Posts Tagged ‘outdoor’
Outdoor Family Fun Activities
Monday, May 3rd, 2010Ceiling Fan Outdoor Lights – Adding Convenience and Comfort
Thursday, April 22nd, 2010Copyright (c) 2009 Randy Heslip
If you are fortunate enough to live in a warm climate but you find some days the heat can be a little much, consider an outdoor ceiling fan. They are specifically designed to withstand humidity, dust, heat and cold so you need not worry about the operation of the fan as long as it is installed properly. To enhance comfort and convenience some of the accessories available include remote controls and ceiling fan outdoor light kits.
Not as popular as indoor fans, outdoor fans are little harder to find, and when you do find them you will notice that the selection of color and styles available is somewhat limited. If you are looking for lights for your outdoor fan try this to help with your search. If you are using Google to do your research online, add quotations at the beginning and end of your search term. For example you would enter it just like this in the search box “ceiling fan lights outdoor”. By doing this it will filter the results and only return results with that exact phrase; if you like you can change the words around but keep your main words inbetween the quotations.
As you do your research you will want to make sure that both the ceiling fan and lights are UL rated for outdoor use. This will help to ensure that your fan can withstand the environment in which it is installed and function properly and safely. I suggest that it you are purchasing a ceiling fan for outdoor use that you buy the light kit at the same time, one that is made specifically for that make and model. Mixing and matching fan light kits with other ceiling fans may not provide the best protection from the elements. The smallest gap or opening could let dust and or moisture in which could limit the life of your ceiling fan and may void the warranty.
Ceiling fan outdoor light kits provide comfortable lighting with a nice cool breeze on those hot summer evenings relaxing on the patio. To help get the most enjoyment out of your fan and light kit, again
, I would recommend that you buy an outdoor ceiling fan that is factory built with the outdoor light kit included. By purchasing both pieces together you will help ensure that all the parts fit together properly and are rated appropriately for the use it was attended. And if a warranty issue should arise it may make things a little easier when dealing with the manufacturer.
Why choose an outdoor wood stove
Friday, January 15th, 2010Many people like to have a heater in the garden to keep the place usable during the winter, though many people are undecided as to which is the best type of heating element. But many people are also pretty sure that choosing an outdoor wood stove is one of the best things you can do, because of three reasons which make it so good. These three reasons are that it can keep the garden of patio warm, it can be used for cooking, and it also gives a great visual element.
The first thing to look at is how warm it can keep the patio or the garden, and it is safe to say that a wood burning stove has such great heat output that you will never need to feel cold ever again. Although you do need to keep the stove filled with wood in order to keep the fire burning, it does not need to be such a great job, and especially if you prepare the wood beforehand.
The next thing is that a wood stove can be used for cooking, and this is one of the main reasons that people choose this style. Some wood stoves are in the style of a barbecue, in that the food can be cooked on a griddle directly above the fire. But some of the most expensive models actually have a cooking range on top of the stove, which means it you can actually cook a full meal and then eat it in the glorious outside.
The visual element may not be so important for many people, it is also true that a lot of people think that to look at a real fire while sitting outside on the patio is one of the nicest things you can do, particularly on a chilly evening. If you have an electric heater you simply do not get this visual elements, and that is why a wood stove really beats electric hands down.
Now that you know the three reasons to buy and outdoor wood stove, all that you need to do is find the model that suits your budget.
Outdoor Porch Swings
Friday, October 9th, 2009When it comes to using wood for exceptional quality in outdoor furniture, I first think of cedar. Cedar is a beautiful wood that is very durable and outdoor porch swings and other items made out of cedar will last for generations. It is naturally resistant to decay, insect and weather damage. We regularly go to the Oregon coast for family vacations, and homes with cedar siding are very prevalent. This is because the cedar lasts under the harsh conditions of living right by the ocean. It starts out in a beautiful red / brown color and ages to a rustic soft silver gray, giving the home a wonderful rustic look. Cedar is also commonly used for split rail and full wood fences. The use of cedar for siding and fences is a testament to its superior durability.
