Science Horizons

A trend that I’m seeing this year with respect to backyards is a return to vogue for backyard garden sheds. And it seems that the run of the mill pre-built wooden and metal sheds are not what most customers have in mind. No, the new trend this year is custom garden sheds – storage buildings with style are what people want this season.

Homeowners who are shopping for garden sheds this year are looking for something to make a statement, something to continue their landscaping theme, or a shed which custom fits their backyard hobby. The simple shed-in-a-box with four walls a roof, and a window with nail on shutters is no longer sufficient.

Some clients are looking for an artistic design while others are more focused on functionality. Some want to make sure the water drainage off the shed can channeled into a rain water catchment system. Others want the sides covered in a trellis and are concerned that drainage from the roof be directed away from the roots of their climbing plants.

One woman asked if I had seen a popular reality TV show featuring a family with eight children. I had not. She went on to explain that in a recent episode a carpenter built the children crooked houses as play houses. She wanted a crooked house theme for her garden shed. She said it was both practical and whimsical and it would make me the most famous shed builder in the area! She is trying to locate a copy of that episode for me.

The other clients that are looking for customized backyard sheds are concerned about functionality more than style. The green thumb house owners are looking for a place to store all their gardening tools and landscaping supplies, as well as provide a space to do some potting and start seedlings in the spring. There are many others with different hobbies that would like a custom built studio for such things as stained glass, pottery, and painting. All of these are ideal uses for a cute backyard garden shed.

Regardless of what you need a backyard shed for, whether it is to add a bit of extra outside storage space, or whether you need a garden workshop, remember that you shouldn’t be limited to a plain looking press board shed reminiscent of the 80’s. As people discover their outdoor spaces once again, backyard decor has become as important as interior design. Put some thought into the style of your garden shed and you will have a great focal point to base your garden design on.

John A Moore Gardening backyard, design, garden, garden shed, Gardening, Home, home improvement, house, Landscaping, shed, storage building, storage shed

I was looking around for some information on Seadoo pwc covers and came across some really interesting information on the history of Seadoos and personal watercraft in general. I am a bit of a history buff so I put off the seadoo cover search and gobbled up a little history lesson.

I have to admit that I’m definitely part of the older crowd now, so you would think I already know when these water machines were created. I didn’t have the money back then to even consider buying one, so in fact I didn’t pay close attention to them at the time. I had always thought that pwcs came out in the 80’s, but little did I know that was only the refinement – digging a little deeper gave me a much better picture of the early evolution.

It was actually in the mid 1960’s that the Canadian family who invented the ski-doo snowmobiles (the Bombardier family) started to think of a snowmobile type water vehicle for getting around their lake in Quebec, Canada. After starting some design ideas they ran into some difficulties, at which point they found an inventor from the US by the name of Jacobsen who was already designing a similar vehicle.

Jacobsens inspiration for his watercraft was the motorcycle – his concept was to travel on water just like you would on a dirt bike. So Bombardier and Jacobsen started working together on Bombardiers idea. Jacobsen came up with the first seadoo, which Bombardier purchased the rights for. Then Bombardier promptly painted it the recognizable yellow and black just like the bombardier snowmobiles. These seadoos were sold in 1968 and 1969.

The Bombardier Seadoos of 1968 and 1969 had some problems. Engine technology was a big limiting factor in the lack of success of the early Seadoos. The first engine was air cooled and the later engine was liquid cooled. Both engines had drawbacks. Corrosion was also a huge problem. the salt water literally ate away at the machines. Jacobsen’s idea about using rubber and plastic were carelessly not embraced by the Bombardier family.

After a few false starts the Bombardier family moth balled the idea of the modern day Seadoo for the next 20 years. Jacobsen bought the rights to his ideas and joined forces with Kawasaki. While at Kawasaki, Jacobsen developed the first Jet-Ski. The history of Seadoo pwc is colorful and interesting.

John A Moore Boating boat, boat accessories, boat covers, Boating, cottage, extreme sports, lake, personal watercraft, pwc, pwc covers, recreation, seadoo, seadoo covers, watersports

Building a wooden carport has many advantages that you might not have realized. Other than providing covered storage for any type of items, most commonly your car or truck, a carport built with the style of your house in mind can really improve the value of your property. Because building with wood is so flexible, you can fashion your carport with any type or period of contemporary architecture to complement the style of your existing structures.

Carports aren’t necessarily just for cars. Use your imagination. A stand alone wooden carport can possibly used as a gazebo or dining area in the back or side yards. A lean to wooden carport could be fashioned into a side porch. The carport could even have multiple uses. It could be a living space in the summer months and a car storage area in the snowy winter months.

If you are interested in building your own carport, a popular option is to find a carport kit online and have it delivered. This is cost effective, and quick and simple to construct. The only problem with this is the limited choice that car port kits are available in – metal carports are typically the only type that you will be able to find. A good alternative is to look for carport plans online. These can be purchased for mail delivery, or downloaded electronically (which is instant), and often include a detailed order and cut list, so shopping and assembly is simplified for anyone who feels qualified to take on this weekend DIY project.

If you have some building experience, then you may not even need to order plans online. If you do some research and find some good images that you think would suit your house style, simply save the picture, and design a plan from that. You will want to have your plan verified with an engineer to make sure that it meets local building codes. If you won’t be building the carport yourself, then you might just be able to give the picture and dimensions to a good local contractor, and they will be able to engineer and build your car port.

Although most online kits are metal, it is possible to find some wood look-a-like steel carport kits. The components will be oversized and textured with a wood grain to simulate painted wood. Although these kits will be less flexible with respect to options, they are a good alternative if you still want to find a very simple and quick kit project. You will end up with a carport with a hand-built custom wood look, but with the durability and ease of installation of a steel carport.

As building costs increase carports are becoming a very popular alternative for providing all weather protection for your vehicles. Wooden carports are seeing a big resurgence in popularity, as people are looking for the most attractive way to add value to their homes, while minimizing their time and cost investment.

John A Moore Cars and Trucks Auto, building, buildings, car, carports, Cars and Trucks, diy, garages, Home, home improvement, house, sheds, storage