Backyard Projects

Do Free Chicken Coop Plans Produce The Best Hen Houses?

2010-09-29T16:35:00.000+01:00

Maybe you have decided to build a chicken shed or hen run yourself rather than buying a prefabricated one, to save money. Good idea. You must have looked at the costs for these online or in the shops. Fully assembled chicken sheds are very pricey things. Surely it makes sense to save yet more cash by getting hold of some free chicken coop plans as well? Yet the best chicken coop plans are not free, for good reason.

Plans should be proper blueprints with clear cut-to-size measurements and plenty of detail drawings for the difficult areas. Novice woodworkers will also need a full list of materials to build the coop, because it is quite difficult to prepare this accurately from drawings. You need to have the complete kit of parts assembled before you start to build the coop.

Then there is the matter of your chicken shed design. Do you already have it all worked out, or would you like to have a whole range of designs to choose from? The best chicken coop plans will include a whole heap of designs to meet every need and situation, some of which you might not have considered before. For instance, will your chickens have enough space? Be warm or cool enough? Easy to maintain and clean out? Well secured from predators?

The best chicken coops will have good protection from the weather, be warm enough in winter and cool enough in summer, be built to last, have all the necessary ramps and perches, have provision for egg collection, water dispensers and food trays – the list is quite a long one. Information and guidance on these and other important aspects of chicken shed design are usually conspicuous by their absence in free plans. Perhaps you could do with a few woodworking tips as well - good plans will include a lot of advice here.

Most people will want to do the best for their hens, which includes making the best chicken coop and ensuring that all vital elements have been included in your design to keep your hens healthy, safe and happy. A trial and error approach will be a complete waste of time, energy and money.

If you are saving perhaps $700 or more on building your own hen house, why skimp on the $40 or so you will spend on getting a good set of chicken coop plans to ensure you have the best chicken coop design that meets your particular requirements?

Free plans do not mean the best plans. There is no doubt that they will give you poor results compared to good hen house plans drawn up by chicken experts. A small investment in good chicken coop plans will repay itself many times over, and your hens will thank you for it too.

For help in finding the best chicken coop plans there is plenty of information available at BuildThingsDirect, as well as much more about keeping hens properly and laying happily.

Is It Hard Making Solar Panels For Yourself?

2010-03-16T16:26:00.000Z

Many people are interested in fitting solar panels to their houses, now that electricity is getting more and more expensive. They know that solar panels work but are worried about the costs. These can add up to many thousands of dollars for an average sized house, and clearly it would take quite a few years to get these costs back in utility bill savings.

The obvious thoughts are - can I make these panels myself? And save some money in the process? And the answer is YES to both questions. Here's how.

There are literally hundreds of guides available online to show you how to make a solar panel. Some are good, many are not so good, and some are downright dangerous. remember, you are making a device that will link into your domestic electric supply, so you must know how to do this safely.

I have seen many of these guides, and they all claim that you can make solar panel systems for as little as $200 a panel. Sometimes less,if you know where to get the right materials. Looking at the materials lists supplied in some of these kits, I can see that the parts costs should indeed be as they claim.

Given that you could make a single 100W panel for $200, say, and then made 4 more to produce a total of 1 kW, that would bring your total costs to $1,000 - probably less than that, because you would be bound to find shortcuts and savings in materials.

If you wanted to buy a 1 kW system of solar panels, you would have to spend at least $4,000 and probably quite a bit more. So, making solar panels your self will save you a ton of cash.

Your problem then becomes one of finding and choosing the right diy guide to show you how to make a solar panel. We have tried to help you here, by searching the internet for the best (and safest) packages, by which we mean kits of plans with comprehensive instructions.

If you would like to go with our recommendation, please check out how to make a solar panel on our website, practical-solar. You will find a product that does what it says on the cover and is excellent value for money.

Good luck with your first solar panel!

Build A Gazebo The Right Way

2010-02-20T14:22:00.000Z

I have great childhood memories of my grandma's gazebo. It was a beautiful building, taking pride of place in her garden, which was itself a wonderful part of her home. I used to play in and around it with my friends (my brother and sister were far too old for that sort of thing!), and it was at times a fort or a castle or the Sheriff of Nottingham's forward base against Robin Hood.

