Home-Dzineonline

It’s all about caring for and improving your home

also in this issueteen rooms - make a sleeper couch - paint effectsrecycling projects - woodworking techniquestool tips - makeover magic

May 2009

garden makeover

bedroom makeover

home maintenance

WIN a Glodina Cotton Classic hamper to the value of R600

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Home-Dzine Online is written and compiled by Janice Anderssen. All projects in this issue, or any other issue, remain the property of Home-Dzine and Janice Anderssen, or the respective copyright holders, and may not be copied or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission.

Image and content credits:meredith publishing - good homes - chicago home - family handyman - sunset publishing - popular mechanic - house & home - georgia pacific - expert village

Hello all you beautiful Divas and Guys!

Autumn has arrived, and with it cooler weather. Spring and autumn are my favourite times of the year as it allows me the chance to tackle projects outdoors without being burnt to a crisp!

In this issue there are quite a few ‘outdoorsy’ projects that you can think about doing for yourself. Home maintenance is top of the list as soon as the rainy season ends, and we show you how to give your garage door a revamp, as well as refreshing your outdoor furniture.

Indoors we tackle a bedroom makeover and look at decorating teen rooms. With lots of quick and easy projects to inspire you.

A note just to let you know that I will be out of action for a while due to a wrist injury. Doctor’s orders to take it easy - huh! There are still several DIY Divas courses planned, but I have had to reschedule and shuffle some arounduntil things get back to normal - Janice

Janice & Nancy

a word or twoCONTENTSteen roomsIf you don’t want to lose control of what goes on behind that locked door, start planning now

quick and easy decor

paint effectsMake a narrow room appear wider with horizontal stripes

chocolate dreamstransform a boring bedroom with our romantic makeover

recycling project

dowel jointsthere’s a trick to making successful dowel joints

makeover magic

time for a changean easy way to update your plastic garden furniture

green, green grasshow to keep your lawn green all year round - without water

fix up garden ornamentsconcrete garden ornaments are easily fixed up

garage doorsnow is the perfect time to perform annual maintenance

tips on buying a sander

fischer fixingsfixing into drywall, hollow-core doors,plasterboard ceilings, etc

q-zone

directory

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Storage, storage, storageYou cannot have too much storage. Make shelving adjustable to grow with them – cute little bookcases soon look woefully inadequate when piled up with textbooks. Allow different heights for DVDs, books, big books, files, knick-knacks, photos, etc., and remember that if they can’t reach it, they won’t use it - make sure all storage is accessible. Kids these days have a lot of possessions and just one (or even half a) room to keep it all in. Get the storage right and you might have a slight hope of seeing their floor again.

Teenagers are not known for their tidiness - help them towards an organised approach to neatness with plenty of files, boxes,drawers and shelves.

Peace in the homeA nice thick carpet or cork flooring instead of tiles or laminate and noise disturbance will be reduced to a minimum. You could also cover a wall with cork tiles to insulate the room and provide an area where they can stick up as many posters as they like without damaging your plasterwork.

teen rooms

Once they hit 16, you may find thatany teen bedroom becomes little more than a place to crash and strew about clothes and they are a lot less concerned about what type of curtains they have.

If you don’t want to lose control of what goes on behind that locked door, start planning now for a bedroom that has it all under control.

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Room to moveIf you can get them to agree to it and you’re redecorating now, have a good clear out of all the old stuff they a) don’t want and b) say they want but you know they won’t take them with them when they do move out.

Get A bigger bedYour teen is too big for the old bunks or cramped single by now so, if the room is large enough, this is the time to get a double bed in there. Look for bed options that offer additional storage facilities such as underbed drawers, headboard storage, etc.

Live wireDon’t forget about the lighting. Your teen will need a bedside lamp and task lighting around the desk, and fairy lights are a fast and easy way to add atmosphere.

Laptop, PC, gaming, stereo, and more. Don’t overload the electrical system in the room. Get in an electrician and have an extra power socket fitted. And if you’re having work donein the room, it might be worth getting aerial connections put in now for the eventual request for a TV in their room!

Personalised and individualIf they haven’t already done so, chances are they will soon be pasting posters on the walls. Do yourself a favour and paint the walls with a quality sheen paint that won’t be damaged by Prestik and Sellotape. Music lovers can display guitars or music sheets, skate fans can create a trophy rail of used boards, while artists can produce their own gallery.

If they don’t want posters on their walls, today’s wallpaper is funky, retro and colourful. Let your teen browse online for a high resolution PC wallpaper design that catches their attention - you can have almost any design made into wallpaper.

Affordable furniture and accessoriesBrowse your local second-hand shop for unique bits and pieces and paint them to suit the current colour scheme.

ABOVE: A wall bed (www.murphysouthafrica.co.za) is perfect for a small room that does not have space for a study desk. The ingenious design allows the bed to be lifted and stored out of sight during the day, leaving plenty of floor space to add a desk. If you cannot affordthe full fitted system, you can always purchasethe mechanism and DIY-it.

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Black and white are perennial favourites for decorating a room, and it is so easy to add a single bold colour to walls.

