Selecting a paving material for your pool decking is an important part of your pool design. However, what to choose can often be confusing.
One of the main concerns is often budget. Of course that is always a concern in a landscape project, but with swimming pool decking it is particularly important because of the large amount of square footage that is typically involved.
Concrete
One of the least expensive materials is concrete. With a little creativity, concrete can be a good choice. Concrete can be scored into a geometric design. Scoring is the creating of lines in the concrete that can create a pattern. You can also add color to concrete. The color should be mixed into the concrete and it should blend well with your surroundings. Do not add color, such as a stain, to the concrete after it is poured, as it will not hold up well.
When using concrete as your paving material, you may or may not use the same concrete for the pool coping material. The coping is the material that edges the pool itself adjacent to the rest of the paving.
If you decide to have a concrete coping, there are a couple of different ways this can be done. The first is to run the concrete right up to the water’s edge…a cantilevered coping. There is no break or border around the coping. The entire pool decking area, including the coping, appears as one material and looks unified.
You can also have a concrete coping that resembles a border going around the pool. Here, there is a definite line which is typically a joint defining the coping from the pool paving. However, I prefer the cantilevered look.
Another option is to use an entirely different material. You can use brick, stone or pavers as the coping. This creates a separate border around the pool in a different material and can look very nice. However, it does add on to the cost quite a bit.
Stamped concrete is another paving option for your pool area. The problem I have with this, is that construction joints often run through the pattern, ruining the designs.
Concrete Pavers
Concrete pavers can also be used. There are many types available with various color choices and patterns. Pavers can be all one color or a blend of a few different colors. The latter is a nice look and gives a more natural appearance.
When it comes to choosing a paver pattern, mixing different sizes can create an interesting design. You can also choose to use all one size, or just two sizes. The design can be laid parallel to the house or it can be laid on the diagonal. Diagonal patterns tend to make the area look larger.
There is often a matching pool coping for the pavers you select. Paver pool coping has a rounded edge along the water side. Some pavers used for coping are four inches wide, resembling the shape of brick, while others are much wider. This availability will be determined by which paver you choose. Not all coping options are made for all pavers.
Dark colored pavers can be hot on your feet. Lighter colors are cooler and work better for swimming pool decking.
Travertine Pavers
One of my favorite paving materials for pool paving is travertine pavers. They are more expensive than concrete pavers but their beauty and outstanding features are striking.
Travertine is a natural stone. Travertine pavers are made from travertine stone that has been cut into shapes, similar to concrete pavers. Pavers have the advantage over travertine tile in that they are dry laid. Along with their beauty, a very strong reason for considering them is that they are cool on your feet. Your paving will never feel hot.
Natural Stone
Although I love bluestone, I would not recommend it because it can get very hot. However, there are other types of natural stone that can be used which do not get hot. Some of the granites are an example. Natural stone is usually set in mortar. This makes it your most expensive choice for a pool paving material.
When selecting your swimming pool paving, remember that it is everything in the design that will make your landscape successful. The planting design, the design itself, and interesting garden features such as garden ornaments are all just as important as the paving material itself.
You decided that it’s time to build a nice outdoor oasis in your backyard space where you can just go and get away from it all. One furnishing that is a must have for this space is an Adirondack rocker. It offers you a lovely place to unwind.
Okay, so one of the things that you’re probably wondering is why is an Adirondack rocker is such a great buy compared to a regular Adirondack chair. Well, it’s because not only does it feature the classic Adirondack design with a spacious, sloped seat, slanted backrest, and oversized armrests, but it also has a lovely back and forth rocking element to it. That’s a big deal since that rocking feature is a great way to let the cares of your day just fade away.
Remember when you were a kid and when you would fall down and hurt yourself? What is the first thing that your mom would do when you went running to her, she would pick you up and gently rock you back and forth. You can get this same effect from an Adirondack rocker, making it a fantastic choice for adding to a deck, porch, or patio. One would also be a nice addition to a garden and even a great fit at the end of a dock where you could take in the sights and the sounds of the water.
If you think an Adirondack rocker is an outdoor furnishing that you feel like purchasing, there are a few things that you need to keep in mind. The first being what type of material it is made out of. You want to go with a material that can handle the rigors of outdoor living. Point being is that you don’t want to go with something that is flimsy because it will only break down and you’ll keep having to replace it. Now, some of the better material options to go with include sturdier woods like Southern Cypress, Northern White Cedar, Redwood and Teak. There are other man-made materials that are also a great choice and they include recycled plastic polymers that have been engineered to be thick, strong, and supportive.
