Charcoal vs Gas

When the weather is glorious, its always nice to have a barbecue in the garden. There's just something so relaxed about cooking and eating outdoors that makes the food taste that much more special, even if the sausage is slightly overdone.

But, with the wide variety of BBQs on the market, how on earth is anyone meant to pick one? The most basic and important decision is 'charcoal or gas?', but even this can be complicated when the pros and cons of each aren't properly explained.

Alfresia has a very extensive range of barbecues (both gas and charcoal) and we feel we should provide the necessary information, so: charcoal or gas?

How convinient are they? A general rule of thumb when answering this question is that the more convinient a barbecue is to use, the less 'authentic' it is going to be. This can extend not just to style but to the taste of the meat. A gas grill obviously doesn't produce as much smoke as a charcoal bbq does and a gas grill is easier to clean (the grills, burners, rotisseries etc. tend to be easier to remove). However, the lack of smoke detracts from that smoky barbecue flavour. A charcoal barbecue might be more difficult to clean, but the food will taste more like barbecued food.
Winner: Draw. This is a matter of preference. What matters most to you? Taste or ease of use?

Which is easier to cook on? As we've said above, gas barbecues are easier to use. They light instantly and heat up quickly. If you're cooking on a charcoal grill it can take a while for the barbecue to be ready to use. With a gas barbecue you can just light the grill and put the meat on.
Winner: gas barbecues are definitely easier to cook on.

Does the taste differ? As we have established above, charcoal barbecues produce an authentic, smokey tasting meat. Meat from gas barbecues tastes like it is just out of the oven - it might taste good, but doesn't this defeat part of the object of barbecuing?
Winner: Charcoal cooked meats. That's not to say the meat from a gas bbq tastes bad, its just that charcoal barbecues create that flavour.

How will you use the barbecue? If you're just cooking for your family or for a small group then it doesn't really matter what size or kind of barbecue you use. Gas BBQs light quicker but, with enough preparation time, there is no great discrepancy in efficiency. However if you're catering for a larger group or party then a gas barbecue might be better option. This is because charcoal BBQs are limited in size. You can however purchase large gas barbecues that serve as outdoor kitchens, with up to 6 burners, a grill, preparation areas and a rotisserie!
Winner: There's not real winner here as which barbecue  you choose tends to depend upon how many people you plan to cook for. Charcoal barbecues are great for small groups, but you can only cater efficiently for a large group with a gas barbecue.

How much do the cost? Its hard to come up with an average price across the entire range, but on the whole gas barbecues will be more expensive than charcoal barbecues. However, charcoal tends to be a slightly more expensive fuel, so this choice won't save you money in the long run.
Winner: draw.

Results

         Gas BBQ: 4
Charcoal BBQ: 4

Ultimately, we can't come to a conclusion as to which breed of barbecue is better. It all comes down to personal preference. That said, we hope we've provided you with enough information to make an informed choice!

Preparing a Diamond Jubilee Party

There's a deluge of high profile cultural events happening in Britain this summer, mostly notably the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee. Whatever you think of her madge and the family, you really should use the celebrations as an excuse to host a garden party (unless you didn't need an excuse in the first place, in which case: go right ahead!).

At Alfresia we intend to celebrate with something as close to a party as working hours allow (now if only the management would let us take the barbecue from the showroom and some deck chairs to the roof - THAT would be celebrating...). June 5th is the official date and there's nothing to stop you preparing now!

We're all hoping for a sunny summer, so the ideal place to hold a summer party is the garden. You'll want to cook and entertain in comfort and buy products which you can use again and again (after all, after the Jubilee it is the Olympics!).

When weighing in the pros and cons of one kind of outdoor cooker against another, there will be several boxes which must be ticked for the product to be even considered. You want an attractive, efficient barbecue which can be used again and again; you want a high quality product for a fair price; you want your monies worth. The range of Toledo Cast Iron Chimeneas tick just those boxes. They look good, are cast in the traditional spanish way and are hard wearing. What's more, they double up as a chimenea and barbecue. This means that you can cook on them whilst the sun is out and then gather round them afterwards.

Once you've served up, you'll need somewhere to eat and you'll want to consider this hardwood garden furniture. Its hard wearing, practical and attractive. You can buy dining sets, recliners and chairs. Anything and everything you need to inhabit your garden without straining your legs.

