Deck support plays a vital role in the safety of deck structures as they provide solid foundations. Statistics reveal that many catastrophes involving collapse of decks are due to weakened support which may be attributed to faulty construction of deck footings. Hence, a deck is constructed not just in any manner one wishes to as it involves operating principles. Properly following such guidelines is vital not only to the safety of decks but also to their lifespan as well.

Keep in mind that you weigh many times more than the wooden board that you are treading on. Hence, deck support has to be evenly distributed. The supports are specifically designed to hold the weight on the surface and distribute it over a large section of the deck. Thus, the location and number of posts installed is important. The more posts a deck has, the less tension it bears with each footing. The secret then is the even distribution of each support such that the weight is equally divided over the total number of posts, and not one post carries more weight than the other. The opposite of this will cause uneven distribution of weight load which could lead to the weight sinking into the ground or swaying off towards the weaker portion of the deck.

Since footings or posts are installed underground, decay and freeze resistance are suitable. The appropriate selection of materials is important so that such support system will resist harsh environmental conditions. Concrete footings, for example, are decay-resistant and suitable for underground conditions. Concrete materials are resistant to insect attacks which make them the best choice in providing long-term, stable foundation.

The process of installing posts into the ground is also necessary. Improperly installed deck support columns may cause movement of the whole structure with a slight movement of a person walking on the surface. The depth to which the structures are buried into the ground and the use of appropriate dimensions of the posts stabilize the foundation of the deck.

Following basic principles in building deck foundations is vital to the overall safety of individuals enjoying the conveniences that decks offer. Although housing regulatory boards have the responsibility of maintaining safety standards, totally delegating such task to them is sometimes risky. Hence, it is also our responsibility to do what we have to do and not have to depend on others in order to avoid the worst situations.

Along with support columns, excellent choice of wooden boards and railings will make a safe and beautiful deck suitable for holding outdoor activities. Wooden materials are generally costly but Ipe decking prices will help you solve budgetary constraints. An Ipe wood decking will surely complete your garden for an outdoor party ambiance.

Taking care of your outdoor furniture should be like the way you take good care of yourself in the sense that you also give them shield from the sun and rain. This way, you can keep it dry to prevent cracking of furniture as well as to maintain its natural polished especially the wooden furniture.

Outdoor furniture is expensive and if you purchase a set, you feel like spending a fortune so it must give you years of pleasure using the furniture in its good quality. As this furniture often left outside, it is exposed to harmful elements that can possibly ruin your furniture. During the times that this furniture is not in use you need to cover it with the right furniture cover. This cover is really made for and perfectly fit for furniture.

Outdoor furniture covers vary in sizes and designs. This cover is sometimes made of polyester fabric that is weather resistant and waterproof. Covering your furniture is a good way to keep its good qualities for a long time.

Outside your house is another place you can enjoy more in which you can do things like reading, or just contemplating about things. It would be easy for you to deal with things outside your house if you have furniture placed on it. It would also be your advantage to accommodate your guests in an open air for additional comfort.

It is time to make a purchase of outdoor furniture covers and give protection to your outdoor furniture as soon as possible. This additional expenditure cost you another amount but the fact that it can give you benefit of having your furniture stay with you for a long time is much valuable than the thought of spending more.

Pleasure is all yours if you take good care of everything you own in your life.

Visit my website to know more about outdoor furniture.

If there is a seating problem at home, try garden furniture made of wood. One of the most innovative ways in which you can address the issue of a space crunch is by turning a path into a seating destination. Try the less frequented corners. There might be a coastal bench or you might opt for a natural wooded landscape for sealing maximum results.

The furniture can be made out of just any style or pattern as you want them to be built. In case you are in need of rustic wooden furniture, give the right touch to your woodland landscape. There are benches, seats, tables, swings and a host of other accessories to make your garden brighter than anyone else’s.

