Posts Tagged ‘patio’

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Building A Garden Patio

Tuesday, July 27th, 2010

A new patio is the best way to beautify your home’s garden and create an outdoor environment that you, your family and your friends will enjoy spending time in. Most people prefer to build patios close to their house but you can place them anywhere in your garden, with an elegant path leading to them. Maybe you would want to do that if you get more sun at the end of your garden. Either way, building the perfect patio for your yard required planning and preparation.

The size and proportions of the patio area are important things to consider. Before you decide on a certain patio plan make sure that you have thought practically about how the area will be used. For example, if you plan on having patio chairs or tables, or even a grill in the patio area, you will need to make sure that you have ample room for them. At least 3m x 3m of space is a good size for a patio.

Shape is another factor of your design to consider. A traditional rectangular patio is fine, but there are several other shapes, such as curved edges and geometric patterns that will give your patio and a more unique look. Marking your planned design with string line or hose pipe will help you visualize the finished effect. Get a second opinion before actually starting any of the actual work because changing the shape or size once you have started can be a real pain to do.

Even after deciding on size, shape, furnishings and other details there is one more vital aspect that most people do not consider: the color. Color is an effective tool to create a beautiful patio as well as a pleasant atmosphere, you want the color to not only complement your home but the yard as a whole. You could either match the stone of the patio with the colors of your house, or you could use two different types of stone with complementary colors, the options are endless.

The perimeter of your patio is also a chance for some keen design, it works as a nice outline to your patio and gives it shape. The height of the wall you will place around the patio is also a decision that must be considered closely. Do you want a low ornamental perimeter or something higher that sections the area off from the rest of the garden? You also need to decide if there will be room for plants along the top of the wall, or if you would prefer a decorative top, if you will want to use matching or contrasting stone for the wall and many other factors. You can really unleash your creativity with a project like this.

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Make Sure Of Success At Garden Party With An Outdoor Misting Fan

Tuesday, July 13th, 2010

In the summer, the weather turns comfortable, many people will plan or hold social gatherings in the backyard, on a porch, or in the wonderful home garden. Having the event outside gives the party-goers a chance to experience the nice weather, but also allows the party-giver to take care of many more guests than is feasible inside the house.

However, even in the summer the weather sometimes turns bad by being too hot. To obviate problems such as heat stroke, planners can save their parties with the use of an outdoor misting fan. These devices will protect guests by keeping the local environment cool and moist.

The process of liquid evaporation requires a tiny bit of heat energy in the surrounding environment. This is known in atmospheric science as evaporative cooling. Humans sweat when it is hot so that when the sweat evaporates it cools down the body. Dogs pant and hang their tongues out because the tongue is a source of moisture and heat that benefits from evaporation. The outdoor misting fan does the same by increasing evaporation.

The effects of the outdoor misting fan can be amplified with the use of other kinds of garden shading products. Most shade products reduce heat by reflecting all the light away. But the mister actually absorbs energy using evaporative cooling. Together the two work together to really bring down ambient temperature. The following is a discussion of three kinds.

The first type of shade used with an outdoor misting fan is the canopy. The set-up a consumer usually encounters at a store is a large self-supporting steel scaffold covered by a voluminous section of shade material. It is useful to shade out sunlight coming from the top so there is consistently a shade material roof.

The outdoor misting fan can also be used with an awning. Most people have rested beneath an awning before positioned over the store-front or display glass of an establishment and bringing in valuable customers who were likely seeking shelter. Awnings for personal use have been refined greatly beyond classic immobile and one-piece fabric configuration.

The final shade type used with outdoor misting fans are pergolas. Most exterior shading is made to block out all sunlight. Pergolas are designed with another idea. Rather than stretching out fabric material, the columns of a pergola raise up wood beams that block only part of the sun.

Uncover the newest research and articles in regards to purchasing outdoor shades for home. Niche detail resources on home misting fan are free for your use.

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Choosing The Right Garden Furniture

Thursday, July 8th, 2010

Once you have finished making your patio, your deck or your lawn, you will unquestionably start thinking about how you can enjoy more time out of doors. Therefore, you will need some garden furniture. Many shops stock garden furniture. You can try home improvement centres, large department stores and garden centres. There are also businesses on line that will deliver. The hard job is picking your garden furniture.

There is a very broad choice of designs of garden furniture – a style to suit every person and complement every garden. So, before rushing down to the garden centre, it is worth considering for a while what you would like to accomplish with your open-air seating area. Do you want a theme? Do you want to entertain or dine there? Or do you just want to sit peacefully, take pleasure in your garden and read a magazine?