Enjoy!

Ride On Lawnmowers

Most people are familiar with a simple lawnmower, but using one to cut the grass can be a tiring and time consuming process, especially if you have an above-average sized lawn. Here, Alfresia can be of some help. We have recently introduced a new range of ride-on lawnmowers. These combine efficiency and innovative design to create a powerful tool for tending to your lawn. Our Ride-On Lawnmowers come from two reputable brands with decades of experience in building lawnmowers.

Mountfield Lawnmowers

The Mountfield range of ride-on lawnmowers feature three versions of their flagship mower, each suited to a different type of garden. The 2500SV Compact Lawnmower is suited to smaller gardens and can fit through a standard sized garden gate! It is a great alternative to larger, stand behind mowers. The 2800SH Compact Lawnmower is the middle model, and basically a more powerful version of the 2500 and is suitable for larger gardens. The top of the Mountfield range is the 4000SH Lawn Tractor with a 40in ContraFlo cut and collect system and a hydrostatic transmission system. This Lawn Tractor is ideal for large lawns. All our Mountfield Ride On Lawnmowers use Honda engines, guaranteeing quality, with an electric key start mechanism.


Hayter Lawnmowers

The two Hayter lawnmowers use Briggs & Stratton engines. They are built for comfort and ease of use and are great tools for getting lawns of any size mowed. They lack some of the power of the Mountfield-Honda models, but are cheaper and still have the ability to get the job done. Both feature an astonishing 6 cutting heights, meaning you have a great many options as to how low you want your grass to be cut. The grass bags on Hayter models are particularly easy to remove; the whole mower is really designed to be as ergonomic as possible!





Both ranges of Ride On Mowers have their advantages, so check out the whole collection of lawn mowers on Alfresia today!

Garden Adventures for the Kids

Although the weather today certainly doesn't suggest it, summer is approaching. When the sun finally does get here, you'll want you and your family to spend as much time in the garden as possible and you'll want to keep your kids entertained. A great way to do this is through using toys and play areas.

On Alfresia, we've recently massively expanded our range of play areas. All these play houses are made using shiplap cladding. As we've spoken about before shiplap cladding is a far sturdier construction method than overlap cladding, which means that these play houses will last longer than and need less maintenance than those found elsewhere constructed using overlap cladding. A particular highlight of our range is the Tulip group of playhouses. This is a group of 4 playhouses which share the same design and construction methods. However, each model has different features, ranging from the basic play house to the play house tower with slide and swing. All of our playhouses comply fully with the EU saftey regulations and have been awarded the EN71 saftey rating. Equally, all windows and glass components across the entire range are fitted in the factory. Whilst these playhouse do represent something of a financial investment, they are great value for money being sturdy, safe and well made. Your child is sure to get hours of enjoyment from our playhouses and the range is wide enough to suit all needs and concerns.


Another range we've recently expanded is that of our outdoor toys.  These are pedal-powered tractors and trucks. We have products suitable for any ages between 2 and 8, which means that you're sure to find something to suit you! All of our ride on products are guaranteed for 3 years. The highlight of this range is the Premium John Deere Farm Tractor. This one is for kids between 4 and 8 and it displays an impressive range of features. A lifting bonnet, adjustable seat and a fully functioning front loader which can be removed mean that the tractor is fairly customisable, whilst a protected chaindrive, inflatable rubber tyres, an emergency stop break and 2 functioning gears make up the mechanic spec. The tractor can also be combined with a couple of trailer accessories too for added play value. Again, with these tractors and JCBs, there are options to suit any budget and all are guaranteed to be great fun your child to use!

Shiplap Cladding Vs Overlap Cladding

On Alfresia, we've just launched a whole new range of garden sheds, greenhouses, playhouses and summerhouses. These have just come in and can broadly be divided into two kinds of sheds: overlap and shiplap.

But what do these categories mean, and how do they should they affect your decision when choosing a wooden garden building?

What is Overlap Cladding?
Overlap cladding refers to the way in which the cladding is fitted together - the pieces of timber overlap. This style is easier and cheaper to construct, and the savings are passed onto the customer - overlap sheds tend to be cheaper than other kinds of shed. Whilst not as sturdy and durable as shiplap cladded sheds, overlap cladding is still a safe and secure mode of construction meaning that overlap sheds are great value products. The advantages and disadvantages of overlap cladding have led us to believe that it is suitable more for the construction of sheds and storage units - the cladding keeps your tools or garden clutter safe and dry and provides shelter if you use the shed as a workshop.

