Nov

22

2009

Gazebo and Garden Gazebo

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Category : Exterior design

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The garden gazebo is a thing of beauty, it has been known that in the past kings and queens had enjoyed gazebos in their royal gardens, setting up a trend of garden gazebos for history’s rich and famous.

Using a garden gazebo to any property is a wise step, it seems that what was true many years ago is even more convincing today. Some people use a garden gazebo to increase the value of their property, gifted gardeners can use a garden gazebo to create a division between parts of a garden. In some cases, a big enough garden needs a garden gazebo to hold all the tools that are needed to manicure the flowers and mown.

These days almost anyone can own a garden gazebo, and assemble a garden gazebo in the backyard, garden gazebo kits offer the beauty of a wooden gazebo, many gazebos are available in a huge variety of shapes and sizes, ranging from Victorian and Amish styles to small to party size in diameter. Garden owners can purchase a garden gazebo kit and build their own gazebo by themselves, the kits can range in price and in quality, but the concept of DIY and the average low price allows almost anyone to experiment and enjoy his own garden gazebo.

Garden gazebo kits differ not only in price but also in the material of which the garden gazebo is made of. These kits range in price depending on type of wood, which is generally either pine or one of a variety of types of cedar, and size. Each wood has its own benefits for your garden gazebo and once you have finished constructing the gazebo, you can choose to paint it, stain it or let it sit out and absorb the elements, allowing it to change to its naturally weathered color which is usually a light shade of grey. After you have decided on which wood to use for construction of your garden gazebo, you should figure what you need in terms of size.

Once you set your mind of actually getting a garden gazebo, you will need think about the material and the weather in your area, these will have a significant effect on your gazebo and what you can expect of it. Most garden gazebos are made of wood, pine or cedar or the most popular ones, but there are many different gazebo kits out there, and it is common to find metal gazebo kits made of vinyl or aluminum.

The huge advantage wood garden gazebos have is that they fit into a garden naturally, adding natural wooden quality that accents and compliments any garden. If you plan on purchasing a wooden garden gazebo, you will probably have to decide between pine or cedar wood. While pine is more affordable, cedar is less prone to rot.

Thanks to the modern design of gazebo kits, constructing your own fashionable backyard structure has never been easier. All you have to do is set out all of the parts the gazebo manufacturer sends to you and then assemble them according to the instructions. Once you have built each of the walls of your garden gazebo, you should bring over some friends to help you tilt up each wall and put on the roof. While it is not incredibly trying work, it will generally take a day or two to complete.

Nov

02

2009

Your Cedar Garden

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Category : Exterior design, Landscaping

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Cedar garden furniture is a great wood to use for any deck or patio as it is a very beautiful hardwood that grows in North America and is used to make furniture. Production of outdoors furniture usually involves the use of clear grade western red cedar. A major factor that has to be taken into consideration when buying garden furniture is whether or not the product can survive in the sun and the rain. Garden furniture in the northern parts of America can experience further damage by being affected by snow, sleet, and hail.

The answer that many seek in order to keep out the negative effects of the weather is the natural defenses against rot and decay found in western red cedar. When the first piece made from this material – Adirondack Chair – was produced, it was widely desired by many across the United States. For this reason, park benches commissioned by the federal government began to be made out of this extremely durable wood. The onset of the Great Depression saw many people building these park benches through the WPA. President Roosevelt created the WPA to help those that were unemployed during this period. Many cedar trees were cut down by those in the WPA and those cedars went towards things like park benches.

Because cedar prevents mold and mildew from taking over items, it is a wood that became popular during the time in the making of chests. Cedar chests were often preferred by sailors on long trips. Funeral directors were quick to use cedar for their coffins, too, along with pine. Some doctors in England (where plague had killed many) remarked that if they could bury those affected in cedar coffins it would prevent the spread of the deadly disease. Because of the many abilities and uses of cedar, the wood has been used in many products.

Many people today use their cedar garden furniture to decorate their patio or decks. Not only do cedar patio sets accent any person’s home nicely, but the more affluent request their patio and gardens to be inlaid with cedar. Other accessories such as serving trays and carts are available in stores such as Target and Wal-Mart that are made of cedar. Two department stores that sell cedar garden furniture are Sears and J.C.Pennies fairly inexpensively but many other places do as well. Many people prefer to shop online, and for those shoppers, pieces can be bought through The Cedar Outdoor Furniture Company. Unlike many traditional stores, The Cedar Outdoor Furniture Company offers you the ability to make custom furniture requests.

For those looking for extra accessories to match their outdoor furniture, The Cedar Outdoor Furniture Company has many They take great pride in the manner in which they manufacturer all their cedar garden furniture. Unlike some bulk manufacturers, this company finely tunes and manufactures all their items.

Sep

21

2009

Outdoor Fire Pits and Kitchens With a Unique Style

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Category : Exterior design

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Living in an area that offers sunshine and warm weather on a year around basis, your patio, and yard becomes a large part of your living area. Having a kitchen within arm’s reach only makes sense when most of your time is spent outdoors. When the nights turn cool, a fire pit adds warmth and comfort while enjoying the natural elements.

Choosing a Design

New designs have emerged within the past ten years that coordinate your pool and patio into an entirely balanced scene with natural, durable materials to create an ambience of your outdoor property. Depending on the layout of your pool and patio, different sized semi-enclosed structures can be constructed to maintain the unification of existing landscaping. Freestanding framework or extensions of your home are ideas to consider. If you do entertaining on a regular basis, long sleek tables can be incorporated in your project where guests can relax and enjoy good company.

