Outdoors Decks and Patios

One of the best ways to transform your yard into a comfortable and attractive hangout space is to install a new deck. The size and shape of your deck will depend on your specific yard, but one thing remains true… You’re going to need a lot of wood.

More and more homeowners are opting to add a deck to their backyard. Decks make for a visually appealing, welcoming spot for friends and family to hang out. Not only that, but it also allows for the addition of larger furniture like tables and chairs to accommodate many guests.

Gazebos are one of those backyard items that seem to attract people naturally. Their beautiful round appearance and shelter from the elements make them an ideal gathering place in any yard. But, what if you don’t want a gazebo on the grass? What if you want it on your deck? Is that doable?

One of the nicest things about having an outdoor space is filling it with your own patio furniture. A couch, a table, some chairs, a sun umbrella…maybe even a fire pit! All these thoughtfully chosen pieces can work together to build your dream home. But patio furniture can also attract an unwanted guest: theft. But is there a best way to secure your patio furniture?

A fantastic backyard space can add a lot of positives to your home, providing extra room for relaxing and entertaining. You could set up a dining area, lounge space, or a cozy reading nook with the right furniture. However, choosing patio furniture that lasts is essential to maintaining the backyard of your dreams.

Before composite decking entered the market in the late 1990s, there were few alternatives to wood decking. Up until that point, pressure-treated wood was the only genuine alternative for decking.

Wood decks are extremely popular additions to backyards on many homes. These areas provide extra room for entertaining and relaxing while enjoying your landscape or pool. However, in areas prone to ice and snow, many people wonder what to use on their wood decks when ice becomes a problem.

Every home needs a beautiful deck.  A place to cookout with friends or just sit outside and relax. If you want to build your own deck, you need to do it right. The best way to make a perfect deck is to stagger the deck boards.

Your patio can be a great place to hang out with friends and family. It can also make for a great hangout spot, especially during the warmer months of the summer. But you can make the space even better by adding a covering.

Green spaces are the future of our planet. Therefore, greens spaces and patios are getting more and more popular nowadays. Understanding the least expensive patio material will help you make well-informed decisions. So, you need to know how to invest in green spaces without spending too much money.

As you’re getting ready to build your own deck, you may come across mentions of wet wood. Whether it’s from a rainstorm the night before or the natural water content in the material, wet wood is a common problem. Can you build a deck with wet wood?

Your new deck is all finished and ready for your first barbeque of the season.  Then you realize that you can get to your deck from your home but not down to the yard.  You need to add some steps or stairs to the deck.  How do you build deck steps without resorting to using stringers?

Home additions like porches and decks can increase home value and provide a fun space to enjoy the fresh air. Most importantly, porches and decks add character to your, and that is invaluable. Porch and deck railing height codes are important because they make it all possible as long as you are compliant.

Stains and sealers are very similar when it comes to protecting wooden surfaces, but there are some unique differences in terms of application, appearance, and overall protection. Many people will choose between one or the other, but some decide to use both. In this article, we’re going to figure out if you can apply specifically a Thompson water seal over wood that has already been stained.

Patio furniture is a great way to create additional usable space in your outdoor area. There are all sorts of patio sets to choose from, but they are often quite costly. The hefty price tag is one reason you must take great care of your patio furniture, so it lasts as long as possible. This means taking the right steps to properly store it in the winter.

Creating a backyard oasis with a pool or hot tub is fun. But what if you want to get creative? Can you put a hot tub on a rooftop deck, or should you put it somewhere else? Here is what you need to know.

You move into a new house, you are sleeping peacefully in your bed, and then ‘CRACK!”. A loud sound like a gunshot pierces through your dreams, shooting you out of bed. No, there aren’t any prowlers on your property or fireworks going off. It’s just your deck, adjusting to the freezing cold temperature.

The deck on your home is the perfect spot to kick back and relax with your loved ones. If you own a home, you may want to consider a composite deck. With so many different lumber options, prices can vary quite a bit. There are many things to consider when asking yourself if a composite deck is worth it.

