When it comes to building a pergola or gazebo, there is a wide range of options that include high quality western red cedar pergolas. Cedar is more durable and suitable for outdoor use. You could also choose other materials such as vinyl with ultraviolet inhibitors for sustained whites and long lasting colors. The options are endless no matter what material you decide on and there are several cost effective ways to personalize your pergola or gazebo.
Personalizing is all about enhancing its appearance and utility. Here are a few cost effective ways to make your pergola and gazebo the pride of your home.
Add some Furniture
It would be nice to convert the area covered by the pergola into a quiet seating area by placing a patio table and a few chairs. Painting the furniture to match your gazebo is also an impressive and prudent idea. You may also consider adding a hammock or a hot tub under the pergola and enjoy some rest and relaxation.
Adding Rafters or Joists
Pergola kits comes with necessary rafters or joists which will leave you with a complete view of the sky and the sun. You can choose to add rafter beams or joists for greater shade or a better frame for the creepers. You can order a customized kit with additional joist beams. These beams will provide extra shade and space on which to place hanging baskets.
Erect Trellis or Lattice
Erecting a side-wall trellis or lattice is a wonderful way to provide space for vines of all types including honeysuckle and roses. These plants will give your pergola the effect of a garden room. Trailing or garden vines will act as doorway overhang or serve as a shade for the sitting area. The shape and color of the trellis or lattice will accentuate the exterior décor. Make sure that you install 1/2- to 1-inch thick lattice or trellis wood pieces as support for the weight of any climbing plant.
Close One End
Although a pergola kit creates a room without walls, it would be magnificent to add one or even two walls. Softening the edges of the pergola by adding a trellis at one end is another stellar way to personalize it.
Drill all screw holes on fragile wood like trellis and lattice prior to installation. This will prevent the wood from splitting when you connect the pieces to the pergola. If you choose to add some paint, it would be prudent to use an acrylic, non-toxic one to avoid damaging the plants.
Include Flowers
Flowers provide an excellent surrounding for outside gatherings no matter what. You could consider a lattice wall filled with colorful flowers apart from climbing vines.
Some sunny flowers that go well with vinyl pergolas include spider flowers, nigella, marguerite daisies, sweet alyssum, and more. Don’t hesitate to approach a professional at your local nursery to identify which species are likely to thrive in the climate where you live.
All Season Pergolas
Individually designed pergolas will spice up your life in ways words cannot describe, whether its Sunday breakfasts or a Saturday night bash. Solid polycarbonate roofing or retractable canopied fabrics will not only create extra space but also provide year round protection from the elements. A combination of polycarbonate roofing or colorbond roofing will give you ample opportunity to enjoy sun and light during summers and even those bitter winters.
Swinging Pergolas
You can add an element of fun to your pergolas by including a swing. This cozy little pergola is best for two individuals to enjoy the garden view while relaxing outdoors. These pergolas have a lattice at the top and bottom of its walls which will shelter you from the sun’s heat and at the same time take care of your privacy. Simultaneously, these pergolas do not hinder a cool breeze from freshening you up.
Pergola with Hanging Seats
This is a new version of the typical patio seating found beneath the pergola. Here cushy chairs hang from the rafters, lending a relaxed atmosphere to the entire area. The deck-topping pergola should match the angles of the house so that the décor suits the yard perfectly. You can apply white paint for a classic, bright, and clean appearance.
Design Pergolas to Match Your Outdoor Style
Installing a pergola of the same stain as on the deck on which it has been erected is the ideal way to allow it to blend with your décor. Surround it with a multitude of potted plants to give it a feeling of being cut off from the rest of the surrounding structure. Incorporating a two-person swing and pillows provides the right atmosphere to relax and enjoy the weather with a partner.
Glass Blocks for Privacy
Installing glass blocks sporadically to a pergola creates not only a unique design but offers privacy as well. It’s almost like creating a room outdoors, distinct from the yard. The combination of timber and glass goes well whether you have a small or large pergola. You can choose to connect the pergola with the rest of the yard by placing potted plants around this wonderful and sensational addition to your property.
