Getting down to the “nuts and bolts” has always been synonymous with looking at the essential parts, integral to the successful completion of a project; when you’re talking about a construction project, saying this is as pertinent as ever. It is easy to overlook fixings and fasteners when you are first planning a project, but without the nuts and bolts your build will never get built.

There are hundreds of different types of fasteners, each designed specifically so that you have the right pieces holding parts of your project together. You will need to consider a number of factors when choosing the right fastener; if you are building something out of wood (for instance), then there is a good chance that you will want to use wood screws. But selecting the right screws for the material is only part of it, because then you need to consider the purpose and required fit.

You might need your screws to fit flush with the material and have them protected from removal, or you might want a raised fit with screws that are easy to extract and replace. Fixings exposed to the elements may need to be waterproof and have some level of corrosion resistance. Size is another factor that you should bear in mind; in the case of wood work, a smaller screw is less likely to split wood than a large one (depending on what type of you are working with).

When you are working with a spot is hard to reach, some fixings and fasteners will not offer the level of flexibility you require should you need to make repairs. In this case you might find that it’s a good idea to use self-drilling screws to give you the best chance of driving it home on the first attempt. The primary differences you will find between screws (aside from the material and size) are the head shapes, driving methods and thread types; these factors will also have an impact on the type of task you require them for. Below is a brief list of some the different heads, threads and driving methods available.

Head Shapes

Pan head screws have the standard type of head profile, which is of an average diameter/height. 

Button head screws are similar to pan heads with a slightly curved top.

Round head screws have a more pronounced curve than button head screws.

Flat head screws are (you guessed it) flat on top, with a tapered underside for countersunk holes.

Oval head screws are tapered on the underside like a flat head, with an egg-shaped top.

Truss head screws have large diameters and low profiles.

Fillister head screws have a thick profile with a slightly rounded top.

Thread Types

Wood screws have threads specifically designed for use with wood and have deep, coarse threads for gripping into timber.

Machine screws have finer threads than wood screws and are generally intended to be used in conjunction with nuts or tapped hole.

High/low screws have two sets of threads with alternating heights, designed for use with plastics and other low density materials.

Self-tapping (or thread-forming) screws have threads designed to tap their own holes which is sometimes achieved by gaps in thread continuity.

Driving Methods

Slotted screws are those driven in with a flat head screwdriver and are one of the most common screws.

Philips screws are an improvement on the slot design, with a larger mating area between the screw and driver, with a cross-shaped groove that fits a Philips head screwdriver.

Hex heads are hexagonally shaped and tightened with a wrench, as they have no grooves or slots for a screwdriver to fit into.

Square heads (or Robertson drive) are square shaped and tightened with a special driver.

One Way heads can be tightened with standard flat head screwdriver, but require special tools to remove.

Torx heads have a six-point recess and can be driven in using torx screwdrivers.

This list of fixings and fasteners hopefully cleared any confusion on finding the right type of item when constructing your own do-it-yourself project whether it be a deck, constructing a shed or garage or any other outdoor project that requires construction and materials.

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The beautiful outdoor colors of summer are quickly fading, fall is upon us and winter is quickly approaching. Our family loves this time of year because our schedules have calmed down a bit and we can spend time at home.  Being home means being outside and enjoying the wonderful brisk weather. Many people stop by for a quick visit and I always want to make sure the outside of our country home looks alive and welcoming. This is sometimes a struggle as the grass, leaves and flowers are dying but there are other great ways to add interest as the colors of nature fade away. Extra lawn care, the addition of ornamental grasses, plants, flowers, shrubs, trees and the “oh so easy” addition of color through hardscaping and accessories will brighten up the exterior without much effort or cost.

If you want a lush green yard into the winter months do what people up north do and plant northern grasses that can withstand the cold weather. Some great varieties include Kentucky bluegrass, Perennial rye, tall and fine fescues and the new blends of the turf-type tall fescues are also becoming more widespread. We don’t plant northern grass but we do plant a lot of ornamental grasses. They are so easy to grow and come in many heights, color and textures. Some of our favorites are Indian grass, Little Bluestem, Moor grass and with Pink Crystals Ruby Grass comes a beautiful contrast of color.