Start off by layering the bed in black and white bed linen and top off with cushions in the same colours, with an added accent colour that can also be added to the walls. Settle for accessories in white - or black - that will easily match any accent colour chosen. And let’s be honest, teens love black and white!

Keep window treatments plain and simple. Here a white Roman blind with black trims matches the room decor.

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Looking for fast and affordable ways to give your home an instant update. Here is one idea to get you started...

It’s a stick upDecals offer a fun way to add colour and interest to walls, furniture and more in the home. Simply peel and stick.

Splash it the bathroomBoring white bathroom in your rental? Not any more. Vinyl stickers are easy to apply - and easy to remove and can be applied to walls, floors,ceilings - and tiles!

Krazy for kidsKids can change their mind on a day-to-day basis. What’s hot today is ice cold tomorrow. Custom-printed stickers allow them to create the room that they want, and change it as often as they like - within a budget of course!

Customised decorIf you are constantly changing the look of your home and need fresh inspiration, stickers can be changed to suit your mood.

Use stickers on appliances, tiles, floors and cabinetdoors for funky today and formal tomorrow.

Lord it over the landlordStickers allow you to be as creative as you want without damaging the walls. When you move take your art with you!

quick and easy decor

Sources:www.cleverlittlemonkey.co.zawww.artistick.co.zawww.ginandchocolate.com

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(solvent) than paint, Rust-Oleum is more paint than carrier. Try one can of Painter’s Touch and you will never use anything else!

Use Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch on wood, metal, wicker, walls, floors, and even forfabric painting.

Painter’s Touch comes in a Satin or Gloss finish and quickly dries to a durable finishthat lasts.

The DIY Divas are a BIG fan of Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch and use it for all types of projects that we do. It is such a versatile product - you can use it almost anywhere. With a single can of Rust-Oleum you can transform old furniture, give boring pieces a new look, and add a wide range of colours to your home.

The beauty of Rust-Oleum is that it doesn’t run or drip and with only two coats you get instant results.

The secret to Rust-Oleum is in the can! Whereas most other spray paints are more carrier

Candy Pink and matching wallpaperfinish this bedroomcupboard.

Key Lime and French Lilac

transform aboring

pine dining set.

Aqua (satin) addsa bold splash ofcolour to a dresserand chair.

Marigold transforms

an old planter.

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You will need:Tape measureSpirit levelMasking tapeFoam rollers and traysPaintbrushes.Acrylic paint in two colours

Here’s how:1. Plan the design for your

stripes. Take accurate measurements of the wall to be painted.

2. Roll on base-coat paint and let dry. For horizontal stripes, use a tape measure to lay out dimensions of the stripes. Use a spirit level and a pencil to draw lines on the wall if you are using more than two colours.

3. Apply masking tape on outside edge of each band to be painted with firstaccent colour. Burnish the tape edge with your fingernail to sealit tightly to the wall. Apply a small ‘x’ with tape in the areas that won’t be painted.

4. Roll on first paint colourin appropriate area. Apply a second coat, if necessary. Carefully remove the tape as soon as the final coatof paint is applied. Remove tape markers in unpainted areas. Let the paint dry.

5. Apply tape on outside edges of each band to be painted if you are using a second accent colour. Roll on second paint colour to appropriate areas; remove tape. Let the paint dry.

Vertical stripes visually lift a ceiling and make a space seem taller. Horizontal stripes visually expand a room and make it seem wider. Diagonal stripes give walls a dynamic sense by leading the eye in the direction the stripes flow.

For a more subtle taped-off look, pair sheen with

matt of the same paint colour. Or pair a satin

wall colour and a glaze mixture (metallic glaze

and the same satin wall colour)

climb the walls

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A date to rememberSaturday 5 September

Join us for a day of ladies, champagne, fun, free goodies and more...

• Discover what you can do with Rust-Oleum Spray Paints

• Decorating with Paint Pens • Easy paint techniques that you can do• Craft projects with Dremel MultiTool • Make a mirror and picture frame to take home

• Spray paint a designer tablecloth and napkins• Learn how to make your own stencils• Free goodies galore • And lots, lots more

Everyone takes home a Goodie Bag of Rust-Oleum products. One lucky Diva takes home a Dremel Portable Multitool. Visit DIY Divas Booking page to reserve your seat for this guaranteed fun event!

Take home a Dremel Portable

MultiTool!

exclusive to DIY DivasDenis Lock, SA’s Router Specialist, will present an Introductory Workshop on

Router Techniques on Saturday 22 August 2009

The basics of routingThe router is, without doubt, the most flexible power tool you could own. Itsuse is not intuitive and new owners need to be started off on the right foot if they are to realise the potential of this machine. The secret of router use is understanding the many ways there are to guide the router in relation to the piece of wood being machined. Some routing can be done freehand. Guiding the base of the router against a straight edge is the secret to forming straight edges and other straight cuts with and across the grain. The supplied fence is another way of guiding the router in a straight line in order to cut rebates, grooves and flutes. Bits with integrated bearingsallow a variety of curved and other special cuts. Guide bushes open up an exciting world of pattern routing and provide an efficient way ofduplicating components.