One of my favorite benefits of cedar is its strength to weight ratio, which in layman terms means that the wood is exceptionally strong without being overly heavy. Basically, cedar furniture is easy to move around, you don’t have to hire the neighbor’s teenage boys when you want to rearrange your patio furniture. This is one down side to teak, another great and common out door wood, teak is just plain heavy!
Another great thing about using cedar for outdoor porch swings is that it does not shrink or warp like other woods can do. Other woods are normally pressure treated to avoid this problem, but then you are exposing your family to chemical preservatives that may be harmful to their health.
I am also really excited about cedar because we finished landscaping our back yard last year, and this spring we will be getting some new outdoor furniture. I knew I wanted cedar because besides all the benefits mentioned above, I simply like the way it ages, I think it gives a garden a truly homey look.
Last year I found a company that sells cedar outdoor porch swings and garden furniture is called Rustic Natural Cedar Furniture Company. They have been specializing in manufacturing cedar products for the both in and out of the home for over 30 years. They use both Northern White Cedar and Western Red Cedar for outdoor products. We bought a wonderful swing for our front porch made of the Northern White Cedar, which starts out a beautiful creamy white color before it changes to the traditional gray. I really wanted to go with them again so that our backyard furniture matched our outdoor porch swing, and they had some great options.
We could go with a basic garden swing, they had them in a variety of sizes. But the footprint is larger than I want, plus we already have the porch swing. Another option they have are gliders, both single and loveseat gliders as well as glider benches. They also have a great double glider with a table between the two gliders all on a cedar stand. Great for out door socializing, and there are optional canopies.
Well, spring is starting to tease us here in north Idaho, we had a beautiful spring like day on Wednesday, but then a snow storm the next day. But it is still the first hint that I must decide soon on what great cedar pieces I want to grace our back yard.
Apple Pie, Grandma, and an Outdoor Porch Swing
Monday, July 6th, 2009An outdoor porch swing is such a fundamental fixture in the American experience. I don’t really know why for sure. Maybe it is because young romance can blossom there, or because it is the perfect place to sip on an ice cold lemonade and watch a lazy summer day go by. In fact, one of my earliest fond memories is from the mid 60’s when I was four years old, eager and excited. I was sitting on the porch swing with my family watching the classic American parade go by. So many vivid colors, big horses, candy, happy sounds, and of course, the waiving beauty queen. And I took it all in from an outdoor porch swing. There is just something classic about that scene. I guess most people have some sort of memory like that. I hope so.
Another great thing about a porch swing is how old friends can sit there for hours and talk about nothing; talk about anything. Or maybe it is because when you’re on the swing it means that you are not out in the garden weeding, or in the house cleaning, or slaving over laundry.
To me, an outdoor porch swing is about relaxing from the cares of life and finding peace, even if only but for a moment. The way the gentle motion of the swing slows the clock is magical. I could sit and swing for hours and it would only seem like minutes. And as I think back over the years I realize that there is just something comforting about an outdoor porch swing, something wonderful and warm, like the homemade cookies and bread I’d enjoy when I visited my Grandma’s house in my youth.
One of the things I remember most about being excited to visit Grandma was that I know her swing was waiting patiently for someone to visit, someone to comfort. Sometimes it was the cat. Sometimes it was people. I remember the old chains that suspended it from the rafters, how they seemed so faithful and strong. Sometimes when I would really get swinging too fast I would be worried that they would break, but they never did. I remember swinging on it with her as we watched the day go by without a care in the world; just me and Grandma.
There was something about that old outdoor porch swing that the cat seemed to like as well. I noticed that the cat spend more time on it than anyone else. Maybe it liked the warmth of the sun-room and the quiet
who knows, but when we’d come along and want to perch there Ginger would slink away like only a cat displaced can. What a funny cat.
As I’ve grown older I’ve kept my fascination with swings and porches. My outdoor porch swing is made out of redwood and brings me a lot of happiness when I spend time on it with kids and friends. Someday I’ll be a Grandma and will share some swing time with my own grandchild. I hope I can make it as memorable as my grandma did for me.
