This is my review on woodland hideaway caravan park.
The park was great to stay at with lovely views and well kept gardens, We have sold our caravan there but it was a lovely place and really was a shame to leave it. Caravan parks in wales are usually good, but this place was excellent.
With friendly staff and a loverly environment I kinda wished we had stayed, caravanning. We usually drove down on a friday in our nissan xtrail, parked up and enjoyed the sea views, then when it got a bit colder (this was august) we went inside and watched a little tv and did some reading. A great drive to a great holiday camp.
Gazebos Kits come in various shapes and sizes and can be constructed from many different materials. A decorative gazebo that adds beauty and elegance to a garden is known as a garden gazebo. Gazebos come in various shapes and sizes and can be constructed from many different materials. There are some simple ways to really make your gazebo beautify your garden area when it comes to landscaping:.
This may take away some of the magic an Amish country gazebo may bring. Another option you may want to consider for those hot summer nights in your Amish country gazebo is to add screens. Middle of a big city or in the secluded Rocky Mountains, this. Another great option for your spa gazebo is one with a. Now the advantage of a gazebo over a. surface you choose, the gazebo will need to be anchored.
Backyard pond and waterfall maintenance doesn’t have to be tedious and time consuming if it is built properly in the first place. Follow these simple rules to keep your pond clean and clear.
People who entertain the idea of having a waterfall built usually come to the realization that a waterfall comes with a certain amount of maintenance. You may already have a waterfall and have gotten tired of added everything that your local pond store owner tells you to. You can’t get something for nothing. If you want something beautiful that is full of life then you have to spend a lot of time keeping it beautiful and full of life, right?
Well, opposed to popular belief this is not always the case, says Gerald Vannest, the co-owner of Fire and Water, LLC, a waterfall construction and pond maintenance company that has been building waterfalls and ponds exclusively for more than 5 years.
“Ponds take less maintenance if they are built right in the first place,” Gerald explains. “Ponds that do not have the key elements in place will always be harder to keep in balance than ponds that are well designed from the beginning.” So what are the key elements? Gerald explains that in order to keep your maintenance to a minimum there are five components: mechanical filters, biological filters, plants, fish, and beneficial bacteria.
Mechanical filters are any component that removes debris from the water by kinetic means. Any leaves, sticks or any other matter that lands on the waters surface would be removed before it starts to decay. The most common mechanical filter is a pond skimmer. A skimmer pulls the water towards a basket where all the floating debris is caught and easily removed. Skimmers can also pull water from the bottom of a pond to catch smaller particles. “This is where the filtration process starts, Gerald continues, if you don’t catch the leaves and debris they will only start to decay and create more food for algae.
Biological filters and beneficial bacteria go hand and hand. Biological filters are much different than mechanical filters in that they house bacteria, and break down harmful substances on a molecular level. Basically these types of filters will take ammonias and nitrites (which are harmful to fish) out of the water and turn them into nitrates, which plants can use as fertilizers. “The key is to create a balance between all of these components. So your pond will start to take care of itself,” Gerald said.
Fish and plants are two more elements that are an important factor to this balance. Fish (Koi) are scum eaters; they eat algae and other unwanted elements in your pond. Fish return to the balance from their waste, which the biological filter turns into plant food. Fish will eat on the plants that you have in the pond, but it shouldn’t be noticeable if you have enough plants to balance the pond.
Plants and algae compete for some of the same nutrients that are in the water, and plants are a higher life form than algae. If you have a lot of algae, then chances are you have too much nutrient in the water and not enough plants. “Just remember it is not necessary to feed your fish. You should only have one inch of fish for every square foot of water surface in your pond,” Gerald explains.
There is a way to keep a beautiful water garden without all of the maintenance that typically goes with it. By keeping a balance, and letting the pond take care of itself, your ponds should be more enjoyable and less trouble than ever.
About the Author: Fire and Water, LLC are among the best water feature builders in the world, having both a passion for, and a commitment to the trade. You can view the Fire and Water portfolio at http://www.naturalwaterfall.com
Source: www.isnare.com
How Long Will It Last?
Submitted by: Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic GI 0121, President of Accurate Inspections, Inc, a New Jersey home inspection company
How nice it would be if we had a crystal ball to tell us how long the systems, appliances, and building materials in our home would last! Unfortunately, this is the \”real world\” and no such item exists. The next best bet is to consult the following list of \”Life Expectancies for Residential Equipment and Materials.\” It will give a good idea of how long these items typically last.
The ranges below may vary a little based on a number of factors, including:
1. Quality of the equipment and/or materials.
2. Proper application and/or use of the equipment and materials.
3. The proper capacities of the equipment and/or materials.
4. Varying amounts and type of usage.
5. Exposure to different weather and geographical conditions.
6. Quality of fuels, water, and air to which the equipment is exposed.
7. Future high-tech equipment, materials, and applications (that may increase or decrease life expectancies).
8. Quality of workmanship used in the installation.
HEATING SYSTEMS YEARS
Boilers
Cast iron 30 to 60
Steel 20 to 35
Heating Exchangers (steel)
Gas-fired 25 to 40
Oil-fired 20 to 35
Heat Pump Compressor 7 to 12
Heating Pipes
Steel 80 to 120
Copper 60 to ?