Check out what grows best in your area but there are many great winter plants, trees and shrubs that bloom in the colder months, have bright berries, or as the leaves fall reveal textures and colors of bark and stems that are actually quite interesting. Some of our favorite plants include Pansies, Crocus, Snowdrops and Witch Hazel.  Berry producing favorites would have to be Winterberry, Blue Holly and Snow Berry and then when it comes to trees the Redtwig, Cool Bark Maple and of course the Dogwood trees that grow wild in the hills surrounding our home.

Along with decorating the outdoors with live vegetation comes the easy way of using hardscapes where the variety of colors, shapes and textures are endless. Items that we have around our home that add interest are a beautiful rustic bench, a gazebo and different shaped arbors and trellises. We also like to add planters in all shapes and sizes. Brush on a fresh coat of paint and a small evergreen and these planters really living up an outdoor entertaining area.

We like to add a little each year to our lawn and garden so that we aren’t stressed out by trying to put it all together. This is our relaxation time and we always try to make the most of it. There are many things we dream about adding like a portable spa or even one built into our multi-level deck design, an outdoor kitchen and a fire pit surrounded by colorful Adirondack chairs. One day this will all happen but for now we are happy with our mix of grasses, plants, shrubs, trees and hardscapes and no longer are sad when summer is over but actually look forward to the priceless time of year we get to spend at home with family and friends.

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It’s no secret that kitchens have become the “hotspot” in the home. No longer does a kitchen just include a few cabinets and a couple of boring appliances. From sleek countertops to high tech appliances that offer a multitude of function, kitchens today offer all the convenience we could ever want and a stylish backdrop to make our time spent there even more enjoyable. Personally, I love to cook and bake for my family, so a fully updated and stylish kitchen was at the top of my priorities when we moved into our new spacious ranch style home plan. Before we began to remodel, our one-story home offered an acceptable cooking area, but with the recent changes, I am proud to say our kitchen is beautiful and even more functional!

I did quite a bit of research when we first started redesigning our kitchen because it was a large undertaking and although I had a picture in my mind of how I wanted it to look, I still needed some tips to create my ideal cooking space.

One of the things I focused on was lighting. Before, the light fixtures were quite bare and dim. It’s important to have good lighting when you’re cooking so you can see what you’re doing!  I even recall reaching for what I thought was sugar while baking some cookies. Needless to say, those salty cookies were not a hit with my kids! Lighting can also completely alter the mood and feel of a space. Brighter lights can lend to a cheerful feel and softer lights create a cozy atmosphere. We invested in several types of lighting options for various areas throughout the kitchen. We chose brighter lighting options in preparation areas and for the dining area of the kitchen, we chose lighting that offers more ambience.

Next we considered our cabinets. Cabinets are one of those things in a kitchen that if they are the right style, they will fit seamlessly with the rest of the space, but if the style is off or the color not fitting for the décor, they will instantly become an eyesore. I personally knew this to be the case with my own cabinets. While high quality and beautiful in their own right, the cabinets that came in our house absolutely did not fit with my vision. Cabinets take up a lot of space in the kitchen and are a natural focus point in a kitchen, so we had to be very careful when choosing our new cabinetry. In our case as well, we wanted our kitchen to fit seamlessly with the adjacent hearth room. In addition, our new house also offers a unique see-through fireplace connecting our kitchen and living room. So with these distinctive features, our cabinet choice was crucial in pulling all three spaces, the kitchen, hearth, and living rooms, together.

Another detail we needed to consider was the kitchen floor, which takes that brunt of the hustle and bustle occurring in our home. From common food spills to muddy footprints, it’s no surprise that the flooring in the kitchen has to withstand some harsh realities and wear and tear. Everyone converges in the kitchen and my family members constantly bring their things through the kitchen so we needed to select flooring that would make our lives easier. No longer spending hours each day scrubbing marks off of our light colored laminate, we chose a darker ceramic tile that can hold up to our busy family’s needs.

