Sadiq Gill - Planning A Super Bowl Party

Guest Blog Post byLisa L Elliott

As football fanatics and party animals nationwide gather to watch the Super Bowl, some people change their mind at the last minute about where they want to watch the epic event. Sometimes the thought of going to a sports bar is no longer appealing, but the thought of hosting a Super Bowl party is overwhelming. One of the many wonderful things about the Super Bowl is the lack of formality. This type of occasion allows a very laid-back environment for the host and guests.

Hosting a Super Bowl party does not have to be time consuming or difficult, it can actually be fun and memorable. Start by thinking of the number of guests you'd like to invite and how many can view your television comfortably and easily in your home. After all, the main purpose of the party is to watch the event on television. The invitations can be sent electronically or call each person directly when time is of the essence.

Create a plan to lead up to the party so you can accomplish everything in small increments avoiding being overwhelmed. Complete one thing every day leading up to the party e.g. purchase the food and decorations two days before, clean your home three days before and decorate the night before the celebration. All of these tasks are easier when spread out over the week instead of crammed into the day of or night before the party. You will be much more relaxed if you only have one or two things to complete before your guest arrive.

Keeping with the theme of a Super Bowl party, make it easy and use your favorite team's colors for the color scheme. Set the table with one of the colors and add party ware as the accent color. Use paper products or a regular tablecloth and real plates and napkins if they fit the color scheme. Add real footballs or helmets on the buffet table and any other football paraphernalia without cluttering or taking away from the appeal of the food. This gives it a hint of personality and ties in the big day.

To ensure you don't miss any of the game or the opportunity to enjoy your guests, the food and beverage should be set up buffet style, including the dessert. Take this opportunity to create your menu using food found at a sports bar or typical to a football tailgating event. Buy items in bulk or place an order at your favorite restaurant in enough time and pick up in advance if you wish to avoid cooking. Place a variety of drinks in a decorative tub with ice. If you have the know-how create one signature drink, name it after your favorite team and place it in a self-serve container. The next steps are to sit back, relax and enjoy the game with your family and friends.

This quick party plan for hosting a Super Bowl party should assist you in throwing a last minute party effortlessly.

Sadiq Gill: Get Ready For Spring Gardening

The first day of spring is still a little ways away, but even in the middle of winter, you can already start prepping your garden for spring and summer. In fact, now is the best time to get started on spring gardening plans. Here are some of the initial things you can do to get your yard ready for spring even before the snow melts. 

Buy your seeds 

Get some seed catalogs to browse and buy flower and fruit/vegetable seeds. You can also buy seeds online. Also read the descriptions and make sure you have everything you need to grow the plants you want for your garden. Keep in mind that cold weather crops like cabbage and spinach will need to go in the ground soon, before the weather gets too warm. 

Start germinating seeds indoors 

Once you have your seeds, you can start germinating them indoors to get your plants garden-ready before the frost date. Generally, with both flower and vegetable seeds, you want to allow two to three weeks to germinate and another two to three weeks to grow the plants large enough to transfer to the garden. Aim to start germinating your seeds by around mid-March for a late April plant date. 

Put together your spring landscaping plans 

In addition to adding plants, you may have more ambitious landscaping plans, such as outdoor construction or other projects requiring heavy equipment. These plans may range from anything from adding a fence or removing a tree stump, to building a gazebo or pouring concrete for a patio. With major projects, careful planning is key. Take some time to draft your plans (or hire a professional landscaper to do it) and secure any necessary permits. 

Reserve your gardening equipment 

Depending on what you want to do with your garden, you may need to rent some lawn and garden tools or other equipment in order to carry out your landscaping plans. This equipment may include seeders, thatchers, tillers, stump grinders, pavers, or other tools. Determine what equipment you need and reserve it in advance to make sure you have everything you need to start the project come springtime. 

Sadiq Gill - How To Install Wood Flooring

One way to change up the interior of your home is install wood flooring. It’s a classic look that you can accomplish all on your own by following a few easy steps.

Start by figuring out what kind of wood you want to install. Make note of the board widths so you can measure properly.

Next, measure the room or the area where you’ll be installing the wood. Measure the width and length of the room, and multiply those numbers to get the square footage. When you purchase the wood, allow 10-15 percent for errors.

Check your current floor to see if it squeaks. You’ll need at least a ¾” plywood subfloor. If there is a squeak, screw a long drywall screw into the subfloor and joist where you hear the noise.

Next, get rid of the shoe-molding in the room, clean and sweep the floor.

Then, roll out strips of vapor barrier paper (with some overlap) and staple it to the subfloor. Make marks on the paper where the joists are located.

Next is the installation. It’s good to begin at the longest unobstructed wall. Pick a long, straight wood board to begin the first row. Line the board up about 3/8’ away from the wall (you can make a chalk line if this helps) to allow for expansion.

Drill holes through the wood and into the subfloor and joists. You want the first boards to be perpendicular to the joists underneath to provide a solid anchor.

Nail each board at the point of every joist and set the nail with a nail-set. Complete the entire first row, remembering to pick random board lengths.  

After you install a few rows, hand nail the rolls. Then, using a nail gun and a mallet, drive the staple into the tongue of the wood.

When you get to the baseboards, you might have to cut the end so it fits. Make sure you pay attention to the way the pieces fit together (they are like puzzle pieces) so you don’t cut off the wrong side.

