• Privacy Policy
  • Imprint
  • Contact Form
  • COMMAIK
    • Contact Form
    • Imprint
    • Privacy Policy
  • The Villa
    • The top floor
    • The upper floor
    • The first floor
    • The cellar
    • The garden
  • Stories from the construction
    • irrigation
    • Photovoltaics
    • Pool and terrace
    • SmartHome
    • The planning
    • The demolition
    • The installation
    • Machinery
    • Restoration and working techniques
    • This and that
  • Videos
    • Build & Renovate
    • Irrigation
    • Carport
    • Gabions
    • Garden
    • Garden kitchen
    • Pool
    • Smart Home
    • Drying
    • Tutorials
  • TESTED & RATED
    • Heating solutions & energy
    • Outdoor & Garten
    • Pool & garden kitchen
    • Security & Smart Home
    • Tools & DIY
  • Commaik Music
  • COMMAIK
    • Contact Form
    • Imprint
    • Privacy Policy
  • The Villa
    • The top floor
    • The upper floor
    • The first floor
    • The cellar
    • The garden
  • Stories from the construction
    • irrigation
    • Photovoltaics
    • Pool and terrace
    • SmartHome
    • The planning
    • The demolition
    • The installation
    • Machinery
    • Restoration and working techniques
    • This and that
  • Videos
    • Build & Renovate
    • Irrigation
    • Carport
    • Gabions
    • Garden
    • Garden kitchen
    • Pool
    • Smart Home
    • Drying
    • Tutorials
  • TESTED & RATED
    • Heating solutions & energy
    • Outdoor & Garten
    • Pool & garden kitchen
    • Security & Smart Home
    • Tools & DIY
  • Commaik Music
  • Privacy Policy
  • Imprint
  • Contact Form
  • Build your own garden kitchen – worktop and jamb for the outdoor kitchen

    Partially completed garden kitchen with unfinished wooden cabinets, a dark worktop, an open window, and power tools on the counter. Trees and buildings can be seen outside. www.commaik.de

    After completing the electrics and water supply in my outdoor garden kitchen, it was now time to install the worktop. I wanted to build the work area of the outdoor kitchen in such a way that I would have individual zones to work in for the barbecue, the bar and also the washbasin area. In this post, I describe in a step-by-step guide how I used OSB boards and Fermacell boards to create a stable and moisture-resistant base for the vinyl tiles. These measures were necessary to make the worktop robust, scratch-resistant and easy to clean, so that it meets the requirements of an outdoor kitchen.

    Weiterlesen

    Ähnliche Beiträge

    A man stands beside images of a backyard with a pool. A Reolink Trackmix PoE security camera is shown on the left, with the Reolink logo at the top right and smart home icons above the garden scene. www.commaik.de

    Reolink TrackMix PoE – 4K dual lens surveillance camera review

    20. July 2024
    A man stands next to a mounted parking heater system with large pipes, wires, and controls—perfect for any workshop. Large text above reads, Diesel Heizung für die Werkstatt (Diesel heater for the workshop). www.commaik.de

    Install 8kW diesel parking heater safely in the workshop & garage

    9. May 2025
    Lawn irrigation system components, including pipes, valves, and wiring, are laid out on the ground next to an open valve box in a grassy area. A green garden hose and plastic cover are also visible. www.commaik.de

    Installing lawn irrigation: Valve box, Hunter solenoid valves and Rain Bird water distribution in detail

    1. March 2025
  • Reolink Duo 3 PoE surveillance camera tested against 2 RLC 810A

    A man stands thoughtfully next to a large question mark, with three Reolink security cameras and the Reolink logo displayed on a gray background, highlighting Reolink’s commitment to smart security solutions. www.commaik.de

    In my latest smart home project, I replaced my two Reolink RLC-810A cameras with the Reolink Duo 3 PoE surveillance camera with dual lens. I was particularly interested in whether the 180° detection of the Duo 3 PoE could actually improve the monitoring of my driveway and carport. With its 16-megapixel resolution and 2-way communication capability, the Duo 3 PoE promised superior technology and more comprehensive security. But would all the effort and financial investment really be worth it or were the two old camera models better? I would like to explore these questions in this blog post.

    Weiterlesen

    Ähnliche Beiträge

    Close-up of a heavily rusted and corroded basement metal girder with jagged edges showing considerable decay. A blurred ladder and a bright background can be seen through a large hole in the metal. www.commaik.de

    Renovate basement ceiling yourself – safely replace steel beams

    25. October 2020
    Two large solar panels, part of a balcony power plant, are mounted on a wooden platform outside a modern house, angled to capture sunlight beneath a partly cloudy sky. www.commaik.de

    Set up 2. balcony power station and connect in series.

    25. March 2022
    A white wooden carport with a flat, sloping roof stands on a gravel lot bordered by a low concrete wall, stone stacks and building materials in a tree-lined courtyard surrounded by a wooden fence. www.commaik.de

    Build your own carport – build an Easycarport safely on a slope

    26. September 2020
  • Designing a smart and efficient garden kitchen – installing lights, sockets and water connections

    Modern garden kitchen with a wooden roof, barbecue grill, counters, and bar area illuminated by soft yellow and purple LED lights, set against a twilight sky for an inviting light-filled outdoor retreat. www.commaik.de

    The development of my garden kitchen has made significant progress, particularly in the areas of electrical installation, water installation and the integration of smart technologies for lighting and control. I’d like to give you some insight and practical tips on how I overcame these challenges, from carefully planning the lighting to installing smart sockets and light switches that enable flexible and efficient use.