The unique collections in terms of making your garden get an enhanced feel are the pinewood or cedar benches which makes them an excellent addition to just about any kind of garden. Going for handcrafted love seats or Adirondack chairs with matching side tables or bar cabinets carved out of sleek wood helps give the furniture a whole new look and feel.

Adirondack chairs are comfortable to sit or recline in with the widely spaced out arms ideal for holding glasses. Traditional cottage gardens are perfect for the traditional wood bench, or for that matter the tree seats or benches that can be propped up against any species. Relaxing with the lounge chairs with an overhead parasol helps protect you from rainfall or sunlight in the unpredictable summer months.

Born and brought up in Oklahoma City, Kelly is a passionate writer and a voracious reader. She has been fortunate enough to live in many countries and cultures because her husband Lawrence works with the US embassy and has to travel a lot. Kelly and Lawrence currently live in India. Kelly volunteers for a local non-profit organization to help underprivileged children, and works as a freelance writer the rest of the time.

Summer, winter, spring or fall, Americans continue to enjoy the great outdoors from their decks, patios, pool areas, or gazebos. And some of those areas of pleasure have definitely seen better days. Are you thinking about restoring the surfaces inside or outside your home to their former glory? Will pressure cleaning and deck staining alone do the trick on your deck that’s seen better days? Is there a right way or a wrong way to restore a deck for beauty and endurance?

Doing it yourself home improvement may sound like the way to go, but in spite of long-standing home improvement do-it-yourself trends, there are extremely compelling reasons to hire a professional surface reconstruction/ maintenance firm to achieve the results you want with less of your own sweat and tears and at less cost to you.

As you know, bringing the surfaces of your home or commercial space back to beauty involves an accepted process that involves time, money and the expenditure of a lot of energy. You must clean, restore, beautify and finally protect porous and non-porous surfaces in order to assure successful restoration and to guarantee enduring results.

Here are 5 reasons to consider hiring a professional surface restoration company – using your Deck as an example:

Cleaning Your Deck Takes Time, Money, and Energy

Obviously, you have to clean your wood deck thoroughly before anything else can be done to restore it to its’ former beauty. Sounds easy! But, on second look, if your outdoor deck has been relatively unattended for a number of years, you’ll see embedded dirt, mildew stains, and weathering you may never have noticed before. You knew things were bad – but this bad? Will pressure washing alone do the trick? Perhaps not, so to begin, go to your local home improvement center and purchase a deck cleaner that will restore your wood to its natural beauty without yellowing or bleaching. Which deck cleaner will you choose? Maybe the sales help can give you a clue, but maybe not. How much work is involved in cleaning your deck, even with the help of a power washer and the deck cleaner you have just purchased?

Stripping Your Deck Takes Time, Money and Energy

Stripping an old deck to prepare it for beautification is the second necessary step in the restoration process. You see, you have to strip any deteriorating wood or unwanted finish from the surface to make way for the application of more products. So, now, head back to the home improvement center to buy another product – a deck stripping product with stain and finish remover. Be sure and corral the sales person again for help in deciding which one will most effectively remove old oil and latex stains from your deck. Does he really know what he’s talking about? It’s a must to prepare the wood for any new finish or stain. How much work is involved in stripping your deck, even with the help of the deck stripping product you have just purchased?

Protecting and Beautifying Your Deck Takes Time, Money and Energy

O.K. – Your deck is finally cleaned and stripped. You have prepared the wood for a new finish or a stain that will not only make it look beautiful and new, but will protect it from the elements. Has your finish seen better days? Do you want a different look this time around? You’ll need to go to the home improvement center again and look for a semitransparent stain – or a rich transparent oil finish – to enhance the beauty of your deck.

Don’t want to stain? It’s still important to saturate your newly cleaned wood surface with a clear water repellent. This will help protect it from rain that can cause swelling, shrinking, warping and cracking. Look for a water repellent with a mildewcide to slow the growth of mildew during warmer months. Do you have the right one? How much work is involved in that application?

