June 2nd, 2010 by raa27
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Garden gates can be custom made, or purchased for do-it-yourself installation, but the first challenge for most homeowners with narrowing down the wide range of considerations for choosing a garden gate. Let’s look at a few of the most popular styles and materials. For the latter, your main choices are between metal and wooden gates.
Wooden garden gates a mostly made out of ceder or pine. The two most common styles to see in wood fencing are solid arched stockade fence gates and the classic Z-frame white picket gate. A solid arched gate is gapless, except for a single gap between the panels if it’s a dual swing gate; but the individual boards of each panel are connected with tongue-and-groove joinery so that what’s on the other side isn’t visible. The tops of the boards are cut to form an arch at the top, hence the name.
A picket gate, usually painted white, may or may not be arched; but the main difference from a solid arched gate is the additional spacing between the boards, and the more conspicuous Z-frame joining them. A Z-frame has a pair of horizontally mounted cross members connected with a diagonal member to form a “Z” pattern. Picket gates are ideal if you want to seem more of the garden.
Metal garden gates are even more ideal for viewing more of the garden, since the naturally have thinner posts. Most homeowners would prefer wrought iron gates if they could afford them, but a more popular option for lower budgets is to purchase aluminum or steel garden gates, and have them powered coated for a wrought iron look.
If you have a mesh or chain link fence installed, there are wire gates to match most fencing styles — for instance, a garden trellis patter for a wrought iron fence. Hinge tabs or L-shaped brackets will need to be purchased and welded to the one side of the gate. Once this is done, most homeowners find it easy to install garden gates themselves.
April 13th, 2010 by raa27
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Many home owners have turned their focus towards metal doors for their entrance ways. There are many benefits in using a metal doors for your front doors. One reason is the beauty it offers guests and visitors coming to your home, another is the ability to create a barrier between you and the outside elements.
Consumers are always looking for new ways to increase the value of their homes, solid construction is offered through the use of metal doors that are insulated in the core. This helps to decrease noise level outside the home and help protect you against the outside elements. The metal door offers more safety to your family while keeping the weather outside and the noise inside. Typical wooden doors do not offer the same protection and more intruders are able to by-pass the standard wooden doors. With a metal door on average of seven to one, they help keep intruders out while keeping family members safe inside.
The wide range of style and colors have also increased the value of metal doors, providing beautiful cut out windows that are made with tempered glass. Various types of metal are used in the construction of these doors from steel to aluminum outer and steel inside. In Canada the typical home owner has chosen to use the metal structure door versus the solid wood door. The solid wood door only offers minimal protection against the cold climate increasing the cost of electricity for the consumer. Whereas the metal door offers cost effective savings for the home owner.
The use of the insulated door helps to cut cost on their electric bills, helping the consumer to save money. Canadians have grown accustom to the beautiful artistic design that the metal door offers. Fabricated with the highest of quality products, eliminating high energy costs. A metal door out performs a typical solid wood door 10 to 1.
When you are investing in a door find the one that meets your specific needs and security specifications. The low maintenance door will out-perform doors of the past lasting for years to come. Acoustically the door helps cut down on both outdoor and indoor noise, providing a comfortable environment and safety setting for your family.
Price wise the steel crafted door is a bit more expensive, but the benefits and low maintenance will bring the value of your house up and offer years of enjoyment.
April 9th, 2010 by raa27
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The focal point of the front of a house or a business is most often the entryway, and the entry door can be a reflection of the surroundings or an interior theme. A contemporary design for a lakefront or the ocean may call for light tone entry doors with full glass panels, just as a Southwestern design may call for a single, oak door with recessed wood panels. The type and style of an entry door says a lot about the personality of a building, as well as the people who frequent that building.
With the countless styles and types of doors that are available, the possibilities for an attractive entryway are virtually limitless. In a covered porch or recessed alcove, a favorable entry may be a single hardwood door with brass or polished aluminum hardware as the highlight of the entry. Another possibility would be a set of matching, double doors with a full width transom window that spans the top of the door frame and allows indirect light from inside the entry foyer. In addition, taller doors in the 7’ or 8’ height range could create an entirely different feel and appearance in an otherwise mundane entry area.
French doors are always attractive, even though they are not considered to be as secure as solid doors in a front entry. However, adding an attractive wrought iron gate at the portal to a porch or recessed entry could be a reasonable solution if glass doors are desired. French doors are manufactured in durable Douglas Fir as well as solid Oak frames and the glass is tempered to resist breakage or penetration. They are available in numerous widths and height dimensions and can be installed as a single or double door entry.
Entry doors are fabricated in sizes that range from 36” wide to over 48” wide and in standard heights, as well as custom ordered sizes. Entry doors and frames are manufactured in hardwood or paint grade lumber, as well as in vinyl coated steel frames that require no painting. Hardwood and glass doors are shipped in insulated packaging that ensures the quality of the door when it arrives for installation.
