Fireplaces Come Alive With Manufactured Stone

A fireplace can be the centerpiece of a home. Family and friends love to sit around a fire and enjoy the warmth while relaxing and talking. Unfortunately, unless a home comes with an existing fireplace, the cost is too outrageous to build from scratch. The cost of stone, labor by stone masons, building the firebox and chimney and securing the weight of it all can run into thousands of dollars and dilute the awesome image. Wood burners and gas logs are other options for having a fireplace. Get a little creative and build a mock structure around your stove, line with manufactured stone and enjoy the fire.

Installation of stone veneers is simple. The weight of these natural stone veneers is about ¼ of a natural stone block. This fact alone cuts back on the structural reinforcing, shipping and labor costs. All types of sizes and shapes are available to make your fireplace as natural looking as possible. Stones for rounding edges, large pieces for positioning the perfect mantle and different types of stone will match any type of decor. Stone veneers are made of non-combustible material, a must in placing close to fire.

The D.I.Y job can create a frame and form a wall using manufactured stone with just a few tools. A circular saw and standard hand masonry tools are suggested in addition to following the vendor's instructions and taking safety precautions. There will be no flying dust from using diamond edged blades that are necessary for cutting stone. The mess will be minimal and the project less time consuming that working with real stone. The material can be placed over any existing wall, even brick. Covering an old brick fireplace that is crumbling with stone veneer can change an eyesore into looking like a million bucks.

All types of stone can make a magnificent looking fireplace. Limestone, field stone, ledge stone, brick, stream stone or a combination of blended textures can add grace to a room and make a cozy meeting place for family members. Surrounding area walls can also benefit from the look of stone or just a few low panels to highlight the atmosphere.

Shopping for manufactured stone for fireplaces takes some homework in order to locate a dealer that offers support, service and a good warranty on products. A 50-year warranty is average for a reputable company to place on stone veneer and often longer when you have professionally installed. Many excellent manufacturers exist and will not be afraid to back a well-made product.

If you have always wanted a fireplace but were afraid of the cost, check into building your own and create a dramatic structural design that will make you the envy of your neighbors and friends.

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Outdoor Fire Place Design

The appeal of outdoor fire places has indeed increased significantly over the past few years. Currently the focus in home design is primarily on outdoor living areas, and as such much emphasis is placed on features which will make an outdoor living area more appealing and attractive. The trend of constructing outdoor fireplaces and fire pits has rapidly gained popularity across the United States.

If you are interested in making an outdoor fireplace a part of your outdoor landscaping options, then the first thing which you should do is to contact your local authorities. In several areas the burning of any form of fire at night is strictly prohibited, so getting permission to build a fireplace is essential. You certainly do not want to invest money and time in a project which you possibly will be unable to enjoy!

Outdoor Fire Place Design

Technically, there is not much of discernible difference between an indoor fireplace and an outdoor fireplace, as the basic construction is the same. Chimneys, not dampers are used in the construction of outdoor fireplaces, and a beautiful addition to any outdoor fireplace is the Mexican chimenea. These fireplaces design were traditionally made from clay but now are available in cast aluminum. These chimeneas are easily available at most garden centers or even at your local home improvement store.

The most popular materials used in the construction of these fireplaces are cast iron, bricks, stone and aluminum. However, if you choose to go with the brick design, ensure that the bricks used for the inner section of the fireplace are actually 'firebricks' as these are able to readily withstand high temperatures.

Pay particular attention to the location in which you plan to have your fireplace constructed. It is important to ensure that it is far away from your plants, draperies and other nearby garden structures to reduce the likelihood of stray sparks causing a fire. It is advisable that all outdoor fire places be at least fifteen feet away from your home and quite a distance away from tress, overhanging shrubs and electrical wires. Never leave a fire unattended to, and always make sure that the fire is completely extinguished before retiring for the night.

Overall, the main consideration when building outdoor fireplaces really should be on ventilation and safety as opposed to aesthetics. The focus on aesthetics is secondary once all the safety features are already in place. It is recommended that the design of your fireplace should be in tandem with the overall interior decorating theme of your home.

Outdoor fireplaces provide a stimulating area for hosting get-togthers with friends and family while increasing the overall value of your home. Quite possibly this is a major factor which has boosted its popularity so far within the home improvement arena. Best of all these outdoor fireplaces are relatively inexpensive, easy to install and will be perfect for any size lawn or patio. There are a multiplicity of styles available, so you will be able to find one which suits your tastes perfectly.

