DIY fountains can bring beauty to your landscaping, hire a professional for a job well done.

Building a water feature in your backyard yourself can be done, but to make things easier and to be assured the job is done right, hire a professional. There are so many things to consider before taking on such a huge project.

•  Size & location: Before you begin you need to determine the size fountain you want and pick the perfect location. A water feature is a natural focal point in any landscape and adjoining areas can be well suited for entertaining.

•  Power source: Most areas have strict codes when it comes to wiring the pumps and lighting associated with water features.  Using a qualified licensed electrician will ensure that everything is up to code and safe for you and your family to enjoy.

•  Plumbing: In addition to the plumbing required for the water feature itself, a “make-up” water line must be run to the water feature.  This “make-up” water line is connected to your home’s existing plumbing and replaces the water in the water feature that is lost due to evaporation and splashing.

•  Labor: Depending on the size and type of fountain you are installing, you should consider the amount of labor that will be involved.  Site preparation and rock placement comprise most of the labor in building a water feature.  This can be back breaking work, especially if you do not have the equipment that most contractors have.  If you are planning a large water feature, you may want to contact a pro.

•  Permits: Before beginning the project you will need to check with your city to see if any permits are required.

Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire an expert, adding a fountain to your landscape is a great way to increase the value of your property and create a beautiful focal point.

To view samples of fountain styles visit W. P. Law, Inc. .

Residential fountains provide beauty and comfort to any backyard.

Everyone dreams of creating a backyard oasis to spend lazy days and evenings. Nothing is more refreshing than coming home from a stressful day of work and unwinding in your backyard. Whether you live in a big city or in the country, adding a water feature to your yard brings much more than an eye-catching focal point.

•  Create a perfect gathering place for family & friends: People are naturally drawn to a water feature. The beauty and soothing sound of flowing water is the perfect environment to gather with friends and family.

•  Create a peaceful, serene environment to relax and unwind: After a long hard day at the office, nothing is more relaxing than unwinding in your backyard oasis listening to the sound of trickling water. Let the tension melt away as you sit by your water feature.

•  Add value to your property: Building a water feature brings added value to your property.

•  Create a focal point for your landscaping: Adding a water feature creates a focal point for your landscaping. As you enter your yard, your eye will focus on the beautiful fountain.

•  Drown out the noise from street traffic: The sound of trickling water can drown out noise from passing traffic, neighbors and other outside noises.

Visit W.P. Law, Inc.to find the fountain of your dreams and to create your own backyard oasis.

DIY fountains are a great way to design your own backyard oasis.

DIY fountains have become more and more popular with homeowners over the years. It used to be that bird baths were the most common focal point of landscaping. Now homeowners want water fountains that range from a pot with trickling water all the way up to exotic water falls cascading down a mountain of rocks.

Whatever you desire, there are fountains to satisfy everyone’s taste and budget. If you’ve made the decision to build your own backyard fountain, your first step is to do some research.

Before you pick the location of your fountain, consider exactly what you want to create. Is it just going to be for show, or do you want to create a gathering place around the fountain? Will you use the area for entertaining? If so, you will need a large enough space to accommodate the fountain and accompanying furniture.

Once your location is decided, you now need to decide on the architectural style for the area. You will need to decide what type of material you would like your fountain to be. There are stone, bronze, copper, steel and fiberglass just to name a few.

Now you are ready to meet with the experts and get started.

Visit W.P. Law  for more information about building a residential fountain.

 

 

 

 

Residential fountains add the finishing touch to your landscaping.

If you feel that there is something missing from your landscaping, consider installing a water fountain. Residential fountains create ambiance in your landscaping while adding value to your home.

Adding a fountain to your landscaping creates a focal point that helps to create a soothing and relaxing environment in your yard. Imagine spending a lazy afternoon listening to the trickling water from your fountain. Moving water creates a peaceful serenity that can take you deep into relaxation mode!

There are thousands of different styles of water fountains you can choose from, or you can work with a design team to create your own custom fountain. Adding the perfect water fountain to your landscaping will create the beautiful backyard oasis you have always dreamed of enjoying.

Fountains can run anywhere from a few hundred up to thousands of dollars. It depends on the size and style of fountain. Before purchasing your fountain, consider your budget, the size of the area where you are installing the fountain and choose a design that will enhance your existing landscaping.  Once your fountain is installed, enjoy the peace and beauty and take time to relax.

To learn more about how residential fountains can add value and beauty to your landscaping visit W. P. Law, Inc.

Grill Selection
Making the Right Choice
               
Green Grilling



In earlier blogs we discussed the four different fuel types for grill use. We also discussed combining some fuels for flavor enhancement and for smoking. Then the question came up “What is the environmental impact of the fuel types?” This is a very good question.
 
