You are here: Home / Archives for Tools

How Can You Know For Sure What Deck Design Software To Use?

June 25, 2010 By Peter Leave a Comment
Plan view using deck design software

Plan view using deck design software

Building a deck is a big project that you want to be sure is done right. The best way to achieve that is to use deck design software to help you design the perfect deck for you particular home.

There are many different design software available for coming up with the perfect deck for your house. It is important that you take time to research your different options so you can be sure that you choose the best one.

Before you start your research though it is imperative that you understand some important questions that you need to ask yourself. By asking yourself these questions and deciding on the answers, you will easily be able to find the right software to help you design the perfect deck.

Joist and beam view using deck design software

Joist and beam view using deck design software

Here are the most important questions to ask yourself before you will be able to find the best deck software for designing your dream deck.

One: What price are you willing to spend? You have to know this because the different software doesn’t all cost the same. They vary in price so if you know what you will spend then you can easily eliminate any that are over your budget.

Two: What features do you want the software to have? It is essential to know that there are simple programs that will give you just a few templates that you can use to come up with a few ideas. There are also other types that will let you design your deck at an almost professional level.

The cost will be higher for this type, but when you want to be sure you are getting the perfect deck than it may be well worth the extra money it will cost you.

Three: Will you be building the deck yourself or hiring a professional to do it for you? This is important to know because if you have the software that provides a more professional design, then you will be able to easily let them know exactly what type of deck you want so they can be sure to provide you with what you request easily.

Now that you better understand how you can know for sure what deck design software to use, you are now prepared to start your search. Just remember to take your time and look at all of your options before making the final decision because this is the best way to be sure you are getting the exact software you want to use for designing the perfect deck.

Click this link for more information on the Big Hammer Deck Designer Software.

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Decks, Design, How To, Tools

Top Four Factors To Consider Before Purchasing Deck Design Software

May 13, 2010 By Peter Leave a Comment

When you are planning on adding a deck to your home, the best way to do this is with the help of deck design software. There are many types of software available that will help you design the perfect deck for your particular home. Before purchasing any software, it is important to know the factors that you must consider before making your final decision on what software to use.

Knowing these factors will help ensure that you get the design software that allows you to build the perfect deck on your computer first before attempting it in real life. This can help you avoid a lot of mistakes and will allow you time to decide exactly what you want.

Here are the most important factors that need to be considered before purchasing any of the deck software that is available to help your design the perfect deck.

To continue reading these four factors, please click deck design software.

Filed Under: Blog, Decks, Design, Featured, How To, Tools

Routers 101: The Do-It-Yourselfer’s Top Tool

December 16, 2009 By Peter Leave a Comment

(ARA) – Woodworkers and do-it-yourselfers have been using electric routers for nearly 100 years. They are great for shaping edges in wood or plowing out mortises for hinge installation — and many home improvement enthusiasts have purchased a router specifically for one of these purposes. Unfortunately, after that first job is done many routers end up in storage seldom to be used again.

The router is probably the most underutilized tool in the average home workshop, according to Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, a manufacturer and retailer of router tables and accessories. When attached to a router table, however, a router can become a do-it-yourselfer’s most versatile instrument..

 ”A router table lets you use a wider variety of router bits and dramatically increases your level of precision,” says Scott Baumeister, head of router merchandising for Rockler. “It literally opens up hundreds of new ways to leverage your router.”

Here are a few examples Baumeister suggests:

Working with long, narrow, or small stock.
Some pieces, like the thin boards used to make moldings and trim, are nearly impossible to work with a handheld router. “A router table frees up both hands so you can hold on to the work piece and manipulate stock of all shapes and sizes,” he says.

Creating customized decorative moldings.
Nothing finishes off a room like sharp looking molding. A table allows you to shape your own profiles with specialized router bits. “It’s a great way to save money and spruce up your decor.”

Squaring up boards for making wood panels.
With a table, a fence, and a few easy-to-find accessory shims, a router can actually take the place of a dedicated jointer. “This is especially useful in smaller shops where saving space is a top priority.”
 
