HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-05-14, Page 24PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2003.
Tips for caring for your barbecue
Now that the weather is warming
up, barbeque aficionados have
started thinking about the mouth
watering tastes of food cooked on an
outdoor grill. Before you fire up the
grill this season you’ll want to
follow these suggestions on grill
maintenance from the experts.
This is a good time to check the
tank and gas hose to make sure
they’re in good condition.
“A cracked or faulty hose could be
a serious and potentially fatal
problem if not caught soon enough,”
warns John Defranco, barbecue
expert. “Tanks and hoses have a
tendency to rust, crack and corrode
over time, so it’s important that you
keep an eye on them and replace
them when necessary.”
It’s also a good idea to check the
burners when tuning up your grill. A
faulty or broken burner will cut the
grilling capacity in half. To replace
the burners, all you need is a Phillips
head or standard screwdriver.
It helps if you take your used
burner with you when buying a
replacement to ensure that the new
burner is compatible with your
grill.
Replacing the ccals is another
easy and inexpensive step in caring
for your grill. When replacing coals
in the basket or pan in the bottom of
the grill, be sure to spread them
equally so your cooking surface will
heat evenly and make cooking more
efficient.
“If the body of your grill isn’t
looking its best and you want to give
it a new shine, try a coat of high-
temperature spray paint,” suggests
Defranco. “The paint is an extra
layer of protection from the
elements such as temperature
changes, rain, sleet and snow.”
Are the knobs cracked, broken or
missing? Don’t worry—you can
also replace them with relative ease.
Due to the variety of knobs available
at retailers you should take your old
knobs—which should pull right
off—with you to the store when
buying replacements.
Finally, be sure to keep your grill
covered. There are several styles of
grill covers available and they do a
great job of protecting the grill even
more.
Now all that’s left to do is fire it up
and decide what’s for dinner.
-News Canada
Get a jump on spring with
simple outdoor projects
It’s spring cleaning time again,
and this means getting out more than
just a broom, sponges and squeegee.
You may have to tackle a few simple
maintenance projects outdoors
because winter’s wrath can
sometimes damage the exterior of
your home.
Before surveying what needs to be
done, take a trip to the garage and
organize your tools.
You're going to need them, so
why not have them ready to go
beforehand? Next, check the-
condition of your gutters, mailbox
post, fences and shutters. If any of
these are showing signs of decay,
now is the best time to replace or
repair them.
It’s also a good time to restore a
New trends in
lawn furniture
Does lawn furniture ever go out of
style? Some pieces, like the
Muskoka chair, are classic and
timeless. However, trends do apply
to furniture, inside our homes as
well as outside.
And as the summer of 2003 is
nearing, we see some trends starting
to emerge.
A favourite this year looks to be
the classic styling of traditional cast
iron outdoor tables and chairs. One
big difference is that the new line is
built from a cast aluminum/iron
composite, which is far lighter than
a cast iron piece, but just as durable.
Plus, their solid construction means
fewer screws or fasteners, which
reduces the wear and tear on the
furniture, associated with that type
of construction.
Two colours are this year’s
trendsetters in lawn furniture - off-
white and bronze.
The other good news is that
furniture is crafted with a heavy-
duty finish intended specifically for
outdoor use.
If cared for correctly this finish
makes it possible to maintain this
furniture for many years. The most
important part of maintenance is to
keep the surface clean of foreign
matter and especially free of salt
deposits.
Occasionally the furniture can be
washed with a mild detergent or
spray cleaner if stubborn stains
show up.
- News Canada
weathered deck to its original wood
colour with a deck brightening
solution, says Ray Bourque, an
outdoor expert. Replace nails and
smooth splintered boards before
applying the preservative.
“Foot traffic and weathering can
cause nails to pop up on a deck,”
Bourque explains. “If this is the
case, replace them with corrosion
resistant deck screws and you won’t
have the same problem again.”
Furniture that has been outdoors
during the cold months may need a
good cleaning. Plastic outdoor
furniture probably will benefit from
a good scrubbing using a solution of
water and bleach, or even a dousing
with the power washer.
Check around the sides and back
of your home to see if your
flowerbeds, shrubs and trees
survived. Are they ready for the
spring months ahead, or do they
need some tender loving care?
“Many varieties of shrubs need to
be trimmed back in the spring to
stimulate growth,” says Bourque.
“Get rid of broken or dead branches
and replace shrubs that didn’t make
it.”
Finally, take a look at your grill
and make sure the gas hose is in
good condition. Tanks and hoses
have a tendency to rust, crack and
corrode over time, so replace them
when necessary.
Also, check the burners when
turning on your grill. A faulty or
broken burner will drastically cut
the grilling capacity.
Spring is a great time to tackle
some of these simple outdoor
projects and bring your house and.
yard back to its original glory.
- News Canada
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