Living Space

Landscaping Decor

Enjoying Your Outdoor Space in Autumn and Winter

As the seasons change, you have new ways to enjoy your outdoor living area. Seasonal changes are the ideal time to redecorate your outdoor living space. Your entertainment menu can change to include seasonal foods. Let your creativity guide you to new outdoor living adventures.

Outdoor Furniture Arrangement

If you’ve been lounging by the pool throughout the summer season, autumn temperatures will let you know it’s time for a new furniture arrangement. This would be a good time to create a furniture grouping around a firepit or outdoor fireplace. It’s also a good time to pack up brightly colored summer accessories and replace them with autumn colored accessories. You might want to browse the collection of outdoor patio furniture Massachusetts to find new pieces, such as a dining table with a firepit in the center, to add to your collection.

Adding a Structure to your Landscape

A gazebo can be an attractive addition to a landscape. It can also become a new entertainment area. A gazebo is an ideal place to designate as a quiet solitary or romantic retreat. You can decorate a gazebo according to seasons and holidays. An attractive outdoor shed can be a multi-purpose addition to your landscape. Not only will it provide storage space or workspace, it can also be an impresive decorative structure in the landscape design.

Extending Outdoor Time

You don’t have to hibernate indoors as the temperatures drop. You can enjoy chilly mornings and evenings on the patio by adding a fire pit to the décor and bringing a cozy blanket outside to snuggle under. In a covered structure such as a gazebo, you can be adventurous and bundle up to watch an evening snowfall from inside the gazebo.

Exterior lighting or string lights are an essential part of your outdoor décor if you plan to use it through all seasons. Don’t hesitate to take advantage of an unexpectedly pleasant autumn or winter day by venturing outside for a meal or to enjoy a hot drink.

 

 

Why use Ipe wood for decking material?

When choosing what material to use for decking around saunas, hot tubs and swimming pools, Ipe decking is a smart option. The great things about this tropical hardwood are numerous and for homeowners that just want to get this to investment at one time, Ipe wood is the right options today.

As a wooden material exposed to harmful elements and constant subjection to water, Ipe is regarded as the most decay resistant timber. It is proof against insect and mold infestation. In tests performed by the Naval Research Laboratory, Ipe wood which was piled in the ground for 10 years was still immune to termites and gets the highest rating. Even without treatment Ipe can last 50 years. With deck oil coated to the surface, Ipe decking can last 75 plus years. It will be a good return on your long term investment.


the outstanding physical aspects of Ipe the wood is that such decking material can resists mildew, fungi, mold, and insects such as termites and also ants . The Ipe wood is also slip resistant, never have aesthetically displeasing knots, and will never splinter, and this is the reason why the wood can be the perfect option for your decking surface.

Ipe can be left purely natural without having an impact on the durability or quality of the decking and as it can be left untreated without using chemicals or even additives. This is a safe decking for pets and kids.

If you are looking for Ipe decking supplier, Ipe Decking USA is the best supplier providing quality Brazilian hardwood materials for decking. They ship the items to your home or even deliver all ipe to the job site. You will not be bothered with the shipping process. Many contractors or even homeowners are selecting us and it not just due to our outstanding customer support and the top quality of product we offer but also they guarantee the most competitive prices.

Tips on How to Select The Perfect Pond Liner For Your Garden Pond

Choosing a Pond Liner can be a taxing task if you’re not well versed in the area. When first planning your pond, it is one of the first decisions you have to make. The liner is essentially the equivalent of the foundations beneath your house and provides a sturdy base for the pond. Without this, your pond is left open to weeds and plants growing into it and setting up home, and water can become murky. The liner creates a watertight coverage which keeps the water in the pond rather than seeping into the soil around it. A pond liner also keeps your pond water clean and clear. But where to buy one? Firstly, there are a lot of options listed online at seemingly good prices. However, making your purchase from a specialized water gardening retailer is the industry recommendation. In fact, you’ll find some good examples here: http://www.swelluk.com/pond/pond-liners-54/. Depending on your budget you could opt for a welded or stainless-steel liner, which provides fail-safe protection from leaks and intrusion. However, liners made from PVC for example, are more reasonable and provide the same high level of protection, with some lasting as long as 25 years and beyond.

What about for larger projects? A study material is the best option here, as you must consider the possibility of disruption from the hooves and claws of animals and more aggressive growing plants and weeds. Synthetic pond liners do break down over time however most come with a 20-year guarantee which gives the buyer some confidence in the product.

Although not as strong as some of the more robust materials on the market, a rubber liner is also something to look into, especially if you are planning your pond in a tight or smaller space. They are easier to fit into a small pond hole due to the flexibility of the rubber. They can come up more expensive but again, it all depends on the size and location of your pond.

It is worth noting that some people choose to have a cement lining for the pond, however this is a large job and not as cost effective as artificial liners due to labour budget and the sheer expense of the cement itself. In this country, EPDM rubber is the most popular pond liner, due to its reasonable pricing and flexibility. The strongest material available is most probably box welded, however the lack of flexibility here is a downside, and they can limit creativity somewhat. Whichever option you go for, it’s important to take into account the cost of repair and upkeep, some minor repairs will need to happen over the years for small wear and tear infliction that may not be covered by your warranty. It is vital to read the warranty from start to finish very carefully to understand your buyer’s rights in the event of a faulty product or damages.