Creating raised panel doors.
These popular doors, made up of a large center panel set within a four-piece frame, require a table to use the specialized rail-and-stile router bits that create the complex joints between the frame and panel. “Using a table is the only way to do it safely.”

Speeding up the joinery process.
Cutting grooves, slots, dovetails, and other joint-components is part of the router table’s stock in trade. “You would be amazed at how a decent table and a few bits can speed up some of the most fundamental woodworking operations.”

The list goes on to include everything from making custom handrails for stairwells to simulating the look of louvered doors for beautiful money-saving shutters. To learn more about what router tables can do, visit the education section of Rockler Woodworking and Hardware’s website, www.rockler.com.

Router tables come in a wide range of sizes, capabilities, and price levels. The most basic shop-made tables are little more than flat-topped boxes with wooden fences and a hole for the bit, while the most advanced are machined from ultra-durable composite materials or cast-iron and are precision engineered for absolute accuracy.

When looking for a table, be sure that it won’t sag under the weight of your router and that its surface is big and flat enough to suit your needs. Other key areas to note include: material durability, accessory compatibility, and resistance to vibration.

An easy-to-follow shopping guide is available at www.rockler.com, as is Rockler’s recently expanded selection of router tables and accessories.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, How To, Tools

Winterize Your Home’s Exterior with Easy DIY Steps

October 11, 2009 By Peter Leave a Comment

(ARA) – Nothing protects a home’s exterior like a new coat of paint. Why then do so many of us put off this task? What seems complicated can be easy with a little planning and the right tools.

“Keeping the outside of your home looking clean and new is the best way to increase curb appeal as well as your own enjoyment outdoors,” says Tom Gessner, product manager for Wagner Spray Tech, an industry leader in painting technology. “Don’t be intimidated; plan ahead and do-it-yourselfers will be painting like pros in no time.”

Keep these steps in mind while painting your house:

* Remove peeling paint and dirt by sanding, scraping or pressure washing the surface. Patch small cracks and seams with caulk and add primer to any bare wood. Remove shutters and cover windows, doors, the ground around the house, bushes, flowers, trees, deck etc.

* When selecting primer, choose a breathable oil primer to allow moisture buildup from inside the house to escape.

* Choose a color that will compliment the existing features in your yard such as the roof, doors, railings, brick or other surfaces that will not be painted.

* Dark colors require more maintenance because they fade quicker and are more difficult to touch up. Remember that light colors will make objects seem larger while dark colors will make them seem smaller, but can be used to draw attention to detail.

* In terms of sheen, glossy surfaces are easier to clean, however, the glossier the surface, the more likely it is to show imperfections.

* Don’t forget to test your color in a small area before you paint — colors will almost always look different on the surface than what you imagine.

* Cover the primer with two coats of 100 percent acrylic latex paint to resist mildew and hold color best. Avoid painting if rain or very high humidity is predicted within 24 hours and be sure to finish early enough for the surface to dry before evening dew sets in.

* Use a paint sprayer to get the job done in a few easy strokes. Spraying paint provides a high quality finish and saves a great deal of time. You might want try the Wagner Paint Crew, a piston pump sprayer with the performance of a contractor sprayer that is designed for the homeowner. The Paint Crew uses standard reversible spray tips and comes complete with a 25-foot hose, tip and metal spray gun, making the job fast and easy.

* Practice on a piece of scrap wood or cardboard before you spray to test your spray pattern. Start painting from top to bottom in back and forth or up and down motions that are slightly overlapping.

* Keep your arm moving at a constant speed and keep the sprayer at a constant distance from the surface — between 10 and 14 inches is recommended. Be sure to stop the flow of paint at the end of each stroke before moving to the next stroke — this will help you avoid an uneven finish.

* If you are going to be painting a surface with detail, spray the base (or dominant) coat and paint the details with a brush.

* Allow proper time to dry and enjoy a home that is protected from winter’s harsh elements.

For more information about paint projects and tools to get the job done faster, visit Wagner at www.wagnerspraytech.com or your local home center or hardware store.

The fall is also a good time to clean your deck and conduct your yearly maintenance. For information on this topic, please read deck maintenance.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Filed Under: Articles, Blog, Decks, How To, Tools
« Older Posts
Newer Posts »