Month: September 2024

A pergola can make a stunning addition to your backyard. Whether you’re looking to add shade over your outdoor kitchen, dining area or pool, or simply want a great spot for reading or relaxing, you can create the perfect atmosphere with a well-designed pergola. The best part is that with pre-cut kits available, building a pergola doesn’t have to be a big project. In fact, workshop members have used pergolas to transform their outdoor areas in a variety of ways. Here’s some inspiration for your next backyard project:

First, decide if you would like your pergola to be attached to your home or freestanding. Once you’ve decided on this, you will need to measure your space to determine which size pergola kit you will need. Generally, the most popular pergola kit sizes are 8×8 up to 20×20. This size includes the pergola posts, double 2×8 beams and rafters. The rafters are not notched and configured in either 3 sets of 2 or 4 sets of 2. The standard size kits also include 8 top slats.

The next decision to make is how tall you want your pergola to be. The rafter length will determine this, and is calculated by measuring the distance between the points where you’d like the outside edges of your posts to land. Then, you will need to add 1’6” to this measurement for the overhang. This is called the rafter length, and will be the first number in the size pergola kit you choose.

Once you’ve determined the overall size of your pergola, you will need to select the wood type. Pressure-treated pine is a common choice for pergolas because it’s strong, rot resistant and works well in harsh climates. However, there are other options as well. Cedar, for example, is an attractive wood with a lovely grain that holds up to severe weather and requires less maintenance than Pine.

You will also need to decide whether you’d like a flat or sloped roof. A flat roof is simpler to install but won’t provide as much coverage. A sloped roof is more challenging to build, but will provide greater coverage and offer a more dramatic aesthetic.

Once all of these decisions have been made, you’re ready to order your pergola kit! Once you’ve ordered your kit, it will be delivered to your site and installed by a Bunnings team member. They will ensure the proper installation of your new pergola and walk you through any additional steps that may be necessary.

With a little guidance from the experts at Bunnings, you can build the pergola of your dreams. Be sure to check out the extensive series of pergola how-to videos that cover everything from building the frame and constructing the roof. Once your pergola is finished, you’ll have the perfect place to entertain family and friends and enjoy the outdoors year-round.

A year on from Zepp Health (now Huami) launching its first rugged smartwatch, the Amazfit T-Rex, a follow up – the trex pro – offers subtle improvements on the original while staying true to the rough and ready traits that set this series apart.

The most notable change is that this model – which still costs just $180 – adds heart rate monitoring with the help of Zepp Health’s BioTracker 2 optical sensor (also found on the brand’s newer smartwatches). You also get a barometric altimeter, which will alert you to when your ascent or descent gets more challenging.

You still don’t get support for third party apps and there are limited smartphone features like the ability to see and respond to messages or calls unless you opt to connect it to your phone via Bluetooth. As a GPS sports watch though it’s pretty much top of the class with a capable spec sheet and a wide range of fitness and tracking metrics.

One of the reasons for this is the aforementioned 1.3in circular AMOLED display that’s been reworked to be more responsive. It’s bright, lucid and a pleasure to use on the move. Small swipes from your watch face will bring up the quick settings panel where you can adjust screen brightness, engage power-saving and do not disturb modes as well as a choice of screensavers and ‘always-on’ displays.

There’s also a handful of pre-loaded watch faces that should cover most tastes while the standard ones can be customized to your liking. There’s a decent selection of workout types as well, and you can even customise the watch to alert you to incoming phone notifications.

During testing the T-Rex pro’s heart rate monitor did a pretty good job of picking up on our exertion and giving a pretty accurate reading, but it’s not going to compete with chest strapped models. That said, we tested the watch’s sleep tracking and it performed very well, giving similar lengths of deep, light and REM sleep.

The trex pro is waterproof to 10ATM and has been certified to function in temperatures ranging from -40 degrees Celsius up to +70. It’s also shockproof and can withstand dropping from a height of two metres.

The trex pro is also built to be durable and has been subjected to 15 MIL-STD-810G tests, so you can be sure it’ll stand up to the toughest of wear and tear. That includes a hefty 5000mAh battery that’s advertised to last for 18 days of use. The accompanying magnetic USB charger takes surprisingly little time to replenish it, taking past 50% in 30 minutes.