Learn and practice the basics of routing under the guidance of routing specialist, Denis Lock. Add a professional touch to your projects with confidence and proficiency. Places are limited forthis exclusive invitation. Workshop cost: R850 per person, including refreshments and snacks. The venue is conveniently located on Christiaan De Wet Rd, Randpark Ridge.

CLICK HERE TO BOOK YOUR SPOT!

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chocolate dreamsDIY Divas were recently approached by a reader who was desperate to give her bedroom a makeover, but had absolutely no idea where to start. With an idea in mind and a paintbursh in hand, we headed off to see what we could do.

The bedroom itself is a nice size with plenty of natural light, but it does lack any particular style. The walls are a pale yellow, there is a shelf high above the bed, but no headboard, and plenty of storage space crammed with teddies of all shapes and sizes. Cute but not very romantic!

We settled on a palette of dramatic earth tones: a yummy chocolate, rich cream with just a splash of gold. Now we’re talking old-fashioned romance!

With the colours sorted it was time to go shopping. We settled on the Golden Comforts Peninsula bed linen, dressed up with accessories from Home Comforts. We were very lucky to find cushions that exactly matched thepintuck design on the duvet cover.

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Golden Comforts offer service with a difference. The have a wide range of products consisting of five collections namely, bedroom,bathroom, kiddies, dining and decor that you get the quality of your choice at the best possible price, delivered directly to your door.

Golden Comforts - PeninsulaEverybody loves pintuck! Simple pintuck stripes add a structural element to this classic percale basic with 250 thread count of easy care polyester cotton.

www.GoldenComforts.co.za

At Home Comforts we also found a pair of lined curtains in a deep chocolate, and gold tassel tie backs for our splash of gold, plus a luxurious faux fur throw. Now it was time to head back to the bedroom to begin decorating.

The walls were scrubbed with sugar soap and any

holes filled in with Alcolin Lite Fill.Once sanded smooth we were

ready to start applying two coats of Prominent Sheen.

On either side of the headboard would be painted decorative panels - 425mm wide and as high as the headboard

- with chocolate as the base coat and a gold-

sprayed pintuck design that matches the duvet and cushions.

Decorative panelsUse clear, self-adhesive plastic and draw your design onto the clear sheet with a black permanent marker. Position the plastic on a cutting board and use a sharp craft knife to go around the drawn outline.

Peel off the backing and position on the panel. Gently press down and use Rust-Oleum Metallic - gold - to create your design. Remember to ensure that there is sufficient plasticaround the edges of the design to avoid spraying onto the

wall. If the plastic is too small, use masking tape and newspaper to block off.

This paint dries almost immediately and you can remove the plastic and reposition on the other panel to spray this side as well.

DIY Tip:I didn’t cut the entire design at the same time, but rather cut small designs that were easier to handle and then built up layers of spray painted foliage. (See Stencil Outline on back page)

I also cut out a stencil to create a frame around the panels so that I could get the corners perfectly even on both panels.

HeadboardWe used a piece of 12mm BisonBord 1440(w) x 1500(h)mm, covered this with foam, and upholstered in a black faux leather.

It helps to have a Bosch Tacker for this type of project so that you can easily fold the fabric round to the back and staple neatly.

To mount the headboard onto the wall we used fischer SX wall plugs andscrews, leaving approximately 25mm of the screw visible. Keyholes were cut into the back of the headboard for easy mounting and removing when necessary.

To create the upholstered effect on the front of the headboard we used metal washers sprayed black, chipboard screws and black, plastic scew covers - all available at your local hardware store. Put the scew through the washer, screw into the headboard and pop on the cover - easy!

Bedside TablesThese wall-mounted bedside tables are perfect for a small bedroom and are quick and easy to make.

You will need:We used 12mm PG Bison SupaWood, which was painted with Rust-Oleum Painter’s Touch - Kona Brown. Once dry the edges were given a very light rubbing with gold Guilder’s paste.

Here’s how:Cut out 2 half circles and a centre mounting section. Screw the top and bottom onto the centre section - be sure to countersink for the screw heads. Fill this in with Alcolin Wood Filler and sand smooth. Now apply 2 coats of Rust-Oleum Kona Brown and guild around the edges.

one teddyleft!

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DIY Divas IIadvanced power tool

workshop

Join Janice and Nancy for a day of girl talk, good fun and discover how easy it is to DO IT FOR YOURSELF!

Saturday 30 May or 4 Julyfrom 09:00 to 13:00

The cost R850.00 per person includes refreshments and snacks, and all materials

needed for training

In this course you will discover:

• Using a hammer drill for drilling into walls and concrete

• Drilling into ceramic & natural stone tiles• Techniques for cutting and drilling metal

using a jigsaw and angle grinder• Setting up and using a circular saw• Using a jigsaw for corners, cut outs and

angles. Fine cutting with a jigsaw• Introduction to pocket hole, biscuit and

dowel joints

FREE 14-piece FRAGRAM Toolkit

Attend a DIY Divas Workshop and you could take home your own Fragram PINK Toolkit!