Burners
Oil 20 to 30
Gas 30 to 40
Misc. Heating Components
Circulators 20 to 30
Fans 12 to 40
Oil Tanks (inside) 25 to 50
Expansion Tanks 35 to 50
Zone Valves 7 to 10
Note: Heaters need complete replacement when the boiler (water) or heat exchanger (air) fails.
AIR CONDITIONING
(Electric)
Compressors 10 to 14
Coils 20 to 30
Fans 12 to 40
PLUMBING SYSTEMS
Water Service (Public)
Lead 50 to 90
Steel 40 to 75
Copper 70 to ?
Plastic Unknown
Interior Water Pipe
Steel 1/2\” 40 to 60
Copper 1/2\” 70 to 100
Plastic Unknown
Drainage Lines
Galvanized Steel 40 to 60
Copper 60 to 100
Cast Iron 50 to 90
Plastic (P.V.C.) 35 to ?
Lead 50 to 90
WELL EQUIPMENT
(On-site Water Supply)
Pump-Submersible 15 to 22
Pump-Above Ground 13 to 20
Pressure Tank-Steel 15 to 25
Pressure Tank - Fiberglass 25 to 50
SEPTIC SYSTEM
(On-Site Drainage System)
Steel Tank 15 to 30
Concrete Tank 25 to 40
Life expectancy of leaching fields is determined by porosity of soil and maintenance (10 to 60 years)
MISCELLANEOUS PLUMBING ITEMS
Water Heater
Gas 8 to 14
Electric 12 to 18
Oil Burner 20 to 40
Fixtures
Faucets, etc. 20 to 60
Toilets & sinks 40 to 60
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS
Service cables 20 to 40
Wiring (interior)
Knob & tube 60 to 90
Armored Cable-BX 50 to 80
Plastic - Romex) 70 to 80
Panel Boxes
Fuses or Circuit Breakers 20 to 50
Life expectancy is directly related to moisture in the area of the box (rust & oxidation of contacts).
EXTERIOR COMPONENTS
Roof Coverings
Fiberglass Asphalt Shingles 18 to 25
Roofs wear out sooner on the south side of the house.
Built-Up Roofing, 3 ply 10 to 15
Installation procedures and regular recoating can extend the life of these roofs 2, 3 or more times.
Slate (depends on the quarry from which it came, maintenance is required. 35 to 200
Metal Standing or Welded Seams 50 to 90
Metal roofs are mostly tin and will remain functional as long as you keep them from rusting .
Cedar (depends on quality of wood, workmanship, and maintenance) 20 to 40
Sidings and Veneers
Aluminum (you may repaint aluminum siding at about 20-23 years to extend life) 18-25
Vinyl 25 to ?
Aluminum with Tedlar coating 35 to 50
Hardboard or composition (depends on finish, exposure to sun and maintenance) 20 to 40
T1-11 Plywood Siding (must coat regularly or will not last more than 8 years) 20 to 40
Stucco (70 years without paint, 200+ years with regular painting) 70 to 200+
Asbestos (needs normal maintenance, recommended painting) 40 to 100
Masonry
Brick. Veneers with periodic pointing. 100+
Note: Masonry walls are very durable and as long as they are designed properly and receive periodic maintenance, they should last 100+ years. Exceptions would be salmon brick, cinder block (instead of concrete block) and Serpentine stone.
Windows
Wood. Usually very dependable and have long life expectancies with regular painting and storm windows to help protect them. 35 to 100
Aluminum. Usually are marginal in design and functionality. An advantage is their low cost. 10 to 25
Vinyl. Reasonable window, moderate cost, not enough history to project life expectancy. 15 to ?
Aluminum storm windows 30 to 40
INTERIORS
Ceramic Tile (in tub or shower wall areas)
Wed Bed (cement) or Wonder Board Backing 40 to 90
Mastic System (adhesive) 14 to 20
Plaster
Walls 70 to 120
Ceilings 60 to 90
Life expectancy of plaster is altered by the carpentry framing and the type of plaster lath used.
Drywall (also called sheetrock)
Walls 50 to ?
Ceilings 30 to ?
Appliances
Refrigerators 10 to 20
Dishwashers 13 to 18
Gas Ranges 20 to 35
Electric Ranges 15 to 25
Garbage Disposal 10 to 15
Humidifiers 5 to 20
Dehumidifiers 8 to 12
Washers 10 to 20
Dryers 10 to 20
Information provided by Michael Del Greco, New Jersey Home Inspector Lic. GI 0121, American Society of Home Inspectors Member 102273, Pesident of Accurate Inspections, Inc. A West Paterson New Jersey Home Inspection firm.