Indeed, the answer may well be a permutation of all those things. If you simply want to sit there with a drink and a book, you may be satisfied to just buy a couple of chairs and a small table, but if you want to have guests or eat family meals outside, you may prefer a more substantial table. A large oak table would be quite costly, but it would look magnificent and last for a ten years or more.

If you choose a table, you will have to have chairs to match, but do you want loungers as well? They could be of plastic and kept in the shed until required.

You will likely have to have some form of shade. This can be provided by folding, even removable umbrellas or by overhanging trees or shrubs. Wisteria or clematis can do the job too and cost you next to nothing.

Do you intend cooking in this space? If you do, what and how? Do you fancy a barbecue pit or a proper hob and oven? A lot of people in regions where the climate permits are doing a great deal of cooking outside in a carbon copy of an indoor kitchen, but without all the walls.. If you plan the outdoor kitchen carefully, you will be able to use it in the rain too. I find it lovely not to have kitchen smells in the house and cooking out of doors is a good experience as well.

If it gets chilly in the evenings then you can think about buying some patio heaters. They are not dear to buy or to run and one standard patio heater can keep quite a crowd of people warm. (By the word ’standard’ here, I mean standing, like a lamp post).

Lighting is the last major consideration in the list when deciding on garden furniture. There are actually two sorts of garden lighting to mull over: lighting to see by and lighting to lure insects away. Again, you could use standard lamps to illuminate your patio. They shine their light far enough so that you can still look at your garden after dark or you could have separate wall light on dimmers.

The one light I would definitely have is a mosquito lantern. Hang this away from where you sit, because they do draw insects to them which they then electrocute with a pleasing zap.

Owen Jones, the writer of this article writes on a number of subjects, but is now involved with visual comfort lighting. If you would like to know more or check out some great offers, please go to our website at Outdoor Wall Lamps.

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How To Build A Flagstone Patio — First Steps In Planning Materials

Thursday, June 24th, 2010

If you’re wondering where to start with your flagstone patio building project, the logical thing is to consider what type of stone you might like to use. If you like, you can go with a typical flagstone, which can be the irregularly shaped pieces that get fitted together in a neat but “random” pattern and often include color variations as well. But there are other choices — more that you can imagine, in fact! Many different kinds of stone can be used for a patio, and they can be placed in simple elegant layouts or more complicated mosaic-type patterns. You can also mix different types and colors of stone to create borders or inlaid patterns.

You need good quality stone of the right thickness, because a well-laid patio can serve you well with little maintenance for several decades. It has to be able to bear traffic over the long term — for example, thin pieces of shale or sandstone won’t work because they can’t stand up to any kind of traffic or bear much weight without breaking. An area that will have heavy traffic quantity, or bear any amount of weight will need thicker stone and may require a concrete sub-base (this would apply to something like a flagstone driveway that takes vehicle traffic).

Climate should be considered, too. Double-check with your supplier to make sure the stone you want to use is appropriate for the weather conditions in your area. For example, a very porous stone may suffer in sub-zero weather; it absorbs moisture which can expand as it freezes and damage the stone. It is essential that some slope is built into the patio to insure proper drainage of water off the stone; this slope should always be away from buildings and other design elements — excess water should drain onto a lawn or driveway, etc.

Safety is also a factor when choosing stone for building you your patio. If you live in a climate with freezing temperatures in winter you should consider what the patio surface will be like during freeze/thaw cycles, or when ice-covered. It might be helpful to choose stone with a textured surface in that case, or plan to use a non-salt product, such as volcanic ash, to spread when it’s icy. Volcanic ash is a very good anti-slip product; it will not damage your stone, or animal paws, or your floor if it gets tracked in the house. The leftover can be swept off the patio onto the lawn or flowerbed in the spring without causing problems. The ash is much more expensive to purchase than salt, compared pound for pound, but it goes much farther and the other benefits far outweigh the cost.

These first steps are a fact-finding mission, so don’t get worried about design details yet. You’re finding out what your choices are — and you may be surprised to discover how many there are! Have some fun, use your imagination, check out pictures of flagstone patios (your local stone supplier may have catalogs of patterns, and/or photos of finished projects for you to drool over). And start putting together a budget, too, of course.

Looking for more great information on installing flagstone, then visit www.howtobuildaflagstonepatio.com to learn why you MUST choose the right location for your flagstone patio.

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Retractable Awnings As Home Outside Shading

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010

Modern outdoor shades help increase the amount of usable area outside the house. The shades are usually large structures that can be free-standing, or attached to the house. The awning is one type that is attached, specifically over the frame of a window so it can both reduce incoming light and also provide shade to those who are situated outside. Awnings come in so many myriad shapes and sizes that it would take a whole book to understand them. However, here we consider exclusively the retractable awning.