When it comes to building a pergola or gazebo, there is a wide range of options that include high quality western red cedar pergolas. Cedar is more durable and suitable for outdoor use. You could also choose other materials such as vinyl with ultraviolet inhibitors for sustained whites and long lasting colors. The options are endless no matter what material you decide on and there are several cost effective ways to personalize your pergola or gazebo.
Personalizing is all about enhancing its appearance and utility. Here are a few cost effective ways to make your pergola and gazebo the pride of your home.
Add some Furniture
It would be nice to convert the area covered by the pergola into a quiet seating area by placing a patio table and a few chairs. Painting the furniture to match your gazebo is also an impressive and prudent idea. You may also consider adding a hammock or a hot tub under the pergola and enjoy some rest and relaxation.
Adding Rafters or Joists
Pergola kits comes with necessary rafters or joists which will leave you with a complete view of the sky and the sun. You can choose to add rafter beams or joists for greater shade or a better frame for the creepers. You can order a customized kit with additional joist beams. These beams will provide extra shade and space on which to place hanging baskets.
Erect Trellis or Lattice
Erecting a side-wall trellis or lattice is a wonderful way to provide space for vines of all types including honeysuckle and roses. These plants will give your pergola the effect of a garden room. Trailing or garden vines will act as doorway overhang or serve as a shade for the sitting area. The shape and color of the trellis or lattice will accentuate the exterior décor. Make sure that you install 1/2- to 1-inch thick lattice or trellis wood pieces as support for the weight of any climbing plant.
Close One End
Although a pergola kit creates a room without walls, it would be magnificent to add one or even two walls. Softening the edges of the pergola by adding a trellis at one end is another stellar way to personalize it.
Drill all screw holes on fragile wood like trellis and lattice prior to installation. This will prevent the wood from splitting when you connect the pieces to the pergola. If you choose to add some paint, it would be prudent to use an acrylic, non-toxic one to avoid damaging the plants.
Include Flowers
Flowers provide an excellent surrounding for outside gatherings no matter what. You could consider a lattice wall filled with colorful flowers apart from climbing vines.
Some sunny flowers that go well with vinyl pergolas include spider flowers, nigella, marguerite daisies, sweet alyssum, and more. Don’t hesitate to approach a professional at your local nursery to identify which species are likely to thrive in the climate where you live.
All Season Pergolas
Individually designed pergolas will spice up your life in ways words cannot describe, whether its Sunday breakfasts or a Saturday night bash. Solid polycarbonate roofing or retractable canopied fabrics will not only create extra space but also provide year round protection from the elements. A combination of polycarbonate roofing or colorbond roofing will give you ample opportunity to enjoy sun and light during summers and even those bitter winters.
Swinging Pergolas
You can add an element of fun to your pergolas by including a swing. This cozy little pergola is best for two individuals to enjoy the garden view while relaxing outdoors. These pergolas have a lattice at the top and bottom of its walls which will shelter you from the sun’s heat and at the same time take care of your privacy. Simultaneously, these pergolas do not hinder a cool breeze from freshening you up.
Pergola with Hanging Seats
This is a new version of the typical patio seating found beneath the pergola. Here cushy chairs hang from the rafters, lending a relaxed atmosphere to the entire area. The deck-topping pergola should match the angles of the house so that the décor suits the yard perfectly. You can apply white paint for a classic, bright, and clean appearance.
Design Pergolas to Match Your Outdoor Style
Installing a pergola of the same stain as on the deck on which it has been erected is the ideal way to allow it to blend with your décor. Surround it with a multitude of potted plants to give it a feeling of being cut off from the rest of the surrounding structure. Incorporating a two-person swing and pillows provides the right atmosphere to relax and enjoy the weather with a partner.
Glass Blocks for Privacy
Installing glass blocks sporadically to a pergola creates not only a unique design but offers privacy as well. It’s almost like creating a room outdoors, distinct from the yard. The combination of timber and glass goes well whether you have a small or large pergola. You can choose to connect the pergola with the rest of the yard by placing potted plants around this wonderful and sensational addition to your property.
