How To Build A Gambrel Storage Shed

Author: Dan Lazaj

A gambrel shed, also known as a barn style shed, may be the perfect design for your homes landscape. There are two pitches on each side of the roof, which gives it a barn style look. You can get the most use of space with this type of storage shed.




Building this might look difficult, but it is quite simple. The only difference between a gambrel and a gable shed is the roof. When building this or any other type of shed, take your time building the rafters. Make sure they are all exactly the same. One good way to do this is to build your first set and use it as a template to build the rest. Having them all exactly the same will give you a leveled roof.



Other Types of Sheds to Build



If a gambrel shed is not right for your home landscape, here are some other types you can consider.



Gable storage shed - This is the most common, there are two equal sides to both sides of the roof that meet at the top. This is the most common shed to build because of its simple structure, fits very well into most landscapes.



Lean-to-shed - This type of shed has a roof that slopes from back, and drops down to the front. This type is great if you don't have to much room, great for narrow spaces. You can put this kind of shed against your house or fence.



Salt-box - A saltbox is very similar to a gable except for the roof pith. A salt-box-shed will have an uneven pitch to the roof.



If you have ever wanted to add a shed to your home, there are many choices you can choose from. You can either assemble one using a shed kit, or buy lumber and build your own.



There are wide selections of kits you can buy. A kit will come in many different styles and sizes. Among the material to choose from are wood, vinyl, or metal. Assembling one should be pretty simple. The tools required to assemble a shed kit are very common to most households.



Buying lumber and building your own shed will be the best choice. If you don't want to spend to much, build it yourself. If looks are important, invest in some plans. Having plans will not only make this project easier to build, it will also make it turn out better. You can find many free plans online. You can also buy and download them, it will be a small investment to make.



Getting estimates from local handyman to do it for you might be something you will also want to consider. You won't have to do any of the work. If not having enough time to do it yourself is a factor, consider this choice. Get a couple of estimates and see if it can be done within your budget.



If you have decided you want to build your own, but are unsure how to build a shed yourself, start by looking online at the free plans. If you can't find any free plans that meet your requirements, buy some, they are very affordable. All plans should come with a material list, this will give you a good idea what this project will cost. Sheds are very basic structures which can be built by many homeowners.



As with any project, check with your building department for requirements and permits you might need.

About the Author:
Storage sheds are simple structures many beginner builders can build. Take a look at my site for more information on how to build a shed. I also have a list of sites with shed plans. MyStorageShed.Blogspot.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/how-to-build-a-gambrel-storage-shed-777302.html

Make Your Own St Patricks Day Beer

Author: Drew Brown

St Patricks Day is a feast day on witch people from all over the globe traditionally proclaim themselves as "Irish for a day" and usually do that with the consumption of Irish alcoholic beverages like St Patricks Day Beer and by wearing green-colored clothing. You can now create your own St Patricks Day Beer and in this article we will tell you how to start.



Who celebrates St Patricks Day?



Saint Patrick's Day or St. Paddy's Day is a feast day which celebrates Saint Patrick who was the patron saints of Ireland. St Patricks Day is generally celebrated on March 17 and is a feast that is widely celebrated all over the world and not just in Ireland, countries like Great Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and United States also celebrate this day.



What is good St Patricks Day Beer?



People usually drink Irish Stout or Guinness as a traditionally St Patricks Day Beer. The key ingredient of Irish beer is Roasted Barley like in the classic Irish Stout. This gives the St Patricks Day Beer a dry coffee like taste, a very dark color but still a white foam. You also see some green beer in the pups but this is usually not very nice to drink for people who like a good quality beer.



Make your own St Patricks Day Beer



Making your own beer is not difficult at all and with Irish beer this is no different. A lot of people received a beer brewing kit for Christmas or as a special Valentine's day beer gift and are now testing a lot of different recipes. Beer brewing kits are a great way to make your own beer, it's a nice hobby and the end result is a batch of the best beer you have ever tasted. You can drink it with your family or with your friends. If you are interested to buy beer brewing kits you can look at the website at the end of this article. But if you already own such great equipment you can now start brewing your own St Patricks Day Beer and have it ready in time, although Irish stout can be appreciated not just at St Patricks day only. It is a great beer all year round.



Ingredients



The best thing you can do is buy a Complete Irish Stout Package, this contains all the ingredients you need to make a tasty beer. The package contains an Irish Stout beer kit, 500 gm Light Dry Malt Extract, Dextrose and Carbonation drops. Follow the enclosed instructions and we are sure you can brew a great St Patricks day beer.



Celebrate in style



Do you know a better way to celebrate this feast day, almost the beginning of spring, all the people wearing green, everybody is happy and you are surrounded by your family and friends who are enjoying your own home brewed beer. Is there anything more rewarding than brewing your own St Patricks day beer? A Irish stout dark brew displaying coffee, chocolate and licorice aromatics, roasty bitter notes with a dry finish. Mmmm, I can't wait until the batch in my garage is ready to drink.

About the Author:
Drew Brown has one hobby, home made beer brewing and he loves to share it with the world. On his website he tells you all about Irish Beer and a great Valentines day beer gift.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/food-and-beverage-articles/make-your-own-st-patricks-day-beer-777128.html

How to Make Citronella Tiki Torches

Author: Dawie Bester

Having a Tiki Party and need Tiki torches that can repel those irritating mosquito's and unwanted flies?