Staining your deck is a great way to enhance its appearance and protect it from fading and natural wear and tear. The actual staining process is actually pretty straightforward, but it’s important to have the right conditions to do it.

If you have a deck, you’ve likely heard many times about the danger that water poses to the wood. Over time, water will eat away at the wood fiber, leading to wet rot or insidious dry rot, and creating mildew. Wet wood on your deck is not only unappealing but also very dangerous to the structural integrity. Decks can start to rot in as little as 8 to 10 years, making it absolutely crucial to waterproof it from the beginning.

Selecting the right outdoor cushions for your furniture can be quite challenging. You want to have furniture that fits the space, is comfortable, and is built to last. But you also want outdoor furniture and cushions that look great and complement your outdoor design aesthetic. With all these considerations to take into account, picking outdoor furniture is often easier said than done. If you live somewhere with a wet climate, you have even more factors to consider, like what type of outdoor cushions work best in humid climates?

Composite decking is sought these days for a variety of reasons. Many homeowners like how it looks, others like the feel, and everyone agrees that it’s easy to maintain. But what if you already have a wood deck, you want a composite deck, but you don’t have the money or time to tear down the deck you have in order to set up a new one?

Your new Trex composite deck is finished and has been a joy all summer long. With winter approaching, you begin to wonder about maintaining your deck. With ice and snow on the way, your Trx decking can become a hazardous place. A legitimate question is whether ice melt products are safe for your Trex decking.

Having an outdoor patio is like having an extra room in the home. You can make it complete with furniture, an umbrella, and even a grilling area. They are great places to entertain guests when there is pleasant weather, and a perfect place to soak up the sun without leaving the house. They can even add significant value to your home. So, when you notice that birds keep pooping all over your precious patio, you need to find ways to stop them.

Although most homeowners hire a professional to build their deck, some may choose to DIY it. Whether you are speaking with a contractor or looking for materials at a lumber store, you want to know what you’re talking about. Even if you’re well-versed in the subject, it is not uncommon to have basic deck construction questions about the design, planning, or installation process.

A deck can be one of the most exciting, beautiful, and social spaces in your home. It can host barbecues, playtime for kids, parties for the whole family, and quiet nights watching the sunset. Composite decking made by brands like Trex and Fiberon has many benefits, but when comparing Fiberon vs. Trex, which is better?

A relaxing backyard space is a desire of many homeowners, providing extra space to entertain, hang out, and eat al fresco. Outdoor furniture plays a large role in creating your oasis. However, it can look worn down if you don’t know how to clean patio cushions.

A lot of homeowners these days prefer composite decking over traditional wood decking, and there are definitely some advantages associated with using composite decking. But if you’ve just installed a composite deck—and now you want to make some adjustments DIY—you’ll have to know which kind of saw blade is best for cutting decking.

Creating a relaxing outdoor space can feature anything from backyard ponds to pergolas but usually includes some comfortable patio furniture. But when your outdoor cushions don’t stay in place, your backyard retreat becomes anything but relaxing. Luckily, there are easy ways to keep outdoor cushions from sliding so you can get back to enjoying your backyard retreat.

Outdoor patios add value to a home and are a perfect example of modern leisure. You can make your patio even more comfortable if you include a ceiling fan to help cool off on a hot day. So, what size ceiling fan do you need for an outdoor patio?

Adding a deck to your home can make for an attractive hangout space and can even improve the value of your home. If you already have a concrete surface located in the backyard, you have a foundation that is sturdy and reliable to build your decking on.

Composite decking may look like wood, but it is manmade and behaves differently. While many people associate warped decking with wood planks, composite decking can warp over time as well. Decks should be flat and straight, but over time, they can become warped and uneven. If you leave composite decking as it is once it is warped, it will probably get worse.

