Barbecues are a great summer hit and although the summer isn't quite on us, this is the perfect time to prepare. Buying all your equipment just out of season will not only save you money, but make sure you are prepared when we get the sudden spell of sunshine or day without the traditional British summer rain. Barbecues are a traditional way of cooking food in many countries and each has it's own spin on exactly what to cook and how, even the name is argued over. It is seen as barbecues, barbeque, BBQ, bar-b-que and barbie.
Whatever you want to call it there are 3 main types of barbecue, this is based on fuel type and they are charcoal, gas and wood. Each gives a full set of advantages and disadvantages which need to be considered for cooking events.

The main fuel type on the market today is gas barbecues. Gas barbecues have the massive advantage of being fantastically convenient. They are easy to set up (just attach the gas bottle) and cook things at a consistent temperature and rate. This enables following recipes easier and preparing food for a specific time, especially after practice with your grill. Gas grills are also very easy to light and many come with inbuilt ignition spark switches. Other advantages of gas grills include the lack of pollutants that affects both the taste of the meat as well as the air around the barbecue, creating a cleaner and more relaxed atmosphere. A large criticism levelled at gas barbecues is that they lack the 'authentic' smoke flavour of wooden or charcoal barbecues; this however can be remedied by adding a small, perforated metal box (called a smoker box). This can contain some wooden chips that slowly burn to offer the same unique taste as a wood barbecue. Many of the highest range of barbecues have this feature built in and they may even feature a special burner dedicated to the job.

.Gas barbecues cook food at a steady rate but produce a "wet" heat, meaning that water is one of the by products of combustion. Some people believe that this affects the flavour of the food and negates the point of the bbq experience. On the plus side this wet heat does make some foods retain water and prevents them drying out. Because gas is easy and predictable it is ideal for larger parties as you can just add food cook it, and serve.

Charcoal barbecues are a little more traditional than their gas counterparts. They are harder to light and usually involve a bag of process charcoal briquettes or a large lump of natural charcoal. Lighting techniques can involve aid such as a chimney starter or soaking the briquettes in a denatured alcohol (or other non petroleum based fuel) to prevent unwanted chemical flavouring of the meat. You may also choose to use an electric iron to heat the coals. Once ready you may choose to add some water soaked wood chips for flavour. Cooking on charcoal is much handier than gas for portable cooking but not as easy as it takes longer and lighting problems can occur for beginners. Charcoal barbecues are regarded as the most traditional (especially in England) by many and are the only thing that counts as a "real BBQ". While time consuming they can often give spectacular results although I would not recommend them for large parties.

Wood fuel barbecues are not as readily available to buy as their charcoal and gas counterparts. Although you can easily choose a nice wood for a specific flavour they can leave a tar type residue on your food. They can also offer lighting difficulty but no serious challenge for an experienced barbecue user. Woods recommended to use are mesquite, hickory, maple, pecan, apple, and oak. Woods to avoid include conifers. Wood types have completely different burn constancies and heat levels, it is best to experiment first or combine your chosen wood with charcoal to optimise your effect.

Outback BBQ: Outback gas barbecues/grill products have been on sale in the UK since 1997. They have reached world wide fame as a quality product and although not established as long as some companies, they have a firm grasp on the market and a very strong reputation for reliable and attractive gas barbecues. They have a very large product range and some fantastic accessories such as condiments trays, thermometers and smoker boxes. Outback also have a dedicated UK office meaning the products available are deigned specifically with the UK market in mind. Many online retailers stock the Outback range but only www.flaminbarbecues.co.uk stock the UK exclusive range, a specially designed, specially priced stainless steel bbq and trolley set.

BillyOh: BillyOh are a UK based retail brand that stock a wide variety of garden living accessories from benches to barbecues to sheds. There barbecues include both gas and charcoal and have a wide price range. While not as well established as Outback they are extremely high quality and are rapidly raising through the ranks of garden accessory retailers. The great thing about BillyOh is that it offers such a wide range of products you can build you entire garden party, from tables and chairs to patio heaters from its range. They are an excellent choice for the new home owner or first time who needs the full kit to begin their barbecue party adventures.

Lifestyle: Lifestyle are large brand that focuses on outdoor heating and eating products. They are well established and often offer a more elegant choice of product than their counterparts. While sometimes slightly more expensive if their products are the things your looking for you can guarantee they will be good quality and reliable.

While fun and simple on the surface, barbecuing can be a tricky business, your often cooking for a group of friends and family and giving them food poisoning because of inexperience is the last thing you want.