The Best Ways to Enjoy Outdoor Lifestyle in the Dallas/Fort Worth Area
Sunday, April 19th, 2009Dallas/Fort Worth has beautiful weather, so it was built for outdoor activities. Though the summers can be humid, it is not as extreme as Louisiana or even the Northeast, so Dallas living is comfortable. People in the Dallas area have a great love of sports, so you will find a number of activities and organized clubs that revolve around sports activities: golf, baseball, football, soccer and every other sport under the Texas sun.
Join an Outdoor Sports Club
If you are not sure where to go to have fun outdoors, and want to meet new people, an organized group devoted to outside activities is perfect for you. Get acquainted while also getting a workout, a tan, and/or some information about nature in the state you live in.
DFW Outdoors is just one trendy social outdoors club. The group has been active for over six years, and weekly outdoor events range anywhere from skiing and canoeing to hiking and camping. If you are a novice at such sports, that is no problem, as this club claims to be for those of any skill level. The club also buys group tickets for sporting events, concerts, and other social events, which is perfect for people who love to be outdoors but are not necessarily interested in doing sports each week. Remember that this is just one outdoors club in the Dallas/Fort Worth area; there are many others tailored to more specific activities, as well.
Take Advantage of Warm Summer Weather
Stop complaining about the Texas heat and start enjoying it by trying the myriad water activities outdoors. No matter physical abilities, you can always appreciate refreshing water on a hot summer day.
Take the whole family to Burger’s Lake in Fort Worth. The refreshing swimming mecca sits on one acre of land, and is open to the public from Memorial Day to Labor Day each year. Fun activities include diving boards, slides, areas suitable for jumping off, sand, and even a trapeze. The lake is surrounded by thirty acres of amusing fun, and also offers barbecues and a snack bar if you don’t feel like cooking. Spend the day with your family for some cool outdoor fun.
If going to the lake and cooling off in the middle of natural surroundings doesn’t sound like fun to you, maybe a water park does. There are various ones to choose from in the area, from the famous Hurricane Harbor and Great Wolf Lodge to the more mild but still fun Bedford Splash, which is built with younger children in mind.
Attend Social Events Outdoors
If you are not looking to get active outdoors but still want to enjoy the nice weather, there are an abundance of options in Dallas and Fort Worth. The Summer Concert series at the Dallas Arboretum runs from May to September, and hosts a wide range of music for all ages. Bring your friends or family to these cheap, or sometimes free, concerts.
If you want to spend more time outdoors with your family, especially your children, free summer films shown in the Dallas/Fort Worth area are often family-oriented. Bring along blankets and lawn chairs, and enjoy the area’s parks at night. The films are shown outdoors June through August at Victory Park.
Clearly, no matter what your preferences, it is easy to find outdoor activities for the entire family in the Dallas/Fort Worth area.
Summer’s Unexpected Outdoor Candelabra
Saturday, February 7th, 2009Fireplace candelabra were originally designed to hold candles in your fireplace when you want the glow of flickering flames but not the heat or hassle of wood or gas fires. But fireplace candelabra, more sturdily constructed than most candelabra, can be right at home in an outdoor setting, too.
The sturdy construction of fireplace candelabra makes them less delicate than traditional candelabra. Their solidness is just what is needed to look appropriate and function well in the less formal entertainment settings of outdoors.
Another appeal of fireplace candelabra for outdoor use is that they come in a variety of metals. Most are a traditional black iron, and those have the advantage of disappearing in the dusk of evening so their candles seem to float in the darkness. Some fireplace candelabra have a sophisticated, brushed steel finish that, mirror-like, reflects the candles flames. A few have a copper finish. With these fireplace candelabra, the candle light is beautifully reflected in the warm, mellow glow of the copper.
Narrow fireplace candelabra, designed for small or zero clearance fireplaces, are ideal on deck railings, down the middle of picnic tables, or along the edges of sidewalks. Deeper fireplace candelabra work well in the middle round tables, at the back of outdoor serving tables, or in any open air setting where you want the glow of multiple candles.
Add citronella candles to fireplace candelabra youve taken outdoors and you can chase away pesky mosquitoes while giving your al fresco setting the special glow that only candlelight can offer.
Worried about the wind blowing out your candles? Some fireplace candelabra are designed without candle pins in the candle cups. These will accommodate wind-protected container candles such as votive candles in glass cups.
