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Outdoor Speaker Installation And Repair

June 25, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment
Outdoor Speaker Installation "Polk Audio"

Installed outdoor speaker on my deck

Last year when we built our deck I had the team install two speakers on the deck. I selected Polk outdoor speakers because Polk has a good name for speakers and the price was really good compared to other speakes since they were 40% off. I always like to find things on sale if possible.

The speakers worked very well for the first few months but during the winter one speaker stopped working. I did a few quick tests but last night I decided it was time to fix my outdoor speakers.

Outdoor Speaker Installation:

This was a pretty simple installation. When they removed the soffits to install the outdoor lighting I had them run speaker wire from the speaker location to inside where my Sony Receiver is in the family room. They installed a small connection outlet near the cable tv plug. This way I just need to run speaker wire between my receiver and the speaker patch panel. I think this looks a lot better than running the speaker cable right into the back of the stereo.

Actually, they did not run speaker wire through the house. They mentioned speaker wire is not to code and they ran a cable that is certified for houses. Bascially, it is two shielded cores of copper wire. The speaker patch panel looks pretty basic as you can see from the picture and I’m guessing they got it from Home Depot or Lowe’s.

Troubleshooting The Faulty Speaker:

Speaker patch panel "for outdoor speakers"

Re-soldered wires on this patch panel to get speakers working

Here are the steps I followed to isolate and fix the problem:

  1. I swapped the speaker wire that was connected between the receiver and the patch panel and the same speaker was not working. This showed that the receiver and the speaker wire to the patch panel was fine.

  2. I swapped the two speakers and this time the other speaker was not working. This showed that both speakers were fine, which was good news.

  3. I removed the patch panel from the wall and noticed that one set of cable was attached to a small green block and the block was no longer attached to the panel. This was the problem. The other wire was soldered to the patch panel and it was fine.

  4. I soldered the wire to the patch panel and my outdoor stereo was back in operation.

Now I can listen to music on my deck again :-)

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, How To

How To Lay Sod In 8 Steps (Video)

June 20, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment

In building our second story deck there were a few areas of the lawn that got chewed up and I recently top dressed and spread grass seed. There was another area where we removed a concrete section from our old walkway and this was the perfect area to use sod grass. The video below explains how to lay sod. It is a small area of our lawn but it provides all of the steps you need sod a much larger area.

Steps I Followed To Plant Sod Grass

  1. Remove any rocks, weeds or old grass.
  2. Rake the soil to loosen it up and level it out. You can add new soil or compost to level out low areas.
  3. Water the soil just before you put the sod down, this will help it take root and not dry out.
  4. Roll the sod grass out and make sure it lines up with the existing lawn or new roles of sod.
  5. Cut the sod with a garden knife to fit it in place if necessary.
  6. Tamp the sod down once it is all in position.
  7. Water the sod and water it every day until it takes root.
  8. If it is raining you may not need to water it and if it hot and dry you may need to water it more often.

I hope found the video and the steps above on how to lay sod helpful. If you can add any other information or have a question please leave a comment below.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Gardening, How To, Videos

Plans Chicken Coop And Ideas On Economical Outdoor Lighting Solutions For Your Coop

June 16, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment

The economy is starting to affect more and more people and therefore people are looking for different ways to save money. This can be done by a lot of different ways but two popular ones are growing your own food and getting animals to produce food. For example, many people are getting chickens to produce eggs.

While this is something minor, it is also a healthier option and more organic. It can also become a fun hobby and way to make a little extra money. I have a friend who brings his extra eggs into work and has no problem selling them. One tip here, he has people bring him the egg containers so he can reuse them. Another way to go green and save some money.

Since raising chickens to produce eggs is becoming more popular, so are plans chicken coop. There are several ways to build one without going broke and soemthing else you should consider is a cost effective way to install and run the outdoor lighitng. 

Chicken Coop Designs

You can find a variety of designs online to build your own chicken coop. Or you can choose to create your own. If creating your own design I recommend you do some research on existing plans or built coops to understand what is a good design. There are several resources online that can help you find the designs you like. You can find some free plans and some detailed plans that you will need to pay a few dollars for.

The design you have to choose is all going to depend on a few different factors. You need to consider the size of your flock to determine the size plans chicken coop you are going to need. You can find portable coops for smaller flocks as well and these ones usually don’t have floors to them. They can be relocated if you have to move or if you choose to move them to a different part of the yard or barn. Additionally, dropping from chickens are a great source of fertilizer for your yard.

Lighting Your Chicken Coop

When you have designed your chicken coop, you may be thinking about lighting around it or even inside it as well as what to make it from. Many people who have larger coops like to have a small amount of light inside the coops. This is where low voltage outdoor lighting can help you out. You can find small bulbs or small lights that are low voltage to light your coops. This helps the chickens to walk around if they need to or to get outside.