I have never forgotten that gazebo, and one day I will have my own. In the meantime I have managed to help one or two others to find and build their own dream gazebos, so I thought I would share some of the basic steps with anyone thinking about building a gazebo for themselves.

Making one is not difficult, but it does require great attention to measuring and cutting accurately to plan, otherwise the finished building will look homemade and far from professional. That would be a shame, since the gazebo should be a thing of beauty.

I have outlined the basic steps for building a gazebo on our website, where you will also find details of our favorite planning kit.

Planning Basics For Dog Houses

2010-02-12T18:16:00.000Z

Outdoor dog houses are usually quite basic, but need to be strong and weather-proof. In addition to this, however, most owners feel that their dog houses should express the affection and pride they have for their dogs, so the building should be of a professional standard in both form and function.

If you are going to make the kennel yourself, you should aim to use some proper dog house plans to do the job to a professional standard. Before looking at plans, however, you should think about the planning basics for dog houses.

First and foremost outdoor dog houses must provide a strong shield against all kinds of weather including rain, wind and hot sun. This means proper sealing of joints and seams, as well as insulation from damp, cold and heat. Adding some overhang outside the kennel entrance will give your dog some shade during hot weather too. Keep the floor off the ground to prevent damp inside the kennel and to preserve the wood.

Ventilation is also super important. Dogs can overheat easily, so they must have adequate ventilation in their house during hot periods. Similarly in cold weather their breathing can lead to condensation and damp inside the kennel if it is not ventilated. This is great for mould, not so great for dogs. You must build in good vents to allow a flow of air into and out of the dog house.

Do not use treated wood for dog houses, it is not a safe material for housing where animals might come into contact with it.

Access for cleaning out the kennel is important. Maybe have a hinged back wall or roof panel so thqat you can reach inside the kennel easily.

The last point is the size of the kennel – it has to be just right for your dog. There must be room for the dog to enter, turn around and lie down comfortably. Do not make the house too large, because dogs need to snuggle down in cold weather and use their body heat to keep warm. Too much space will make this harder for him.

Making a good, sound dog house should cost you no more than about a hundred dollars and take you perhaps a day or so to do. Although a basic doghouse is simply four walls, a roof and a floor, you will most likely want to see a range of designs to get ideas for a more professional model.

To help you we have selected what we think are the best dog house plans currently available. Here you will find a good selection of designs to choose from, as well as clear plans and detailed materials lists. There are also sketches and diagrams to show you exactly what to do, if you are a novice at this. The dog house plans kit costs only a few dollars, and there is a money-back guarantee if you are not happy for any reason, which we think is essential for any online purchase these days.

We have shown the basic requirements for a successful doghouse. You can design and build one very easily, very quickly and very cheaply using the best dog house plans. You can also make a really professional standard house for your favorite dog. Why not give it a try this weekend?

How To Make Your Own Windmill - Essential Tips

2010-01-24T13:43:00.001Z

Buying a ready-made windmill can easily cost anywhere from 12,000 to 30,000 dollars, so it is interesting to consider how to build a windmill for oneself. Actually, doing it yourself is very easy and can be done for under 200 dollars. For this sort of money you will not get a very large windmill, but the potential savings are pretty significant.

So, if you are thinking about making a windmill, what do you need to do first? Before setting out on this project, you should consider a few things first:

Local average wind speed. Whatever others might tell you, windmills do not operate very well in average winds under 10 mph. The US Department of Energy publishes detailed wind resource maps, which should be checked before making a windmill.
Building Codes. Check these to see if you can build a windmill. For a small windmill you probably will be OK, but it’s best to make sure.
Available windmill space. Plan on roughly half an acre for a small windmill.
Next-door neighbors. It is sensible to include your neighbors in your plans, and prepare to overcome any prejudices about possible noise, TV interference and so on.
Windmill capacity. You only want a windmill that will generate enough electricity for your needs. The utility company does not have to buy any surplus from you, only offset against your grid consumption.
Storage. If you intend to live off-grid you will need to have batteries for electricity storage. These are available for free if you know the secret source!. Or plan to use your windmill to partially offset your utility bills.

These are some of the reasons why it is often best to seek advice from windmill experts when planning to build your own windmill. You will then be able to select the right plans for your circumstances, and make sure these include full lists of materials needed for the assembly as well as clear step-by-step instructions.