Let the color of your candles add to the festivities. Bedeck your fireplace candelabra, for example, in red, white and blue candles for Memorial Day weekend and July 4th.
So be creative with fireplace candelabra; repurpose them meet your outdoor candlelight needs, too.
Tips to a Designer Outdoor Space. Hint, your patio chair cushions matter.
Thursday, February 5th, 2009Your back yard is your outdoor sanctuary. It’s the place that you can go to relax, entertain, and even play. Why shouldn’t it be as beautiful, and comfortable, as your inside space? Using the basic principles of design, scale, proportion, balance, emphasis, contrast, and unity, fantastic things will happen. Beginning with the size of your patio furniture and ending with your patio chair cushions, let’s walk through a few simple steps you can take to transform your back yard.
Whether you have acres and acres of land or a simple patio off of the back of a condominium, it is possible to have the outdoor sanctuary you desire. Begin by taking measurements of your space not the entire backyard but the space that you’re going to convert into an outdoor room. Once you have your measurements, you will want to plan on buying patio furniture to fill about 1/3 of that space. A bench and a coffee table or two patio chairs and a bistro table are ideal for small outdoor spaces. Conversely if you have a large space you will have room for a dining set, lounge furniture and maybe even a large outdoor grill and an enclosure.
Your next step will be to find or create a focal point. The chiminea has had an upsurge in popularity however a more traditional focal point like an arbor, pergola, or even a beautiful outdoor planter can have a striking affect. If you have space, consider creating a sitting or lounging area separate from a dining area and place the focal point where both seating areas can view it. Use the design principle of threes to make your backyard space feel balanced. This means that if you have two chairs add a small table to balance. If you’re using planters to create a focal point stack or arrange three of them together.
Your final step in creating a winning outdoor space that you can be proud of is to add the final touches. One of the absolute best final touches that you can add, and one that will increase your comfort immeasurably, is to add patio chair cushions to your chairs. Begin by choosing patio chair cushions that fit your chairs specifically. This means that just because you really like the folding chair cushions but you have Adirondack chairs, don’t buy the folding chair cushions. Why? Because you want your cushions to fit properly. You don’t want a cushion that slides off every time you sit down, or worse ends up on the ground. You’ve spent your valuable time and money making your outdoor space a retreat, don’t skimp on the details.
There’s no end to the selection of patio chair cushions. This infinite variety means that you can use your patio cushions to really add the pop that will make your outdoor space come alive. Like spice and color? Look for reds, yellows, and patterns. Want the focus to be on your yard and not your patio chair cushions, choose more neutral colors like green and white yes white. For extra durability and a long life, make sure your cushions can be laundered. This makes cleaning them as easy as dropping them into your washing machine.
A few extra things to think about when choosing your patio chair cushions:
Durability features like reinforced seams, zippers and piping protect your patio chair cushions from every day wear and tear.
Stay tight tie tabs keep your patio chair cushions tied down and ensure that your cushions won’t end up in the pool or on your neighbor’s chairs.
Don’t forget to look for cushions to adorn all chairs, from benches to steamer lounges to your folding chairs. Good design is all about paying attention to the details. In your outdoor space, your patio chair cushions are your details.
Well balanced seating to fit your outdoor space are just the beginning to a perfect yard. Umbrellas, landscaping, and high end outdoor appliances can really take your outdoor space to the next level but don’t forget the simple elements of design. Balance, color, focal points, and details details details. The easiest detail to master? Patio chair cushions!
Fall for Outdoor Entertaining This Autumn
Thursday, January 29th, 2009Aaaah, autumn! It’s the perfect time to entertain outdoors — most of the bugs are gone, the sun isn’t scorching even though it’s warm enough to enjoy an afternoon or evening al fresco, and there’s a bounty of good things to serve for an outdoor meal.
Because the days are shorter in the autumn, outdoor entertaining in the fall calls for special attention to lighting and temperature.
Lighting
The earlier sunset will afford you an ideal opportunity to bathe your outdoor space in evening lights. Use soft light, but use plenty of it. Try dozens of votive candles in jars and glasses to protect the flame from the wind, hurricane lamps, or kerosene lanterns set on low. Create cozy seating areas and equip each with a glowing light source.