For the last several years we all have heard about going “Green” with cars, appliances, and less energy consumption overall for our homes, but really no discussion of grill and smokers until recently.

The center of the debate of which fuel leaves less of a carbon footprint is between charcoal and gas.  A gentle man by the name of Tristam West who is a researcher with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory shared the following information on several online websites.

Currently in the US, 76 percent of Americans own at least 1 gas grill and 42 percent own more then one gas grill. Sixty one percent of gas grill owners use propane grills; 48 percent own a charcoal grill; 9 percent own a natural gas grill and only 7 percent own an electric grill. So, what are the carbon emissions of different fuel types for grills?  To answer this question lets look at an excerpt from an article by Collin Dunn.
 
“When it comes to carbon emissions, gas-powered grills win in a landslide. Tristam West, a researcher with the Department of Energy's Oak Ridge National Laboratory, compared the carbon output of gas, charcoal and electric powered grills when producing 35,000 Btu's per hour, a typical industry baseline. West's calculations showed that gas produced 5.6 pounds of carbon dioxide each hour, compared to 11 pounds for charcoal. As mentioned above, electrical grills produce a whopping 15 pounds of carbon dioxide for every hour at 35,000 Btu's, so aren't the best choice from the carbon perspective.”

This debate can even go deeper because fossil fuel gases are not a renewable resource.  Tristam goes on to state that lump or chunk charcoal is carbon neutral because it is made from virgin wood with no additives and it is a renewable resource.  The problem is that this is not manufactured in large quantities locally and may have to be imported from many continents away, which raises its carbon footprint.

As grill manufacturers continue to try to produce more fuel-efficient grills, whether it is gas or charcoal, the carbon footprint should become less.

The debate of “green grilling” will continue and it should be fun to follow.

- Todd Smith
W.P. Law, Inc.

Bird Season

It’s that time of year again: bird season. No, not the bird season where you can shoot your limit and grill your day’s birds wrapped in bacon.  No, I’m talking about South Carolina’s other state bird, the mosquito.

Mosquitoes are very common in our great state and can make summer activities like barbequing and patio gatherings completely unbearable. They are practically a part of life in the South and we all just have to deal with them. However, there are ways of taking back your backyard and enjoying the summer mosquito free.

W. P. Law, Inc. offers a few different options when dealing with mosquitoes.  Bifen I/T is a sprayable broad spectrum insecticide that is very good at controlling many insects, including mosquitoes.  Simply add the recommended amount of Bifen I/T per gallon (as stated in the label) in a pump sprayer and mix thoroughly.  Spray in all the places mosquitoes like to hide: in all your shrub beds, any thick brush close to your house or porch, under decks, etc.  While you’re spraying for mosquitoes, go ahead and spray along the foundation of your house, along eaves, in the crawlspace, even in the garage to control spiders, roaches, whiteflies, thrips, fire ants, and most other crawling insects. Bifen I/T will not stain brick, wood, vinyl, concrete, or sheetrock.  Make sure to spray when you know there will be no rain for at least 24 hours (if you get an afternoon shower, you may need to reapply).  Also, be careful not to spray in any bodies of water: i.e. goldfish ponds, creeks, rivers, lakes, or drains leading to any of these. Bifen I/T will not harm pets or children.  The addition of a spreader sticker will aid in helping the Bifen I/T stick to what you are spraying and aid in rain fastness.  

Another product W. P. Law, Inc. carries is called Cyzmic. Cyzmic is also a broad spectrum insecticide that controls mosquitoes, roaches, ants, spiders, whiteflies, thrips, etc. Cyzmic is unique in that it is a microencapsulated formula, which means the usage rates are much lower, and it is slow-release so it stays active much longer.  Another benefit of the microencapsulation is that it is much easier for flying insects, like mosquitoes, to pick it up, even with their light “footprint”.  Application of Cyzmic is similar to that of Bifen I/T, except for the usage rates and it is longer lasting.  

Whether you decide to use Bifen I/T or Cyzmic, you can be confident that the backyard will be yours to enjoy mosquito (and ant, spider, roach, and whitefly) free.  So stop spraying yourself with Off and put away those citronella candles and tiki torches and feel free to grill all summer long. It is YOUR yard…

Grill Section
Principles of Grilling

Conduction, Convection and Radiant Heating
              


Recently a good friend of mine purchased a new smoker. He has only cooked on the smoker a couple times and with good success, but the other day he complained that he burned some ribs by accident. He commented that the heat just got away from him.

This unfortunate situation can happen as one is learning to use a new gas grill or even a charcoal smoker. In an effort to help prevent these situations from happening to future grillers, I thought it would be a good idea to discuss the science of proper grilling principles.