Hiring a Professional Surface Restoration Company Can Save Time, Money and Energy

Finding a reputable deck restorer or deck construction company you can count on is as easy as asking for references. Many will even be happy to show you pictures of their work or to take you to homes of satisfied customers to see their patio decks first-hand. Once you have found a company to restore, rebuild, or even build a brand new deck for you, you’re on your way to getting the best results for the least effort and expenditure. Check deck builders on-line and comparison shop. Ask your neighbors and by all means, check with that sales professional at your local home improvement center. He or she knows the builders in your area and can really help you this time!

You Get What You Pay For

Remember – When you hire a professional, you are not doing the buying, agonizing over the decisions, renting equipment, or doing any of the heavy labor involved in the restoration process.

Here are some of the services you can expect to find when you hire a professional firm to work on projects in your home, office or commercial space:

• Pressure washing services for your house, rooftop, patio, sidewalk, driveway, parking lot, pool area, pool deck, or any other exterior surface.
  
• Cleaning, restoration, repair, resurfacing, staining, and preservation of decks, fences, cedar shake or gazebos.
  
• Cleaning interior surfaces with proper drainage.
  
• Grafitti removal on smooth or porous surfaces.
  
• Deck repair, deck construction and reconstruction.
  
• Installation of wood or composite decking.
  
• Deck stripping.
  
• Application of solid and semi-transparent stain or paint.
  
• Seasonal and year-round protection of outdoor surfaces.

Doing it yourself sounds like a way to go when it comes to tackling surface restoration, and it may be the right choice for you. But, don’t overlook the experience, knowledge, up-to-date products, and manpower that professional restorers can provide, including numerous benefits and end-result quality you may not be able to achieve yourself. In addition, they can assist you in developing a long-term maintenance plan that will protect your investment by extending the life and appearance of your property.

There are ins and outs to surface reconstruction and preservation – a right way and a wrong way – a best way. The choice is yours.

For more information on interior and exterior surface restoration, visit Cope Exterior and Deck, a quality power washing and pressure cleaning maintenance firm serving the Northern Virginia area.

Composite decking sales are on the rise. That being said I think the reason for this is the marketing dollars that are invested into these products. They have saturated the industry magazines, TV commercials, internet websites and all kinds of informational literature as well as all the big box stores. Promises of maintenance free decks and lifetime durability entice consumers to buy. Lifetime warranties seal the deal on the purchases for consumers who are looking for reassurance that they are buying a premium deck worth the investment they are making.

Wood decking encompasses many different species of lumber so results will vary accordingly but if you compare tropical hardwood such as ipe and cumaru than there is no doubt that wood outperforms the synthetic decking products in the market. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons for this statement. Ipe decking has a janka hardness rating (measurement of hardness of wood) over 3600, compare that to California Redwood at 420 with a life span of over 100 years. The density of ipe makes it resistant to insects, rot, mold and fungus. No chemicals are required on this tropical wood. Many commercial projects are specified with this product due to the performance and aesthetics of wood.

Composite decking is relatively new to the market when compared to wood decking. This mix of resin and wood particles and dust product has had some improvements over time but still has complaints about discoloration, de-lamination, warping, molding, fungus, and deterioration. Lawsuits have literally put some composite companies out of business making warranties null and void and on the extreme, have left some homeowners with defective decks and no resolutions.

Another big marketing push for composite decking companies is the whole eco-friendly recycled materials aspect of the product. Yes a percentage of the product may come from recycled plastic but they may be part of the deterioration problem as post consumer materials have been proven to breakdown quicker especially in the environment it is exposed to. The life span on some of those decks have been as little as 3-5 years and at that rate with little to no facilities to recycle the deck boards, there would be many more decks in the landfills than if those decks were made with wood. Eco-friendly is not what I would label that.

If you are in the market for decking than do yourself a favor and research first so you don’t have the headaches of replacing your deck or worse living with a deck you are disappointed with. We are always looking for the next best thing but find out that the grass is not always greener on the other side. All products will have maintenance to some degree and no man made products completely biodegrade without some footprint on our earth. Look beyond the smoke screens and use logic and reasoning to help make an informed decision and one you can live with.