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Every Handyman's Latest Must Have - Spray Painting Equipment! We Tell You Why

I have recently discovered the joys of spray painting. No, not the type done by kids with spray cans on public property, the type of spray painting done by adults with airless spray guns.

I have always done a lot of painting around the house. I find it often doesn't take much more than a fresh coat of paint to brighten up any house. Garages, sheds and fences can all take on a new lease of life with a fresh coat of paint.

In the past I would have dragged out the rollers and brushes, possibly bought more covers for the rollers, perhaps invested in new brushes, and set aside most of the weekend. In fact I would have preferred a three-day weekend, one day to mask up the area and two days to paint. Then it may have even been back again the following weekend for the second coat.

Then, as mentioned above, I discovered the joys of spray painting. My son turned up with a friend and an airless spray paint machine, and announced they were going to paint my house.

I must confess, on the one hand I was thrilled, another chore I didn't have to do myself, on the other hand I was a little anxious at what sort of finish I would end up with.

I needn't have worried. The boys spent most of the day masking the house. And that is the one thing I noticed that had to be done with far greater accuracy than when using a brush or roller.

You not only have to mask all the trim, but all the windows and doors as well. You also need to cover any outdoor areas, such as patios and decks, and make sure you have everything else put away such as cars, children's toys, laundry, gardening tools and outdoor furniture.

Depending on your proximity to your neighbours, you may need to ask them, as a precaution, to move anything that might be close to the paint spray area.

However I do say as a precaution, because the way airless spray painters operate means that the fine mist of paint sprayed is dry within a very short distance so is not likely to damage any possessions.

After spending all day masking the house, my son and his friend fired up the spray painting equipment and started painting. Within an hour they had finished! It was astonishingly fast. The paint I had purchased allowed a second coat at touch dry stage, so after an hour, the boys were able to spray the second coat. They had it done before nightfall.

Whilst I was amazed at the speed, I was exceedingly happy with the beautifully smooth finish. That was enough for me, the following weekend I started on all those other paint jobs around the house with my new, recently purchased spray painting equipment.

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"Yellow," She Said! 4 Tips for Choosing Exterior House Colors

It's not often that a client is adamant about a house color. At least not to the extent of being so fixed on one color family that all others are not available for consideration.

With that caveat, I began to look at various yellow paint colors for the exterior of a Victorian home in a Boston-area suburb. Not only was the only option to be "Yellow," but the painting was going to be done by an area company specializing in a 'never-paint-again!' method, and so it had to be the right yellow to last...and last...and never be changed.

Originally built as a single family house, as were most structures of this general style, this house has been made into apartments. And, the house was already yellow.

Selecting a different yellow for the body, with a more subdued color for the doors and an earthy color for porch floor and steps, was not a huge color change but it was a significant one overall.

The new palette: the painting company said they would tint their own product to these colors from Sherwin Williams that I selected for her:

Body: SW 6374 - Torchlight Shingle accent: SW 2817 - Rookwood Amber Window and door casing trims, and stair risers: SW 6372 - Inviting Ivory Porch floors and stair treads, front and back: SW 7053 - Adaptive Shade, a stoney gray Front and back doors: SW 6278 - Cloak Gray, a deep plum

I had specified Rookwood Amber to be used on the details of millwork as well, which would have been a lovely detail, and would not have appeared over-decorated. Some of the column detail was done, but other details that were to have been done on the peak trim and some of the other decorative millwork would have completed the picture. Unfortunately this was not all done to specifications.

Ultimately of course it's up to the homeowner, who is the person hiring the painting contractor. Sometimes the finishing touches are omitted due to the budget constraints and the result, even if beautiful, seems to be missing something.

Four quick tips

In homes with architectural detail, consider using color in the architectural details as a way to add balance and refinement. "Painting out" the detail sometimes works but the inclusion of the right, subtle color can make a world of positive difference in the overall appearance of your home. Even a simple color change can make a big difference. In this case, where Yellow was the only color family considered, it was a matter of getting the right one to suit the building. Testing: you can see that the tiny strips of color-tests, applied close together, don't provide you with much 'information' about how the color will look on the house. It's important to test on large areas that you can move around the building at different times of day, on the different surfaces. Testing your paint colors on primed card stock or even pieces of wood (ideally, using siding to replicate the shadows) is a better method that small swatches. Be sure to test using 2 coats of any colors you are considering. Hiring the Right Painter for Your House   Protecting Paint From Mold   Interior Painting - How Much Paint to Purchase   Putting Color Into the Outdoors   Preparing For An Interior Paint Job   Simple Color Ideas for Home Decoration