Investing in a gazebo may seem a little expensive,. You can only use it in the summers and the rest of the year, it just sits there with no one using it. This does seem like a waste of money but you couldn’t be more wrong. Gazebos can be used all through the year but you’ve got to know how to use them and for what purpose. So get out there, buy a gazebo, and use it all the time in some of the most unusual but awesome ways.
Tip #1 – Turn it into an Outdoor Movie Theater
As your gazebo is already set up, you can easily convert it into a home theater. Haul your TV, CD system, and extra speakers out to the gazebo and set them up or just buy another entertainment set (flat screen, sound bar) that you can cover up and seal when not in use.
Once the theater is running, organize a party with your friends and family to see the latest 3D movie, host a sports night, or even watch your favorite show in this new exotic entertainment area you have created for yourself and your family. There is a chance that adverse weather like rain or heavy winds may prevent you from using the gazebo but you can invest in heavy-duty PVC solid walls to keep the gazebo interior warm and secure. Or you can just use the gazebo when the weather is not as turbulent. Mother Nature does not show her fury every winter night or weekend.
Tip #2 – Temporary Shelter
If you have a moveable gazebo, you can easily move it about to provide temporary shelter to your vehicles in a hot summer. Set up the gazebo in your driveway or on the pavement and park your car in the cool shade.
Tip#3 – Set up a Greenhouse
Do your bit for the environment by setting up a small garden in your gazebo. During the winter months, set up a small garden of seasonal vegetables like potatoes, onions, chilies, aubergines, etc. Don’t forget to invest solid or flexible plastic walls to keep the gazebo interior warm and humid. With the right heaters, you can easily have a comfortable supply of fresh veggies through the entire winter.
Tip #4 – Set up a Pop-up Shop
Do you have a small business? Use your temporary gazebo as a pop up shop by setting it up in parking lots, at fairs, and in popular shopping areas. You might require a license or a permit but it’s a salient way to raise awareness about your business in your locality with minimum investment.
Tip #5 – Charity Drives
Charity drives are a tremendous way to collect food, money, and clothes for the less-privileged. If you have a portable gazebo, set it up near a church, a hospital, or at any events and promote your charity drive. With the right gazebo, you can attract walker-bys into your gazebo and encourage their attention to your favorite charity. After all, any kind of contribution can make a huge difference for any non-profit organization.
Tip #6 – Temporary Storage
Are you renovating your home? Or will you have to vacate your home for a few days due to a pest defogging? Use the gazebo as a temporary residence or a place to temporarily store your possessions. This is possible during the summer. However, you may need extra protection during the rains and the winter. In these adverse conditions, make sure you have solid PVC walls to provide temperature control and to protect you and your belongings from rough winds.
Tip #7 – Use it as a Team Building Exercise
For seminar organizers, team exercises are a sterling way to encourage a feeling of community. Building something together is a fantastic way to encourage team unity and gazebos are perfect for this. At a company seminar, you can divide your colleagues into teams and then set a contest. The team that sets up their gazebo the first wins a prize. This kind of team-exercise encourages unity and ensures team intercommunication and a better work ethic. Of course, you can also set up the gazebo as outdoor seating areas at your business seminar or as outdoor snack area at business luncheons or events.
Tip #8 – Jazz Up Your Child’s Birthday Party
Children love having fun birthday parties. If you already have a temporary gazebo, set up a mime event, a puppet show, or a magic show in the gazebo and keep your kids entertained all through the party. You can rent two more gazebos and hire a temporary tattoo artist, an arts and crafts teacher, etc. and your kiddie guests will have a wonderful time.
Tip #9 – Giveaways
If you have a business, a gazebo is a wonderful way to advertise your business in the locality. Created logo-covered gazebos and give them out as freebies to your vendors. You can also give them away to customers who have made purchases in your store or to those customers who won simple daily contests.
Tip #10 – Beach Parties
If you’ve organized beach parties, you know that it can be quite windy and chilly at night. For temporary protection, set up a gazebo on the beach and stock it with lounges, rocking chairs, and rugs to relax on.