Small Backyard Areas

For limited space, an extended kitchen immediately placed outside of your home’s back door may be your best option. Utilizing space, an area as small as 8′ x 6′ can dramatically change the appearance of your patio and can include an enclosed grill, refrigerator, cabinets and counter space for meal preparation. An overhead ceiling fan with light can provide moving air and add illumination for nighttime cooking. A freestanding fire pit can be purchased in all types of shapes and sizes, perfect for a small corner with a couple of seats and plants.

Take Advantage of Nature and Pool Surrounds

Stone travertine patios and pavers add elegance to a poolside area and can easily be expanded to be included in armadas and pergolas with columns blended in with matching stone. Pits add dramatic effect especially when indirect lighting is used on steps and walls. Plants are important in bringing nature inside of your semi-enclosed room and keeping with the theme. A built-in fire pit in one of the enclosure walls can be enjoyed inside or out. You may want to stay with the shape of your pool or the design of your home and a unique design can bring a kitchen and fire pit together as if they were part of your home when you first moved in.

Consult with a Designer

Onsite consultation is a must in achieving your desired results. Sometimes it is difficult to put into words what you want your outdoor paradise to say. A specialist in outdoor landscaping and design can take your ideas and turn into a 2D or 3D rendition so you are positively sure that you are talking the same language. BBQ’s, fireplace and all features stand out and give you the exact scene that you can expect. You may need to see several different suggestions to come to a decision and with all of the different varieties of stone, cabinets, and unique fire pit ideas, give yourself plenty of time to mull over what is just right for your taste.

Today, Unique Landscapes is known for it’s ability to handle all aspects of outdoor construction – from outdoor firepits to retaining walls & Phoenix swimming pools. Although landscaping in Phoenix is still a large part of what we do – our clients utilize our expertise for complete backyard landscape and pool designs. From simple to extreme – If you can dream it, we can design and engineer a way to built it – and also make sure it lasts!

Aug

11

2009

Decorative Effect with Lamppost

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Category : Exterior design, Outdoor Lamp

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DIY and Installing  Lamppost
For illuminance and ornamental upshot, set up a lamppost at your front walk or drive. Tools: shovel, pliers, pipe wrench, screwdriver, brace and bit, garden hose, paintbrush. Materials: lamppost kit, premixed concrete mix, gravel or flat rocks, underground cable/conduit (check the electrical codes in your area), sheet plastic film, short piece of 1 x 3, two pieces of 2 x 4 x 8, wood preservative, wire nuts. Time : 1 day.

Caution: Follow the electrical codes for your area when installing a lamppost. The lamppost retailer will probably know code restrictions; if not, check with the city electrical department. Although connections to house power are fairly simple and instructions for this are usually included with the kit, don’t try to make the connection if you don’t know how; install the lamp and have it connected by an electrician.

Buy an exterior lamppost assembly in kit form, with all necessary parts included. Lampposts are available in a wide variety of styles to fit into the architectural and landscaping plan of your home.

To install the lamppost, dig a trench for the power lines, from the power source to the lamp itself. To protect the lawn, spread sheet plastic on the grass next to the trench and pile the dirt on this plastic. Dig the trench 18 inches deep-check the electrical codes-and just wide enough to hold the cable/ conduit. Set the cable/conduit into the trench; do not connect it.

If the cable/conduit must go under a walk or driveway, use a garden hose to make a pathway under the concrete. Dig a hole at the edge of the walk or driveway, 6 inches below the slab’s bottom. Dig another hole to the same depth on the opposite side of the slab. Then insert a garden hose, with the nozzle turned on full blast, under the slab, and turn the water on. The hose will act as a water ram as you push and pull it through the earth. When the hose appears in the opposite hole, turn off the water; then fasten the cable/conduit to the hose and pull out the hose with the cable/conduit attached. Set the cable/conduit into the trench; do not connect it.

Dig the hole for the lamppost-about a third of its length, or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Cover the bottom of the hole with gravel or with a layer or two of flat rocks, for drainage.

If the lamppost is wood, give it at least two coats of clear, paint table wood preservative before setting it into the hole, even if the post has been pressure treated with preservative. The extra effort and slight cost  will add from 5 to 10 years to the life of the post. Let the preservative dry completely.

Connect the electrical wiring to the lamppost after the preservative is dry, and before setting the post into the hole. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions for connecting the wiring to the lamppost.

With the wiring connected, set the lamppost into the hole. The lamppost should be set in concrete; you’ll need a helper to hold the post while you pour the footing.

With your helper holding the post, pour a third of a sack of concrete mix into the hole. Add water to the mix, following the manufacturer’s instructions. Stir and tamp the mix with a short piece of 1 x 3. Add another third of a sack of concrete, and repeat the mixing procedure. At this point, plumb (vertically level) the post. Then fill the hole with concrete mix and water and stir. Crown the top of the concrete with the back of a spade to slope the concrete away from the post ; the crowned concrete sheds water like a roof.

Brace the post with 2 x  4’s until the concrete sets about 2 hours. Keep the concrete damp for a week to help it cure properly.

To complete the job, fill the cable / conduit trench with dirt and connect the lamp to the power source.

If you’re replacing an old lamppost with a new one of if three’s an available outside junction box the connection is easy. Caution : flip the circuit breaker or remove the fuse that controls the outdoor junction box. Remove the cover to the junction box  and connect the box’s wires to the lamp’s wires, following the lamppost manufacturer’s instructions. Use wire nuts to make the connection.

If there is no available outdoor junction box. Have an electrician install the proper wiring.

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See also:

Select your Roof and consider climate
Roofing shingles

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