To Do or Not to Do-it-Yourself?

Millions of people have seen the do-it-yourself shows on television ranging from dog training to remodeling an entire home. It makes one wonder: if it is as easy as it looks on TV, then why aren't more people doing it themselves? There are two answers. The first is it isn't as easy as the shows make it out to be. The second is editing. Most of the hard work and difficult steps are edited out to make a half hour show.

What the audience doesn't see is the number of years remodeling experience the work crews have when and crafting something as "simple" as a textured wall. Make no mistake. Creating a perfectly smooth, seamless wall and then adding a texture such as a stucco finish is an art. The ability to do this type of work successfully is not a talent the average homeowner possesses.

Attempting to tackle a more involved do-it-yourself project, such as a deck, covered porch or gazebo, requires much more stamina, patience, strength, and ... The list goes on and on. The average homeowner has some tools, equipment, and skill enough to make minor repairs to the home, however, in a very real sense, adding a covered porch, deck or gazebo is like adding another room.

Safety should always be in the forefront of the mind. There is no pleasure in not being able to enjoy a finished deck with sustained injuries or having the structure fail while enjoying it. The next major component of adding a deck, porch or gazebo is having an understanding of basic construction techniques of a safe and supportive structure. If the homeowner doesn't have a basic understanding of building techniques, then tragedy may soon follow. Nothing is worse than completing a deck project just to have someone be injured or worse due to improper construction. Many of the do-it-yourself programs touch on this, but these programs are never all inclusive to safety and proper techniques.

The next task which can be annoying, but necessary, is obtaining the correct permits and inspections at the proper stages of construction in order to prevent citations and fines. Many locales or home associations may prevent any construction that is not in keeping with the architectural style of the neighborhood.

If the homeowner possesses all of the proper tools, equipment, materials, and abilities to build a new deck, covered porch or gazebo, one of the best moves to ensure safety is to have professional blueprints drafted for the construction of the new deck. As long as the homeowner is familiar with knowing how to read blueprints, a do-it-yourself deck building project is that much more of a reality. But for the majority of homeowners, the best practice is to choose a contractor who will not only build them a beautiful addition to their home, but provide peace of mind as well.

For more information and guidance about quality decks, gazebos, and screened porches, click here.

Source: ezinearticles.com

Get the Party Started

The idea of summertime barbecues and backyard parties is about as American as apple pie. It's also just as fun as it sounds. When it comes time to celebrate, in addition to fancying up the yard with lanterns, torches, streamers and more, take some time to give  thought to the arrangement of your patio dining set.

Starting with the most basic, table linens on a patio dining set can really set the tone for the rest of the décor. Color can inspire various feelings. White, for example is timeless and elegant, often used in weddings and upscale events. Then again, there are also the colors associated with holidays, red, white & blue for Independence Day for one. For summer, bright colors like yellow and orange are popular. You can also go with seasonal prints and patterns, like florals, polka dots, stripes, etc. Red and white checkered print is traditional for picnic type affairs. On the top of this tablecloth you can also add an overlay to your patio dining set for a bi-colored effect. Overlays are smaller pieces of fabric which sit on top of the longer, floor-length tablecloth. Here, the two colors you choose can accent or set the tone of your overall color palette. Different fabrics also give various looks. A sheer cloth gives a shimmering, glamorous aesthetic, while lace is old-world elegant.

An added expense that's worth it, assuming it fits into your budget, is chair covers. These either slip onto the seat cushion or cover the entire chair like a slipcover, which is tied at the bottom or back with ribbon. This is also a quick fix for old chairs that don't look as good as they used to, or if you have a group of chairs that don't match one another.

Moving onto to the tabletop, here is where your creativity can really shine on your patio dining set. Matching napkins are a good start, either made from paper or cloth (paper makes for less laundry, while cloth makes for less waste). Using a guide, fold napkins into the clever designs you so often see in restaurants. If that's more than you care to do, napkin rings are made from countless materials and come in an array of colors and designs. Making your own can be a fun project, too. There's also the option of a centrally placed napkin holder, which also frees up more room at each place setting.

After the napkins are taken care of, you will want to organize your place settings. Cutlery is pretty simple, either plastic or metal. Plates and bowls offer more leeway. Though still often made from ceramics, dinnerware is now seeing a surge in the production of resin dishes. They're lighter and unbreakable, and they are more often brightly colored and printed than their ceramic counterparts. Drinking cups can also be made out of resin, or choose hand-blown glass in bright colors to add some excitement. As far as wine glasses go, there isn't much besides the basic red, white and champagne flutes, but stemless wine glasses give a neat, modern look and are less prone to spilling. If you're particular about who sits where, go with name cards at each place setting. This also personalizes your event and makes each guest feel special. For the rest of the place setting, get creative with accents and decorations, such as goodie bags, tea lights, confetti and disposable cameras. Keep in mind that the more unique you are, the more memorable your event will be.

Finally, a centerpiece, whether simple or elaborate, can tie together a well-planned  patio dining theme. Just make sure it's not so over-the-top that you can't see around the table. Obviously, flowers remain the traditional and usual choice, but within this category there are options. For instance, bright, exotic flowers like orchids and birds of paradise are eye-catching, but even something as simple as dyed carnations will give a natural, colorful accent. If not flowers, basically anything can work as a centerpiece, including found objects, wrapped boxes, fruit cornucopias, large candles and more.

Enjoy your outdoor experience and have a happy and safe summer!

Source:ezinearticles.com

Automatic sprinklers offer convenience and control in protecting your landscape investment. Irrigation systems help you to enjoy your yard, and to keep it healthy and beautiful. However, most homeowners tend to over water their lawn or waste water through inefficient habits. Adopting water-savvy habits is essential to maintaining and extending your community's water supply, especially during peak use.

The key to efficient outdoor irrigation is applying just enough water and only when necessary. Water-wise habits will result in a healthier lawn and landscape, in addition to conserving water. Plus, reducing your consumption will help reduce your water bill.

The Irrigation Association named July Smart Irrigation Month to provide tips about smart practices and new technology. Continue reading  here to learn what you can do in July - and throughout the year - to operate your system at peak efficiency.

And if you want more information on installation or operation of an irrigation system, contact us.