• The extent of cleaning required determines on the amount of green algae that has accumulated in your pool. Therefore, you would have to first find out the severity of the growth of the algae.
• It is quite natural that if the greenish touch on the pool is not much, and you can see the bottom, the process of cleaning would be easier for you because the accumulation of the algae is less. On the other hand, if you think that you cannot see the bottom, it would be difficult for you to clean the pool. Moreover, it would also consume little more time.
• There are few chemicals and materials that you would require to get rid of these algae. However, chlorine is the foremost essential thing that you would require.
• You would first have to put the chlorine in the water at least 12-24 hours before cleaning. When you put the chlorine in water, it makes difficult for the organic substances to live. Consequently, the algae die.
• You can start brushing the walls. The walls can be followed by the floors of the swimming pool which acquire a greenish tinge. You can of course make use of the sand filter for this purpose.
• Sand paper would reduce the time that it would take to clear the greenish tinge in the walls and the floors.
• When the algae are dead, the pool would acquire a grayish color. In course of time, you would find that there is no longer any trace of greenery in the pool.
• You can now vacuum the pool through the sand filters.
• Make sure that you backwash the pool water. This would ensure that there are no dead algae trapped in the pool or inside the filter.
• You must clean the filter properly and thoroughly. Otherwise, there are chances that the algae would return back quickly.
• Once cleaned, you must test the ph balance of the water in the pool.
• You can also add algaecide on a regular basis. This in turn would assure that the algae would not return back again.

Green algae are one of the most common substances that you would find in the swimming pools. Therefore, you should clean it regularly to prevent excess accumulation. This in turn, would also lessen your hassle involved in the cleaning process.

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If you have decided to build a pond, then here is a list of things that you may consider to help you get a satisfactory result.

• Plan it well: Like any other project, building a pond in your backyard requires right amount of planning. You must think about the shape, size, type and location of the pond before you proceed with the actual task.
• Finalizing the spot: You may like to make blue print of the project to see which location is going to give you the best result. Considering that space is limited it is even more important that you do a few sketches before you finalize the spot.
• Size matters: It is only necessary to say that the size of the pond is a matter that needs proper attention. Look at the garden and find out how much space you can dedicate to the pond. You need to have sufficient space on the edge to make the sitting arrangements so decide on a size that serves these purposes as well.
• Depth of the pond: Depending on your requirement the depth of the pond would vary. Similarly there can be various layers to help you plant the water plants in a better and more beautiful manner.
• Type of pond: You must think about the type of pond you want to build like whether you want the pond to look as if it is placed on the foot of a waterfall or under a bridge. You can also decide whether you want a koi fish pond or just want some aquatic plants in the pond. Depending on this the size can also change.

Once you have decided these aspects, you are now ready to get on with the act of building. To get acquainted with the various ways you can build the pond and the options that are available to you, you may need to do a bit of research on the equipments and accessories that you are going to need.

There are many online sources from which you can buy the equipments as well but making a trip to the local depot can help you see the pond designs and you can even get some expert help. It would be good if you can take some architectural help before you start your project.

Most importantly, you must not pay attention to even the smallest detail. At the same time don’t forget that even though the project needs some labor and time, you are going to love the result so get going about building your pond.

Watch a video instruction on how to build a pond

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How to Build a Dock

Here is a list of things that you need to keep in mind when you build a dock.

• Choose right kind of equipments and materials: You must make a visit to the local store for getting the right equipments that you would need to build the dock. You may need to buy specially treated lumber and strong bumpers, steel screws and fasteners etc.
• Choose the location: You must have a good look at the waterfront and decide a place that is not rocky and provide ample space to build the dock and also allows you to park your boat without any issues.
• Design the dock: You must pay some attention to your dock plan. Design a dock keeping the need in mind. You may or may not have stairs and posts or a floating dock. A dock with strong posts is an ideal choice as it would be stable and would last a pretty long time. You can get a good dock plan from the internet as well.
• Take proper measurements: You must measure the depth of water from the shore to the depth of water you want the dock to stretch.

List of equipments and material you would need to build

• A good saw
• Bumper
• Treated lumber
• Measuring tape
• Ladder
• Steel screws
• Some fasteners
• Dock stringer
• Cordless drill

Steps to build the dock

1. Remember that this job is not a one man job. You must take somebody’s help in pulling together a dock. Because the work involves holding and fixing boards, if you get assistance, it would prove helpful.
2. To place the support posts, you need to measure the depth and the distance that you need to put each post.
3. Place your support posts. Depending on the requirement you can use a boat to help you carry and place the posts in the water.
4. You must put stringer on a higher level than the present water level, this way you ensure that you are ready for the rainy seasons.
5. Use the treated lumber decking you have bought and place on the stringer. You can leave a thin gap between each board to allow rain water to drip in.
6. Take the bumper and attach it to the outer line of the dock you are building.
7. Check the deck for any lose spots and use the fasteners and screws to hold the deck together strongly.