In our previous home, a beautiful English Cottage style home that we simply outgrew, we had a gorgeous tile backsplash behind our stove that I took for granted before. The new kitchen did not have a backsplash but after a few months’ worth of grease and other cooking wastes ending up on the wall behind the cooktop, I knew we needed to add a functional yet attractive tile backsplash. In this inexpensive project, we chose colored tiles that reflect the décor of the kitchen to add a custom look to our home and accent the other beautiful features of the kitchen.

It’s amazing how color can make a room take on a whole new personality and that’s exactly what happened when we painted our kitchen. Out with the dark, peeling wallpaper and in with a few new coats of a light and airy color. This light paint opens up the room and gives a perception of larger space. In addition, we added some strategically placed mirrors that spice up the décor and expand the space.

Another thing that my family pledged to do with our new functional and stylish kitchen was to eliminate clutter. Keeping the countertops free of excess mail, grocery bags, and the kids’ homework has been tough but it offers more space for creating meals and gathering with family and friends. The lack of clutter creates a relaxed atmosphere so that cooking and mealtime are that much more enjoyable.

Many of these design concepts seem pretty obvious and I knew from the moment we toured the new house, I wanted to redesign the kitchen. However, it took some work to go from the beautiful concept in my mind to the sophisticated and efficient kitchen that I have the pleasure of using every day. Once we did our research and found out exactly what we wanted, we simply went for it and we couldn’t be happier with the finished product!

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Known as the Melting Pot for more than just its people, the architecture in the United States is truly a mixture of architectural styles from everywhere around the world. One of the earliest styles in the United States is known as the Colonial Style because it was developed during the colonial period of America. In coming to the New World, the colonists brought the construction techniques and styles from their homelands to use in their new lives. However, although inspired by their native European countries, it didn’t take long for these Colonial house styles to evolve into their own, uniquely American renditions.

Recently my son took a fieldtrip with his school to see some historical houses and envision how the people lived back then and it really piqued my interest. I found some great facts about the American Colonial Architecture style and it’s really fascinating that these people lived in houses that are actually quite similar to homes today! Nowadays, the Colonial style has been revived and revamped to fit into modern society, while still holding on to the classic characteristics used by the colonists all those years ago.

From the late 16^th century until the beginning of the 19^th century, the Colonial style dominated the landscape of the newly settled areas in North America. The styles ranged between New England and Cape Cod Colonial, Spanish Colonial, German Colonial, Dutch Colonial, French Colonial, and Georgian Colonial. Each style emerged in the specific country’s territories, however the styles continued to evolve in order to perfectly suit each region. I had no idea that American Colonial architecture spanned so many different regions, backgrounds, and styles!

Located mainly in the Northeastern area of the country, modern day Massachusetts, Vermont, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and New York, the original settlers were mostly English and so, they started to build homes in the styles from their native England.

This New England and Cape Cod Colonial style included a symmetrical front, rectangular shape, two stories, side gables, a steep roof with narrow eaves, little exterior ornamentation, casement windows, a massive central chimney, and a lean-to addition with a saltbox roof.

When I was reading about this style and looking at the pictures, I realized that this is the typical colonial architecture that I immediately thought of, but I found that there are so many more variations of colonial style!

Also developed at the same time and sharing many of the same characteristics was the Colonial Cape Cod style. Again, these houses were modeled off the English styles; however, these houses were modified to fit the turbulent New England weather. Cape Cod Houses have many of the same characteristics but were originally only one room deep and also included only 1 or 1 ½ stories and shutters to block out the storms. In fact, once I read up on the Cape Cod style, I realized that several of my friends own very charming modern Cape Cod houses. It’s so interesting to see the differences between the historical versions and the modern adaptations.