Awnings are shades that are attached to a building, the place of placement frequently being at an entrance or wide window of a house. Awnings for personal use have been refined far beyond classic fixed-frame and one-piece shade cloth configuration. Contemporary awnings retract automatically in strong winds, are powered by motors and controlled remotely.

The most important feature of a retractable awning is that it has two configurations. There is a closed configuration which is compact, unobtrusive, and hidden from view. The closed configuration means that there is no shading provided. There is also an open configuration that provides full-fledged shade. The big question is why would anyone need a retractable shade? Well, when it is winter time, having unshaded premises is nice to increase sunlight exposure. Furthermore when the weather is bad with high winds and heavy precipitation, a retractable awning is protected in a protective housing case.

Retractables can be classified into two categories. A rolling retractable unfurls like a flag when put into use. A lateral arm retractable swings open to hold a stretched fabric. Both types can be mechanized with a small motor which can be operated with a remote. These are mechanized retractable awnings which are easier to use especially for people who are not tall, have weak arms or bad backs that make it hard to reach the shade.

Retractable awnings can be used in conjunction with canopies. A canopy is actually a specialized word for a very large tent. The layout of a canopy can be divided into the shading fabric and the sturdy scaffold that holds up the fabric. Most canopy owners find it useful to have at least the roof of a canopy covered with fabric. The walls on the side aren’t an absolute must, a choice that depends on whether a canopy owner would like to give up some privacy for a breath of fresh air.

Often homeowners will combine a retractable awning with a pergola. Pergolas are an interesting sort of outdoor shade in that they don’t provide total shading. They actually let in a few rays of sunlight. The design is fairly straightforward on paper but demands a lot of work to set up. A number of support beams are put into the floor which holds a few overhead slats. These top beams shade out some of the light.

The articles provided for outdoor shades guide will be useful to many. Niche detail resources on awning retractatable are available.

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The Finest Means To Wash Your Patio Or Decking

Monday, May 31st, 2010

When the climate starts to get better and you can smell the barbeques in the air you know it’s time for some graft to be done on your home and garden. There are so many things to undertake following the winter period to make sure your garden is back and looking its best.

One such item that suffers over the period of the winter and without regular upkeep is your patio or decking. This must remain regularly maintained and taken care of to ensure that it looks good.

Tips On Cleaning Your Patio

For Patios you get layers of dirt and grime build up and one of the biggest problems is that you obtain moss and weeds growing inside the cracks and between the bricks of the patio. This requires time to clean and remove.

The best way in which to clean your patio is through the use of a pressure washer. Pressure washers come in varying shapes and sizes. To ensure the patio is adequately cleaned you’ll need a medium weight washer.

Before starting it’s good to prepare your patio by pulling out any weeds, getting rid of any pebbles and also taking out as much moss between bricks etc as achievable. A tip to attain this a lot easier is to utilise a tiny trowel or something comparable and scrape out the moss and weeds.

When you pressure wash you should follow a path to make sure that each area has been cleaned, it can sometimes be hard when dirt and muck is moving around to determine what has been done and what not.

When washing take frequent breaks to brush up surplus water and muck. One more tip is to pay particular attention to cracks and gaps and make sure you clean out the weeds.

Tips On Cleaning Decking

With decking the material is allot softer than it would be on a patio, wood or composite wood against stone. Due to this you have to be aware your pressure washer is not to strong in that it would damage the wood and cause splintering for example.

One tip would be to test a very small area first to make sure the pressure won’t break the material. Once you find it’s ok again work in a routine manner when cleaning the decking. It is a muddy job and the muck is washed about so you need to determine where you will begin and wind up finishing so you aren’t just scattering the dirt around.

With good cleansing and maintenance of your garden decking you will make sure that the decking looks newer longer and the material is less like to get damaged through weathering, mould and rotting.

Ensure you also experiment with the distances you keep the pressure wand from the surfaces as this can make the pressure washer clean in different ways. Whenever you have the right distance then carry on washing the decking.

Review of Washing With Pressure Washers

When cleaning both a Patio and Decking the results could be significantly better if you used some form of cleaner or detergent. Make sure you get something that is compatible or suggested for your particular patio or decking material.

Also one last important tip is to be dressed in the suitable safety equipment when dealing with pressure washers.

Dom Tongpo is an authority carpenter specialising in the field of composite decking material. Want to find out more then go to his website for guidance on timbertech composite decking.

