Patio Preserve all-weather fire pits and chimeneas provide alluring warmth and charm for the upcoming autumn months - and they’re maintenance-free - adhering to the latest weather-friendly outdoor material trend.

Fire Pits 101
Fire pits, in general, are open vessels that can be used for warmth, beauty, atmosphere, and/or cooking. Available in a wide range of materials and sizes, most are enclosed with steel mesh or glass. They sit up off the ground, allow for 360 degree viewing, and are becoming increasingly popular as people strive to get more use out of their outdoor living spaces. Many of the fire pits can double as charcoal grills and offer various screen and grill options. The best and most popular fuel for outdoor fireplaces is hard wood. Alternative sources of fuel include manufactured fire logs, natural gas, propane and gel inserts. With their raised level, Patio Preserve all-weather fire pits will never stain your deck or patio. Patio Preserve fire pits retail from $138 to $280 with free ground shipping.

Chimeneas 101
From their origins as simple clay wood-burning fireplaces from Mexico, chimenea materials have evolved over the years to last longer and adhere to harsh weather elements. Chimeneas have an opening in the front and a short "chimney" for the smoke. Patio Preserve’s cast aluminum and iron chimeneas resist rust, require very little maintenance, and can be easily moved during a wind change or patio re-arrangement. With their raised level, the chimeneas will also not stain your deck or patio. Patio Preserve all-weather chimeneas retail from to $123 to $794 with free ground shipping.

And, did you know? Adding fragrant pinion wood to the fire can enhance the pleasure of a chimeneas or fire pit. Not only will pinion wood provide an aromatic scent, its smoke is a natural mosquito repellent!

http://www.patiopreserve.com/

One of the most attractive forms of home improvement is aquatic landscaping, which can be done with plants and also with fish, stone, bridges, and all sorts of interesting features.

The first consideration when planning an aquatic landscaping project will be weather and location. For instance, if you live in an arid region, you need to think about how to keep your aquatic plants and the feature itself irrigated with clean, abundant water. However if you live in a cold northern zone, where freezing temperatures may last half the year or more, you might want to reconsider the idea of trying to incorporate aquatic landscaping out of doors, where it will result in a block of landscape ice. A better idea might be to move the aquatic feature indoors, where you can have a fountain, a waterfall, plants, and whatever else your space and budget allows.

Usually aquatic landscaping requires at least some time each year for cleaning and maintenance, and this should be scheduled so that it is done in a way that is prudent without interfering with your enjoyment of the area. You may need to spend one day a year cleaning and replanting, or servicing the water pump and filter, and this should be done between seasons. For example, you may want to wait until all the leaves have fallen before attempting to clean out your pond so that it can rest for the winter, otherwise you might have to repeat the chore each time the wind blows a few more leaves your way.

If you have fish as part of your aquatic landscaping, you will have to ensure that they stay healthy and happy, and this means that you have to monitor the quality of the water very carefully. Chlorinated water, water with too much or too little oxygen, or water that has the wrong acidic PH balance can harm your fish. And you must also ensure that the temperature is appropriate for the type of fish you introduce to your pond, while looking out for other random factors such as the neighbor’s cat or your fish-eating dogs.

Your local nursery has a fine offering of great midsummer beauties that you may have overlooked this spring.

It’s easy and rewarding to revamp a container that’s seen better days. First, decide what plants still look great. Next, pull out the sick, dying and dead plants. Spring bloomers that perform best in cool weather may be looking pretty poorly. Pansies, lobelia, nemesia and million bells may be well past their prime.

Depending on their condition, some can be cut back radically and still make a comeback in a few weeks. A shot of fertilizer can work wonders with this treatment.

Popularity of the patio rebounds
By MARY G. PEPITONE
Jay and Carrie Beth Shouse of Overland Park replaced a deck on the back of their house with a 400-square-foot, stamped-concrete patio.

Jay and Carrie Beth Shouse of Overland Park replaced a deck on the back of their house with a 400-square-foot, stamped-concrete patio.

Marjorie and Ed Kennamore built a porcelain tile patio behind their Leawood home. Carrie and Scott Lane of Prairie Village replaced their 1959 ranch home’s amoeba-shaped patio with a 700-square-foot patio on two levels. Ann (from left), Reser, Lizzy and Dick Hall relax with Spike, their Boston terrier, on the flagstone patio of their Prairie Village home.

After falling out of favor for a couple of decades when decks were all the rage, patios are back.