As you can see, when it comes to relaxing outside, a gazebo is the perfect getaway. Just sit back in the gazebo in complete comfort in the shelter provided multi-purpose investment.
You have a large independent home and an even larger backyard. One of the advantages of having a home like this is that you can customize it anyway you want. Before you start complaining about expenditure, you should know that you can personalize your home in a day with a few simple DIY projects. You don’t have to be an expert craftsmen to do these few projects that we’ve listed. So go ahead, here are 10 of the best and simplest DIY backyard projects that you can try out.
DIY Project#1 – Fire Pits
What’s an outdoor space without a barbeque? With a bag of cement, about fifty bricks and a metal fire pit, your outdoor barbeque/ fire pit is ready to go. There are several fire pit designs available online but the DIY tutorial from Lowe’s appears to be the simplest and easiest one for a novice DIYer.
DIY Project# 2 – Recycled Table and Chairs
With a little imagination you can make tables and chairs from almost any kind of flat raised material. Browse local salvage yards for strong wood like wooden pallets, wooden crates, and so on. To make a table from the pallets, just attach four wooden chairs or screw on readymade table legs from a hardware store.
Place a tinted, shatter-resistant glass sheet on top of the pallet and your table is ready. For a slightly more difficult project, you will have to deconstruct the wooden crates, and then reuse the wood to make tables and chairs. Chairs are just as easy to make from wooden cartons, plastic cartons, and cement blocks.
DIY Project# 3 – Herb Gardens
Herb gardens are ridiculously easy to make. Create a stacked herb garden by placing smaller pots on top of larger ones in a terraced pattern. You don’t even have to use pots, since you can repurpose cracked kitchen containers to create your herb tower. Fill the tower with soil and fertilizer and plant your favorite herbs. It takes a month or so for shoots to appear but once your garden is up and running, you have a lovely collection of herbs always ready to use.
DIY Project# 5 – Outdoor Bar
Outdoor bars are a stellar way to jazz up any outdoor space. Create something fancy or with a limited budget using salvaged pallets. Just attach the pallets to each other and stand them up to make your own outdoor bar. Make sure you stain the wood and cover it with a layer of polyurethane for a glossy, weather-resistant finish.
DIY Project# 6 – Scrabble Tile Floor
Do you like scrabble? Why not create the scrabble floorboard in your backyard. Just purchase simple block mosaic tiles from the local hardware store and set up the floor. You will have to create the alphabet tiles to play scrabble on the tile floor but once the floor board and tiles are ready, you are going to have a lot of fun.
DIY Project# 7 – Mosaic Stepping Stones
This is such a simple idea that anyone can do it. Collect scrap glass, old colored gems, or old tiles in a range of colors and dump them into a thick sack. Give the sack a few bashes, and empty the tile pieces on to a flat surface. In a non-stick cake tin, place out the tile pieces, cover with a layer of concrete, and a thin sheet of wire mesh. Let the concrete set and then empty the stone out when the concrete sets. Make as many as you want in as many shapes as possible to decorate your backyard.
DIY Project# 8 – Votive Chandelier
Lighting up your outdoor space is easy with a votive chandelier. Collect ten to fifteen votive holders and suspend them from a wood X frame with strong thread, wires, or chains. Place votive candles in the holders and light them all for a lovely setting. Mix and match votive holders to create a unique pattern.
DIY Project# 9 – DIY Outdoor Shower
You can easily set up an outdoor shower with a hollow pole containing the plumbing, a shower head, and two transparent vinyl wing walls. All you have to do is figure out the plumbing and your shower cubicle can be up in three to four hours.
DIY Project# 10 – Build a Shed
You can find many shed plans online for free or find a credible garden shed manufacturer that specializes in delivering DIY sheds directly to your yard. All you need are a few simple tools such as a screw gun and a level and then follow the instructions. If your feeling really creative, design your very own shed using recycled lumber and other building materials scrounged up in your neighborhood. A little more elbow grease but very satisfying and great on the pocket book!