If you plan to introduce fish into your pond, make sure your liner of choice is fish safe! This is another reason why EPDM liners are so popular – they are highly rated by Koi breeders as a top pond liner.

Finally, as with any garden project, it’s always best to seek expert advice. An internet search is all very well but nothing beats getting down to your local garden center or DIY store and having a conversation with a member of staff who will be able to advise which pond liner is the best for your requirements. There, you can get an idea of what’s on the market, and a comprehensive set of prices. Good luck on your search for the perfect pond liner!

Are you Considering Pool Renovation?

Pool renovation is something that pool owners often don’t want to think about, but which sometimes has to be done in order to have a pool that requires minimal maintenance and upkeep. By renovating your pool, it will not only prevent a lot of scraped and cut toes and feet during the summer, but it will also ensure that your pool remains in top condition for many years. Pool renovation can be in the form of minor repairs, resurfacing the pool or complete pool remodeling.

Minor Pool Repairs

In most cases, minor repairs in swimming pools are normally in the form of crack repairs, plaster repairs or even tile replacement for pools that are lined with mosaic tiles. While these can sometimes be done by the home owner, it is normally best to leave all forms of pool renovation or repair to a specialist. This will ensure that the repairs or renovations are done professionally and are guaranteed for a specified period. A pool repair specialist will also be able to offer alternative suggestions or advice when minor repairs will not be sufficient for the job at hand.

Pool Resurfacing

After a few years, almost every pool surface becomes pitted, rough and discolored. This can result in an unpleasant swimming experience and can also be very unsightly. Your Pool can be resurfaced with plaster, fiberglass or other products which have been specially formulated to cover and coat pool surfaces. Tiling the entire pool surface is also an option, but this needs to be carried out by a tiling specialist. When using a coating product, it is important to ensure that it is formulated to withstand exposure to both water and chemicals without peeling. This will guarantee a durable and attractive finish that will last for many years.

Complete Pool Remodelling

When a pool surface has become too pitted or cracked, or when there are simply too many broken tiles to make a repair job viable, remodeling the entire pool may be the best solution. Pools with outdated tiling patterns can also benefit enormously from a total remodel. Not only will this extend the life of your pool, but it will also enhance the appearance of your property overall. Complete remodeling of your pool is best done during the winter months so that any plastering, tiling, fiberglass work or coating is given enough time to dry and set before the pool is filled with water. By allowing sufficient drying time, your pool finish will last for many years to come.

When you decide to renovate your pool, it is important to take all of the above mentioned factors into consideration. By weighing up your options and discussing them with a pool specialist, you can be sure that your pool will provide you and your family with a lot of pleasure for many years to come. It is always important to utilize the services of a reputable pool installation company to ensure top quality workmanship as well as the appropriate guarantee for work that is done.

Front Yard Landscaping Ideas

One of the areas of home-improvement that can have an almost immediate impact on your home’s appearance is the outside landscaping. And this is another area where do-it-yourselfers that are physically fit can do a lot of their own work. And it’s also an area where year investment will often come back to you in the sale of your home. So let’s discuss some of the best ideas for your home landscaping.

First of all, make sure that you actually have a plan for your landscaping. This is very often missing when folks who like to do it themselves get to work. But instead of just throwing a shrub or plant in a space just because there is a hole there, why not take a little extra time and map out at least a section of your yard, and decide in advance what plants you will use and where they will go for the best possible appearance? If you draw out a detailed landscape plan like this before you get started, you will most likely wind up with a much better looking yard.

Another suggestion is to plan your landscape design not only for appearance but for functionality as well. For instance, if you plant shade trees on the south and west of your home, you can often help cut down on your electric bill, because those shade trees can help cool your home. And if you plant shrubs that can grow into a small hedge around your foundation, that can also help by creating an extra layer of insulation around the outside of your home. So try to think of your landscaping not only from the aspect of appearance, but also practicality as well.

Nothing will make as much of an impact on the way that your landscaping appears as your having a regular schedule for maintenance though. But unfortunately, this is where even the best landscape designs often go wrong. You have to remember that what ever you plant in your yard will need some kind of attention and maintenance from time to time. So plan your landscape with that in mind. If you don’t have much time to spend in the yard, try to select plants that don’t need very much constant attention. And make your landscaping tools easily accessible, as that will make you more likely to actually use them as you should.

The next biggest enemy of good landscaping design is a failure to properly irrigate after your trees and shrubs are installed. What sense does it make to spend lots of money on the nicest plants and shrubs that you can find, and then lose them because you didn’t irrigate them properly? Automatic irrigation will no doubt be your best choice as it can make sure that water is delivered to the right places in your yard at the right times without your having to worry about it, especially when you have to be away from your home for a while for any reason.

Some do-it-yourselfers plan their landscaping well, and have their irrigation system all set up, but still get bad results because they don’t select the right plants for their particular yard. Almost every yard is different, and if your yard happens to get steady sun all day long, make sure that you select plants that can handle that. Or if your yard is mostly shaded, plant with that in mind. But don’t try to make your yard fit some kind of design that is in your head, but doesn’t fit the kind of yard that you have. Just understand what kind of terrain you have and work in harmony with its needs.

Almost anyone can come up with a great home landscaping design though if they spend enough time beforehand planning it out in advance and then make regular time available in their schedule to maintain what they have planted afterward.