Read More

http://www.kansascity.com/living/home/story/222459.html

Thinking about tackling some home remodeling tasks in the near future? Maybe you’d like to do it yourself but haven’t the time. Maybe you’re concerned about the level of skill that would be required. Perhaps you’re concerned about high material or construction costs or problems in locating reputable builders? 

If you’re looking for a great patio deck design, there’s now a very simple solution. SwiftDeck solid wood deck tiles turn deck ideas and deck plans into reality in an instant. This new, revolutionary, low cost solution to home remodeling problems is so simple you  lay the tiles yourself without any special tools, skills or trouble. And the tiles can be laid over practically any hard surface - even cracked concrete.

http://www.designerdecking.com/

Photo - Thomas Sanderson Awning

Patio awnings used to serve as protection from the sun and rain for houses.  But now, patio awnings are included as part of a house’s or building’s architecture not only for its primary purpose, but also to add charm and create a statement.

If you are still unconvinced about the architectural beauty of patio awnings, you might want to have a patio awning installed to protect your patio furniture, patio furniture, regardless of the material, wears out faster when exposed to the sun and rain. Another bonus to having a patio awnings, according to a study, that it can reduce summer heat by as much as 65%.

It protects the window frames from the rain, sun and snow. Most window frames and windowpanes are made of wood. We all know how wood responds to environmental changes. Even with sufficient wood coating and polish, wood deteriorates faster when exposed to the harshness of the weather conditions.

Your house may have a porch or a patio and you have some furniture there, where you relax as you read a book or have a cup of coffee with your friends. Such furniture, regardless of the material, wears out faster when exposed to the sun and rain.

When it’s raining, you normally keep your windows shut, blocking fresh air from coming in through the windows. If your house has awnings, during rain showers, you can keep your windows open and still prevent rainwater from getting in.

When you are watching TV or using the computer, you usually have the windows shut, or the curtains or blinds down to reduce the glare. If awnings were fitted, you wouldn’t need to block natural light from the rest of the room since the awnings will reduce the glare on the monitors positioned near the windows.

A major effect of having awnings, according to a study, is that it can reduce summer heat increase by 65% for windows facing south, and 77% for windows facing east and west.

So if you are now convinced that you would like your house or your building to have awnings, don’t just go out there and get one. There are things that you need to consider.

PlanterSpeakers were created by Madison Fielding, Inc., a leader in the custom multiroom audio field. Madison Fielding is an award-winning manufacturer founded in 1983 by Art Powers and Art Powers, Jr. 

Our amplifiers, remote controls, and multiroom audio systems have been featured in Town and Country, Architectural Digest, and the New York Times.

Our latest product, PlanterSpeakers are designed for indoor or outdoor use, offering a very unique alternative to regular indoor box speakers or artificial looking speaker rocks.

They integrate beautifully into their surroundings and also serve as a focal point in any design scheme or decor.  Speakers may be used with live or artificial plants.

All models offer top notch construction, weatherproof materials and the highest quality speakers.  They provide the listener with rich warm sound that is second to none. They offer several different types and styles of outdoor speakers ant PlanterSpeakers.com

If you looking for Rock Speakers, check out http://www.outdoorspeakerdepot.com/rockspeaker.html for a great selection. They also have a great selection of High Quality Patio Speakers.

Audio Review has a great selection of Outdoor Speaker Reviews at http://www.audioreview.com/cat/speakers/outdoor-speakers/PLS_2745crx.aspx

And Firebox has some very cool  Wireless Outdoor Solar Speakers over at http://www.firebox.com/product/1798?src_t=wnw

Detroit News - Summertime in Michigan finds us enjoying the outdoors as much as we possibly can. And how wonderful it is if we have a backyard where we can create an outdoor space to unwind after a long day, to spend time with our family and to entertain our friends.

 Nowadays many backyards are being transformed into what are now referred to as "outdoor rooms," luxurious extensions of the house.

Yes, an increasing number of homeowners are going all out with elaborate outdoor kitchens that have sinks, refrigerators, cabinets and countertops, sitting areas with comfy cushioned furniture, real fireplaces and elaborate water features. Of course, without all of those additions, we can still enjoy our backyard.

Typically the backyard hardscape begins with a patio, or what some might call the outdoor living and dining room. Decorative concrete patios are emerging as a new and exciting material for today’s patio or outdoor room. But the days of plain gray concrete are long gone.

Stamped, decorative concrete offers a vast selection of choices for color, texture, pattern and design, giving each installation the look of individuality. Concrete is a warm, natural material that can be made to resemble brick, slate, flagstone, stone, tile, and even wood.

It can be lightly smoothed or heavily brushed; surfaced with attractive pebbles; swirled or scored; tinted or painted; molded and patterned.

