Whether you have a massive deck or patio, or a small space for outdoor entertaining, you can create a stunning outdoor garden. With container gardening, any patio or deck can be transformed into a beautiful oasis for entertaining or simply relaxing. The use of pots, planters, and an array of containers make a huge difference in a small space. And containers are much easier to manage and replace than traditional gardens.

First, it’s important to choose containers that fit in well with your environment and that provide a healthy home for plants. It’s best to invest a little more money in quality containers rather than purchasing plastic or terracotta. Good quality containers will last for many years to come and they’ll come to life many times again as you add new plants. They give your outdoor space a feeling of warmth and add depth to the area.

Everything was great until probably the first week of June when we suddenly were hit with a heat wave. No problem, I thought. I just brewed up a fresh batch of iced tea and brought it outside to settle in for a lazy afternoon on the patio.

Well, that lasted about five minutes. Because if I would have stayed out there any longer, I would’ve gone blind from the sun in my eyes, turned red as a lobster, or lost about 10 pounds from all the sweating I was going to be doing.

And it’s not that we live in a hot climate. We’re in a very temperate region that really only gets extremely hot for maybe a couple weeks out of the year. But there’s something about being out on an exposed patio or deck that really just makes it impossible unless you have a good patio canopy to protect you.

Now, it may seem that the answer is really easy. Just get out there and research patio canopies, find the one that’s the best, hold out for a good deal, and then pull the trigger and get the darn thing installed.

Problem is, it’s a little bit harder than that to choose among the offerings. And that’s what this article is all about.

I did a lot of research into this, and believe me, researching patio canopies is not as easy as it sounds (or as fun). I’m going to get to the very best resource for choosing patio canopies in just one minute, but first let me just give you a little tip.

When you’re considering patio canopies for your home, you should know that they’re not all created equal, and that one of the things you really have to consider is what the canopy is made out of.

For container gardening to add to the value of your home and contribute to overall home improvement, it’s important to keep plants watered. If your deck or patio gets lots of sunlight, you’ll need to water more often. If the weather is humid, plants will need even more water. You can position them around the edge of your patio or deck so a sprinkler system contributes to the water they receive.

Closed Sides - Take those same wood pieces and move them snugly together. Now you have closed sides teak planters. These can still offer a more rustic look, or match a paneled table set, but also give you the security that they will hold the dirt and plant in.

Solid Sides - For a classier set of teak planters you may want to look at the completely solid pieces. These have full solid sides that can range from simple with a small amount of accent, to carved and etched pieces that, in themselves, are a work of art.

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If you want to increase the curb appeal of your house, you should install exterior shutters.  Exterior house shutters are no longer needed to defend a home from intruders. Nowadays, exterior shutters are mostly used for the way they look.  There are a plethora of shutter styles offered today and any of them will help your house to look much more substantial. 

You may opt for vinyl or wood shutters.  Wood shutters are usually cheaper, but need to be painted and maintained.  Vinyl shutters are normally a better value over time.  Vinyl shutters come in a variety of colors and styles that will suit the exterior of your house. 

Should you choose wood house shutters, you ought to use cedar.  Cedar weathers well and is fairly low maintenance.  Oak is one more sturdy wood used for exterior shutters. You will be required to maintain these shutters routinely by either staining or painting them.  Most of the wooden shutters come without stain or paint and have to be prepared before they are mounted.

You need to set up a dry clean place to either paint or stain the shutters. If you are painting them, you need to prime them first, otherwise the paint will not go on evenly.  Use an exterior paint on the shutters that is not water soluble.  Once the paint is dry, you’ll need to coat the paint with a water protective sealant so you may enjoy your shutters for years to come.

If you decide to stain the shutters, you can use wood stain that is made for outdoor use.  Some companies offer wood treatments that are made to stain and seal with one coat which will save you time.  Staining does not result in a monochromatic finish, but retains the woodsy grain of the shutter while adding some color.  Whether you choose to stain or paint the wood shutters can be decided according to your taste. 

An effective way to decide what style of house shutters that you like is to drive around and take a look at properties with exterior house shutters.  Seeing these shutters mounted on different styles of homes can alert you to some different options and can provide you with a better idea of how they will look on your home. 