Small windmills have only a few components. Typically these are:

A propeller (actually 3 propeller blades fixed to a hub)
A DC motor
A fantail
An axle to which these are fitted
A mounting pole
An inverter, if AC is required
Storage batteries

With some electrical wiring and a few fasteners you will have everything needed to build your own windmill. Almost certainly you will have many of these items in your shed but, even if you have to buy them, you will find it possible to get all required items for under 200 dollars. It is quite feasible to assemble and fit a small windmill in a weekend.

Further information and recommendations about detailed step-by-step instructions and diagrams to show you how to build your own windmill can be found at Practical-Solar.

They can be had for very little money, and are well worth the investment.

Why Not Build Your Own Pool Solar Heater - It's Easy And Cheap!

2010-01-19T16:56:00.000Z

Using the sun to heat your swimming pool is one of the most practical applications of free solar energy. A solar water heater will let you enjoy a longer swimming season and preserve your water temperature during cooler evenings without having to worry about the heating costs. Swimming pool solar heating systems can heat a large amount of water each day, and are quite capable of keeping the water temperature in the 80 – 85 degree range even in moderate sunshine.

Installing a swimming pool solar heating system also adds value to your home.

If you decide to buy and install a ready-made solar water heating system you could pay from $2,000 to $4,000 depending on collector size and installation costs. However, it is quite possible to make your own solar water heater for an average-sized pool for under $200, including materials, plans and expert guidance.

The solar water heater is fitted into a circulation loop connected to the existing filter system. While the filter is working during the day the water is passed through the solar collectors and back to the pool. You can have a swimming pool solar heater system which has no moving parts, such as a recirculating pump, but this is governed by the daily sunshine activity locally.

The solar collectors are often mounted on roofs to get the best exposure to direct sunshine. Ideally the collectors should face the sun at mid-day and be at an angle equivalent to your latitude less 10 to 15 degrees. Several factors will influence the size of the collector panels, but it will be at least 50% of the pool surface area. Increase this to 75% if the collectors are laid flat or facing west. It is not unusual for the collector area to be the same as that of the pool when the site is shaded badly or exposed to strong winds. Because of the space requirements of the collectors, it is often better to fix them to a ground frame or even a suitable fence.

There are several factors which can influence a solar heater installation, including:

Climate and sunlight availability.
Building codes and safety issues.
Size of the pool.
Length of the swimming season.
Desired pool temperature.
Solar collector efficiency.

You really need the help of an expert to design your swimming pool solar heating system when considering these factors, because only someone with professional experience will be able to suggest the best solar pool heating system for your particular circumstances.

Making and fitting a swimming pool solar heater is very easy, and you need no special skills or fancy tools. You will find all needed materials in your local hardware shop. But, as always, there are experts that will make your job easier and safer, and the project planning stage much more complete.

I have no hesitation in recommending one solar heater kit that includes a simple set of plans and a comprehensive set of clearly illustrated instructions to guide you throughout the build in making your swimming pool solar heater.

For less than $200, including all plans, instructions, materials and expert guidance, you can make a superb solar water heater system for your pool – what a great idea!

Building A Log Cabin - Make That Dream Come True

2009-11-25T13:29:00.000Z

Perhaps the perfect log cabin dream is a simple, single or double room wooden house seated comfortably in a private getaway location far from the madding crowd. It would have great views in both winter and summer, there would be fishing in the nearby lake or stream, there would be trees to hang hammocks under, the wildlife would be around but not intrusive, there would be great sunsets, the log fire would be crackling as you trudged in from the snow.

Above all you would want privacy, peace, time to breath and take stock.

Some people have already achieved this dream. They have found the perfect setting, found the $50,000 to pay for the kit and a further $15,000 or $20,000 to get it built.

Of course, if your backyard is big enough, you could simply build a log cabin in it provided that your local planning laws allow such things (most local planners will approve temporary structures).

However, we must face one or two home truths about log cabins. The first is that they are simple to build. This is true for most designs, in the sense that there are no complicated construction or woodworking techniques required, but building a log cabin still requires much grit, determination and physical strength. Remember that log cabins are made from logs sometimes more than 16 feet long and perhaps 9 inches in diameter – these are seriously heavy pieces of wood. You will be hoisting some logs 8, maybe 10 feet in the air during construction. Simple? Yes, but not easy if you are unprepared.