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Three Uses For Portable Shades

Thursday, May 13th, 2010

Portable shades are frequently called instant shades. They differ from their fixed counterparts in several important ways, both functionally and structurally. Portables are lighter (some would say flimsier), with less parts, easy to assemble and easy to dissemble. Unlike fixed shades they can be stored away during the winter months when snowfall is heavy and put up again when required.

Portable shades are used for many of the same reasons one would use fixed shades except that they are more versatile in that they can be brought from place to place. The majority of casual use is for recreational purposes, at such events as beach or block parties where people spend extended time outdoors but not near any building structures. Recreational use can also happen at home perhaps when many guests are invited over. Moreover, portables are used for business reasons.

Here we talk about a few kinds of portable shades used in different situations.

Fixed awning structures are placed over windows and doors primarily to block light from entering the house and heating it up, but can also be used in a direct fashion for those who want to stand outside. The bamboo roll up blinds provide a similar benefit. The portable version has a similar structure: it is supported at two points and then extends over a space unsupported at the other end. Portables can also be adjusted for their angle of shading. Best of all, they are not tied to the house and can be shifted into useful positions.

For those who are near a pool, one option is to stick with the table umbrellas. However, another possibility is the cabana. A portable cabana is essentially a mini housing structure with fabric top and walls on a little building frame, large enough to accommodate one or two people. The primary role is either for a few people to be able to sit in an area protected from wind and sun, or for people to change into and out of regular clothes.

The outdoor canopy is typically a medium to massive structure that can house dozens of people at once. Placed onto a patio it becomes a deck canopy. It is supported by strong steel poles, a system of ropes to hold the wall and room fabric together. The portable canopy is much simpler, consisting of four poles, an overhead frame and a top fabric piece only. This makes it easy to carry around and many businesses use them when the sales force is out on the streets and need shelter. The top fabric can serve as an advertisement with the company’s logo.

People often travel around in cars and need to set up a temporary shade, for example a sales representative that hawks goods outside or a tailgate party goer. Such people would benefit from a portable umbrella mounted onto a car. The key point is the hitch that attaches to the bumper and body of the vehicle which can hold onto the umbrella.

Still have questions ? Maybe you can check out our research about the outdoor shade industry. The articles supplied for bamboo roll up blinds will be useful to many.

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Choosing And Buying A Canopy For Personal Use

Saturday, May 1st, 2010

A canopy is one of many outdoor shades that is usually used to create extra recreational space outside the home in areas of the country that receive a lot of sun exposure, or perhaps light rain. When placed near the openings of a house, such as doors and windows, canopies also provide additional protection from the elements. Although older canopies were stodgy and old-fashioned, tent-like structures made of canvas, modern canopies come in a variety of materials such as composite fabric, lightweight aluminum, and high density plastics.

In general canopies can be used in three ways. Non-portable, fixed-structured kinds are placed in residential areas where they can give shading to people who are trying to enjoy the outdoors. Portable, mobile canopies are very light and good for family or other kinds of outings. Car canopies help protect cars either at home, or at some other venue which requires the car to remain still for long periods of time. The three kinds of canopies are quite different in terms of size, style of construction, and of course price.

Fixed canopies near a home overlap in functionality with other types of home outdoor shades, such as awnings, gazebos, pergolas, arbors etc. However, while awnings specifically shield window, door and patio areas, canopies create new space away from the immediate boundaries of the house. They can be set up in the middle of the backyard, much like gazebos. A deck canopy is usually placed abutting the house, much like a pergola or awning. In these two cases, the canopies are playing different roles.

Different from the static, fixed canopies are the portable, collapsibles which are easy to set up, easy to put away, and easy to store. Why would someone want outdoor shades that are a bit flimsier than the fixed canopies? The reason is because these can be placed anywhere, at a big gathering on the beach for example, or in the street during a street fair. In fact, businesses often get one that is emblazoned with the company logo which helps build brand awareness and shelter employees, customers alike.

Car canopies or garage canopies are used for housing vehicles, perhaps more than one. There are simple roof-only versions as well as completely covered versions. The function is pretty much like a little garage for the car, or in the parlance of outdoor shades, these are “portable car ports”. For those living in condominiums or town houses where space is a commodity and there is no garage, these vehicle canopies are a real life safer. Over the long term they help protect the car.

The cost of even a small canopy is going to run into the hundreds of dollars, whereas the larger outdoor shades for cars and such may hit the thousand range. Taking good care of canopies is important for their longevity. A special cleaning device that sprays detergent solution over the fabric will help you clean it faster. During long periods of storage they should be protected with a thin cloth. The danger of microbes and fungi infestation is real, so make sure they do not take root by keeping the surface clear of dirt, soil, and leaves.