Rosi Lehr is a contributing writer for Advantage Trim & Lumber Co.
Ipe Decking

Many people now invest in different patio furniture like chairs. However, it is important for people to understand that varying weather or climatic conditions can totally damage this furniture. This is where patio chair covers can be very helpful.

Being exposed to both sun and rain can cause several reactions on the furniture. Getting water stay on metal furniture will cause it to corrode or rust. Too much sunlight on the other hand would make furniture have faded color make plastic items brittle. Now, you can see lots of manufacturers who create patio chair covers that will match your needs.

But if you will check the market, you will see that these chair covers may still have different categories depending on the weather condition, style and the protection that it can give. The following are the categories that you can choose upon deciding to get chair covers.

First, there are some patio chair covers that can only protect you for some climatic condition. This means that there are some patio seat covers that have better protection from the sun while there are others that will be perfect for rain conditions. Remember that just like furniture, these covers may have a great chance of damaging after being exposed to varying weather condition. Hence, it is important to choose the one that can protect you from all weather or climate.

Second, you will find that there are some covers that can give good up to superior protection. As you know, temperatures can be at the extreme so in order to provide the best protection, the materials used for these covers must be of high quality just to ensure that it will really last a long time to give maximum protection on your prized item.

Third, aside from just getting the right protection from these patio chair covers, it is also essential for you to know that they come in different designs to match your needs. Instead of getting plain covers, you can choose from those with patterned fabrics so you will create a different fashion design sense right outside your home.

These are only the categories on how you can choose your patio chair covers. What you just need to do is to know your preference in terms of protection and the climate condition in your area to get the best ones for you. And together with the protection, you will get beautiful protective items that will make your home look much beautiful than the usual.

In looking for the best patio chair covers for your home, you will get lots of other tips from Patio Table and Chairs.

Waterproof deck leaks cause billions of dollars of damage annually across the U.S. Not to mention the health problems associated with the moisture left behind. After a storm, the water has trouble getting up and over the end of the decks surface.

The metal flashing at the end of the deck creates a dam that water can’t get over. A puddle is then formed and over time, corrupts the integrity of the deck. The coating decomposes over time and the leaks begin. Once the wood has been compromised by moisture, then come the termites. Termites use the affected wood as an entrance into the frame of the house. Once inside, they nest, and then the real fun begins.

Mold spores also become a health concern, water can’t evaporate and remains trapped in the framing and insulation of the home. Soon, heat of the sun refracts onto the decking surface off the glass door off the deck.

Like a magnifying glass increasing the suns power, soon, water comes to a boil. The liquid turns to a gas and forces its way out of the interior in the form of steam. The steam has a decomposive affect on the wood that softens up the wood such that it becomes unsafe.

Over time a deck will fail, often resulting in injury when the foot crashes through the plywood and into the drywall below. In the last few years over 50 people have been killed by catastrophic deck collapse and over 1350 injured, and many incidences go unreported!

Once the decking surface has been removed, the damage revealed is incredible. The wood itself seems as though it has been through a fire. Both the plywood and framing is so “cooked” its color has turned from a light wood color to a charcoal color. The wood has the appearance as though it has been charred or burned. It is not a good sign when you can drill a hole with your index finger into rotted wood.

Technically, these decks are called pedestrian membrane surface coatings. They include metal flashing, plywood, metal lathing, cementitious rubberized acrylic mortar, fiberglass cloth, epoxy resin coating, safety texture and finally, four coats of an elastomeric waterproof deck coating is then applied. These complicated decking surfaces meet new stringent fire codes and allow for over one hour burn time. Older coatings often are the cause of fire from burning embers from barbecues. The universal deck coating code also includes a pitch of a minimum 1⁄4 ” per foot, so as to allow for proper drainage.