Secondly, many people think that log cabins do not need proper foundations. Yes, some early log cabins were erected on hard ground. Some of these survive to this day. However, these were only meant to be interim structures until the settlers got around to building a more permanent house, and many did not last very long. Face it, any proper building must have a proper base. These should start below the frostline – if there is one reasonably near the surface – and extend to one or two feet above ground. At one time stone was the traditional material for foundations but now we tend to use concrete or cement blocks. I know this adds to the cost of building a log cabin but it is well worth it in the end.

When it comes to the design of a log cabin, there are literally hundreds to choose from. Maybe you have your own design planned out in your head or, even better, on paper. There are plenty of kits available (see costs, above), but the traditional and arguably the most fun method is to build your own log cabin. It will cost a whole lot less as well. Make sure your plans are really well done, work out the full list of materials for your chosen design, get everything together before starting the assembly, and find a good team of willing labor.

Easily the best and safest way to build a log cabin, and certainly the way for anybody who is not an expert in this area, is to invest in a set of good quality blueprints and step-by-step instructions produced by professional log house designers. These are not that expensive in any case – usually less than $50 will get you all the plans and instructions needed – and usually come with some useful bonuses like woodworking techniques, sources of the best logs and other materials, details about local planning and building regulations, the sort of things that often take up a disproportionate amount of your time when doing your own research.

Remember that log cabin dream, and plan right now to build a log cabin that you and your family can be proud to own and enjoy for years to come.

Lots of luck and have fun!

Better PV Solar Panels From Solar Home Energy Advances

2009-10-28T14:34:00.000Z

One of the problems with photovoltaic (pv) solar panels is their inefficiency relative to other forms of renewable energy. In a way this is not important because solar energy is free. But solar home energy systems do tend to need a lot of space to produce useful amounts of electric power. Building a do it yourself solar power system is easy, and the material costs are not very much. Nevertheless, smaller systems would be very welcome, and many large energy companies – Mitsubishi, for example – are making big strides in developing both commercial and residential solar energy systems that will improve efficiency significantly, at the same time lowering costs of the pv solar panels.

Costs are likely to be halved every eight years, at the same time achieving efficiency improvements of 25% to 30%.

One development uses a type of magnifying glass to squeeze more solar power on to each pv cell. It is called the fresnel effect, which uses optical lenses to beam sunlight on to the PV material. This has resulted in a reduction in size of as much as one fortieth of a normal cell, and there are even better efficiencies expected.

By using new forms of polycrystalline cells it is now possible for pv solar panels to produce nearly 25% more electricity. It is clear that solar power for homes is going to cost less and work better, and not just in sunny climates. The fact is that pv solar panels depend on available light conditions rather than direct sun. They do work best in hot countries, where daylight levels are good, but they do also work very well in colder climates, for example Canada and the UK.

Don’t be surprised to see some of these developments in a local solar home in the near future.

Turning to the vexed question of investment assistance from state and local authorities, there is now a welcome improvement in many parts of the world to fund diy home energy systems properly. For instance, within the EU, there are now some very strong directives in place to force significant improvements in renewable energy systems, and these are beginning to have a very positive effect. As part of these improvements energy from photovoltaic sources will increase from its present average of about 1% of total energy production to a creditable 12% and, to make this happen, many countries have introduced the so-called feed-in tariff to help fund commercial and domestic renewable energy systems. There are similar financial incentive systems already available in a number of US states.

The system shifts the emphasis from grant-based incentives, which seldom pay very much of the total costs, to a legislated price for each unit of energy fed into the national grid. This is much more attractive for investors, and can only help improve developments and efficiencies in a typical home solar power system still further.

Solar home energy has always been a favorite project for us, and we know that diy solar power is already a viable and simple option to the coming energy crisis. Certainly, current developments will yield more efficient pv cells for diy solar panels in the near future, but every second’s delay in building your own system NOW loses you more money as you continue to pour cash in to the utility company’s pockets.

It really is a good idea to plan to make a home solar panel or two. If you could use some expert guidance and good quality blueprints, we have a kit that we strongly recommend. It does what it says on the box, gives you great value for money, and also gives you peace of mind that you will be making the system properly. You will not be disappointed if you take our advice.