Over the next couple of months we will be giving away a PINK Toolkit in our DIY Divas workshops. All you have to do is to attend a workshop.

The Cotton Classic redefines luxurywith itsunderstatedstyle, quality and fine craftsmanship. Clean lines andcontemporary VAT dyed colours make the Cotton Classic the ideal Decorator’s choice for B&B’s, boutique hotels and spas. A compact pile construction will avoid snagging, making the Cotton Classic a 5-star hospitality woven alternative towel to the Marathon range.

Use the Cotton Classic for the ultimate luxurious experience to transform any morning routine into an exclusive spa experience.

The Cotton Classic is available in range of delectable creamy colours, as well as two new colours, Spa Green and Seaside Blue, idea for Eco lodges and Spas - and is available in hand and bath towels and a bath sheet.

10 lucky readers stand a chance of winning Glodina Cotton Classic

hampers to the value of R 600 each.

For more information, log onto www.glodina.co.za

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WIN a Glodina Cotton Classic hamper to the value of R600

All you have to do is send us an email with your full name, postal

address, and tell us what you enjoy most about Home-Dzine Online.

CLICK HERE to email us!

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recycling bottlesWhether you are looking to recycle bottles for decoration, or start your own recycling business, the Bottle Craft Bottle Cutter is designed to cut bottles with precision accuracy for a professional finish.

The key to the bottle-cutting process is the accuracy of the bottle cutting. The rim of any glass, bottle, lantern or ornament must be perfectly straight, clean and free of chips and cracks. With the Bottle Craft Bottle Cutter the process is simply and quick. Here’s how:1. Once you have washed all

labels and greasy surfaces off the bottles you use the bottle cutter to...

2. Score a neat cut around the surface of the bottle thus weakening the bottle along that line.

3. Using hot water inside the bottle and cold water outside the bottle one forces the bottle to crack clean through to form two perfect halves.

4. After sanding and bevelling the edges you can use the two halves to create a useful item, such as a wine glass.

The central component to creating amazing artistic and useful glass products from throw-away glass materials is the innovative, easy-to-use Glass Bottle Cutter! The kit contains all the start-up components required to launch your business or hobby, aside from the raw material itself, (which is in constant supply and comes free from multiple sources all around you!)

Get the Bottle Craft Bottle Cutting Kit now and free your creative spirit!

Visit: www.bottlecraft.co.za for more information on this innovative product.

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Dowels are the best choice for situations where a joint must be both strong and fastener-free. And for projects were joints need to be invisible, such as drawer fronts.

There’s a trick to making successful dowel joints: you need a jig that registers parts precisely. If dowel holes are even slightly askew, the joint parts will be thrown out of alignment and not fit together.

Doweling jigs are made in several styles, or you can build your own from scrap. The jig should clamp securely to the workpiece, guide your drill bit for drilling a perfectly square hole and be easy to register accurately on your joint parts.

You may also want to have a set of metal dowel points on hand. When they are inserted into dowel holes in one joint part, their pointed tips will prick the mating surface to give you centre marks for drilling the mating holes. They’re a “must have” for blind-drilling situations where your doweling jig won’t work.

End-to-Edge Dowel JointsHere’s the joint you’ll use for building face frames or, with a little alteration, mitered picture frames. Make sure your workpieces have flat surfaces with square ends and edges.

1. Set your parts together, and draw lines across the joint to mark the dowel positions. Locate the dowel holes at least 5mm away from the workpiece edges for optimal joint strength. If your workpieces are less than 8mm wide or so, two dowels will do the job.

2. Clamp the doweling jig to one of the two workpieces so the drilling registration mark aligns with the dowel layout line.

dowel jointsDowel joints have been

woodworking mainstays for thousands of years. Learn how

to make them quickly and successfully with a doweling jig

and dowel centres.

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3. Drill holes in both halves of the joint. It helps to have a stop collar on your drill bit to set the drilling depth, but a piece of masking tape wrapped around the bit will work, too. Drill each of the dowel holes slightly deeper than one half the dowel length to create a little gap for excess glue. You don’t want the dowel’s length or extra glue to keep the joint from closing properly.

4. Before gluing up the joint, slip the dowels into their holes dry and test the part fit. You may need to widenthe holes slightly by cleaning them out a bit more so the parts slide together easily. Once things fit nicely,spread glue into the holes, insert the dowels and apply clamps. You’re done!

End-to-Face Dowel JointsThis dowel joint variation works well for assembling boxes, installing shelving in bookcases or building cabinet carcasses. You’ll need metal dowel centres to build these joints accurately.

1. Mark dowel layout lines on the workpiece that will receive dowel holes in its end. Use your doweling jig to bore these holes, just as you would for an end-to-edge joint. Then, slip dowel centres into the holes.

2. Set the joint parts together against a clamped fence or bench dog to keep them aligned correctly. Carefully tap the end of the dowel-point workpiece with a rubber mallet or dead-blow to prick centerpoints for drilling the opposite dowel holes (see Photo 7).