One of the most important factors in hosting barbecues is remaining in control of the situation. This means paying attention to the fire at all times and never distract yourself performing too many other tasks or drinking heavily. Alcohol seriously impairs judgment and the effects could be anything from food poisoning, a ruined meal or death. Please remember to stay sober and stay safe when hosting a barbecue; you can always have a drink later once the food is done.

A great way to ensure the cleanliness of your barbecue is too give it a good ten minute 'burn off' before use. After, simply wipe it down with vegetable oil to ensure that your food doesn't stick to the grill. If you notice a yellow tipped creeping flame, usually with a smoke trial you may have a blockage. This more commonly occurs on gas barbecues and is usually caused by dust, cobwebs or grease blocking a jet. Cleaning the barbecue will rectify this just make sure it's cooled down enough first.

A great accessory for cooking side dishes such as beans or dipping sauces are the foil trays you often receive from Chinese takeaways. These can be purchased from most supermarkets and keep the food warm as well as being disposable after wards.

Light Citronella candles around your garden to keep away unwanted insects, not only are they effective they are also relatively cheap these days. Lavender is also a good alternative. If you have fussy neighbours you may want to mask the smell of cooking by tying some rosemary, sage or mint to the outside of your bbq, as they warm up they will give off lovely aroma.

I hope that this article gives you a good idea on what is on the market and what you may want from a barbecue, and I hope your next barbecue party, whether it be your first or fifty first, goes down with a storm.

Peter Farmer is a landscaper from the Nottinghamshire area of England. He specialises in party and modern arrangements and helps produce content for gas barbecues site flaming barbecues.co.uk and summer houses and garden buildings stockist garden buildings direct.co.uk

Just an explanation of the last few articles. These were designed to give you help in buying particular products, in this case patio heaters and log cabins. If you have any more questions don't hesitate to let me know.

-GM

Patio heaters are an increasingly popular household accessory. They are relatively cheap to run, come in a variety of designs and sizes and are excellent for combating the chill that sets in towards the end of garden parties, especially in temperate climates such as the United Kingdom. The primary use of patio heater is to keep yourself and guests warm in your back garden but you are not strictly bound to only use them for social gatherings. A patio heater can be a fantastic for a romantic night out on a patio with a partner or a relaxing evening by yourself reading a book and taking in some fresh air. Parties are of course an excellent use of patio heater as they will enable a large amount of people sat around a table to remain comfortable in the evening temperatures. If you are entertaining large groups of people then why not purchase multiple patio heaters to overlap the heat output radius and keep 2 or even 3 tables of people warm and comfortable.

Patio Heater safety is of uttermost importance, while patio heaters are nearly always perfectly safe, neglect of critical components such as the gas pipe or regulator could cause a gas leak. Always firmly secure the regulator and have your apparatus checked annually by qualified professionals for peace of mind. If the flexible hose between the canister and the heater shows signs of cracking, splitting or any other form of deterioration then immediately seek a new one. Placing your patio heater in the correct area is also an important safety issue. Since patio heaters are designed for outdoor use only they should never be placed inside a house, tent or tightly enclosed area as the extremely hot air/combustion product of the patio heaters could cause flammable materials to ignite. Patio heaters can be placed on balconies and verandas but you must carefully follow manufacturer's guidelines to make sure it is safe as well as provide proper ventilation and ensure the area surrounding the patio heater has no easily flammable substances. Something else you should consider when positioning you patio heater is that if winds are strong enough they could blow your patio heater out or even over, ensure you place it in a spot shielded from strong direct winds preferable with additional ballast to hold it down.

Now you understand the basics of patio heaters have a look around for the perfect device for you, below is a synopsis of a few known brands on the patio heater scene.

BillyOh: BillyOh.com are an experienced garden accessories manufacturer. They make a huge variety of products including sheds, log cabins, barbecues and patio heaters. Their range is designed with simplicity in mind all their products are easy to assemble, affordable and look great in any garden with a choice of stainless steel or coloured finish. You can browse a full range in detail on the BillyOh.com homepage.

Lifestyle: Lifestyle Appliances limited are a fairly large company who also make a range of furniture and garden appliances. While sometimes more expensive than BillyOh.com they do offer a slightly larger range as well as more specific supplies such as BBQ tools.

What's great about the BillyOh and Lifestyle ranges are that you can create a perfect set of patio heaters, furniture and BBQ without the hassle of looking in three different places, if you wish to purchase any of these products or simply browse specifications why not visit the fantastic barbecues and patio heaters site flamingbarbecues.co.uk or garden furniture site simplygardenfurniture.co.uk.