If you have swallow water you may need to use a ladder to place the support posts. Depending on the strength of the support posts, the stability of the dock would be decided. So give primary attention to this. Make sure the support posts are not too far from each other. Also try to take smooth decking for a better finish of your dock. You can even accessorize your dock with lockers and cabinet if required.

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• Paint brushes
• Epoxy bathtub paint kit
• Masking tape
• Muriatic acid
• Acrylic paint
• Face mask
• Drop clothes
• Clear epoxy

The step by step guide given below can help you in the task of painting a bathtub in a better manner:

• You shall have to begin by cleaning up your bathtub with the help of muriatic acid. Using this acid will help you in removing all the oil and lime deposits that have settled on your tub. After having done that, use sand paper to sand the surface of the bathtub for creating a tooth on which the paint can stay on. Make sure that you do not remove paint in the process of sanding. You can take the help of masking tape for applying on the walls of the bathroom so that the paint doesn’t get on them.
• The masking tape also has to be used for covering the faucets and drains. To ensure that the paint doesn’t get inside the drains and faucets of your bathtub, you can also use plastic drop cloths that can cover them entirely. Incase you want to add a tinge of decorative designs and shapes on the surface of your bathtub then you will have to take the help of acrylic paints. Here you have the scope of getting creative and innovative with your designs and draw any shapes that suit your style perfectly. However while doing so; you have to be careful of one thing. Make sure that you do not scratch the unprotected acrylic paint.
• The next step is opening up the kit of epoxy paint. Open up the paint that is available with the kit and then quickly apply it on the inside walls of the bathtub. While you are applying the paint, be sure to wear a face mask. This will prevent you from inhaling any paint fumes that might be poisonous. You can use paint brushes for applying the paint by starting from the top of the tub walls and then move on to apply it in a downward stroke.
• Cover up the bathtub’s walls and ledges entirely with the paint and with your designs and then leave it to dry overnight. After the paint has completely dried off, you can remove the masking tape. Now mix clear epoxy. This can be done by mixing hardener and resin according to the manufacturer’s directions. This clear epoxy will now have to be applied on the designs that you have painted on the walls of the bathtub very slowly.

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A shower actually has two important sections that you have to build to get the best of your bathroom. You would require building a shower enclosure and a shower pan. Both are equally important and you can do it with a bit of work. These tasks are not very easy to do so keep it in mind that you may need to take expert help if you want to get a professional output or if you want to give your personal touch to it then you can go ahead and build a perfect shower. You would need to collect the plumbing instruments, lumber, drain assembly, and tiles etc. to make your shower. You can make a visit to the local store to buy the required things for building your shower.

Steps to build a shower enclosure & pan

• A shower enclosure basically allows you to use the rest part of the bathroom as a dry area and you can fix a tub to get the ultimate luxury.
• First of all, measure the area you want to enclose for the shower. It may depend on the size of your bathroom.
• If you have two walls to cover then you would have less trouble building the enclosure and also make sure that your pipe holes are present in the area you want to fix the shower and the enclosure. If these are not there, you may have to drill to get the water pipes in.
• Fit the 2×4 screws into the floor where you want to fix the enclosure walls.
• Take the lumber you have for the walls of the enclosure. Fix them tightly and your enclosure can now be made waterproof.
• Use the waterproof liner and measure it to leave about 6 inches on either side to secure it.
• Staple the upper side of the liner and make sure the back side faces the wall.
• Make sure the drain assembly is properly cut and drain bolts are fixed. Make the cut only big enough let the bolt in.
• For the pan you can make sure that you place the drainage system in a proper place with the pipes fixed well to carry the water out. It must be placed in such a manner that the water doesn’t get clogged at one place.
• You can concrete the drain assembly after covering the weep holes carefully with pea sized gravels. You can create the slope for the drain. Make sure it is one fourth inch towards the weep holes.
• Lay the tiles properly and place the pipes for the drainage before you place the tiles.
• Your shower is now ready for use.

Note: You can also read the instructions in the lining, the drain assembly and the tiles to do the job better. You can also take expert help in case you need it.