 It is important to understand three scientific principles behind heat transfer as it refers to grilling.  Conduction, convection, and radiant heat (radiation) will be described below so you will be able to apply these ideas to your next grilling experience.

Conduction is the process of heat transfer by direct contact of the food to the heat source. This usually occurs at higher temperatures, thus creating a searing effect. Infrared grilling is a good example of conduction. Conduction also occurs at the grilling surface (grill grates).

Convection occurs when the heat is carried to the food that is being cooked. The use of some type fluid such as air, water and even oil will act as a carrier for heat transfer. In grilling, this process is also termed “indirect grilling”. Indirect grilling occurs when food is not in contact with the heat source. The food is cooked away from the heat and the heat is circulated around the food.  There many forms of convection grilling and the research on this matter is quite extensive. Convection or indirect grilling is a good method for slow smoking or grilling. Convection occurs at the top of the grill or smoker. Because of this, it is important to have a hood that seals properly.  A grill or smoker with thicker or heavier metals in the hood will help with the convection process by keeping the heat trapped longer.  Ventilation is important otherwise, the heated air does not circulate and will accumulate above the food instead.

Radiation is the transfer of heat by the direct exposure to the heat source. This is another form of conduction and is responsible for such things as grill marks. The food makes direct contact with the hot grill grates, the natural sugars and moisture of food erupt, thus caramelizing and leaving the charred markings.

Grill head shapes dramatically influence radiant and convection heating.  Units used for smoking characteristically have dome shaped hoods because they rely almost exclusively on convection cooking.  The dome forces heat to circulate around the food and keeps it from stagnating at the top.  A high quality grill will also use the same principle with the hood having a dome shape to help reflect and circulate the heat evenly across the cooking surface. This is why you will not find square or rectangular shaped hoods on quality grills.

With some food such as steak, fish, and some vegetables first cook using the conduction method and then configure the grill to cook using convection heating.  To configure the grill to do this, turn off all but one or two burners (depending on your size grill) and move the food on the grilling surface away from the direct heat.

Learning and applying these three simple principles will help you in becoming a grill master.


-Todd Smith
W.P. Law, Inc.

Grill Selection
Making the Right Choice

Infrared Grilling


An infrared gas burner consists of ceramic plates surrounded by burner grates in a 304 stainless steel framing.
The gas BTU output of an infrared gas burner is no higher than that of a traditional gas burner, however, the ceramic plates   create an intense radiant heat from the burner.  The Napoleon series gas grills are able to obtain temperatures of 1800 degrees Fahrenheit in as little as 30 seconds.  The infrared unit does not use as much convection as a gas burner does to heat food.  Instead, the heat energy is absorbed directly by the food being cooked.

In short, to use an analogy, an infrared gas burner is to a gas grill as a super charger is to an automotive engine. Infrared gas burners boost the heat energy to a higher level.

What are some the benefits of using infrared?  First, is obviously the shorter grill times.  Some may say that infrared grilling produces more flavorful food because the intense direct heat seals the surface and enhances natural flavor for succulence and taste. The drippings from the food are instantly vaporized, adding a great natural flavor to food.  Because of this, flare-up is virtually eliminated.  

Napoleon series grills that are equipped with infrared burners use these in combination with traditional burners for the following reason.  Infrared is used for searing meats quickly to lock in juices and flavor.  The temperature adjustment range is limited from 700 degrees to 1800 degrees, plus or minus.  Therefore, after searing takes place, the final cooking is performed over the gas burners.  The advantage to this two-step process is that cooking time is reduced, less gas is used and food can be prepared exactly to taste.

An example of how a steak might be prepared is as follows.  Sear the meat over the infrared sear grate for 2 to 3 minutes per side depending on thickness.  Slide the meat over to the gas burner and finish cooking to the preferred doneness.  Following this process will prevent the meat from being charred and tough.  Fish can be prepared the same way.  A popular fish for searing is Ahi Tuna.  Sear the tuna 2-3 minutes per side (you can stop here if you like the fish on the rare side), or finish the tuna over the burners.  

Infrared grilling is a great way to cook a variety of foods. Most gas grill manufacturers who offer infrared on their grills will also provide recipes and tips for infrared grilling.  When you are shopping for your next gas grill, check out the Napoleon line  with infrared before you make a final decision.


-Todd Smith
W.P. Law, Inc.

Grill Selection
Make the right Choice

Fuel Combinations for Grilling


In a previous blog, we discussed the different fuel types for grilling and for smoking.  However, what about combining some of the fuel types for the purpose of flavor enhancement, is this even possible?  The answer to that question is, yes. In fact, most grill masters and barbecue experts use some type of fuel combination to enhance the flavors of their prepared food.
The way to achieve this is by selecting the right grill that offers an accessory or has a built in feature that will allow the addition of a secondary fuel source.