This article aims to give advice on purchasing your first log cabin. It discusses possible problems including wiring and planning permission and goes through a few major brands so you can make a decision on where and how to buy. The article is generally aimed at UK residents but providing you understand your own countries building regulations can be applicable to anywhere.

Log cabins are a huge investment, they can cost anywhere between £500 to £10,000 and each has its own unique properties. They are extremely versatile and can easily become the pinnacle of any garden or property. They have many uses such as pool house, hobby house, summer storage and a small flat. There are however, many issues you need to consider when planning to purchase a log cabin. The first and foremost is planning permission.
Planning permission for log cabins is a somewhat uncertain subject. If you live in a national park, a conservation area, a place of outstanding national beauty or the Broads you will be under different rules to the rest of the country. If you are not sure always, always contact local authorities. Better they know to start with than coming around later causing trouble. That being said, building a log cabin should not be a stressful procedure. If you're only planning on building a garden building then you can consider the following points so that you will know whether or not to apply for planning permission. A garden building should be ok unless;

• Your house is a listed building
  
• It does not cover over 50% of your garden
  
• It is not used in connection with running a business
  
• It is not more than 4m high
  
• It is for use by the house occupants only
  
• Your house is closer to the road than the garden building

If your plan does however cross one of these or you are planning on using it as a full function building you will need to apply for planning permission as well as achieve building regulation standards. Even if your log cabin qualifies as a garden building it will still need to stick to the official building regulation if it is over 30 square meters. Building regulations are in place for your safety and are too detailed to fully explore here. You can easily find these on the internet but for your information the generally concern fire safety, sound proofing, ventilation and hygiene. You should always seek the validation of a professional for building regulations; it's one of the most important steps in the construction.
Considering what exactly you will need in the cabin is also very import from the offset. Some manufactures have cabins with predrilled holes for cables and plumbing but if not you will need to consider where all these will be thread in order to drill any holes accurately before construction. You should also remember that you will need to prepare a base, preferably from concrete so make sure to organise this as soon as you know the dimensions of your cabins floor.

Deciding which log cabin to buy may seem an easy task but once you begin to scratch the surface of retails out there you will see there is more choice than you imagined. My best advise is to choose the approximate size and style first, then find a log cabin that fits up to this or you will be so swamped with options you may end up making the wrong decision. Here are a few factors to consider when buying a cabin.

You will often here this word used in log cabin descriptions. It refers to the thickness of the wood in the cabins outer walls and is often measured in millimetres. There are not really any 'standards' when it comes to cladding but obviously you will benefit from better insulation, security, durability and a studier build depending on how thick your cladding is. If you live in an area with particularly high winds or rain then a heavier log cabin may be worth the additional expense.

Size

You should always carefully consider size before a purchase. Not only what you can 'fit' into your garden but consider access points, room to construct and things such as visibility and natural light. Don't buy something bigger for the sake of it, look at the space you have in your garden and the space you desire and try to find a log cabin of a similar size instead of at least that size. Remember if the cabin includes a veranda to get measurements includes and excluding it to better help you prepare for how much internal room you will have.

Maintenance and weatherproofing are one of the most importation issues with log cabins after and during their construction. Even if the cabin is supplied with a base coat you should always apply your own to strengthen it. Before assembling the cabin paint/coat each piece in a wood preservative as well as making sure you have an adequate amount of roofing material such as felt or shingles.

Always go that little bit further to purchase a cabin from a recognised manufacturer. Big brands often sold throughout the UK include Finnforest, Waltons and Solid Timber. Many stores will offer these products but delivery can be extremely expensive so make sure you check delivery from the offset or use a site with free delivery such as this log cabins site (http://www.gardenbuildingsdirect.co.uk)
Here is a brief description of the brands.


Finnforest are a multinational company which now serves 20 countries and originated from Finland. They design many wooden structures and deal with almost any level of log cabins. They are a great choice for those who want to spend a little extra to get something that is trendy as well as useful.

Waltons are a much more traditional UK based company that has more than 100 years of outdoor buildings experience. They sell a large range of log cabins that offer a traditional, quintessentially English feel and look great in any garden. Watons are my recommended choice as they are the all rounder of the three choices here. They offer good quality at a reasonable price constructed by people actually in the UK.

Solid Timber are another popular brand. It originates from Belgium and operates one of the largest sawmills in Europe. They produce a wide range of garden produce including log cabins, screens, fences and decking. There a good choice for those looking to have an integrated garden building and fence selection.

Under Floor Heating is essential if you want to make your log cabin a fully inhabitable location, especially in winter. It is a fantastic accessory that some manufactures will actively endorse to heat the floor from underneath, providing a warm, comforting atmosphere without being a fire hazard.