3. Drill the mating holes. Then, carry out a dry fit of thejoint. If the parts go together but tighter than you’d like, you can sometimes improve the fit by sanding thedowels slightly or widening the holes a tad. If the joint is a little loose, glue will usually swell the dowels and tighten it up.

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makeover magicEven office furniture deserves a

makeover. Zubair brought in an office chair that was left behind

by the previous tenant. and made of Oak.

All this chair needed was TLC and Woodocto restore it to its former glory!

We started off by sanding the chair with 120-grit sandpaper to remove dents and scratches, and finished with 240-grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.

Before applying Woodoc 10, wipe the unit down with mineral turps to remove dust and let the wood dry.

Woodoc 10 is very easy to apply with a paintbrush. The first coat was quickly absorbed by the dried out wood and we reapplied to those areas that dried very fast. For this project we applied an additional 2 coats of Woodoc 10 for a satin sheen without the glossy look. After the first coat we wiped down the wood with Woodoc SteelWool inpreparation for the next coat.

The base of the chair was finishedwith Woodoc 10 and Ebony Stain Concentrate.

To reupholster the chair:1. The fabric was removed but the padding - in good condition - was left on the seat and back.

2. New faux leather was cut larger than the seat and back to allow for folding under. Additional cutting was necessary around the arms to allow for folding under and around and tacking underneath the seat. We used a Bosch Tacker to make the job much easier.

Woodoc 10 is one of the most popular Woodoc Wood Finishing Sealers. This sealer applies easily, and the gloss of the sealer may be infinitely varied, using different applicationtechniques, from high gloss through “velvet” or semi-gloss, to absolute matt. This finishing sealer is also compatible for useon woodwork previously treated with oils or waxes.

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makeover magic

A second hand steel

shelf unit gets a new

look with Rust-Oleum

Antique Pewter kit.

Here’s how:1. We started off by hand sanding the unit with 80-grit sandpaper to

get rid of as much paint as possible, and finished off with 180-grit sandpaper. After wiping clean the unit was ready to paint.

2. The Rust-Oleum Antique Pewter kit comes with everything you need for a project and the instructions as very easy to follow.

3. Spray on the base coat. One tin was more than enough for the entire unit. Make sure to turn upside down so that you also spray underneath as well!

4. Once the paint is dry, use the scrubber provided to go over the painted surface, especially the edges, to rough up slightly.

5. Shake the top coat well and use the application sponge to apply to the surfaces. Only work a very small area at a time, as this paint dries very fast. Have a couple of slightly damp paper towels on hand to dab the painted area until you are satisfied with the result.

Rust-Oleum products are available countrywide at Mica, King’s Hard-ware, Jack’s Paint, Art & Craft and Hobby Shops.

Visit: www.tilecare.co.za for more information.

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makeover magicTanya brought the DIY

Divas two small benches that she had discovered

in her favourite secondhand shop. Whilst in a terrible state on the

outside, we could see the potential to restore

these benches to their almost new

condition.

1. The first step was to remove as much as possible of the old painton the metal frame of the bench. We initially tried paint removed but had very little success due to the design and our inability to get in and scrape off the paint. We found the easiest way was to use a Dremel MultiTool with a sanding attachment, and the work went very quickly from this stage.

2. Once the frames were clean of all old paint they were lightly sanded down with 240-grit sandpaper for a smooth finish.

3. At this stage the slats were removed, sanded with 80-grit sandpaper to remove all the old paint. There was quite a lot of damage to the planks and any damage was filled in with Alcolin Wood Fillerin Meranti to match the wood. Once the wood filler was dry wefinished off with a random orbit sander and 240-grit sandpaper.

4. Wipe the board with Woodoc SteelWool and Mineral Turps to remove all the dust and leave to dry.

5. Grab a tin of Woodoc 30 Exterior Polywax Sealer. Woodoc 30 is a clear, low-gloss, exterior sealer that enhances the natural look and colour of wood and is deal for wooden garden furniture.

Not only does Woodoc 30 repell moisture, it feeds the wood and combats fungal growth, and a UV absorber that protects the wood against the sun’s rays. ·And because Woodoc products are biodegrable at the end of their life cycle, maintenance is easy; clean the surface with Woodoc SteelWool and mineral turpentine before reapplying Woodoc 30.

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Autumn is when I get working in the garden. It’s cool enough to be nice to work and the sun doesn’t burn me to a crisp! If there are any changes, improvements or makeovers you want to try in your garden, start planning and get cracking.

To complement the installation of my new GardenGrass (next page), I decided to revamp my breakfast set. You may have seen the original project where I painted the concrete table. Now I’m going to change the colour of the table - and the

plastic chairs - to a deep blue, to add some contrast to the garden.

Refresh plastic furnitureFor the chairs I used Rust-Oleum

Spray for Plastic, which comes in 11 different colours. You don’t need to do any preparation other than to

clean the chairs thoroughly and wipe dry. Shake the can well and simply apply to the chairs - easy! Rust-Oleum Spray for Plastic doesn’t peel or scratch off, so you can refresh - or change the colour - as often as you like.

Update a tableI know a concrete table is not everyone’s cup of tea, but I’ve had the table for so long and it’s so practical. This time I’m painting the table to match my newly

refreshed garden chairs using Rust-Oleum American Accents - Midnight Blue.