    Weiterlesen

    Ähnliche Beiträge

    A worn, empty concrete pit with rusty beams, exposed pipes, and draining buckets—one orange and one green—sits against stained, aged walls in a dimly lit basement-like area. www.commaik.de

    Draining and waterproofing basements: Effective measures against moisture and flooding

    24. November 2024
    Partially constructed garden kitchen with unfinished concrete block walls, a wooden roof, and a grill inside. The structure sits in a backyard, surrounded by trees visible in the background. www.commaik.de

    Build your own garden kitchen – solid half-timbered roof with OSB and welded sheeting for the outdoor kitchen

    22. March 2024
    Screenshot of a solar panel monitoring app displaying the Statistik section. The background highlights blue solar panels, with the main heading reading Balcony Power System and a note showing it was last updated 5 minutes ago. www.commaik.de

    Balcony power station – Set up the Solarman app optimally

    29. October 2023
  • Build your own garden kitchen – solid half-timbered roof with OSB and welded sheeting for the outdoor kitchen

    Partially constructed garden kitchen with unfinished concrete block walls, a wooden roof, and a grill inside. The structure sits in a backyard, surrounded by trees visible in the background. www.commaik.de

    When building my garden kitchen, the next priority was to construct a robust wooden roof to create a sheltered area for the gas barbecue and work surfaces. The roof was to consist of solid wooden beams which I wanted to screw directly onto the walls made of glued aerated concrete blocks. The covering should be made with sheet piling and OSB boards. My plan also included fitting the guttering, the end plates and gluing the welding membrane to make the roof weatherproof. In this entry I will show you step by step how I carried out the individual installations and what I had to pay particular attention to. Of course,…

    Weiterlesen

    Ähnliche Beiträge

    A robot mower without boundary wire, with a grey and white casing, moves from a brick patio onto a green lawn bordered by stones and gravel. www.commaik.de

    ECOVACS GOAT A1600 RTK: The innovative robotic lawnmower without boundary wire in the test

    23. March 2025
    Graphic featuring multiple Reolink security cameras and a video recorder on a gray background, with “Reolink Firmware Update?!” highlighted in bold text at the center. www.commaik.de

    Update Reolink firmware quickly and safely: Step-by-step guide for cameras and NVRs

    7. February 2025
    Two Anthbot robotic lawnmowers stand side by side on green grass, the sunlight illuminating their wheels and sensors in a backyard or garden. www.commaik.de

    Robot lawn mower without boundary wire in test: LiDAR vs RTK in comparison (ANTHBOT M5 vs M9)

    14. April 2026
  • Build your own garden kitchen – plan and install the electrics

    Partially built outdoor wall of white concrete blocks with exposed electrics, a level tool, and a hammer on top—ideal for a future garden kitchen. A canopy and stacked firewood appear in the background. www.commaik.de

    When building my garden kitchen, the electrics were one of the biggest challenges. In addition to the right cables for the power supply and the perfect positioning of the sockets, proper fuse protection was of course also necessary. It should also be possible to use a TV and a sound system in the garden kitchen at a later date. So I also had to plan for network and audio cables and install them in the garden kitchen.

    Weiterlesen

    Ähnliche Beiträge

    Built-in outdoor kitchen featuring a black gas grill with a sizzling sizzle zone in the center, a side burner on the left, and sleek metal drawers and cabinets below—all set in a stylish wooden and concrete counter. www.commaik.de

    Permanently installing the sizzle zone of the Napoleon gas barbecue in the outdoor garden kitchen

    30. April 2025
    A hardy palm tree planted in a gravel bed stands in the foreground of a backyard with a blue swimming pool, blue shed, patio cover, and outdoor furniture in the background. www.commaik.de

    Hardy palms for the garden – these 5 species can withstand frost down to -15 °C

    30. March 2025
    An air conditioner is mounted on the exterior wall of a light-colored building, with a vertical pipe running alongside it. In the background, nearby houses and trees can be seen against a partly cloudy sky. www.commaik.de

    Installing Air Conditioning Yourself in an Older Building – Heating and Cooling in Practice

    27. June 2026
  • Renovating the garden terrace: switching from wood to WPC and aluminum profiles

    Close-up of a partially constructed wooden deck, ideal for a garden terrace renovation, with a drill, screws, hammer, and metal brackets on top of the decking boards; metal framing and groundwork visible underneath. www.commaik.de

    The renovation of our garden terrace has been in the pipeline for some time. The larch wood of the substructure could no longer withstand the loads and slowly disintegrated. So after ten years under the open sky, it was time to give our terrace a fresh update with WPC boards. In this article, we take you on a journey of renewal – from the initial idea to the finished result.

    Weiterlesen

    Ähnliche Beiträge

    A man stands on the left, fist raised, next to a large Reolink Argus security camera and solar panel. In the background, a modern backyard with a swimming pool is visible, with the Reolink logo in the top right. www.commaik.de

    Reolink Argus 4 Pro review: The wireless surveillance camera with 4K and ColorX technology

    8. July 2024
    Open trench in a paved area with exposed cables, pipes, and a water pipe in the garden, surrounded by loose soil, bricks, and paving stones—signs of ongoing underground utility or lawn irrigation work. www.commaik.de

    Laying the water pipe in the garden: tips for connecting the water supply to the garden irrigation system

    10. March 2025
    A gloved hand holds a white stick near a moldy wall. On the wooden floor, a silver packet labeled NOVUstick für nachträgliche Horizontalsperren contains 10 sticks for creating an effective horizontal barrier and improving drainage. www.commaik.de

    Drainage – retrofitting a horizontal barrier yourself

    24. January 2024
23456

Autor & Blogger

In this construction diary, we share our experience in the renovation and modernization of our Art Nouveau villa and hope to give a few suggestions and tips to some of you.

commaik.de © 2026
  • Contact Form
  • Privacy Policy
  • Imprint
  • Change privacy settings
  • Cookie policy
  • English
  • Deutsch (German)