You can also opt for utilizing low voltage outdoor lighting to surround the coop. This means you can always see what is going on and a better way to keep an eye on your flock in the evening hours. This is helpful if there are any predators in the area like coyotes. If you have an outside feeder for your chickens, outdoor lighting that is not too bright can help with seeing in the evening if they decide they want to eat.

Another option for lighting your coop is solar powered lighting. The battery on the solar lighting will charge during the day and then  come on when it’s dark. This is a great way to save money on your electric bill. They also don’t have to be turned on and off, and some people tend to forget to flip a switch.

The lighting you choose should be installed properly and the cable should be buried or in a location that the chickens can’t peck at it. This is another advantage to solar powered lighting because there are no wires. For low voltage lighting you can run the wires up high or dig it deep enough that the chickens can’t get to it. 

Overall, you can find plans for chicken coop online and another great resource is your local library. When it comes to lighting you should look at your local garden or hardware store. There are also great lighting options available online.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Design, How To, Outdoor Plans

Create An Oasis For Warm Weather Entertaining

June 1, 2011 By Peter Leave a Comment
Wood pergola on brick patio

Backyard patio with fireplace and pergola

(ARA) – The warmer months provide numerous opportunities for hosting outdoor events: birthday parties, Father’s Day barbecues, graduation celebrations, backyard campouts, weddings or a gathering for watching fireworks on the Fourth of July – the list is endless. 

Even when just hosting a fun neighborhood picnic or ice cream social, it’s important to get the outdoor living space looking its best for the big day.

The key is planning ahead so the landscaping, patios and porches are ready for any backyard bash – then just a few quick touches will create the party atmosphere. Here are some easy tips you can use on your grass, gardens, balconies and patios this summer to help get them ready for entertaining:

  •  Pruning – Dead branches on trees and bushes can be removed at any time of year. Early in the season, take some time to remove any dead materials, which will not only enhance the look of your landscaping, but also give trees and bushes a chance to grow and fill in around the removed branches. Be careful, and do not prune branches on flowering shrubs. 
  • Planting – Visit a local greenhouse or nursery and select several colorful flower varieties. Many annual flowering plants like pansies, marigolds and impatiens require minimal care and add a beautiful pop of color to the scenery. Outline the fence of an outdoor space with flowerbeds or try hanging flowering boxes off the side of fences and rails. Adorn the porch or walkway with pots overflowing with color. Even if the only outdoor area is a stoop, balcony or patio, think of the area as a mini-entertainment space: Try adding hanging baskets, table top gardens or grouping a few containers together to create mini gardens in a sunny corner. Don’t forget – all plants need to be fed to thrive. Make feeding part of the routine by using Miracle-Gro LiquaFeed. Attach the LiquaFeed Feeder to your garden hose, insert the refill bottle, and spray to instantly feed while you water. Feed every seven to 14 days. This will ensure plants stay looking their best all season long.
  • Mulching – For a nice, finished look, layer your flowerbeds and container gardens with Nature Scapes Advanced Mulch. A 3-inch layer naturally prevents weeds by blocking growth and access to sunlight. Nature Scapes also has a one-year color guarantee, helps prevent water run-off and channels the water evenly to the roots of the plants. Mulch can save time and energy by preventing weeds from growing in your flowerbeds.
  • Feed the grass - No matter how beautiful your trees, bushes and flowerbeds are, if your grass isn’t thick, green and comfortable for bare feet, your outdoor space could use a touch more help. Feed your lawn with Scotts Green Max Lawn Fertilizer which combines iron with fertilizer to give your grass good nutrients and greening power. And it’s guaranteed to not burn your lawn. Apply a couple of weeks early to ensure you have the perfect grass suitable for bare feet dashing through a sprinkler at a birthday party or for a blanket picnic on Fourth of July weekend.
  • Furniture – As you’re planning your party, determine what kind of backyard furniture you may need for your guests. Do you have enough patio and lawn furniture, or will you need to rent chairs? You can also ask your neighbors or friends if they have decorative deck benches you can borrow and mix into your flowerbeds to keep the beauty of your landscaping intact for the party. Your old furniture can be refreshed and repurposed too. A nice coat of paint can perk up the old and make it feel new again. New pillows can add a splash of color to the party scene while increasing the comfort level as well.
  • Light the way - Never underestimate outdoor lighting. No need to spend a lot of money to achieve a well-lit entertaining space either. A great party atmosphere can be easily accomplished by the use of a few candles in jars placed on the tables, some decorative solar lights staked into flower pots or a string of twinkle lights woven into the branches of trees. Lighting sets the mood and can accent your beautiful lawn, garden or balcony with minimal effort creating a memorable experience for guests.

With just a little effort, you can have the backyard your friends and neighbors envy, and your parties will be relished for many years to come. 

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Gardening, How To
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