For example, Napoleon grills offer an accessory in the form of a charcoal tray that is placed on top of a gas burner. The grill user will use the primary fuel source to ignite the charcoal. Once the charcoal becomes a grayish/white color, the charcoal is ready for cooking.  Also by adding some wet chips of your favorite wood to the charcoal, a smoky flavor will enhance the   food that is being prepared.

Luxor grills have a built in feature, a smoker drawer. This feature has a smaller independent burner that will ignite the wet wood chips once placed in the drawer to produce the smoke flavoring.

Both of these options are great. Quality grill manufactures will have some type of options that are similar to allow the use of secondary fuel for flavor enhancement.

The combination of charcoal and wood chips with a gas grill can produce some great flavors to your next cook out. Do a little research, try a little experimenting, and taste the results for yourself.


-Todd Smith
W.P. Law, Inc.

Grill Selection
Making the Right Choice
Fuel Types for Grills


When shopping for a new grill you must make a decision on the type of unit you want, by the fuel it will burn.  To help you decide, I will discuss the four primary types of fuel used and their pros and cons.

Most grills and fuels have their efficiencies expressed in BTU’s.  A BTU stands for British Thermal Unit, and is explained as the amount of heat needed to raise one pound of water one degree Fahrenheit.  This is the measurement used to state the amount of energy contained in a fuel. BTU can also designate the output of any heat-generating device. (see About.com Guide)

Propane

The most convenient fuel type for grills is gas. It is great to walk outside open a gas valve on the grill and then push the ignition button. In ten minutes or less, you are grilling. So what are the costs associated with this convenience?

One pound of propane gas will generate 15,000 BTUs per one hour. The price of propane is .65 cents per pound or $2.70 per one gallon. There are 4.16 pounds of propane to one gallon.

Let us work out a common scenario for a typical gas grill owner. The output of a typical gas grill (for example), is 60,000 BTUs. The estimated cost of gas used, if the gas grill is operating at full output will be $2.60 per one hour. A 20-pound propane tank will hold 4.8 gallons of fuel, so in this scenario the owner of the propane gas grill will use the whole tank in about 4.5 to 5 hours at a cost of $13.00.**


Natural Gas

The use of natural gas as fuel for grilling is another option. This fuel is measured in cubic feet. One cubic foot of natural gas will produce 1020 BTUs of heat energy per one hour. According to the South Carolina Electric and Gas website, the cost of natural gas is $10.50 per one thousand cubic feet or .0105 cents per cubic foot. The owner of a natural gas grill that has an output of 60,000 BTUs will use 58.82 cubic feet of natural gas at a cost of .62 cents per hour.**


Charcoal

Charcoal is the third option of fuel for outdoor grilling and has been used by generations of grill enthusiasts. The most widely used charcoal is briquettes. This form of charcoal at one pound of product will yield about 9000 BTUs of heat energy per hour. To obtain 60,000 BTUs of heat energy for one hour we will need 6.6 pounds of charcoal briquettes at a cost of $2.60 to $4.29.  Another form of charcoal is hardwood lump charcoal. This charcoal produces about 13,000 BTUs of heat energy per one pound of product per hour.  Therefore, with hardwood lump charcoal it will take 4.6 pounds of product to produce 60,000 BTUs for one hour at a cost of $1.20-$3.00.**


Wood Pellets

The fourth and final fuel option for the outdoor grill is wood pellets. Over the last 5 or 6 years, several manufactures have grills whose fuel is compressed wood pellets. The pellets are made from different types of wood that offer a unique smoke flavor to grilled foods.  These woods include apple, cherry, hickory and mesquite.  In researching wood pellets, I found that one pound of wood pellets would produce about 13,000 BTUs per hour.  Therefore, as we have seen from previous examples where we use 60,000 BTUs as our base line, it will take 4.6 pounds of product to produce that level of heat energy per hour. The cost per one 20-pound bag of wood pellets is between $14.60 and $18.95. Therefore, cooking on a wood pellet grill will cost about $3.35 to $4.35 per one hour.**

As someone who grills a lot, I have enjoyed grilling on all of these fuel types. Each fuel offers a different flavor and texture to grilled foods.  I also noticed the difference in the thermal transfer to the food, which was reflected in cooking time and the amount of fuel used.

What type of fuel is best for your next outdoor grill? It really comes down to your personal preference. The data above is some “food- for- thought”, when you are ready to make your next grill purchase.

** Costs based on figures obtained at the time of this writing.


-Todd Smith
W.P. Law, Inc.