If you choose your color too light, it will blind you from the reflection off the sun, (White) and will show the dirt and dust as it accumulates. Should you choose a black surface color, or too dark of a brown color, the deck will show the light color of the dirt and dust and burn bare feet! Tan’s- beige’s and grays or ” earth tones ” are used most often, but terracotta and Hunter green have also been used. All the layers combined form a laminate, redundantly impermeable by water.

Tired of unexplained illness, headaches and breathing difficulties? Just maybe it is the integrity of your deck that is the problem. Tired of putting out the pots and pans to catch the drips every time it rains? Have a licensed contractor fix the problem and use those pots and pans to prepare a great meal enjoyed out on the deck. Soak in the view, rather than being soaked by the view. Contact Christopher Doctor, Owner Delphi Construction, to see how we can help you.

Chris Doctor is a licensed general contractor in the state of California.
Owner of Delphi Construction # 631583
Celebrating 20 years of building.

There’s something about the rustic look that makes an area not only look but feel warm and inviting. Turn your outdoor patio or entertaining area into a treasure trove of yesteryear with some simple solutions to brighten up the dullest space by using some of these ideas.

1. Rustic outdoor furniture

Transform the area instantly with the use of wood or wrought iron furniture. Old and worn out timber pieces can be neatened up with a light sanding, followed by a rich stain and a coat of varnish.

Wrought iron benches, love seats and tables scattered around the patio provide additional seating for informal gatherings. Create your own rustic furniture with logs and leather.

2. Ornaments or plaques

Liven up the walls with some relics from the past. Wire candle holders will also add to the atmosphere for night time entertaining.

Get creative with those bits and pieces you were going to throw away. Take an old clock and put a timber or cane frame around it. Hang a weathervane or bird feeder from the rafters of the veranda.

3. Heritage colours

It is no accident that heritage buildings give a sense of stepping back in time. Using the accepted heritage colours on painted surfaces gives a genuine feeling of the past. Use colours such as clotted cream, mission brown or rivergum green to brighten up an old dresser.

4. Wind chimes

Wind chimes not only look appealing they have the added benefit of filling the outdoor patio area with sound.

Make your own with heavy pipes and wooden chucks or hefty hollowed out bamboo poles.

5. Straw and bamboo furnishings

Floor mats or blinds made from straw and bamboo are pleasing to the eye and have practical uses as well. Position a blind to protect from the afternoon sun. Use straw or cane matting as placemats or drink coasters on the table.

Fill some cane baskets with pine cones, pot pouri or other seed pods.

6. Plants

Plants in clay or terracotta pots or hanging baskets will remind you of your childhood holidays spent with grandparents or weekends in the country.

Train vines and creepers along a wrought iron trellis or arches. or hanging baskets will remind you of your childhood holidays spent with grandparents or weekends in the country.

7. Lighting fixtures

Keep it old with wrought iron frames that use iron cups for encasing the light fixtures or use candles in wire holders hung along the edges of the veranda. Scour the second had shops for others cast offs. You’ll be surprised what a quick clean and fresh coat of paint can achieve. Add a new shade in nostalgic fabric and tassels.

8. Garden Bridge

Wooden bridges over fish ponds can give any yard an instant rustic feel. Use recyled hardwood timbers for the hand rails and railway sleepers for the floor. Bridge kits can be bought on line if you want to build your own. Not only do bridges provide a walkway from one side of the pond to the other but they are aesthetically pleasing to the eye and create a focal point while looking out from your patio.

9. Handcrafted items

Nothing says rustic as well as handcrafted items. Use left over scraps of fabric or timber to create wall plaques and table ornaments. Line an old cane basket with a hand sewn placemat as a bread warmer or hand the drinks around on a tray made out of wooden triangular off cuts. The internet is a great source for ideas on hand made goods or head down to any charity fete if you’re not so handy yourself.

What about a timber or wrought iron wine rack hanging on the wall or ceramic statues on timber shelving? Don’t stop with these nine ideas to create a rustic look for your outdoor patio. The only limits are your imagination.