Additional resources provided for outdoor sun shades can be found here. Some of these ideas were generously granted by a site on awning for home.

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Upgrading Your House With Outdoor Shading

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

Guaranteeing a return value on investment in your home is not easy. Many of the projects are very costly, with risks of overrunning budget limits. It is often better to start small, perhaps by renovating existing parts of the house, rather than plunging into a gigantic, consuming project. Rather than renewing or renovating existing parts of the home, another way to add value to the home is to add more structure to a home.

Structural addition is often very expensive because of the extensive modifications that take place for the existing building, as well as creation of new materials. It also demands a real investment in labor, whether for the homeowner and his or her friends, or for the contractors who are hired for the job. A smaller structure is more manageable.

A type of addition that many do not consider is an outdoor shade. These come in a range of complexities, from hanging bamboo shades on the outside of a window to retractable, electrically-driven window awnings. Depending on the complexity the cost can be driven very far down. Moreover, the outdoor shade enlarges the usable space of the house while remaining economically viable for the budget conscious homeowner.

Following are examples of different kinds of outdoor shades that are often used for upgrading the home.

An exterior canopy is very much like a tent with standing room. There are two parts to the tent-like structure of a canopy: a sturdy scaffold and a section of canopy fabric that is stretched over it. People find it useful to have at the very least the top of a canopy shielded with fabric. If the canopy owner proceeds with putting in fabric walls, the use of window flaps and large door flaps may help air circulate through the canopy.

An exterior awning can be regarded as as a fixed structure shade, the installation location often being atop a window or entrance. Unlike shop awnings, the ones for private residents are built for pleasure and relaxation of homeowners. The newest kind is the retractable unit. Both hand-powered retractables and electrically-driven retractables are available. The powered ones are run with motors, which are managed by remote. High-tech detectors auto-retract in the event of buffeting wind or intense rain.

Pergolas are a special sort of outside shade because they do not provide complete shading. They permit a bit of light. The design is fairly straightforward on paper but needs a fair amount hard work to set up. A number of posts are put into the floor which support a number of top slats. These overhead slats block out a bit but not all light. Miniature variants of pergolas are also available. They are sometimes termed arbors, and are less complicated to put together but cannot shade many people. Instead, they are guide posts for foot paths.

If you are interested in the purchase of outdoor shades, come check out our site. Readers wishing to understand more can browse over to learn about roll up bamboo blinds.

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Take Care Of Cook-out Attendees with Outdoor Shades

Friday, April 2nd, 2010

Who has not thought about throwing a big party during the summer? Aside from the regular party items needed, such as dishware, cups, tables, chairs, you should also think about adding outdoor shades. Shades will make your party stand out and your guests more comfortable.

Grilling and cooking out is a traditional activity in outdoor summer parties. However, as we all known, the smoke from the coal or gas-cooked food can stain nearby fabrics such as those found on outdoor shades. The key is to cook a little bit aways from all the guests and the shades.

You can get a lot of different types of shades, depending mostly on how much privacy your guests demand, how many guests there are, and the layout of your house. For example, the shades for a large deck or porch would be different for one on the lawn.

Awnings are outdoor shades that most often found attached to the side of a building, the attachment juncture frequently being atop a door or a window. In contrast to retail establishment awnings, the units for private residents are built for entertainment and relaxation of customers. The newest fashion is the retractable awning. One can obtain both manual and powered retractables. The automatic variants are run with motors, which are activated by remote. High-tech detectors auto-retract in the event of buffeting wind or strong rain.

An outdoor canopy is essentially a tent with standing room. The configuration a consumer usually finds at a store is a tall self-supporting metallic frame covered by a large piece of shade fabric. The shade fabric invariably is stretched over the top to block out direct sunlight but the walls are sometimes left off, a decision that hinges on whether one would like to give up a little privacy for a breath of fresh air. Supposing one attaches walls to the canopy, small cut-out window portholes and entry ways will solve concerns with stuffy air under the canopy.

Pergolas are an interesting type of outdoor shade in that they do not supply total shading. They permit a few rays of light. The structure is quite straightforward in theory but demands a fair amount labor to build up. A number of posts are placed into the ground which holds a number of overhead slats. These top beams shade against a bit but not all light. Pergolas are found arching over porches and patios and sometimes in gardens. An undersized version of a pergola is sometimes called an arbor. Arbors have been installed as entry points to foot trails of the yard area.

You can locate more information on home outdoor shades. Extra resources supplied for roll up blinds bamboo can be found here.

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