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Laying pool edging stones and building your own pool terrace for the perfect pool surround
When building the pool, the correct laying of the pool edge stones and the construction of a beautiful and functional pool terrace played an important role. In this article, I describe how I selected the materials, prepared the substrate, cut and glued the stones. I also show how I laid the terrace loosely and built a platform as a transition to the garden terrace. Building a pool has been one of my biggest DIY projects. In this article, I would like to tell you about my experiences with laying pool edging stones and building the pool terrace.
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Draining and waterproofing basements: Effective measures against moisture and flooding
Draining my cellar was a lengthy and challenging project that I implemented using various methods to permanently combat damp and mold. From waterproofing with injection methods to installing a pump sump and retrofitting a horizontal barrier – I share my experiences, the challenges and how the measures have proven themselves even under extreme weather conditions. Draining and waterproofing basements: In this blog post, I describe how homeowners can effectively combat moisture and mold to create a dry and healthy basement. Draining a damp cellar was an important step for me to preserve the building fabric and prevent mold growth. In this article, I’ll shed some light on the measures I…
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Repairing broken wires: Finding and repairing the boundary wire for robotic lawnmowers
A robotic lawnmower can be a considerable relief in the garden, but what happens if the boundary wire or control cable is damaged? In this blog post, I describe step by step how I quickly and easily repaired the defective control cable and the broken boundary wire on my robotic lawnmower. A cable break on the boundary wire of my robotic lawnmower recently presented me with a challenge. While I was out with the gas mower, the mower was set too low and cut the boundary wire. Although the cable was laid in the ground, it was completely cut through.
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Draining the basement with a new horizontal barrier – conclusion after 9 months
It is now nine months since our old damp cellar was drained with a retrofitted horizontal barrier – time to take stock. In a building over 100 years old like ours, which was built without the foundation waterproofing that is common today, moisture in the basement is a real challenge. As the rising damp in our cellar became increasingly visible, I installed a new horizontal barrier with injection cream in the thick cellar walls to create a barrier against the ground moisture. In this article, I show in detail what effect the moisture barrier has had, where problems still exist and what other measures seem sensible to keep the cellar…
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Designing a garden kitchen with a concrete look: Instructions for robust walls in the outdoor kitchen
In my garden kitchen, I designed the walls in a concrete look to create both a modern design and an easy-care, high-quality surface. The design of my self-built outdoor kitchen not only offers functional extensions for the outdoor area, but can also be a visual highlight. The concrete look is particularly popular in combination with the spatula technique, which gives the kitchen an industrial flair and creates a durable, weather-resistant surface. In the article, I describe how I proceeded step by step: from preparing the Ytong walls to the filling technique and sealing. I also compare alternatives such as tiles and clinker bricks and provide insights into the challenges of…
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Reolink Altas PT Ultra: The powerful 4K battery-powered surveillance camera in a test
The Reolink Altas PT Ultra is an impressive surveillance camera that I tested in my latest project. With 4K resolution, ColorX night vision and 360° auto-tracking, it offers powerful functions for outdoor use. In comparison to the Reolink TrackMix PoE and the RLC-1212A, I examined the image quality during the day, at night and at dusk and found interesting differences. In this article, I describe my installation procedure, how the cameras work and which models are particularly suitable for certain areas of application.