Verandas are a great addition to a log cabin and look fantastic in most gardens. While they can take up additional room you will appreciate the benefit on those long summer evenings, relaxing with some drinks in the sun.

Hopefully this article will open your eyes to at least some of the issues of buying a log cabin and make the process much more enjoyable. Please don't let the information daunt you, owning a log cabin has brought many advantages to me personally and I spend a lot of time in the summer in there reading and cooking.

Garden Master is back!

Hello everyone,

After an extended break (my internet connection broke) I have returned in my mission to aid everyone with their landscaping and gardening ideas.

Ah sorry I just felt it neccasary for a mission statement. :)

I will get right back to posting you all some useful information, I have a whole bunch of articles on my hard drive which I wrote up for my friends website that can come live on here.

Hope everyone is ok, see you soon

-GM

Hey guys,

Hello all,

This is the first part to my detailed Buying a Shed guide to help you out with all you garden shed needs. I will be adding the next section next week hopefully to cover base preperation but this garden sheds site has one in the mean time.

Preparation to buy

The first question you should ask yourself is "how big is my garden?" and "what size shed could comfortably fit here?" A huge mistake some people make (you probably know at least one!) is jumping in head first and buying the first shed they come to. This usually results in much heartache during assembly when the shed won't stand the right way or the door is facing the fence or the windows are lined up with a brick wall. There is always the chance that the shed won't fit at all!  Once you decide that you want to purchase a shed you should take a good long look at the space you intend to fill with it. You need to answer the following questions, it's a good idea to actually note the answers down and keep them close by when shopping.

1) What is the total area (ft² or m²) of my garden?

2) How much of your garden do you need for other purposes?

 3) How wide is the area in which I want to place my shed?

4) How deep is the area in which I want to place my shed?

5) Are there any obstacles that may hinder access? i.e. fences, drains, flower beds or ponds.

6) Are there any obstacles that may hinder building? i.,e. trees, water features or roof overhangs.

 7) Do I want to give power to my shed?

Without a definite answer to all of these questions you are probably going to end up regretting buying the shed you did. I will give you a hand on how to answer each question and what it means to you.

1. This measurement does not need to be 100% perfectly exact, it is their to give you a guide on how your shed may look once erected, if you have a 10m² and a 8m² shed you would end up looking pretty silly. You should consider that you often store more than you think in a small space, just imagine spreading out all the stuff in your wardrobes! A shed is the same; a little space can go a long way.
2. This ties in with question one but is often over looked. While you don't want to dwarf you property with some giant wooden monster it would be bad news to by a rabbit hutch to store a lawnmower, 8 tools and 1 tonne of miscellaneous garden produce. Finding the ideal balance for room in your garden and your shed capacity is pivotal. Since everyone's garden and needs are different there is no sure fire answer, use your common sense and bear in mind the most popular size for a typical shed is 8' x 6'.
3. Simple enough, you need to know the are you are placing your shed is big enough, you should leave room for assembly and access just in case, packing it super tight into a corner may save space but cause more trouble that its worth.
4. See above.
5. One thing you have to make sure of is where you potential sheds door will open. 99% of all shed doors open outwards so make sure you have plenty of room for you single or double doors to swing fully open. You must check on the product specification details that the front of the shed (side with the door) can actually be place in the gap you want, facing the way you want. Many tongue and groove sheds have 'interchangeable' sides but this rarely holds true for the door side. You should also consider which way your windows will face. Remember you will need light inside your shed and facing the windows up against next doors fence or a brick wall I going to result in a dark, dismal shed. Try to pick a space with ample room for doors and windows.
6. It's not just doors and windows you have to consider! One badly place tree branch and your shed building plans are dead for good until someone chops it down. Consider the height of your shed as well as the immediate surrounding area with building in mind. It is going to be difficult to build anything in an enclosed space with trees overhead.
7. Running power to a shed can be very difficult or very simple depending entirely on how you property is wired. If in doubt ALWAYS get a trained electrician but this is definitely a question you should know the answer to this before buying a shed.

Materials

A big step towards choosing your shed is choosing what the building will be made of. You basically have 3 choices, a wooden shed, a metal shed or a plastic shed. I have prepared the following table as a quick check of pros and cons.

Good day all!

Welcome one and all!

It will feature gardening advice, articles and recommended projects and links as well as suggested projects you could undertake for your garden. Please don't hesitate to contact me for any tips/advice or just general chat!

If you have information, articles or projects you would like me to add to the collection that will slowly be appearing here then feel free to forward them to me.