So, are you ready? Plan a trip to the nearest hardware store and stock up the basics. Most of these projects are so simple that you don’t even have to spend more than $50 but you will end up with beautiful, unique furniture that will be the talking point of your backyard.
Having your own pergola is an astounding way to jazz up your garden. The spacious, open arches can serve as a beautiful outdoor element in your home. Of course, there are several different designs to choose from and we’ve listed our favorite versions here for you to go through.
Design #1 – Attached Pergolas
Attached pergola designs are very common but there are several outstanding designs to choose from. Try a space-defining pergola that you can attach to your French windows or to a side entrance. This semi-attached pergola can extend your living space and serve as a beautiful transition space from the inside to the outside. You can also attach the pergola to the side of your patio and create the illusion of a bigger room with natural ventilation and natural light.
Design #2 – Two-Tier Pergolas
You may have seen these kinds of pergolas and they lend an elegant appearance to your garden. You can do this yourself by layering two different types of roofs over each other. Try plain columns and place them at right angles to each other, and on top of each other, to create the two-tier appearance. If you keep a little space between the two-tiers, you can place pots, planters, or allow two-different colored flowering vines to occupy the space between the two tiers.
Design #3 – Curved Pergolas
Curved pergolas are extremely beautiful. The curved latticework can increase the floor-to-roof space but still lend an extremely intimate feel to the seating area underneath the pergola. You can choose from curved lattices, basket-weave curved lattices, deep-v shaped lattices, etc. If you have the time and money, you can easily custom-build your own curved pergola to suit your garden and outdoor space.
Design # 4 – Disconnected Pergolas
You may have a large garden but disconnected pergolas and walkways are an exceptional way to bring seating arrangements together. Create stone walkways and cover them with horizontally curved pergolas. The pergolas can be disconnected from each other and spread out over a large garden.
Design #5 – Over the Door and Window Pergolas
If you have sufficient space around your doors and windows, consider adding pergolas that extend for two to three feet over your doors and windows. Not only do they architectural interest to your building but they can also form a framework for climbing vines. In case you have the space, you can also extend a single window pergola for three feet and place a seating arrangement under it to make a small cozy nook.
Design # 6 – Extra Large Pergolas
For houses that have sufficient outdoor space, an extra-large pergola can act as an outdoor room. Fit it with an outdoor fireplace, a barbeque, central dining area, bar and seating and you are good to go.
Design #7- Pool House Pergolas
If you have a large pool, set up a combined pool-house-pergola space. Use classic columns, curved thatch roofs, tiled flooring, comfortable seating, shower rooms, etc. to make your pool-house-pergola comfortable, intimate, and trendy as well.
Design #8 – Pergola Entryways
Jazz up your home and its entryway by setting up a pergola walkway from your gate to your house entrance. It adds practical protection from the sun and rain. You can also relax on hot summer days by placing seating in the walkway area. This type of walkway is perfect if you have a large lawn but a small backyard. Instead of using the backyard, convert the walkway into a large seating area.
Design #9 – Rooftop Garden Pergolas
If you don’t have enough space in the backyard or as your lawn, set up a pergola on your roof. Most manufacturers do make lightweight pergolas that can be set up in an hour on your roof. Aluminum is the most common material but stainless steel is also popular. If you like eco-friendly versions, you can choose from bamboo, raffia matting, coir, and so on. Choose from a range of colors and designs or make your own lightweight version to form a shady place to relax on your roof.
Design # 10 – Contemporary Styling
Instead of the classic wood beam appearance, contemporary pergolas are far more popular at present. The most common style consists of lightweight aluminum poles that support vinyl-mesh sides and retractable tops. Non-mechanized versions are also available and they are cheaper. These types of pergolas are available in several colors and sizes and they are weather resistant as well.
As you can see, you can choose from a huge range of stylish pergolas and gazebos for your outdoor space. In case you want to make your pergola multifunctional, some manufacturers also offer multi-level structures in the above mentioned designs. All you have to do is purchase the ready made pergolas, and set them up in your backyard, patio, lawn, and so forth and prepare it for any special occasion.