Mounting exterior shutters is fairly simple, though it would help to have some basic carpentry skills that are needed to complete this task.  It would be wise to hire a carpenter to hang the shutters if you are completely unfamiliar with this process.  Please consider that they are on the exterior of the building where anyone passing will see them, and therefore you want to do a proper job at installation.  Most shutters are packaged with the hardware that is required for mounting and the process is relatively simple.

Exterior shutters can be an inexpensive way to dress up to the exterior of your home and help it to look more established than the neighboring homes.  Most of today’s homes do not come with shutters.  By installing exterior shutters, you can upgrade your home and your curb appeal.

  Summer is fast approaching so that means fun times in the great outdoors which can be just as fun in your own back yard.  Whether you’re sitting with friends and family, reading and relaxing or just enjoying nature and beautiful weather, a deck is a perfect place to spend a lot of your time.  If you’ve thought about building a deck, you need to plan it carefully.  This is a project that requires organization, preparation and proper building.  The property value of your home and it’s appearance in the end can depend on it.

Here are some things to think about before you build your deck.

  You have decided that it’s time to build that deck that you have always dreamed of.  Your first order of business is to figure out what you can afford to build.  When this is done then you can decide where you would like to build it and what type of design would suit your property best.  Now you can start picking out the building materials which you can choose from your budget summary.

You have decided what kind of deck you want. You now have to decide whether or not you are going to build the deck yourself or will you hire a professional to do it for you.  If you do decide to get a contractor, you will be guaranteed results and not have to stress over issues that will arise from your lack of experience.  Be sure to decide exactly what you want before you hire anyone.  Either try to get references from a contractor or use someone that a friend or family member has used.  Someone at work or a neighbour may also know of a reputable company.

How to find deck builder:

When you’re contacting some contractors, get some estimates including everything you want done and everything they will do and how much money can afford.  Do your research and find out where the most reasonable supplies can be purchased from. Don’t let them talk you into anything you don’t want after all it’s your money that you’re spending so you have the choice what it is you are going to have done.

If you’re one of those handy types of guys, then building your own deck shouldn’t be too difficult.  The framing requirements are quite straight forward and only basic power tool knowledge is required. We do, though, suggest reading the following before you start your new project.

Before you even begin to buy your supplies, you need to visit City Hall to inquire about building permits and find out from a building inspector what the code requirements are in your municipality.  It would be very disappointing to finish such a project only to have to destroy it because you didn’t get the required documentation.  They will surely also provide you with some advice to make your building safer, quicker and able to pass inspection.

Check out your local library or book store to flip through some books about decks.  This will help you decide what type of deck you would like and give you some ideas about what might suit your property.

  You’ve taken a look at some books to get some ideas about what kind of deck you would like. Now you should take a look at some software packages to help you plan and design your deck the proper way. This will help you foresee any issues that may come up and how to solve them.  Planning your deck is the most important part of the project.

Buying a software package will enable you to plan effectively by showing you a materials list which you can use when getting quotes from a building center or speaking to a deck contractor. It may just save you some money because of the information you have learned.  A software package can also show you a layout of what your deck will look like ahead of time. This may allow you to see any major issue that you may encounter during building.

Everyone in the family can enjoy a deck but just how child safe are they?

Please ensure that you plan to have a child safe deck.  This should be discussed while you are designing your deck to ensure there are no unforeseen accidents waiting to happen.

Even if your deck is not a high one, a rail is a good safety measure to take. An unnecessary fall can be prevented this way. Also a child safety gate will be required if there are stairs built to and from your deck.  The stairs should be able to have a safety gate fit at them to prevent sudden falls down the stairs. Accidents happen too fast if you’re not prepared for them.

Be sure that when you’re picking up your decking materials that you select ones that are rounded and smooth to prevent any splinters in it.  The deck will also need to be checked every so often to ensure there is no splintering that can cause damage to little (or big) feet.

  Besides wearing sunblock, a child needs to be protected from the harmful rays of the sun in other ways especially if they’re playing on a deck that is greatly exposed to the hot sun. If there is not a lot of shade over your deck, then a good idea is to build a canopy or overhang.

Try to think like your child would. Does he/she liket to climb? Squeeze through little open spaces?  Put this thought into your plan to have no temptations for climbing things and squeezing through wide slats on your railing.  Make the slats very narrow to avoid any of these ideas getting in to their little heads.

A safe deck is a fun deck for everyone. When you’re planning your deck (whether it’s a DIY project or whether you have a deck builder to construct your deck), plan to have a safe deck so your family can stay accident free to enjoy it for many years to come!