Patterns could be a herringbone design for the brick look, weathered slats for the wood look, squares or cobblestone patterns for clay or slate tile, or hand-scored to look like natural flagstone.

Colors and patterns can blend with other existing stone or tile elements at your home. Although color possibilities are vast, I prefer the natural browns, tans, charcoals and terra cottas.

The same colored concrete can be made to look different, just by using different finishing techniques: For example, brooming the concrete in opposite directions creates shadow effects. Swirl or fan patterns create a different look. For an even more dramatic effect, the colored concrete can be lightly sandblasted or heavily sandblasted, or a retarder can be used and then the aggregate exposed.

My husband and I selected decorative concrete for our new patio. I don’t always like one material made to look like another, but this works. Our concrete is stamped into a cobblestone pattern and finished in a mottled bronze to coppery tone to match the colors in our slate top dining table. It looks great.

Maintenance is easy. Sealers can be applied for water-and-stain resistance, and clean-up can be as simple as hosing down the area. Every two or three years, re-apply a sealer.

Contractors tell me that concrete patios cost less than patios made of real stone, brick or tile. The lower price tag is one of the main draws for choosing a concrete patio, combined with the wide array of patterns and colors available

A couple of fun concrete ideas that I gleaned on the Internet are: concrete patterned and colored to look like an area rug, and a concrete sofa and chair.

I also discovered an interesting piece of information that opens up my mind to all kinds of exciting possibilities: resurfacing. Apparently there are concrete coatings systems that can be placed over existing cement and then the look of brick, stone, tile, slate, etc. can be simulated. I can’t help but think that not only can you transform an existing cement patio, but what about the potential to make our ordinary gray cement walkways and driveways look like cobblestone or brick?

A patio can be just like another room in your house. Effective patio design can mean that your increase the floor space of your home, by adding an outside room that allows you to entertain like never before.

A patio can just be a rectangular slab of concrete with some plastic chairs and griller, but it can also be so much more. Check Out These Friendly Sites for Some Cool  Patio Design Ideas

MyLandscapes - I design contemporary gardens, landscapes and roof terraces throughout London and beyond. Projects include City, Courtyard, Patio and larger Family gardens with a major speciality in Roof gardens and terraces. In town, I have always been asked for low maintenance and this has evolved into an important element of all my gardens. I offer a complete design and build service with a particular interest in all aspects of project management. http://www.mylandscapes.co.uk 

Landscape Design By Lee - A landscape designer serving the local Suffolk County and Nassau County areas of Long Island, New York. Specializing in Custom Design, Residential Entrance Gardens, Poolscapes, Berms and Walls, Sun/Shade Gardens, Cottage Gardens, Patio, Walkway & Driveway Design and more. http://www.landscapedesignbylee.com

Raleigh Landscape  - Down to Earth provides a wide range of landscape installation services including ponds, patios, retaining walls, lawns and more. Over the years, we have grown as a team of professionals with diverse backgrounds and experiences. http://www.raleighlandscape.com

Abloom Landscape Contractor - Abloom has been providing professional residential landscaping experience and expertise in the Ottawa-Carleton and surrounding areas for more than 30 years. We offer all types of landscaping services. http://www.abloomlandscape.com  

Getting Your Gas Barbecue Grill Ready Be sure to clean spider webs out of the venturi tubes as described below. You may open your grill in the spring and find remnants of the meal you cooked on it last season.

Don’t worry, cleaning the grill is actually easier than most people realize, and you can usually forego the brushes, dirty sink and elbow grease if you start the day before you need the grill. However, use the following method only after checking with your owner’s manual. Some manufacturers warn against using oven cleaner on any part of their grill.

Lay a plastic bag on the ground, followed by a newspaper, then lay your grill on top of the newspaper. Spray liberally with an oven cleaner, and cover with another layer of moist newspaper.

Follow this with another plastic bag and weigh down the edges so the whole mess doesn’t end up in your neighbors yard. Now instead of scrubbing and scouring, just let the oven cleaner do the work for you overnight.

The next day, remove the grill and place all the saturated newspaper into one of the garbage bags. Wear gloves and follow all of the manufacturers safety precautions whenever working with caustic cleaners, such as oven cleaner. Rinse the grill thoroughly, and then wash off any remaining oven cleaner residue with some soapy water. Rinse again, coat with a light brushing of vegetable oil, and you’re ready to go! 
 
It is a good plan to fire up your barbeque for 30 to 45 minutes on High temperature to sanitize everything before the first use of the season.