How to Winterize Your Backyard: Preservation and Maintenance
The end of summer marks the beginning of a trying time for homeowners – winterizing their backyards. Every single element that you have in your backyard needs to be winterized in order to save it from becoming ruined – right from your lawn furniture and grills to your swimming pools and garden accessories.
When you properly winterize your backyard, it can save you a lot of time and energy when summer comes around again. Here are some ways to preserve and maintain your backyard during the winter season.
Grills & Barbeques
If you have portable barbeques and grills installed in your backyard, you will want to move them inside a garage, storage shed, or a plastic storage unit, which is available at most hardware stores. Make sure you keep propane tanks outdoors itself, and cover it with a tarpaulin or a plastic bag. Never store propane tanks indoors, since this could instigate an explosion which you certainly do not want.
Garden Tools
To winterize your garden tools such as spades, shears, and other hand tools, dip them in sand mixed with motor oil before you store them. This will not only clean them, but will also work by lubricating them.
Hoses
Leaving hoses outdoors during the winter is a clear and very real mistake. You may think that you will be able to drain the hose in question and leave it outside, and it won’t be a problem, but even drained hoses tend to suffer from exposure when left out in the open for cold long stretches of time. This means that the life of your garden hoses are compromised and you will end up needing to replace them sooner than if you took some time out to properly winterize them. Unhook all your hoses from spigots, empty out all the water and store them in a shed or a garage after you have winterized them.
Lawn Mowers
For lawn mowers, try tuning them at the end of summer. This way, you will avoid the rush of lawn mower owners who have procrastinated and arrive at tune-up shops to get their machines tuned just before springtime. To preserve your lawnmower in the winter, you should also think about adding a gasoline stabilizer to the remaining fuel.
Potted Plants
Unfortunately there is nothing you can do for potted plants in the winter, but to get rid of them. At the end of summer, pull up all your potted annuals and throw the soil out. Be sure to store your pots in a basement, shed, or garage. If you leave plastic pots out in the extreme cold, they will suffer unnecessary damage from the exposure, while terracotta pots tend to freeze outdoors.
Lawn Furniture
If you have lightweight plastic lawn furniture, you can easily store them in your garage. If you have heavier pieces however, like wrought iron, they can be left outdoors. But be sure to cover them with the manufacturers’ covers (which you can buy online or at a hardware store) or large plastic bags. The manufacturers’ covers are made from durable vinyl and have grommets or drawstrings for cords so as to keep it secured against the wind.
If any of your lawn furniture has fabric cushions, remember to store them in your shed, since they cannot be left outside. If you feel like it, you may also clean your furniture before you store them in your shed so those dirt stains do not become permanent and so when you bring them back out in another four to five months they are ready to go for you to sit on and put out on display. You also, by cleaning them, will kill any spiders or bugs that could have made the underside of the furniture their summer home.
Swimming Pools
Winterizing your swimming pool protects it from damage due to the water freezing and also keeps it clean for the next swimming season. To winterize your swimming pool, be sure that the water chemistry is balanced and is between 7.2 and 7.6 pH, the alkalinity between 80 and 120 ppm, and the calcium hardness between 180 and 220 ppm.
Store your wall fittings, pool cleaners, solar blankets, skimmer baskets, and ladders in your shed. Use a filter pump or a submersible pump to lower the water level of the pool and be sure to drain out all of the filters, pumps, chlorinators and heaters, so to prevent them from freezing and cracking. Finally, make sure that the chlorine level is below 3.0 ppm, and cover your pool so that there are no holes or gaps where debris or leaves may enter.
Garden Ponds
Winterizing a garden pond can be challenging, especially if you have plants and the fish in the pond. The first thing you need to do is turn off the pump and take away all the parts that stick out above the water surface. Remove your potted plants and cut the foliage up till the root ball. To keep the fish alive, keep a hole open in the ice during the winter to allow the toxic gases to escape and oxygen to enter the pond.
