Patio Planters: The Mayne Square Polyethylene Fairfield Patio Planter

Growing your garden in a patio is the favorable choice especially if you lack the space for plants and flowers. For this purpose, The Mayne Square Polyethylene Fairfield Patio Planter is perfect.  It can conveniently fit most sizes of porches, patios, balconies, or decks. Blending the planter with your patio decor will be easy since it has a traditional framed-panel design with decorative molding on the top and bottom.  It is suitable for both indoor gardening and outdoor gardening, too.

Watering your plants is easy since this planter is configured with a modern sub-irrigation system that stores the water in the base of the planter, thus cutting down the frequency of watering chores. The built-in water source boosts healthy plant growth by aiding the roots in water absorption as needed with the help of the troughs in the base of the planter. This gives more time admiring your plants and flowers and less time tending to your plants.

This lovely square planter is constructed using high-grade polyethylene, a long-lasting, low-maintenance material that can withstand the different seasons. The planter has an appearance like that of wood but does not require upkeep that outdoor wooden planters demand, like painting and re-sealing.

Pros

Weather Resistant

Attractive Design

Solid construction

Easy To Secure

Sophisticated Looks

Cons

Water draining can be slow

Needs extra scrubbing for cleaning

There are three colors to choose from: White, Black, and Clay.  This planter can be bought with a discounted price at 20% off through this link below:

Mayne SquarePolyethylene Fairfield Patio Planter SALE

images courtesy of Hayneedle.com

Home and Garden Products from Taylor Gifts

A place to shop for home organizers and other items for your home and garden is Taylor Gifts, an online store specializing in mail order catalog business since 1952.  Here you'll find  a large selection of gadgets,  novelties, as-seen-on-TV items and many other products for the home and for personal organization.  Over five decades, Taylor Gifts has established a loyal customers follwing in and outside USA.  Taylor Gifts website offers a number of items to fit all types of shopping preferences and budgets.  Browsing items on their online store is easy because of their well organized assortment of products.>>> MORE



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DIY Painting: Choosing Your Paint Primer

Paint primers are formulated to produce a solid base, seal stains, and help bond the top coat to the wall. Both alkyd and latex primers provide good coverage and do a great job. Which one you choose will depend on the top coat you have selected.

Likewise, go with good quality, brand-name primers and paints, like Sherwin-Williams, Pratt and Lambert, Benjamin Moore, or Pittsburgh Paints. Better yet, visit a professional paint supplier and talk to the knowledgeable employees. They can give you useful tips and help you get the paint system (primer and top coat) that will work best in your climate and for the job you're doing.

Flickr image by Aine D

Here are some important priming tips:

If the walls and ceilings were heavily prepped and the first coat did not do the job well and there's a light bleed through, apply a second coat.

• Some climates, especially those near salt water, need a second primer coat.

• Closely work with your paint supplier. Some primers are best for wetter rooms like bathrooms and laundries. Meaning, one primer doesn't necessarily fit all conditions.

Older homes that were constructed without vapor barriers will need a primer that seals and stops moisture from getting under the paint and causing peeling.

Plaster walls and drywall are different and normally require different primers. Consult your paint dealer for the ideal type that matches your walls and conditions.

Interior wood trim may also need different primers. Your paint dealer can also lead you in the right direction in this area. If you have primed over unpainted drywall or wood trim, you'll probably have to lightly sand after the primer has dried. Primer tends to raise the fibers or grain so a light sanding is needed before painting the top coat. Make sure to run a tack cloth over the sanded area so no dust is left on the surface.

Don't spot prime problem areas on walls that you've had to go back and work on. Those areas would often show through. Correct the problems and then recoat the whole wall. Luckily, ceilings are more forgiving and never show spot priming as much. There are also special paints developed for ceilings that cling to textured surfaces better than wall paints. Check with your paint supplier for what works best on your kind of ceiling.

If you prefer a darker top coat, tint the primer coat to match. It could save you having to apply a second top coat.

Selecting the Right Top Coat for House Painting Projects

© 2012 Tip Writer

Selecting the Right Top Coat for House Painting Projects

A visit to the home center or paint supplier may be confusing. There are scores of paint types, methods of application, and special effects to select from. The following suggestions will help you sort out the confusion:

Choose a high quality latex primer and top coat. That means you'll spend $30 to $45 per gallon. Top quality paint applies better, lasts longer, and looks better compared to cheap discount paint. Consider it an investment in your home's value.

Gloss and semi-gloss paints are more stain-resistant and washable, but highlight any wall problems. Flat paints are excellent for living and dining rooms. Eggshell gloss is a nice all-around finish for hallways, kids' rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms. 

• Some professionals feel flat paint is the best way to go for ceilings, others love a bright white gloss that reflects more light into the room. If your home tends to be on the dark side, gloss ceilings reflect more light and makes the room appear larger.

• Plan on two top coats for the best looking job and figure on about 400 square feet per gallon. Also, be sure you have about a half gallon left over for touch-ups.

• If you live in a dry climate, you might want to put in an additive to slow down drying time and make the paint more workable. Adding a few ounces per gallon of Floetrol or another similar additive can make the jobgo easier.

Go over those mildew-inhibiting paints if you live in a humid area, and also for baths, kitchens, and laundry rooms. These paints will not kill mildew that's already present, but they'll keep mildew from forming later on.

When you've decided on the paint system, the following step is to decide on the colors and tints. For a few homeowners this is the project's fun part, for others it's divorce material. Fortunately, there are six shortcuts that will help you decide:

1. Take your time and look into builder's open houses to get ideas of what's currently voguish in your area.

2. Consider color schemes in home magazines and check out some helpful websites

3. Gather up paint chips of colors you like and narrow it down to those that you believe will go with your home's other colors.

4. Keep in mind that color choice should take into consideration your home's architecture, ceiling height, and exterior and interior colors.

5. When you have narrowed it down to three or four colors, get pint samples from the paint store and roll four foot swaths on one of the walls you are planning on painting. Live with it for a few days and see which color grabs you.

6. Don't be afraid of making a big mistake. What's the worst that can happen? You could always repaint!

Using Bright Colors Effectively for Your Home Interiors

© 2012 Tip Writer