Heating
The method you’ll use to chase the chill from the night will vary depending on your climate and your outdoor space. If you have a yard (and community by-laws allow), a campfire is a wonderful informal party setting. In smaller gardens, consider self-contained fire pits or a chimenea.
For a more formal affair, you can install a propane-powered heater. These units are available in a range of heating powers and prices. Or, drape attractive throws or quilts on each chair for your guests to wrap around their shoulders to ward off the night air.
Of course, you’ll want to take advantage of the wonderful colors and textures of autumn in your decorating scheme and table settings.
Color
Autumn’s colors are deep and rich — russet, crimson, burnt orange, gold, dark green, and the color of hay. Use these hues repeatedly in tablecloths and settings, flowers, centerpieces, and even the food. Scoop out pumpkins and other squash and fit them with containers of water to make vases. Mass potted mums in vivid colors. Use orange Chinese lanterns, bright rosehips, stems of red or orange berries, or chilies. Wrap vibrant maple or sumac leaves around votive candleholders or napkin rings. Sunflower heads can be strewn on the tabletop, or left on the flower stalks in a container.
Texture
The textures of fall are earthy and rustic. Especially play these up if your gathering is informal — a corn roast, a bonfire, a jeans and sweater evening. Use burlap or rough cotton to cover your buffet table, and dish towels as napkins. Weigh down your tablecloth with apples or pears hung on rough twine. Or use rattan placemats and wicker baskets. Terracotta pot saucers make great paper plate holders.
If you’re hosting a fancy sit-down outdoor dinner, use the subtler textures of hydrangea blossoms and colored leaves on a linen tablecloth. Try bringing your indoor dining table outdoors for the evening-it will add unexpected elegance to your setting. Paint gold lettering on small gourds to use as place cards. Grace your table with late-blooming roses in crystal vases.
Whether you hold a harvest hoedown or a stylish sit-down dinner party for eight, fall for outside entertaining this autumn!
Electric Underfloor Heating, Engineers, Plumbers, Outdoor, Geo, Induction, Ducted, Systems
Friday, January 9th, 2009With global warming becoming an important issue nowadays, more and more people are becoming eco-friendly. Government is also encouraging recycling policies to be practiced and implemented in the everyday running of homes. A very important element of being energy efficient is by reducing the energy spent on heating and cooling systems of your home. Most of the people use radiant heating that wastes heat rather than conserving it and also means huge energy bills and electric underfloor heating is one of them.
Today almost any engineer or plumbing specialist will tell you that electric underfloor heating is the best choice for installing a heating system at your home or office. Many homes and public buildings have taken up the idea of getting an underfloor heating specialist to install underfloor heating systems for reducing energy wastage and also to create an even flow of heat in each of the room. Their efforts have not got wasted and it has reduced the heating bills of many companies and homes.
Installations of these electric heating systems is also quite cost effective and gets completed in a short span of time, which saves harassment and time wastage of people. On the other hand the traditional method of hydronic heating creates many problems like elevating the floor by a couple of inches, takes a lot of time to heat up, consumes more energy, cost of installation and operation is also more and requires constant maintenance and repairs. Besides, electric heating underfloor heating systems are easy to control with the help of a thermostat.
Electric underfloor heating is done with the help of heating pads and ducted heaters. They come in a variety of forms like ribbon heating mats, electric floor heating mats and cables, carbon film heating strips etc. All heating cables, mats and pads are completely waterproof and hence can be installed in outdoor wet areas like swimming pools surround, wet rooms, bathrooms, etc.
This is how an electric underfloor heating system works. The heating cables have twin core resistance wire conductors, an earth braid and also a protective waterproof outer jacket of Teflon or PVC. The electric current passes through these resistance wires and heat up the cable up to a certain given temperature that depends on the designing of the heating cable. It ranges between 100 to 200 watts per meter square.
A thermostat controls the floor temperature between 27 to 28 degree C. the basic advantage of electric heating cables is that there is flexibility for the installer to place them in any design configuration and secure them with a tape. Heating mats can also be used for larger areas.
Bryant and York are two major companies that produce electric underfloor heating equipments besides geo thermal and induction heating systems.