The only preparation required was to sand down the surface of the table with 180-grit sandpaper using my Bosch Random Orbit Sander to remove all the paint spots. Wipe clean before you start, shake the can well and start spraying.

time for a change

Rust-Oleum products are available countrywide at Mica, King’s Hardware, Jack’s Paint, Art & Craft and Hobby Shops.

Visit: www.tilecare.co.za for more information.

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Over the past few months my little patch of green has had to suffer extreme heat, torrential rains and poor drainage that has resulted in the grass being almost obliterated! And that’s not to mention the fact that my garden has a lot of shade and I have battled to find a grass that will grow - I’ve even triedall the different types of grass without success.

Artificial grass has been around for a long time andongoing development has resulted in a product of outstanding quality and durability. The new synthetic lawn can not even be compared to the product of yesterday. Assured of a quality guarantee and an outstanding product here’s how to transform any garden into a garden that is green all year round, does not require sun, shade or water, and is virtually maintenance free!

the green, green grass of home

GardenGrass courtesy of www.GardenGrass.co.zaPebbles, plants, pots and paving courtesy of GardenShop - Broadacres

Installing GardenGrass as a DIY project is a simple process and is easily tackled in a weekend.

1. Preparing the siteA level site is required for installation and you need to remove all existing grass, plants and stones from the area. Turn the top layer of soil with a garden fork to loosen any stones and then level with a garden rake, removing small stones in the process. To finish off, this layer needs to becompacted, preferably with a vibration plate that you can hire for the day.

2. Laying the subsoilAccording to the installation instructions on the www.GardenGrass.co.za website, the subsoil has to be flat, stable,well condensed and preferably porous. As a rule, suitable road-metal, lava stone or sand, concrete tiles and/or stones are very good materials. For this project we used building sand, which is readily available and affordable. Spread the sand evenly over the entire area.

3. Putting down GardenGrassPosition the roll of GardenGrass at one end of the lawn and slowly unroll. You will need an extra pair of hands with this step to ensure that the GardenGrass is unrolled evenly. Leave the grass to settle for approximately an hour. As the GardenGrass settles the grass will spring up and the carpet settle nicely on top of the sand.

Note: If the area is wider than the width of a single roll, joining is done by means of carpet tape and adhesive (both supplied) and a sharp Stanley or craft knife. Full installation instructions are supplied on the www.GardenGrass.co.za website.

4. Cutting to fitYou can use a Stanley or craft knife to cut the GardenGrass to fit in with existing areas.

At the edges bring the soil over the edge of the GardenGrass. In this project we finished off with pebblesaround the beds and paving, especially since I have 3 dogs who love to dig! The pebbles prevent the dogs from uprooting any plants or digging into the soil.

LEFT: The dogs love the new lawn!

RIGHT: At the edge of the grass we installed a path using a selection of medium and large white pebbles supplied by GardenShop - Broadacres. www.GardenShop.co.za

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Installing a French drainWith the recent rains I discovered that my closed-in garden becomes water logged. To rectify this problem we installed a French drain* in one corner of the garden.

*French drains are primarily used to prevent surface water from penetrating or damaging building foundations. A French drain is simply a hole covered with gravel.

Installing an easy pondThis large terra cotta pot is easily transformed into a mini pond feature. The bottom drainage holes were plugged with silicone and left to cure for at least a week. The inside of the pot was finished with Flash Harry Fibre Flexsealer.

Pros and cons of installing GardenGrass

PriceFirst off, it does appear a to be expensive - prices range from R150 up to R300 per square metre, but if I take into consideration all the money I have spent over the past couple of years trying to get a decent patch of green, it’s probably going to save me money in the long run!

AppearanceI was given a couple of samples of the various types of synthetic lawn and could not believe how close to real grass it looks and feels - nothing like the artifical lawn of yesteryear.

Eco-friendlyNow this may be a contradiction in terms, but if GardenGrass doesn’t need any water, fertilizer, mowing or edge trimming, surely that’s a plus towards it being an eco-friendly, despite the fact that it is a manufactured product? More research reveals that the manufacturing process has a smaller carbon footprint than does regular maintenance of a residential lawn.

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fix up garden ornaments

These days garden ornaments don’t come cheap. You can spend up to R800 for a simple bird bath. Here’s a quick fixfor ornaments in need of a transformation.

My concrete bird bath has been lugged around and moved so many times that it is cracked, chipped and the top completely broken off. Instead of forking out for a new one, I got everything I needed to repair and transform the old one!

You will need:Alcolin AquaMend120-grit sandpaperRust-Oleum Rust Kit

Here’s how:See left for repairing concrete ornaments. Before using the Rust-Oleum Rust Kit, make sure that the ornaments are cleaned of dust and soil, etc.

TheRust-Oleum Rust Kit comes with everything you need for the project, including gloves, sander and foam applicator. All you need to add is a damp paper towel.

Spray on the base coat and leave for fiveminutes.