Steel deck is a steel sheeting that provides strength and support for floors and roofs of many commercial buildings. It is used to eliminate the need for shoring concrete until it cures and allows for more structural flexibility during construction. There are several different types of metal roof and floor decking with unique characteristics that make them more suitable for specific applications. The type of metal deck that is required for a particular job can be determined by the shape and rib profile of the sheet, as well as the load requirements of the structure.

Metal deck is made by cold forming structural grade steel coils into a pattern of flutes and ribs. The profile of the ribs and their heights are designed to optimize the strength-to-weight ratio for each application. The various shapes and profiles allow engineers to construct structures that can withstand different weights, spans and loads. The thickness of the metal deck is also important, as it determines how heavy or light it can be.

For example, some metal decking has shear studs that create a composite action with the concrete slab and improve fire performance and crack control. Other designs use a mesh grid reinforcement, which helps with lateral stability and provides a more flexible slab surface for services. These features help increase the life cycle of the building while allowing for future modifications or relocations without the need to destroy or replace concrete.

The benefits of using steel deck during floor construction include its lightweight design and accelerated construction time. This means that the project can move forward faster, which in turn saves money on labour costs. Steel deck also provides better tensile strength than concrete, so it can withstand higher loads and requires less structural steel support. Additionally, it is easier to lay than concrete, which reduces the amount of manual labor that is needed for installation.

Lastly, steel deck has a higher strength-to-weight ratio than other structural materials, which allows for lower material and freight costs. In addition, it is available in a wide range of sizes and is easily cut to fit a variety of different applications. The versatility of steel deck makes it a highly effective choice for both temporary and permanent floors and roofs.

Union Galvasteel offers a full range of steel decking from leading manufacturers like Kingspan Multideck. This metal flooring solution includes five different profiles with spans of up to 6 meters and fire ratings up to 4 hours. For additional protection, this steel floor and roof deck can be ordered with a Magnelis coating, which provides superior corrosion resistance in aggressive environments. To learn more about the benefits of using metal deck on your next construction project, contact us today. We can discuss your specific requirements and recommend the best option for your project. Our team of experts is here to answer any questions you may have about our products or services. We look forward to working with you!

A deck is a great way to extend your living space and increase your home’s value. But a deck must be built to support the weight of furniture, barbecues, and people, as well as meet local building codes and safety regulations. This requires a professional deck builder, so it is important to research companies and find one that offers competitive pricing. Also, a deck builder that offers an extended warranty is a good choice.

Decking is an alternative to concrete, stone or a patio. It is usually constructed on top of a wooden base and provides a level area for entertaining or relaxing. It is popular in many parts of the world, especially in warmer climates, and can be made from a wide range of materials including wood, composites, or metal.

The most common types of decking include wood, composite and PVC. Each material has its own benefits and disadvantages, but it is important to consider all your options before choosing a decking product. For example, wood may be more expensive than composite or PVC, but it is a sustainable product that can last for decades with minimal maintenance. Composite and PVC decking can also be less expensive than wood, but they have a shorter lifespan and may require more frequent replacement.

Before starting construction on a new deck, it is important to plan out the layout and choose a design that suits your needs and budget. It is also a good idea to consult with your municipality and local building codes to determine whether you need a permit or are required to submit drawings. Depending on the size and height of your deck, you may also need to obtain a builders licence.

Creating the foundation for your deck begins with marking the floor frame joist spacing, which is typically 16 inches on-center for end joists and 8 inches on-center for center joists. After the joists are marked, the deck boards can be laid. If possible, try to stagger the spaces between each board for a more seamless look.

After constructing the deck, it is time to stain, seal or paint. But before doing this, it is important to wait 2-3 weeks or longer if you used pressure treated lumber. This is because the lumber must have time to acclimate and dry out before it can be stained, sealed or painted.

When creating a deck, it is essential to think about who you will be presenting the deck to. Understanding the audience will help you structure and format the content of your deck in a way that is most effective for your audience. For instance, a deck created for an upcoming presentation with a client will need to strike a different visual tone than a slide that is being sent as an email attachment to co-workers. Similarly, a deck that will be presented IRL (in person) at an event will need to be more formal than one being created for a webinar.