like ceramic logs within them, that turn red and orange when the gas is turned is on.

In fact, by placing a log rack stacked full of wood next to an artificial fireplace, most visitors will assume that you have a real fireplace anyway. So, you can get the visual pleasing effects of having a fireplace, without the extra effort that a real fireplace requires.

About the Author: For more information on fireplaces, visit 'Fireplace Log Rack', where you can also learn about firewood carriers and firewood.


Fireplaces: What You Need to Know to Stay Safe

Posted on 01-12-2009 | By: admin

Category : Home Management

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There is nothing better than a roaring fire when the weather turns cooler. There are several different kinds of fireplaces and there are things you need to know about each one of them in order to stay as safe and healthy as possible.

Fireplaces can burn wood or natural gas as well as be electrically powered. There are also fireplaces fueled by propane or ethanol. Most fireplaces will have a chimney and flue, although ethanol ones do not. They usually also have a mantel around the outside. Wood burning fireplaces will also have a hearth which is a tile or stone area in the front. This keeps burning embers or pieces of wood from rolling out and damaging the floor. This is a safety feature as well as a way to keep from needing to replace your flooring.

Any fireplace needs to be carefully installed by a qualified expert. This is because the different fireplaces have different requirements in order to make them safe. And all fireplaces require regular maintenance to make sure that they are operating properly and as efficiently as possible.

Wood burning fireplaces require a fireproof liner and a chimney that is capable of withstanding extremely high temperatures. It also needs a flue, so that it can draw air. A wood fire needs oxygen in order to burn the wood thoroughly. If you do use a wood burning fireplace, you should know that they give off creosote, which is an extremely flammable substance that can build up on the inside of the chimney. If it is not cleaned, you may find that a chimney fire can start. This can lead to your house burning down.

An alternative to a wood burning fireplace is a natural gas fireplace. They may have a mantle and a hearth, but these are just for decoration. They are usually glassed in and may have fake logs to make them look like a traditional fireplace. A natural gas fireplace needs a way to draw in fresh air in order to prevent carbon monoxide to build up. This is a colorless, odorless gas that can kill you if you breathe it in. This is because it replaces oxygen in the blood stream. Carbon monoxide can often build up slowly over time and if it builds up enough will eventually become fatal. It is caused by the incomplete burning of fuels such as natural gas. A natural gas fireplace needs to be installed by a licensed and experienced installer who can make sure that everything is set up properly.

Ethanol fireplaces are becoming increasingly popular for several reasons. They burn at an extremely high temperature, so they can heat a room much more efficiently than a wood or natural gas fireplace. Unlike either wood or natural gas, an ethanol or bio fuel fireplace also does not need a flue or vent. This makes them excellent for an apartment where it is impossible to vent to the outside. This is because ethanol fireplaces burn the fuel completely and do not produce toxic gasses as a by product. They are becoming more popular, but are not well known. Depending on where you live, this may make it impossible for you to find a seller of bio fuel fireplaces.

The last kind of fireplace that is commonly known is the electric fireplace. They were once more of a joke than an acceptable replacement for a wood or natural gas fireplace. Recently however they have become more attractive and are increasing in popularity. An electric fireplace plugs into the wall and produces a fake flame at the flick of a switch. Newer models have a second control which turns on the heat. Modern electric fireplaces come in a number of makes and models and often feature a mantle around the fireplace. They can be placed against the wall or you can choose a corner model if you need more wall space.

Depending on what you are looking for, there are numerous models of fireplace to choose from. If you know the requirements that each kind have you can make sure that they are installed safely and allow you to enjoy your fireplace without worry.

About the Author: Annie is an expert furniture and interior design writer. Her current area of specialism is <a href="http://mydeco.com/c/bathroom/1049/” rel=”nofollow”>bathroom furniture, furniture and christmas