                                

What is Shiplap Cladding?

Shiplap and tongue and groove cladding two similar ways of interlocking the pieces of timber. This gives a far sturdier construction and reduces the chance of water getting inbetween the wood, in turn reducing the risk of getting wood rot. The sturdier construction also means that the shed will be less likely to be damaged by day to day wear and tear. The more advanced techniques required to build the sheds mean, however, that they cost slightly more money.

We believe that Shiplap Cladding is more suitable for use in the construction of workshops and garden buildings where you might be spending a longer period of time, time that you use to relax rather than do house/garden work. The sturdy construction makes these buildings secure for storing valuables and more comfortable for sitting in on a hot summer's day. They are also more suitable for use as children's playhouses.

Whichever kind of construction sounds favourable to you, you will be sure to find a shed that is ideal in size and style for you on Alfresia UK. Recently we've added a vast number of garden sheds, a collection of children's playhouses, a range of summerhouses, utilising both traditional and modern designs, and a small number of buildings suited to both  casual and keen gardeners.

Alfresia is also an online retailer of garden furniture.

Gardening in March

 

March is the beginning of the busiest season of a gardener's year. There are many important jobs to do in the garden at this time, though you may not be aware of them all. This article isn't exhaustive, but it is a good start on how to prepare your garden for the warmer months.

With regards to the vegetable patch: You can start planting onions and shallots in a few days. They need the sunniest position with free drainage.  Don't bother putting manure on the soil, as these crops prefer a more mature soil. Position them in a line so that they are easy to weed. To avoid birds pulling them out of the soil, place a net over them until the roots have a hold.
Potatoes need time to chit before they are planted. Leave them in a cool, bright room to promote the eyes. Later in the month you can plant the early growers, but keep them covered in fleece to be on the safe side.

There are still some plants that need pruning. However, don't prune evergreen until April. Remove a third of spent flowering stems on plants that flowered in the winter, back to the old wood, This promotes fresh growth.Wisteria, clemantis and late flowering shrubs like Russian Sage should all have been pruned properly by the end of the month. If you don't, you will risk losing important fresh growth energy if this is left too late.

Later this month, you can probably start to sow some plants directly outside. Sweet Peas and Broad Beans suit an earlier planting, as do mustard and rocket. Hold off on planting any new turf until early April, though you can prepare the ground for sowing.

Slugs can be a danger to new growth but use pellets wisely and only where necessary. Try to use organic pellets because they provide no danger to any other animals or plants.

Alfresia UK is an online retailer of garden furniture.

Mexican Handmade Chimeneas

We've had a range of handmade clay mexican chimeneas on Alfresia for quite some time and they have proved so popular that we've doubled the range today, introducing some exciting new designs and updating some of the older ones.

One idea we find particularly interesting is the fusion of the old and new.

The Ellipse Chimeneas are a great example of this design ethos. The Chimeneas are handcrafted in Mexico, using the same techniques that the locals have been using for hundreds of years when using clay. This development time means that, today, the product is extremely efficient when burning fuel and allows the fuel to be lit easily.

 The expertise of centuries is poured into their construction. Fused with this traditional crafting is the modern design and styling of these particular chimeneas. They have been built in a round shape, with a huge mouth-shaped opening through which you can see the fire and stoke the flames. They are finished with a number of different coloured glazes.

Handcrafted, they offer great value for money and can even be used inside with the addition of a simple accessory - the Universal Chimenea Burner (see the post below on bio-fuels). Shop the Ellipse Collection today!

Mexico has a range of ceramic traditions that date back to a time before Mexico was Mexico! Today there at least 7 major recognisable styles of Mexican pottery, with many others that are less well known.

This hertiage means that clay products from Mexico are among the best in the world, and they are still made by hand! If you're intereseted in a new chimenea (that can now be used inside or out), check out our range of Mexican Chimeneas on Alfreisa UK. We promise that you won't be disappointed.

Alfresia UK is an online retailer of garden furniture and Chimeneas.