In a small bowl, mix a small amount of top coat and water in equal quantities. Use the applicator to apply to areas on the project. Don’t apply too much at a time and dab frequently with the paper towel until you achieve the desired effect. Leave some areas darker and others lighter to create a natural,uneven look.

Alcolin AquaMendAlcolin provides a range of ‘Mix & Fix’ fiberglass reinforced epoxy formulasthat are kneaded together for fast bonding and fixing. Choose fromAquaMend, FastSteel and QuikWood to repair and fix almost any project - indoors, outdoorsand underwater!

READER

GIVEAWAY

WE’VE GOT 2 RUST-OLEUM ANTIQUE RUST KITS TO GIVEAWAY. Simply send us your full name and postal address.CLICK HERE to send your details

does your garage door look like this?

If you are forever sanding and varnishing the garage door so that it looks respectable, perhaps you should reconsider your technique!

When you move into a new home chances are your new garage door has only been given a lick of sealer in the factory. All it takes is a rainy day and your garage door will suck up moisture like a sponge.

Or perhaps your annual maintenance only looks good for a couple of months before the bottom of the door starts to turn black, and the wood looks dried out.

Get to the bottom of things!The most common mistake when performing maintenance on a timber garage door is to forget about underneath the bottom, and this is where moisture soaks up and does its damage. Every single homeowner that I have spoken to tells me that they didn’t think to do that part!

Cover ups don’t work!The second most common mistake is to simply slap another coat of varnish over the top of the door and hope for the best. Which is all fine and well if the previous coat didn’t haveany cracks. It only takes a pinhole for moisture to have access to the wood underneath, and then you can kiss what limited protection there is goodbye!

Don’t waste time and money on products that only exacerbate the problem. With the correct preparation, right application, and easy annual maintenance, you can easily have a timber garage door that looks good, and stays looking good.

Home-Dzine and DIY Divas only use Woodoc products for our timber projects. Why?

No matter what the state of the wood, you are guaranteed a beautifully restored finish that

lasts. And Woodoc products biodegrade over time, meaning

that annual maintenance is easily performed by wiping with Woodoc

SteelWool and Turpentine to remove any old product, before applying

stunning good looks.

Varnish has its place, but definitely noton garage doors, window or door frames.

Wood continues to expand and contract long after it is cut and dried for manufacturing. When it’s hot or cold, wet or dry, wood shrinks and swells, and varnish does not.

Take a look at the Woodoc range when tackling your next project.

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restore yourdoor

Once the rainy season has passed it’s the perfect time to give your garage door a dose of maintenance.

Wood that is weather damaged and has blackened can be brought back to life using Woodoc Wood Reviver.

Here’s how:1. Coat all metal surface with Vaseline to avoid any damage.

2. Varnished surfaces left too long before renovation becomes brittle. If the old surface is loose it can be removed with a scraper followed by 80-grit sandpaper. Use a scraper with a straight, sharp edge and always work with the grain of the wood. Only use a chemical stripper if absolutely necessary.

3. Let the wood dry thoroughly before sanding down with 180-grit sandpaper. Wipe down with mineral turpentine to remove all traces of dust.

4. Following the instructions for mixing Woodoc Wood Reviver and be sure to wear protective gloves.

5. Scrub the surface thoroughly with the prepared solution and a small scrubbing brush, remembering to brush with the grain.

6. Once the blackened surface has been removed, wash the wood down thoroughly with water and clean off the Vaseline.

Let the wood dry for 2-3 days in warm, sunny weather before applying Woodoc 55 Exterior Gloss Sealer. Woodoc 55 is available in three tints: Meranti, Russet and Dark Brown to enhance and protect timber.

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potted pleasuresYou don’t need to be overly artistic to create wonderful pots for your garden. Get yourself a couple of Rust-Oleum Paint Pens - available in wonderful colours - and get creative! With their chiselled fibre tips you can easilyuse Rust-Oleum Paint Pens for thin or broad strokes, and the tip stays full of paint for a free-flowing design.

Nancy created a mosaic pot using two shades of blue. To start off, she sprayed the pot with Rust-Oleum Painter’s

Touch in white, but this isn’t absolutely necessary - you can use Rust-Oleum

Paint Pens to paint directly onto the clay pot. Using a pencil, Nancy outlined her design on the pots before filling inwith two shades of blue.

For my pot design, I went for something a little more floral in shades of green and pink. The pot wassprayed in meadow and leafy green and I applied a home-made stencil design for the flowers, whichwere painted in pink.

Pots supplied by GardenShop

Use Rust-Oleum Paint Pens on wood, metal, glass and ceramics and the formula is durable enough for embelleshing outdoor items such as birdhouses and planters - it won’t wash off!

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buying a Sander

When it comes to sanding and finishing our many projects, the DIYDivas have two sanders that we use:

Bosch Multi-Sander PSM 160 AThis powerful sander is ideal for general sanding, especially hard-to-reach areas and on small surfaces.

The Bosch PSM 160A has a built-in dust extraction system that sucks the dust directly into the micro filter box and means that we canwork almost anywhere without worrying about dust.

