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/ and SwiftDeck now offers a handy SwiftDeck Do It Yourself Installation Guide
Filed under Patio Ideas by on Aug 14th, 2007. Comment. 
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.
http://www.kansascity.com/living/home/story/222459.html
Filed under Patio Ideas by on Aug 14th, 2007. 1 Comment.
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.
Filed under Patio Ideas by on Aug 14th, 2007. Comment.
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.
Filed under Yard Ideas by on Aug 14th, 2007. 2 Comments.
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.
Filed under Patio Ideas, Yard Ideas by on Aug 16th, 2007. 5 Comments.
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