If you would like to get a brand new wooden swing set you should consider getting a kit to build your own. You need not be a very experienced handyman to do it yourself successfully. The kits that you can now purchase from most swing set retailers come in many variations and with everything you need to complete the project.

These sets are designed with people like you in mind. They offer you flexibility and back up you may need, except for the actual timber. You don’t need to fret about that though as the pack will include a detailed list of all the pieces you need, with their exact sizes, so you can order them easily from your local timber merchant.

The instructions are very easy to follow and understand so even if you have never built anything before you can’t really go wrong if you follow the directions step by step. They are put together in such a way that you will always know where you’re at and what the next step is, without confusion.

The key thing to look out for when you decide on the swing set kit you are buying is whether it comes complete with all the specialist hardware necessary to complete the project successfully, and steer well clear of any kit that doesn’t come with these pieces. While timber is easy to come by wherever you live finding specialist swing hardware may be far trickier as your local stores may not be able to order them up for you, and locating suppliers on your own could prove very time consuming and frustrating, not to mention costly.

Wooden swing set building kits are a great option to get yourself a brand new swing set that you can be proud of for years to come. The only thing be very mindful of is the kind of timber you purchase for the job. It is an absolute must that the wood you pick is treated properly to resist outdoor conditions. This means that you may need to treat it before you start building the set if it is not supplied already weather resistant: do not skip this step unless you want to run the risk of your beautiful new set getting ruined by the weather.

Is it possible for a garden sundial to tell perfect time?

The chances are very good if you can make one yourself, or get one custom made for your location. But both these alternatives will take either time or money.

The reason for this is that apart from adjustments for time zones and daylight saving , covered in another article, there are three things that must be done.

Compensating for the Earth's Path Around the Sun

If the earth followed a perfect circle as it revolved around the sun, life with sundials would be easy. But its path is elliptical or oval, and this causes errors of up to 16 minutes in sundial time at some times of the year. The corrections are straightforward, and can be made using a table, or from a figure 8 line called the Analemma, often seen on old globes and sundials.

Correcting for Latitude

Let's consider the components of a sundial for a moment. It consists of a dial on which the time divisions, and sometimes other information is marked, and a triangular piece which sits vertically on the dial. It is called the gnomon, pronounced nomon, and the part which casts the shadow onto the dial is called the style.

For more information on how sundials work, including how to design your own, go to Google and type "how + sundial", without the quotes but with the +, in the search box.

To be accurate, the angle between the triangular part of the gnomon and the horizontal must be the same as the latitude of the place it is to be placed in (You can find the latitude - and longitude - of your home from any topographic map or good atlas).The arrangement and distance between the hour markings on the dial must also be correct for the latitude.

Hmmmm! This means that unless you are very lucky, that elegant sundial in your local garden supply shop will probably not show the time particularly well. It may be calibrated for an average latitude (commonly 45 degrees), which is good if your latitude is not too different. Or it may be purely ornamental and will really only be useful around noon.

Now of course this doesn't matter at all if you are looking for something pleasing to the eye, and don't mind answering the inevitable question "Does it tell the time?" But if you'd like your sundial to be more useful, make sure you find out which latitude it is calibrated to.

Once you know this, all you need to do to compensate is to work out the difference, and tilt the dial towards or away from due south depending on whether you need to add to or subtract from the latitude the sundial was designed for. There may be slight differences to the ideal spacing of the hour marks, but the apparent time will be reasonably close.

Finding North

The final essential in sundial installation is to make sure the gnomon is oriented north-south. Sounds easy and, with a little patience, it is.

One way, suitable for the northern hemisphere, is to identify the pole star. This is very close to the projected position of the earth's axis, about which the sun and stars seem to revolve. You could mark the direction from your sundial's location to the pole star, but this method isn't quite accurate, and needs to be done in the dark. And the southern hemisphere doesn't have a pole star.

Method 2 uses a compass. Sounds pretty simple, doesn't it. But you guessed it - there are some complications.

Firstly, the needle on a compass points to magnetic north, not true north, which is what we want. The difference between the two is called the magnetic declination, and is usually shown on good topographic maps. And while a simple addition or subtraction of the difference between the two norths should give you the right direction, there may be some local magnetic effects which can't be compensated for.

The third method goes back to the ancients - and there were some pretty smart operators around in the old days.

You'll need a stick, some paper or board, a marker, a tape measure or long rule, a sunny day, and a bit of time on your hands. Set the stick up vertically at the location you have chosen for your sundial, so that the top of its shadow falls on the sheet of paper or board. If you stand with your back to the sun, behind the pole, set the paper up so that the morning shadow falls on its left hand side.

Now mark the end of the shadow with a permanent marker. Come back through the day and mark the new positions of the tip of the shadow - the more often the better. As the day goes on, you'll notice the marks form a curve.

Later in the afternoon - any time after three is OK - connect the marks you've made into the smoothest curve you can manage. Do this while the pole and paper are still in place. Then carefully measure the distance between the base of the pole and the curve. The shortest distance corresponds to true north. Mark it in some way, and align the gnomon in the same direction when you put your sundial in place.

You can find true north in other ways - again I suggest you try google as suggested above.