Why not make your own citronella Tiki torches? Besides being great fun, you can spend the money you save by making your own torches on other Tiki decorations or ingredients for your Tiki drinks.



These candles are made slightly differently to ordinary candles in that they have a protruding stick through the centre of the candle to enable them to be planted in the ground and strips of brown paper are used in addition to the wick to produce bigger flames that should withstand almost any breeze.



The following instructions are for candles of approximately 20" but the basics would apply whether you are making 8" table top torches or 2' giant torches.



For this project you'll need:



- General purpose basic paraffin wax - approximately 5 lbs

- Brown paper cut into strips of approximately 1" wide

- Any wick that is suitable for 2" pillar candles - recommended : #1 square braid

- Wooden dowel approximately 3/8" in diameter and 20" in length.

- 1 ½ oz Citronella per pound of wax

- Dipping can

- Wax dye for colouring



Preparing the Sticks



Starting at one end of the stick, tape a strip of the 1" brown paper to the top end of the stick at a 45 degree angle with a piece of masking tape. Now wrap the strip of paper tightly around the stick going down the length of the stick until about half of the stick is covered. If the strip is too short add another piece so that you cover half of the stick with the brown paper.



Dipping the Sticks



Melt the wax and heat to about 180 degrees then add citronella and stir well for at least 2 minutes.



Set up the dipping can (any waterproof can or pitcher can substitute as a mold if you do not have a tall pillar mold) Fill to approximately 1" from the top and dip the prepared sticks, one by one, into the wax. The sticks should be dipped long enough to be fully coated but must not be left to stand in the wax. Once the sticks have been removed lean them upright against a piece of waxed paper. Top up the dipping can with more of the melted wax when necessary.




Once the wax has hardened on the sticks the process must be repeated. Wax that is too hot, leaving the sticks in the dipping can for too long or not allowing the wax to harden before the next dipping will prevent the candles forming and you will notice that they are not getting any bigger. Wax that is too cold will result in a lumpy or streaky finish to the candle. Reheat the wax by placing the dipping can in a double boiler and heating.



Repeat the dipping process until the candle has reached about three quarters of the desired thickness. The wick must now be wrapped around the candle. The wick should be double the length of the dipped section of the candle. Leave at least 1" wick protruding at the top of the candle and using masking tape affix the wick onto the top end of the candle. Coil the wick around the entire length of the dipped section of the candle and then tape the wick to the bottom of the candle.



Once the wick is in place the dipping process must be repeated until the sides of the candle are smooth and the ridge formed by the wick is no longer visible.



Add wax dye to the reminder of the dipping wax and repeat the dipping process using the colored wax. To get a good solid color this process will need to be repeated several times.



Allow the candles to cool in an upright position leaning onto a piece of waxed paper.



The candles must now be left for at least 24 hours, but preferably 48 hours to allow the wax and citronella to bind.



When you need to use the Tiki torches plant them directly into the ground or in large flower pots unless you have made smaller table top Tiki torches in which case they can be placed in smaller table top flower pots.




These Tiki torches add to the island atmosphere at your next Tiki party but can be also used whenever you plan an outdoor meal as they are effective as mosquito and fly- repellents and are decorative and add a personal touch.

About the Author:
The author likes to give people advice on how to build a tiki bar. To learn how you can build a tiki bar yourself, visit tikibaradvice.com

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/how-to-make-citronella-tiki-torches-771668.html

Alfalfa Sprouts

Author: Kathy Kafka

Alfalfa has been grown for many civilizations for over five thousand years. Alfalfa was planted in hot, dry regions of Mesopotamia before recored history. Alfalfa is grown throughout the world under extremely varied climatic conditions. Alfalfa seeds are in the legume family. The name "alfalfa" means "father of all foods. Alfalfa sprouts are full of nutrition. Research shows that sprouts are loaded with antioxidants, and are full of protein, chlorophyll, vitamins and amino acids. Sprouts contain enzymes which digest themselves. Alfalfa is the most famous sprout in the United States. It has a mild flavor, an abundant amout of nutrition, and easy to grow.

Nutritional information - vitamins A, B, C, E, and K. Also calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, carotene, chlorophyll, amino acids. Protein - 35%.

Sprouting Instructions: Yields approximately 2 cups of sprouts. Add 2 tablespoons of seeds to a mason jar with strainer lid. Rinse thoroughly with 60-70 degree water. First day, fill half way with water overnight to soak. Set out of direct sunlight and at room temperature, 70 degrees is optimal. The kitchen counter is fine. Rinse and drain twice a day. At the end of day 5 or the start of day 6 your sprouts will be ready to eat. Refrigerate your sprouts 8-12 hours after the final rinse and drain. Enjoy your sprouts in salads, sandwiches, or as a topping to any dish.

Seed to sprout: 5 to 6 days Yield: 7 to 1 Seed to shelf life at 70 degrees: 3 to 4 years Sprout shelf life: 2 to 6 weeks

About the Author:

Kathy Kafka is the owner of Complete Natural Blends, a company that offers natural products for natural health.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/nutrition-articles/alfalfa-sprouts-758366.html