Comparing Wool Clothing prices for Winter Weather Protection

The nation’s favourite clothing to withstand the cold weather is by far wool.

Woolen jumpers may remind you of the classic bulky Christmas jumper, but there are actually a lot more options that are both lightweight, warm and fashionable available now.

grey woolen jumper women

We go over the top pics for winter time fashion.

Cashmere – The Finest and Softest of Wool

Most people will have heard of cashmere, but if not, then it’s simply a fine wool created by mountain goats in the Asian region of “Kashmir”, where the goats live at high altitudes, and so have evolved to require very warm fur.

However it is argued that it can be expensive relative to woolen blends, so why is this?

The main part of the process that creates extra cost is the quantity vs goats. It takes at least 2 goats worth of cashmere wool to create 1 jumper, which means there is a very limited number of garments that can be made from the stock, and as per usual economics, supply vs demand, this makes the price go up.

The other part that adds expense is the process of weaving. Because the wool is finer than most, it requires much more careful handling, and so the process of creating a cashmere jumper for example will take a lot longer.

Merino Wool – Smart High Street Style for Winter

If you’re looking for a mid range price woolen jumper, but still want it to be soft and non-itchy, then merino wool is a really good option.

You can find a range of styles at the high end high street stores such as John Lewis, offering a range of colours that can add real bright trends to any winter wardrobe.

I recommend you choose a blend that doesn’t irritate your skin, so make sure to try on the clothing in the changing rooms before you purchase, just in case (everyone has a different reaction to wool).

Woolen Blends – Budget Options

If you’re struggling for cash to invest in a better quality wool, then purchasing a cheaper wool blended jumper would be a perfect option. Shops such as Primark in the UK sell a good range of fashionable yet cheap wool jumpers, and so you can browse your local store for options. Contrasting colours are often good to add winter style.

This is a useful video on how wool can be made less itchy:

Best Soccer Goals for Your Home

For the true soccer fanatic, just watching it on the screen simply isn’t enough. Sure, you’ll catch every game of your favorite – or even despised – teams on TV or live, but when there isn’t a game on, what do you do?

For many, downtime between pro games means time to train for your own soccer exploits – and those future ones of your children or players.

pink soccer ball

In order to do that though, to really do it the right way, you’ll want a good set of goals. Whether it’s for practice, some quick fun, or a serious neighborhood rivalry, nothing sets the stage as well as a good set of goals. Not all goals are created equal though, so we’ve created this guide to help you navigate the ins and outs of finding and buying the right goal for your needs. Sometimes it’s best to use these soccer goals in your backyard.

Types of Home Soccer Goals

There are three basic kinds of home soccer goals: Freestanding, Socketed, and Fold to Wall. What is Soccer? See here.

Freestanding goals stand upright without having to be sunk into holes or tied to anything. The front posts and crossbar are attached to diagonal poles that run to a rear horizontal pole. This pole is also attached to the base of the posts. A net is attached around the whole structure. We’ve all seen these, and they work pretty well.

Socketed goals are very popular among families that keep the goals up all year long, and don’t need to move them. They feature posts that are sunk into the ground into holes, and set in place using concrete. A crossbar connects the two posts and a net is strung from the posts and crossbar, and often to a mount behind the goal to keep it away from the goalkeeper.

Fold to Wall goals are designed to be very sturdy, but to fold away when the grounds are needed for other sports. They are fixed to hinged arms that extend from the wall or can be pulled up out of the way.

Key Points if Buying a Soccer Goal for Home

1) The Material

The most popular material for most goals is aluminum. This light-weight metal is also quite durable and unlikely to shatter or tear. Steel goals are popular for similar reasons, but they tend to cost more and are heavier – all in exchange for a little more durability. If the goals are more likely to take extra abuse – like kids hanging from the crossbar or climbing on them – then steel is the better way to go. UPVC (plastic) goals are the lightest and most portable, but also the least durable for obvious reasons. They are therefore the best choice for those who need portability, but are not too hard on the equipment.

2) The Size

The FA regulates specific goals for specific age ranges, and your local, state, or national league will do the same. If you are purchasing for a league or club, you’ll want to find a goal of a specific size to suit what they will use in games. Even if you aren’t in a league though, choosing a goal that is most suitable to a young player will avoid unnecessary frustration and will increase everyone’s enjoyment of the game.

Best Home Soccer Goals – Types Reviewed

We’ve reviewed available goals and come up with the top choices in five categories.

BEST PORTABLE Soccer Goal: QUICKPLAY Kickster Fun Goal

For many, soccer is a favorite sport to watch at home, or even to play on weekends. For the serious fan though, there can never be enough. If the only drawback to your vacation time is the lack of a little footie, then you need something portable enough to take along with you.

Kickster portable soccer goal by quickplay sport usa

This is the one.

It’s patented Flexi Post design means that it is fast to set up or to take down, fits easily in the trunk or back seat of your car – along with other luggage of course – and can therefore go wherever you go. The pre-attached poles mean there’s no need for instructions when setting it up, pieces don’t get lost or mixed up, and even your kids can have it up and ready before you’ve even finished unloading the car.