Finding the Best Plans for Building a Chicken Coop

2009-09-06T14:37:00.000+01:00

I am finding that many people are passionate about keeping chickens and want to know about building a hen coop. This leads to questions about where to find the best chicken coop plans on the internet. So we have done some research to try and help.

There are many offers of chicken coop plans on the internet, but which of these will result in a good-quality working chicken house? If you know all about chickens and how to design happy and healthy housing for them, are good at preplanning, making your own blueprints from basic plans or diagrams, producing a comprehensive materials list before starting to put your hen house together, as well as being an experienced carpenter, then you will probably manage with any type of chicken coop plans you unearth.

Or you might discover how much time and money you have wasted, and you could actually design and build a hen house that might be dangerous or unhealthy for your birds. Careful, accurate planning and proper blueprints are vital to making a good chicken coop.

Proper planning for making a good hen house will include at least:

Selecting a suitable location for the chicken coop in your backyard or garden

Calculating the right size of chicken coop for the number of hens

Ensuring adequate lighting and ventilation for the birds

Designing the nesting box and feeder arrangements

Ensuring adequate safeguards from predators

Considering any services to the chicken coop such as electricity and water supplies

Most people will need expert advice and guidance to do this planning thoroughly, and will rely on good blueprints rather than sketchy plans and vague layout drawings to build a proper hen house. Unless you use clear and accurate blueprints it is pretty certain that you will not achieve a good functional chicken coop, it might not be strong enough and it might let predators in.

If you take a casual approach to chicken coop plans you will end up wasting both time and money, your enthusiasm will take a dive and – perhaps most importantly – you will not enjoy the experience as much as you should. Also, unhappy or unhealthy hens are poor layers, so you will be denied those lovely free-range eggs you had so eagerly anticipated.

Before starting to make the chicken coop you will need to prepare a comprehensive list of materials needed for the job. This is very important, otherwise you will come up against inevitable problems during the build when you discover you have overlooked some bracket or other and your local hardware shop has already closed! Making a comprehensive materials list is quite difficult to do properly, and we really recommend that you let a chicken coop expert do it on your behalf.

It is so easy to make mistakes without this expert input. Often these mistakes will not become apparent until you have completed the hen house, and by then it could be too late to rectify any problems. It is certainly worth investing a few dollars to get professional advice and tips along the way, and usually these come complete with clear step-by-step instructions and schematic diagrams. In our experience we have found that good plans and instructions actually save the builder money overall because he does the job properly in the first place.

We have found and strongly recommend a man who has many years’ experience with chickens, Bill Keene. He can supply a good collection of chicken coop plans, including all the necessary information, step-by-step instructions, drawings, blueprints, material lists and professional guidance for you to plan and build a hen house that will be exactly the way you wanted it. He will help you avoid all those common errors made by beginners, and also show you how to produce a happy, safe and healthy living area for your birds. Bill Keene is the best source of good plans for making a wonderful chicken coop.

Progress with BuildThingsDirect

2009-09-06T14:33:00.001+01:00

I have not been keeping my blog up-to-date as much as I should, because I have been so busy with our website, BuildThingsDirect.

Our reviews of green energy products such as diy solar panels, solar hot tubs, solar heating for swimming pools as well as wind-energy products like diy windmills, have proved to be very popular. I am busy reviewing the latest guides and products in these fields right now. Hope to speak again soon, but please feel free to leave comments or advice if you have the time or inclination.

Backyard Projects

2009-09-06T13:26:00.001+01:00

Hi Everyone

I have thought for some time that diy projects are a bit under-represented on the internet. Sure, there are plenty of 'how to make a garden shed'or 'how to make a chicken coop' sort of site, but there doesn't seem to be anywhere that has a comprehensive range of interesting diy projects. So, I aim to do just that.

Of course, to start with, I will cover those 'build a garden shed' projects because they are very popular. I have built one myself, and enjoyed doing it. I want to include decent content on woodworking courses, tools (and where to get them online) and actual experiences of real 'backyard builders'.

For now I will include topics on green energy such as solar and wind power, although I am not sure how popular these will prove to be. Time will tell.

The new website is BuildThingsDirect. Please wish me luck and, if you have any thoughts or contributions to make, these will be really appreciated.

Kieran Gracie