Install-a-Veranda is Australia’s leading supplier and installer of verandas, patios, pergolas and carports. For a free consultation please visit Verandas.

Folding arm awnings are not on the list of our top priorities when it comes to home design. You will purchase carpets and drapes, furniture and furnishings as well electronic appliances for the interiors and then buy patio furniture for the exterior of the house. It is only when you realize that your windows and doorsteps as well as other exterior parts of the house may be a little too exposed to the elements does the thought of installing awnings come to mind. Well, it is better late than never to fall in love with the features of the folding arm overhangs.

Rainbow Colors

The beauty about awnings in general is that these come in a rainbow of colors from red to indigo and everything else in between. No matter the colors of your home, you are sure to find one that will complement it. Or as one decorator did with a white house, provide contrast with white-and-black striped folding arm awnings. Of course, you are likely to find both the solid-colored and the two-toned awnings in the market. You can get a sample of the fabric and then compare it to the color of your house’s exterior. Often, our eyes and minds can deceive us especially when it comes to recalling the exact hue of paint.

Engineering Precision

Since a folding arm awning can be retracted into itself at any time you desire, the mechanism behind it is engineered to perfection. Otherwise, you will end up with a retractable awning that only look beautiful but is nowhere near functional. You must look for retractable awnings that combine both beauty and functionality on a reasonable price. You can choose either a motorized or a manual retraction mechanism. Each one has its merits so it really pays to test the folding arm awnings in the store. However, if you are buying online, reading the consumer reviews on the product related to this product is often sufficient for the purpose.

Durable Versatility

In this day and age, it is always wise to look for durability and versatility in a product. You want value for your money, which both of these traits can provide you with in the long term period. In terms of durability, aluminum is by far the most durable of all awning materials. In fact, it can last a lifetime, as many homeowners will say. With a canvas awning, you will have to replace it every 10 years since the threads can break and fray under the onslaught of the natural elements.

Still, you may want a canvas awning because of its versatility in terms of transferring it from one place to the next. Let’s say, you want to transfer the folding arm overhang from your deck to the back patio. You will have an easy time at it than with an aluminum awning.

There are many more features to fall in love with folding arm awnings. You just need to go to store and try it yourself. You will immediately realize that these are also essential elements for your house design.

I write about Folding Arm Awnings at http://www.todaysbetterawnings.com

Exterior lighting is more than just a focal point of your yard and garden. While it adds beauty, it also adds safety. If you have wondered how to add a dash of elegance to your garden, try adding garden lights in the form of outdoor solar lights. Solar lights require no wiring. Make your purchase, open the box and stick them in the ground. That is all there is to it. It takes a few hours for them to fully be charged by the sun’s light, but once they are ready they will add so much to the look and feel of your yard. You do not have to dig up the yard or even get your hands dirty to install outdoor solar lights.

Deck lighting is another way to increase safety and beauty in your yard. If you like to sit on your deck in the warm summer evenings, you need some interesting and cost-effective low voltage deck lighting. Again, solar can come into play. There are beautiful solar lighting caps for your posts on your railings. They are simple to put on; they just slip right over the post. No special wiring or tools required. They help light the steps and avoid trips and falls.

If your home has a lot of curb appeal with plants, flowers and beautiful landscaping, why not add more appeal with lighting. You can use garden lights to up light trees, spotlight a flag or banner or to just look pretty. Outdoor solar lights can be placed where ever you think they would make a beauty or safety impact.

Do you have a patio where you like to entertain your friends and neighbors? Spruce up the area with deck lighting and garden lights. Solar lights also come in many colors, styles, prices, and options. Look through catalogues, search the internet and you will find interesting ways to utilize the many and various forms of exterior lighting.

Light up your world and make a statement. If you want your home to be noticed, get a lighting project going and then enjoy your outdoor spaces!

For more informative articles on outdoor lighting for your patio please visit http://www.designideasforyourpatio.com