Good points:

  • Very portable
  • Easy to set up and take down
  • Can be staked to the ground for stability

Ok OVERALL: 6′ x 4′ FORZA Locking Soccer Goal

One of the few goals that is designed to be left out all year round, this one is understandably one of the most popular back yard goals on the market. It is quick to set up and take down too, which makes it both durable and versatile. The locking system allows it to take a beating and still look like new, and the anti-rot net technology means that the whole unit will last through year of all-round weather and play.

It comes with an optional soccer foal target sheet, for accuracy training or for a simple challenge among friends.

Good points:

  • It is durable
  • It can be set up or taken down quickly and easily
  • Can be left outside all year round

 STURDY: Samba Sports Soccer Goal

To ensure a goal that will hold up to rougher, adult-sized play, you need go no further than this Samba Sports Soccer Goal. The 68mm diameter, high-impact UPVC materials are the reason this goal is even used by pro clubs and schools.

Despite the robust nature of it, it is very portable, with set-up or take-down in just a few minutes. The nets, clips and ground anchors – as well as the main structure of course – are weatherproof and suitable to be left out all year round.

Good points:

  • Sturdy, stable form and materials
  • Weatherproof
  • Portable

MINI FOR SMALL BACK YARD: Ultrasport Children’s Plug System Soccer Goal

If your future FIFA star is still pretty little, but you want to engrain that love of the game early on, then this kit is an excellent choice. It’s durable, despite being made for smaller players, and is very easy to set up and take down, so you don’t have to have it up in the yard all the time… unless you want to!

man doing soccer skills

The best part of the solid click mechanism is that you can take down the goal, throw it in the car, and set it up at the beach, the park, or wherever you and your family want to kick the ball around.

Good points:

  • Great size for kids
  • Very portable – but holds up well!
  • Easy to set up and take down

WOODEN Option: Homegoal Wooden Soccer Goal

If you have kids that are likely to swing on your soccer goal – in other words, ‘if you have kids!’ – then it’s not a bad idea to choose a high-quality wooden one. They aren’t really portable, but they stand up well to all kinds of use, from hard shots, collisions, inclement weather, and yes, even to being used as a monkey-bar or lookout post!

Good points:

  • Durable construction
  • Looks good and can easily be repainted when aging
  • 3 year warranty

Final Thoughts

No matter which soccer goal you choose to buy, make sure you thoroughly read the reviews and payment terms and conditions, to ensure it’s the perfect choice for your home.

How is Perforated Sheet Metal Affected by the Weather?

Different grades of perforated metal can perform differently under different weather conditions. We go over some of the key information you need to know below.

What Is Perforated Metal?

‘Perforation’ is another word for ‘hole,’ so perforated metal is simple sheet metal with holes punched into it. These holes can be of various shapes and sizes, and can perform various functions and effects. Perforated metal is also called perforated sheet and perforated screen, and can be made from a variety of metals, including stainless steel, cold rolled steel, aluminium or other metals.

The mining industry first used perforated metal about 150 years ago. It used it to filter coal. Early efforts at making perforated metal sheets were inefficient. Labourers punched holes in sheets of metal by hand. Mechanised methods of punching holes have greatly increased efficiency and accuracy in this process.

How Is Perforated Metal Manufactured?

The process of manufacturing perforated metal begins with a metal sheet. Like the name suggests, the metal is thin and flat, much like a bed sheet in shape. It can be cut to any desired shape prior to, or after, perforation. The thickness of the metal is measured in mm in most of the world, but the United States uses ‘gauges.’ The larger the gauge, the thinner the metal.

Most metal perforation is done using a rotary pinned perforation roller. This device is comprised of a large cylinder with strong, pointed needles on the outside of it. As the sheet is passed under the rolling cylinder, the needles punch holes in it. In some processes, the needles are heated, and the sheet is paused under the roller just long enough to partially melt the edges of the new hole, decreasing sharpness.

The size and configuration of the hole patterns are determined by the roller chosen.

Die and punch perforating is another common method. Rather than using a continuous roller, die and punch uses a plate with needles on it, which is pressed down upon a sheet of metal, thereby punching holes in it. The surface is cleaned and smoothed afterwards by a sheer. This process is efficient and can quickly punch holes in large sheets.

The most advanced method of perforating metal is laser perforation. As you might assume, laser perforation requires a very expensive system. The benefits of it include extremely precise perforations which are heated during the process, similar to heated rotary needles. Consistency is very high.

How is Perforated Sheet Metal Used?

Modern architecture uses perforated metals often, and for a variety of purposes.

These sheets are excellent for sun protection, as they let limited light through small holes but don’t block it out completely like a solid sheet would. The perforations also allow ventilation, either natural or mechanically-driven, which further assists in climate control. Since the perforations can be punched in a variety of patterns and shapes, the purpose of these design elements is often mistaken for something purely decorative, whereas they function beyond that as well. Savings in heating, cooling, and other environmental controls are all gained by using this kind of simple design element.