The velcro-type fastening for fast and convenient sanding sheet changes also means that we use less sanding sheets - the triangular shape allows you to turn the sheets around for three times more sanding.

Used on a daily basis for the past two years, our PSM160A has only needed a replacement pad attachment, which can be bought and easily changed.

Bosch One-Hand Random Orbit Sander PEX 220 ADefinitely ourfavourite sander, the PEX220A provides excellent results when sanding curves and final polishing of projects. The BoschPEX principle with random orbit motion plus rotation ensures good quality sanding with high sanding performance - even when polishing. Clean working thanks to Bosch micro filtersystem: the built-in dust extraction element sucks the dust directly into the micro filter box.

Velcro-type fastening for fast and convenient sanding sheet changes.

Use the Bosch PEX220A for sanding large, flatsurfaces to remove varnish or paint, sand down scratches, or for final finishing of your projects.The random orbit motion ensures that the surface is evenly sanded and polished.

For the DIY enthusiast with small hands - like me - you will find thatthe new cordless Bosch Prio is the perfect size. This lightweight sander is perfect for getting into small corners and general sanding - with less hand fatigue due to its compact design and low weight.

For more information on a wide range of sanders and power tools for the DIY

enthusiast, visit: www.Bosch.co.za

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fixing into drywall, plasterboard

ceilings, hollow-core concrete slabs and hollow- core doors

I am sure that many of you have tried to attach fasteners to the backs of hollow- core bathroom doors, or tried to hang a canopy from the ceiling, only to find thatthey fall out. There is an easy solution to fastening into hollow core doors - drywall, plasterboard ceilings and hollow-core concrete slabs - with fischer fixings.

The fischer ToggleFixing range is easily installed.

All you have to do is to drill a hole wide enough to accept the diameter of the ‘wings’.

Close the ‘wings’ and insert the toggle into the hole.

Turning the hook or screw tightens the assembly for a fitting that won’tdrop out.

Suitable for:Prestressed hollow-core concrete slabsGypsum plasterboard and gypsum fibre-boardsChipboard and slabs made of perforated bricksHollow concrete blocks etc.

For fixing of:• Pictures• Lamps• Electric switches• Key boxes• Small wall-mounted shelves• Towel rails• Lightweight mirror cabinets• Curtain rails• Cable and pipe clips• Cable trays

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Q zoneSend your Q & A for decor, decorating and DIY dilemmas to home-dzine@iburst.co.za.

Q. BridgetteWhat materials are needed to make a picture frame from wooden skirtings?

A. JaniceIf you are cutting the skirtings yourself you will need a mitre box and saw, or just the mitre box to mark the corners for cutting with a jigsaw. To join the mitred corners you will need 8mm dowels, dowel centres, drill and 8mm drill bit plus wood glue. Measure the angle of the corner and cut at a 45 degree angle. Drill 8mm holes in one end of each corner to half the length of the dowel. e.g. the top and bottom pieces. Insert the dowel centres and use these to mark the drill holes for the sides. Drill out the holes to half the length of the dowel and put wood glue in all the holes. Now join the sections and leave to dry. Use Alcolin Professional Wood Glue as this can be sanded easily and stained or painted.

Q. MichellePainted Patio Floor - This is a marvellous idea to sproose up the verandah – but – can you do this on a terracotta tile? The other problem I have is, the sun bakes on the verandah – our home is against a mountain. Will the paint not peal after a while? Also, what type of paint is used?

Thanks for your help. AND thanks for the fantastic mag. Please don’t stop sending it – EVER!

A. JaniceIf you plan to paint on terra cotta tiles you will need to use an etching acid to provide a better surface for the paint to stick to. You can buy a Plascon product that works very well. Once you have done that there should be no problem with the paint peeling off, but it will wear over time as you are going to be walking on it. Use an oil-based/enamel paint and apply two coats of an oil-based varnish over the top so that it will last longer.

Q. EsteSorry to ask but you are the only one that will be able to answer me correctly as you are also a female.

Moved into townhouse but all the rails are on different heights! How do I measure or tell a male( as I don’t have a drill) to hang the curtain rail so that the standard curtains available from Ackermans etc - normally 218 will hang corrects. I don’t have time or extra money to have curtains made - very easy to buy at these stores - even bigger bargain to buy on sales - get home and hang these standard curtains and immediately correct.

A. JaniceThere are two ways the could do this: The easiest is to remove the existing rail, hang the curtains onto the rail and then position the rail against the wall until the height is correct. They would mark the spot with a pencil to drill the new holes and hang the rail. The other way involves a bit of measuring and calculation. A standard curtain rail is hung at 220cm from the floor for tab top or eyelet curtains. Ifthe curtains are pleated then the curtain rail needs to drop the same distance as the pleat that hangs above the rail.

directory

Links for this issue

Alcolin

Bosch Power Tools for DIY

Decorating Centre

Dremel MultiTools

fischer Fixings

GardenGrass

Garden Shop

Golden Comforts

Home Comforts

Home Handyman magazine

Homemakers Online

Mica

PG Bison

Prominent Paints

Rust-Oleum

Shop Online at Hippo

The Gardener magazine

Woodoc

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