Composite decking is a real game changer in the deck-building game. It has all sorts of benefits that often make it a superior choice to the classic wooden decks, not to mention no more splinters in your feet. There are lots of reasons to go with composite decking, from the fact that it’s highly customizable, to its low maintenance needs and its ability to repel dirt. Composite decking is even easy to clean. But when you do need to clean it, can you use a pressure washer?

Depending on how exposed your deck is to the elements, you’ll most likely find yourself staining it at least every two to three years. From snowy winters to hot summers to the probable stormy days in between, your deck can take a pretty serious beating throughout the year. Eventually, that adds up.

Are you one of those people that love to spend time outside and wish you could do it all year round? The winter months can be a bummer for outdoor lovers, especially in places with cold climates. There are a few options to generate heat outdoors, such as fire pits or patio heaters.

Your patio often serves as an extension of your living space, whether as an area to dine, relax, or entertain. How you arrange patio furniture influences the space’s function and overall aesthetic appeal. A thoughtful design can elevate your backyard retreat, whether you have a spacious outdoor area or a small, unassuming pad.

So, you went to your friend’s house the other night for some backyard conversation and wine and fell in love with their yard. It was relaxing and comfortable, and those string lights in their trees were the perfect finishing touch. Now you want to hang string lights in your backyard, but you don’t have any trees.

Decks are a common fixture in backyards across the country. People either have one already and want to make some changes or are looking to install a new one entirely. It can even add value to the home if the construction is done properly, but do you need a permit to build a deck?

Adding a palapa to your patio or backyard setup is a fantastic and often affordable way to add tropical ambiance to your space. Palapas originated in Mexico, but you can now find them at nearly every tiki bar, resort pool, and beach bar all over the globe. Building a palapa yourself is certainly possible, and the materials are relatively affordable. But when you build one, you should follow several steps to ensure you build a palapa that will last a long time.

If your deck railings have seen better days, there are plenty of advantages to replacing them. You’ll make your deck a safer place, which is especially important if you have children or pets. Plus, new railings can improve your curb appeal and potentially your property value as well.

Wood decks are an amazing haven for homeowners. They provide a taste of the outdoors without even having to leave your property. They are great for outdoor gatherings, and when you list your property for sale they are a real selling point to most buyers. For these reasons, it is critical you maintain your wood deck as diligently as you can in order to help it last as long as possible.

Having a patio umbrella is a fantastic way to be able to enjoy the outdoors without getting too much sun. Whether you have it over a table, shading a spot in the pool, or just sitting on the deck, a patio umbrella can make summer a much more enjoyable experience.

With its many colors and shapes, gravel is a beautiful addition to your landscaping. It’s often used for driveways or as a drainage solution, but it can also make a charming patio.

As someone who has sensory and tactile issues, I can tell you that rugs are my friend. I love the feeling of rugs, even if I don’t like cleaning them. That’s why I smile when I see an outdoor rug on a wood deck. It’s barefoot time! Nice as rugs are, it’s normal to get a bit worried about your deck’s health. Can outdoor rugs damage a wood deck long-term?

A concrete patio can complement your home and serve as a relaxing leisure space. Many builder-owners looking to add value and character to their home’s exterior opt to put in a concrete patio. We all know that concrete patios are nice extensions of a home, but how much does one cost?

Building a deck means that you’re going to have to make a lot of decisions. This includes choosing the right materials for your deck, down to the very wood it’s made from. In recent years, upscale homes have started to build decks from tigerwood. Its popularity definitely got it to earn some stripes, but is it really worth the roar of attention that it’s been getting as of late?

A pergola is a lovely addition to the backyard. It offers a space to gather and enjoy the outdoors while having some protection from the elements. You’ll often see pergolas with lattice coverings and crossbeams, but can a pergola have a solid roof?

A patio area can completely transform your outdoor space. It can turn a boring backyard that you hardly use into a hub of activity. Maybe you really want to build a patio but are on a very strict budget. If this is the case, then you will want to know the least expensive way you can make your patio dream come true. 

A pergola is a great way to add some style or a bit of shade to your yard. A pergola is a series of beams supporting a roof, but there are many different types and styles.