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Instructions

1. The first step that you need to take towards raft building is gather logs. Make sure you collect logs of similar origin and uniform size. This is vital because it will help you to create proportionate structure.
2. The number of logs you require will depend upon the size you wish to have for your raft. While 4 to 5 logs will sufficiently be good for a small raft, for larger ones you may require 10 to 12 logs.
3. Now collect 6 to 8 poles of 4-inch diameter. Bind these poles together so that they can hold the logs together. The right way of doing it is to put a pole under the logs crosswise and then place a matching pole above the bottom pole. Repeat the process with the remaining pole pairs and make sure that they are evenly spaced to the opposite end of the raft.
4. Lash or tie the protruding ends of the poles firmly together at each end so as to ensure they do not move.
5. The cross poles that you fastened together will form the base for your elevated platform. It would be better if you shave the edges so the platform holds strong. The best option for creating platform is a sheet of plywood which is available in all sizes. Select the size as per your raft size.
6. Screw the decking into the top sides of the cross poles and you are set. Also make sure you get two more long sturdy logs for steering poles.

Fetch your life jackets ready and get set to test your raft in flowing water!

Tips to Remember

1. If your logs are uneven, wedge the smaller-diameter ones from the bottom. This is important to ensure they don’t float out the ends.
2. Since the raft will probably be heavy so build it near the shore so that you can easily roll it out into the water once the construction is done.
3. Initially try at a small beach where the waves are not rough. Later as you gain experience you can graduate to the rougher waters.

Watch a video instruction on how to build a raft

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Instructions on Pole Barn Building

1. The very first step towards pole barn building is proper planning. This planning should include building permit, length and material of the pole and spacing between the poles. These factors are very important and hence pay attention to them. For instance, in case of material, if you plan to use metal poles, you will have to place them closer apart, but for wood poles, they needn’t be so closely placed. Moreover, while the length of the barn will be limited by practicality, the distance between the consecutive poles should not be more than 10’.
2. Now that you have a brief plan of your pole barn structure, dig holes for the posts. Ideally the depth of the holes should be around 18”. However, in the case of wet soil the holes must be deeper so as to ensure stability in the poles. Also make sure to space the post holes carefully as per your plan. Place a stake in the center of each hole.
3. Once the post holes are properly created, place individual poles into each one and then carefully secure them with concrete. While doing so make sure to give attention to the positioning of the poles. They must be in an upright position.
4. Continue piling the material. As you place the materials one over another you must truss them at each level to ensure a stable horizontal hold. Also secure stringers to the tops of the poles. This is a crucial part of barn construction as these sections will support the weight of the roof as well as the trusses.
5. Next comes trussing. Here you need to take extra care. For instance, if you are using metal sheets while constructing the horizontal support, you must truss them properly or else it can result in a loose structure.
6. Finally add the Roof. However, while placing the roof make sure it isn’t too high or else it will easily become worn out. You can use a metal roof for your pole barn for better durability.

Tips to Remember

1. Make careful and correct measurements to ascertain everything is aligned. Even a minor mistake of a single degree at one end of your pole barn can result in misalignment of several feet at the other.
2. Pole barns constructed on relatively dry land are more stable.
3. Do not dig basement while constructing a pole barn because by doing so you risk losing the foundation soil that is vital for stability.
4. Adding storm clips to pole barns can provide additional strength to the structure.
5. For added protection, you can go on to add an all-weather insulator to your barn.
6. While working with lumber wood and tools take proper precautionary measures.

Watch a video instruction on how to build a pole barn

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You don’t really need lot of place to put a gazebo in your garden, where as you see a lot of advantages like spending a cool summer evening with your family or arranging a garden party for friends. The gazebo is just perfect for spending such time. Usually gazebos used to be made in bigger gardens and lawns but you can easily make your small garden an attractive spot with some flower plants and a gazebo. If you are wondering how you can build a gazebo then here is list of things to help you out.

Steps to build a gazebo:

• You can easily make a visit to the local home improvement store and check out the various gazebo designs available there. If you do not find anything matching up to you expectations then you can also check out online and order the one you like. This gazebo kit is usually loaded with all the stuff you might need to make a gazebo. The kit is complete with measurement and blueprints of how to assemble all the pieces perfectly.
• Gazebo construction may take some time but you are definitely going to find it worth it. So spend some time studying the drawings on how to go about it. If you find it too difficult to do it yourself, you can take some expert help as well.
• If you want to still do some additional changes to the gazebo then you can buy the required material with ease.
• Pick the right spot for the gazebo in your garden. Make sure you don’t have a clean surface without having to cut down any trees or remove wires from that area.
• Once you pick the spot you are ready to build the gazebo piece by piece. First of all you must make the sport ready. Clean the surface and remove any stones or debris that might be there. If you require you might have to have a concrete flooring as well.
• Now fix the frames for the floor and start assembling the floor parts perfectly. Once you are done you cans tart with the deck and then the walls and don’t hesitate to take help as it is a definitely not a single hand job. You can assemble the parts Fix the walls and the ceiling and secure everything perfectly.
• You may decorate it with wooden chairs or benches as per your choice. You can also fix a bulb to be able to use it at night.