Although they mainly colonized and gained profit from Mexico, Central America, and South America, the Spanish occupation of modern day Florida, the American Southwest, California, and other areas in the southern United States led to the development of the Spanish Colonial architecture in those areas. Whenever my family travels to Florida for vacations, I always marvel at the architecture because it’s so different from where we live

Spanish Colonial architecture is characterized by several exterior doors, small windows with interior shutters, flat or low pitch roofs, and thick walls made of rocks, coquina, or adobe brick and covered in stucco to keep out the heat.

Immigrants from Germany settled, for the most part, in modern day New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Maryland. These houses are, again, a part of the American Colonial style so they are similar to the other styles but they have their own unique features.

Some of the German colonial architecture includes two-foot thick sandstone walls, symmetrical facades, reinforced stone arches above the door, windows on the first floor, wooden frames, and field stone building blocks.

The Dutch influenced American Colonial architecture in New York and along the Hudson River. Those buildings are made with either brick or stone and they have matching chimneys on both ends, symmetrical facades, gambrel roofs, wide flared eaves, saltbox lean-to, and Dutch doors that are split horizontally and can open independently.

Also known as “Creole” or Acadian architecture, the French Colonial style of building combines French, Caribbean, West Indies, and other influences and is designed for hot, wet climates. Located in the Southern United States, especially in Louisiana and Mississippi, the French Colonial architecture provides a colorful addition to the Colonial style in America.

Recently when we took a trip to New Orleans, we spotted some of the typical characteristics of French Colonial architecture like expansive porches, steep hipped roofs that extend over the porches or steep side gables roofs, and French doors.

Coming about mainly in the 1700s, Georgian Colonial architecture swept the New England and Mid-Atlantic regions where it displayed the rising ambition of America as it focused more on ornamentation and grandeur than the other types of colonial architecture. At least to me, this style reminds me a lot of the older New England style, except updated to fit the new American mindset.

Georgian Colonial architecture includes spacious and comfortable floor plans with distinguished living, dining and family rooms. Also, bedrooms are on the second floor, they have square and symmetrical facades, there are decorative crowns and flattened columns around the doors, two-foot wide stone walls, matching chimneys on either side of the building, medium pitched roofs with minimal overhang, and square cuts along the eaves.

After the Centennial International Exposition in 1876, the citizens of the United States of America experienced a renewal of interest in their own history and the Colonial Revival architecture spread throughout the nation. Kind of like my son’s fieldtrip and me!

Colonial Revival mainly focuses on revitalizing the more ornate Georgian Colonial, however Cape Cod Houses, Dutch Colonial, and Spanish Colonial all experienced revivals that brought the architecture into modern society.

Easy details to recognize on a colonial revival house include symmetrical façade, gable roof, rectangular shape, brick or wood siding with simple and classical detailing, elaborate entrances, pillars, columns, dormers, decorative shutters, and central entry hall floor plan with living spaces on the first floor and bedrooms upstairs.

I know for a fact that whenever I drive through my neighborhood anymore, I can always spot which houses are colonial revival houses and it’s amazing how well they fit with the other architecture in our area.
In particular, Cape Cod houses came back into style in the 1930s with additional rooms, strictly decorative shutters, and chimneys on the side of the house rather than in the center. I was very happy to inform my friends that they owned a Cape Cod house and I even showed them pictures of what their house would have been in the 1600s.

The Dutch Colonial Revival kept the original design while updating and varying the materials, details, and sizes used.

On the other hand, the Spanish Colonial Revival also included features from several other Spanish styles and is distinguished by its smooth stucco walls, low-pitched roofs covered with clay tile, small porches and balconies, and other window details.

When I started my little research project, I was just focused on the architecture, but I realized that the architecture is completely entwined with the history and I learned so much about the beginning of the United States! Colonial style houses have withstood the test of time and continue to experience popularity all around the United States today. Renewed, yet still carrying our country’s history, the Colonial houses of today incorporate the same symmetrical and elegant facades with some modern ornamental additions that continue to please the current homeowners.  So even if your Colonial revival house was just built, it still has such a rich history and I’m glad that I took the time to research the architecture. I even shared some fun facts with my family and my son was even more excited about the houses he had seen!

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