Perforated sheets can function in much the same way, but for filtering out sound. The solid parts of the sheet block or deflect sound, while the holes allow some of it through.

Perforated sheets are also excellent for use as balustrades. They function almost as a solid barrier, but are lighter and still allow air flow and beautification through hole patterns and shapes.

Many industries use perforated metals. The food and beverage industries use them in wine vats, fish farms, sorting machines, fruit and veg presses, grain dryers, and even baking trays. The energy and chemical sectors use them for filters, mine cages, elevators, filters, coal washers, battery separator plates, centrifuges, and more. They are used in the automotive industry for oil filters, radiator grilles, engine ventilation, motorcycle silencers, and purifiers. Material development uses them for blast furnaces, cement slurry screens, safety cages, blast furnace screens, textile printers and felt mills, and more.

Perforated metal is also used a lot in structural steel projects according to Steelgram Fabrications LTD, which say they are among the most plentiful and widely used materials in most modern building construction.

Clear Weather Questions

As a result of these processes, there are clear differences in how we should view metal for outdoor and indoor use. We also need to consider things like vibrations, and climate factors (such as average rain acidity). This will all determine the final choice for your steel or other metal perforated panels, and you should always consult with a fabrication specialist before implementing anything.

References:

https://parkwayfabrications.co.uk/perforated-sheet-metal/

https://www.steelgram.co.uk/metal-fabrication/

https://thefrisky.com/everything-you-should-know-about-baluster/

https://skaafrica.com/steel-erection-functions-construction-industry/

How does bad weather impact UK public serotonin levels?

We all know the weather in the UK is a big topic of conversation at all times of the year, and it’s often what we are known for in the broader international community (everyone associates the UK with rain!) but how could the general weather pattern impact the public’s mental health, and general attitudes towards each other and life in general?

Let’s find out below.

Mood, The Weather and Serotonin

Bad weather is no joke when it comes to mood, and is proven to actually make people feel depressed! There is even an official medical condition known as “winter depression” which describes how people’s mood can be worse in the winter time.

However the effects of this alter greatly between each person, which is why there isn’t a countrywide diagnosis of this condition.

The science behind this is to do with your central nervous system, and more specifically the neurotransmitter called “serotonin”. This is known to be a mood regulator, and people with low serotonin levels often find it trouble sleeping, and are more likely to suffer from depression.

How to combat this? Take Supplements or Change Diet

The best way to tackle this issue proactively is to up your serononin production. Now technically you aren’t going to be upping the level by ingesting it, moreover you will be taking the vitamins and nutrients that promote the optimum level of serotonin from your body. This allows your system to self-regulate the amount it needs, and prevents deficiencies. You can ingest foods that contain 5-HTP which converts into serotonin, or you could take serotonin specific tablets. If you prefer chewable serotonin supplements, then you can find gummies online in many places.

Remember to monitor your mood throughout the winter, and make the dietary changes first when you feel down.

You can also boost your serotonin levels through a good diet, exercise, and positive thinking.

Follow EWI for more weather related blog posts like this.

Extreme Weather is No Match for Weatherproof Rattan Garden Furniture

One of the Coldest Springs on Record

You may remember that in the Northern counties of England, and even in some southern counties, in spring of 2018 there was extreme snow in many areas far later than seen in previous years.

This snow was apparent in some places as late as May, you can see various reports on this here, and here.

The Beast From The East

And you may have been effected by the devastation that the “beast from the east” brought to the country, with many losing power, and having furniture damaged by the extremely cold temperatures.

However some of you may have noticed that your outdoor furniture wasn’t affected by the cold, and interestingly enough this is because it is classed as all weather furniture.

Weatherproof Rattan Garden Furniture

One of the most popular types of all weather furniture is synthetic rattan, and I’ll explain how it is weatherproof below.

Weatherproof rattan garden furniture

What makes rattan weatherproof?

Aluminium – the rust buster. So if you remember your chemistry class as a child, you’ll recall that there are certain metals that go rusty, and certain metals that don’t. Well aluminium is one of those metals that doesn’t rust, and so it makes it really good to form into furniture frames to be left outside.

UV stabilization of plastics – no more sun damage. We all know about UV light, we hear it all the time about wearing sun scream, but what if your furniture could have sun cream of its own? Well that’s what these synthetic rattan strands effectively have done to them, a permanent sun cream layer applied, known as UV stabilizer, which prevents the sun from degrading the material, and provides you with something that doesn’t rot or fade.

You can browse a UK provider of rattan garden furniture here.

You can also leave comments with any questions about weatherproof rattan furniture, or any of the extreme weather we had this year.

And remember, continue to support Extreme Weather Impacts and we’ll bring you more content like this.

Welcome Update

Welcome to the new website of Extreme Weather Impacts.

Some of the historical articles that were previously used have been restored for educational purposes as I think they’re really good.

No copyright infringement intended, and if you want them to be removed (a shame, but I understand) then simply email me and I’ll try and replace them with my own work in due course.

It’s important that in periods of political unrest we don’t forget about long term causes such as the environment, as in the end all we can hope to achieve is leaving a fit world for the next generations.

All the best.

Rob.