Watch a video instruction on how to build a gazebo

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• Trowel
• Level
• Tile spacers
• Ceramic tile mortar
• Pencil
• Micro cutter
• Damp cloth
• Grout floater
• Silicone caulk
• Grout sealer

The method of installing tiles in a shower is actually easy if you follow the step by step guide given below:

• First of all you need to mark up a guide for the lowest row of your tiles. This can be done by drawing a horizontal line by using the carpenter’s level. You will also have to set up a mark for the center of the shower wall by drawing a vertical line.
• Now use the trowel to apply ceramic tile mortar to the wall. However make sure that you leave a gap between the starting of the tiles and the floor/tub. Later this gap can be filled by caulk. Be very careful while applying the mortar as this dries quickly. So only apply mortar to that big an area where you are confident to tile in quickly before the mortar dries off.
• Remember that the first piece of tile will have to be placed from the bottom row towards the center line. Start working in rows by placing the tiles and gradually work upwards and towards the corners. In order to ensure that there is adequate space between tiles, you can use tile spacers. This also helps in achieving uniformity between them.
• When you have almost reached the corners of the wall, use a micro cutter to cut and size the tiles accordingly. Here it is advised that you use a pencil to cut out the mark in a tile and then use the micro cutter.
• After placing all the tiles in the required places, allow them to dry off for about 24 hours. After 24 hrs remove the tile spacers.
• Now is the turn of using grout to the joints. You can use a grout float to do the task. Work in small areas so that after applying the grout you can wipe off the excess with the help of a damp cloth. Leave the grout to set for about 30 minutes.
• In order to prevent any water leakages you can apply caulk around the shower fixtures, corners and base of the shower.
• Now you have to leave the grout to set for about 3 days. After it has set nicely, you can use a grout sealer to avert the grout from becoming porous.

Watch a video instruction on how to tile a shower

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If you have been thinking to get a pool for your house but somehow you are tired of seeing the rectangular pools, then how about designing it yourself like the rest of the house. Designing a pool may sound a bit difficult but the trouble is no doubt worth it. You may like to visit a lot of website sources for pool ideas before you zero on your dream pool. Here are some pool ideas that you can consider while designing your own pool.

No matter where you live, your pool design would show your imagination and taste. So be very careful about choosing the right design for your house. There are lots of websites that provide web applications to help you design your dream pool. One of such websites is http://www.mydreampool.com/

Steps to design your own pool

• Select the region you belong to
• Choose the type of landscaping you have, wooded, tropical or desert. Choosing the climate and region is important as your design would reflect that particular style. For example a wooded region would have trees and flowers that grow in such regions. So, you can decorate your pool side with green grass, seasonal flowers, and some shady trees.
• Now, choose the shape of the pool you want and remember it need not be rectangular only. There are various options like L-shape, kidney, Oval and Free form. Different shapes would have their own advantages like the L-shape is ideal for children and elderly people in the house as there are two separate sections of water level in the pool. The kidney shape looks very good and its uncommon size and shape appeals to everyone. Similarly, the free form looks good and has your own personalized touch about its shape. It gives a natural feeling.
• Choose the floor for the pool and select one to suit the tone and mood of the house as well. You can have vinyl blue or black or white, concrete or granite, fiberglass or pebble finish. While vinyl flooring gives a smooth finish, a pebbled floor would have only the top layer visible and it would be attached to the floor with special cement with a clean finish.
• Choose you favorite pool coping, this can be anything between concrete, brick, stone or tiles.
• Select the pool decking. Choose between options like wood, concrete, brick or stone.
• You can also have lighting for your pools. Add deck lights if you like. Choose the shade of lights you would like. Add accessories like ladders, corner steps or volleyball net etc.
• For making it more attractive, you can even add waterfalls. Or have spas or hot tubs placed along side the pool to make it even more luxurious.
• You can now choose the pool machines that you would like to have and place it on your pool design. You can have a enclosed system, or an exposed system or an enclosed system.
• Select the Hayward control system, pumps, filters, heaters, cleaners, chlorine generators,
• Add some greenery with trees, bushes, flower beds, hedges, stone paths, fences, plants etc.
• Add furniture to decorate the pool you designed.
• Print the design and set about getting your pool ready.

Now, that you have designed your pool, its time to show everyone your design and get everyone talk about your newest talent, i.e. pool designing!

Watch a video instruction on design your own pool

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