Barbecues

The best of summer living – investing in a barbeque Kiwis love their barbies – whether it’s a portable camping version, the full-scale entertainer’s machine, or something in between. When it comes to replacing or upgrading yours, your starting point is the size of the grill and/or hotplates. If you want to roast or rotisserie on your barbeque as well, choose a domed hood and extra functions. Rust resistance is important. High-grade stainless steel and aluminum won’t rust. Other common but less durable surfaces include powder coating, enamel, chrome plating or paint. The same goes for the burners – heavy metal like cast iron or stainless steel will last longer than lightweight steel. Look for burners that will provide a good spread of heat – three is usually enough for the average family. A number of models now have stainless steel burners.

Lawnmowers

What kind of lawnmower do I need? Your choice of power includes push mowers (powered by you!), electric or petrol mowers. The most popular petrol engines are four-stroke – they’re easy to start and don’t require any fuel mixing. There are two types of chassis: steel (the entry level) or alloy which is a non-rust material. Think about whether you want a cut-and-catch where you empty your own clippings, or a mulching lawnmower which cuts the grass and pushes the cutting back into the ground.