Once you have set up your sundial, check the time, compensate for differences with your official time zone, pat yourself on the back, and if the sundial tells you it's after midday, pour a glass of your favourite beverage and put your feet up. Your time is now your own.

Have you ever wished that once you found the perfect patio furniture that it would last forever, so you wouldn’t have to search all over again? No agonizing over cracking, warping or rotting furniture that is on its last legs. Well patio furniture constructed with redwood, the longest living tree, is guaranteed to last at least 25 years, but it could be with you for a lifetime of fun in the sun.

Whether you want a chaise lounge or a patio glider, an outdoor rocker or some classic Adirondack chairs you can find all types of outdoor furniture expertly crafted from redwood trees that are 100 years old and have varying shades of rich red. And since this furniture is virtually maintenance free you can leave it outside in the elements to weather to a handsome silvery gray or treat with a transparent sealant to maintain the natural shades of red.

Whatever you choose to do you will have beautiful redwood patio furniture that will last forever. Settle in for a relaxing afternoon in an Adirondack chair or dry off on a chaise lounge after a refreshing dip. Treat your guests to a memorable meal at your redwood dining table. Place a bench in your garden to rest your tools and take in your hard work or put one under a tree for a shady retreat from the hot summer sun. You can put your feet up and really relax. You know you are sitting on furniture that will last forever. Redwood is extremely durable, lightweight, and naturally resists shrinking, warping, insects and decay which has made it the ideal softwood for outdoor furniture. Years later it will look as good as the day you bought it.

With furniture you’ll have for a while you’ll want your personal style to shine through. Add some color and comfort with some candy colored cushions or paint your chair an eye-popping green or crisp, clean white. No other wood holds paint, stain or other coatings better than redwood. You’ll easily be able to begin or complete your backyard paradise with redwood patio furniture. Welcome guests with a redwood arbor covered in wisteria or decorate your sitting areas with planter boxes overflowing with bright blooms. Create a romantic retreat with a chaise lounge for two or a cozy conversation area with two chairs and a porch glider. Don’t forget the side table to keep your cold lemonade and mystery novel right at your fingertips.

Recreate a tropical resort or maybe a cottage on the lake. Redwood patio furniture will help you make your escape. It’s easy to get to and the journey there is short and sweet. Open the door to your backyard retreat and enjoy your new redwood patio furniture. It’s both worry and maintenance free, so you’ll be able to enjoy the long hot days of summer even more. Whether you’re gliding, lounging or simply sitting and enjoying a cup of morning coffee you’ll savor every moment, every summer on your redwood patio furniture.

Outdoor storage sheds are wonderful all purpose solutions to getting more storage space. They are particularly useful for storing outdoor tools and gardening supplies, because they allow you to keep the tools and supplies out of the weather, yet not get your house dirtied up in the process.

Most outdoor storage sheds are excellent places to store your lawn and garden tools. Things like extra potting soil, fertilizer, the lawn mower and hedge trimmers, even shovels, buckets, rakes and hoes can easily and safely be stored in an outdoor storage shed.

Now there are many different types of outdoor storage sheds, and there are some wonderful designs available these days too. Some of the most popular types of outdoor storage sheds includes:

Wooden storage sheds - These are your classic, or old fashioned types of storage sheds and they're easily added on to as needed. Wood storage sheds need to be maintained a bit though, because they're not immune to the weather. The wood will need to be stained or painted every few years, and you might need to waterproof the roof once in awhile to keep the items inside your shed safe.

There are some gorgeous, almost outdoor wood shed designs these days though. Some of them rival the beauty of a guest house or outdoor office, and they have all sorts of built in shelves, closets and other nooks that make organizing your outdoor tools a pleasure!

Wooden storage sheds usually need to be assembled, but you can often buy ready-made kits which have everything you need conveniently packaged together. Alternatively you can buy outdoor storage shed building plans instead, then buy the materials for your shed at a local hardware or home improvement store.

A growing trend for outdoor storage sheds is to buy sheds made of molded, thick plastic materials. These are excellent low cost storage shed options that need little to no maintenance. Plastic storage sheds are waterproof, and they'll often be specially treated to resist color fading from the sun. Many of these come in easy snap together kits, and some of them have features such as pre-molded notches which allow you to install your own wooden shelves too.

Metal outdoor storage sheds are another common, inexpensive option. These sometimes come fully assembled, but you can also buy do it yourself kits for them if you'd prefer. Metal has a tendency to get dents in it over time, and it rusts with prolonged exposure to various weather conditions. Because of this, a similar style of storage sheds is growing in popularity, but these use vinyl instead of metal.

Vinyl outdoor storage sheds tend to be reasonably priced, and maintenance free. They don't dent, rust or mildew, and many types of vinyl outdoor storage sheds never need to be painted or water proofed either.

While all these outdoor storage sheds are wonderful options, you need to consider the climate of the area you live in before choosing one for your home. Some sheds might hold up in windy climates better than others, and some might hold up well under heavy snowfall accumulation.

And usefulness aside, looks really count for a lot with outdoor storage sheds these days. Your shed should be functional, large enough for your growing needs, able to withstand your local climate, and pretty enough for you to look at day in and day out. Storage sheds are an addition to your home. If you choose one based on functionality or cost alone, you risk making your home look shabby, or making yourself irritated every time you look at it.