Once you’re nearing the last board, make sure to measure correctly and cut it length-wise if you have to. Finally, replace the shoe molding and putty any nail holes that have been face-nailed.

Sadiq Gill - Renting an Outdoor Heater

By Sadiq Gill

For anyone throwing an outdoor party – ranging from a backyard birthday party to an outdoor tent wedding – outdoor heaters are an essential item. Powered by propane, kerosene, or electricity, these appliances will keep your guests cozy and comfortable so that the party can go as late as you please!

Some types of portable heaters include forced air heaters, radiant heat panel heaters, and patio heaters (the type of heater you often see in outdoor seating areas of restaurants).

Most do-it-yourself rental and tool rental outlets offer a variety of outdoor heaters and related supplies.

Heaters, for example, typically may include:

•          Heater, 1.5m Btu Propane Forced Air
•          Heater, 125k Btu Kerosene Forced Air
•          Heater, 150k Btu Kerosene Forced Air
•          Heater, 150k Btu Propane Convection
•          Heater, 150k Btu Propane Forced Air
•          Heater, 175k Btu Propane Tent
•          Heater, 200k Btu Kerosene Forced Air Indirect
•          Heater, 200k Btu Propane Forced Air Indirect
•          Heater, 250k Btu Propane Top Hat
•          Heater, 350k Btu Propane Forced Air
•          Heater, 35k Btu Propane Forced Air
•          Heater, 35k Btu Propane Radiant
•          Heater, 400k Btu Propane Forced Air
•          Heater, 40k Btu Propane Patio
•          Heater, 50k Btu Kerosene Forced Air
•          Heater, Electric 1875 Watt

In addition, most centers will offer some additional accessories that you may need:

•          Coupler with Pigtail (used to couple multiple propane tanks together)
•          Hose, 1 1/4" X 25' Lp
•          Hose, 1 1/4" X 50' Lp
•          Hose, 1/2" X 50' Lp
•          Hose, 3/4" X 50' Lp
•          Hose, 3/8" X 30' Lp
•          Thermostat

Depending on what you are using the heater for, you may also require dehumidifiers and fans.

Sadiq Gill - Tool Rental Outlets Come In Handy For Contractors

Sitting behind a desk all day or performing some type of “white collar” function for a living is not for everyone. There are many among us who are more interested in building things, fixing things or getting things to work right. A good number of these individuals end up taking the knowledge and skills they develop in a particular area over time and turning them into a profession. In lieu of going to work for an established business, many of these handy folks opt for the autonomy of working for themselves as contractors.

But tools are expensive. At least initially, tool rental outlets can often be a lifesaver for the contractor.

A Tool for Every Season … and Skillset

The larger tool rental companies are usually quite capable of accommodating most contractor needs. Although there are those who specialize in some specific trade, some contractors are more generalized in their offerings and may only occasionally be required to use certain equipment to tackle a job.

In cases where it is not necessarily practical for a contractor to own items such as large generators, brick saws, scaffolding or concrete mixers, tool rental establishments make life a little easier. Landscaping contractors are especially appreciative of tool and equipment rental outlets when a particular job calls for a device that may not be in their repertoire, such as a log splitter or stump grinder.

When a mower refuses to start, when a drywall specialist breaks his last nail gun or when a plumbing contractor searches frantically for his 2-inch pipe cutter but it’s nowhere to be found, the local tool rental store can often ease the anxieties of these hard-working people. From an aerator rental to Bobcat rental, most contracting essentials can be covered by tool and equipment rental outlets. These businesses offer convenience to the contractor by furnishing them with cost-effective solutions. They also act as a “safety net” when contractors find themselves in a pinch.

Sadiq Gill - Plan Now To Have The Best Lawn Ever!

By Sadiq Gill

A healthy, verdant lawn requires year-round care. Even before the ground thaws, you can start caring for your lawn so that it stays beautiful all year and into next as well. Here’s how (and when) to do it:

• Don’t neglect lawn in fall and winter. Make sure you fertilize and aerate the soil in the fall. During the winter, keep your lawn free of debris, leaves, branches, etc., as these things can invite pests and disease.
• Mow frequently. Start mowing your lawn in the spring, after the grass reaches about 3-4 inches in height. Frequent mowing forces the lawn to grow thick and helps keep out weeds. Make sure mower blades are kept sharp, and consider using a mulching mower to fertilize as you mow.
• Mow properly. When mowing, be sure that the mower is set for the right height (don’t go too short, as this will expose the grass’s roots to the elements), and don’t mow the lawn when wet or the roots will become compacted.
• Dethatch your lawn in late spring. This “wakes up” your lawn after a long winter, allowing the soil to breathe and permitting nitrogen exchange with the atmosphere. Spring dethatching is especially important for dense lawns. Fertilize after spring dethatching for optimal results.
• Don’t overwater. Watering your lawn too frequently wastes water, results in thatch buildup, and encourages shallow roots. Water your lawn deeply but infrequently.
• Look out for summer problems. Some of these include pests and weeds. Applying natural pest-control and weed-control products during the summer as needed can help address these problems. Brown patches are another summer lawn problem, but they are easier to prevent (with good year-round lawn maintenance) than to cure.
• Rent lawn and garden tools. Lawn and garden tools such as mowers, dethatchers, and aerators are essential for proper lawn care. Renting these tools can make your life a whole lot easier and eliminate the hassle of tool maintenance. It also makes financial sense in many cases – for example, why buy a dethatcher when you only need to use it once a year?