Another thing that you need to keep in mind when purchasing an Adirondack rocker is what type of look that you want yours to have. For example, if you want it to be more on the rustic side, then one that has a painted, distressed finish would be the way to go. Or, if you want something that is more polished and clean, then one that has a glossy painted finish is what would be perfect for you.
For a fast and easy way to check out all the Adirondack rocker options, the thing to do is to hit the Internet for some online shopping. You can check out all the online stores and their products in no time at all, and when you find something, it will be shipped right to your home.
In the end, if you’re creating an outdoor oasis, then a must have for your space is an Adirondack rocker. It is a comfortable outdoor furnishing that will be sure to please.
It looks like summer may have finally arrived for many of us now the temperatures are beginning to rise and the days are getting longer and the nights shorter, barring any global warming anomalies we hopefully will be in for a lovely bright sunny few summer months this year. After being cooped up in the house for what seems like an eternity over the winter months it is like breaking free to finally be able to go out and enjoy some sun on your skin and warmth on your bones. This is the time of year where we start working outside in our gardens, doing the maintaining of the garden, hedges and the patio area in readiness for the forth coming summer. A nicely kept large patio area is becoming one of the most wanted things that people look for when looking to buy a new property as more and more people are spending larger amounts of time outside in the garden, entertaining and socialising so it is vitally important to ensure that your patio or decking area is always kept well maintained. So what should you do to ensure that your patio is kept looking at its best?
The winter months can take their toll on even the nicest and most well looked after patio area so making sure that you get to work on tidying it up as soon as the winter months have passed is very important, the longer you leave the job the harder it will be to get back to its original state and a well maintained, fresh looking patio area can complement the whole garden area and make it look fantastic.
Depending on what type of patio area you have is going to depend how you have to look after it, the two main variations are wooden decking and any type of stone patio flooring. Both forms of patio are as popular as each other but either one can look better in certain gardens. If you have a raised patio area a wooden decked patio area with guard rails looks better than a stone floored patio area and likewise a level garden area looks better with a stone floored patio. Both wooden and stone patios have different maintenance needs but both need a similar amount of work to keep them in tip top condition.
Wooden decking has a habit of getting very slippery if not maintained properly due to the build up of algae and moss, to eradicate this problem you need to make sure that you have a high pressure power washer with a suitable chemical additive to remove the build up and make the decking area less of a hazard. Because the decking is made of wood it will need an application of preservative every year to ensure that the wood is properly nourished, this can be a very laborious if you have a large area to cover but the rewards are appreciable when the task is completed. Even if you have a pressure treated decking area that has been impregnated with wood preservative it is always advisable to add an extra coat to keep it looking wonderful. As wooden decking is raised off the ground it is very rare to have problems with weeds coming through.
Stone patio areas are available in many different types of stone, such as slate, Indian stone, York stone and concrete flags, all of which need similar maintenance. The first problem that most people encounter with their stone patio area is a build of moss and weeds between the flags, this is generally caused by the pointing of sand and cement that joints the flags together has developed cracks to enable weeds and moss to get a foot hold. There are three ways to clear this problem, firstly you can manually get down on your hands and knees and clean all of the joints and then re-apply the sand and cement, secondly you can apply a weed and moss killer and the re-apply the sand and cement when the weed killer has eradicated the moss and weeds of finally you can clear the patio area using a high pressure jet washer, this is the easiest method but can lead to removing more of the sand and cement from the joints.
It is recommended to wash down your stone patio area at least once a month to ensure that not weeds, grass or moss can get roots set in and start to create a problem for you. It may be advisable to apply a coating to your patio flooring to protect the flags from the elements and keep it looking fresh; this usually needs to be applied once a year although there are products on the market which claim to do the job for up to 5 years.
So there you have it, a few handy tips on keeping your patio flooring and patio area nice and clean that will hopefully help you to enjoy your patio area as much as is possible this summer.
By Jonathan Scott
Sometimes it’s not a bad ides to start with the basics. We often use the phrase patio/deck, but there is an important difference.
A patio is a flat space, usually at ground level. A deck is an elevated space.
A deck is a good choice if your site is sloped or uneven. It can be built from a second (or even third) floor and provide a view if you’re lucky enough to have one. When you build a deck, you can use the elevation changes of the landscape to do and sorts of creative touches, like platforms, level changes, or interesting stair configurations.
Patios, on the other hand, can be made with a wider variety of materials than decks, materials such as gravel, concrete (or concrete pavers), bricks, flagstone, or tile, just to name a few. A patio doesn’t require a railing and leads directly into your yard or perhaps intriguingly into a woods or garden.
Most of the time, the situation of the terrain and the access to the house determine the choice of a patio or a deck.
If you don’t have an architect or landscape designer to do it for you, or if you have input into the design of your deck or patio, here are some things to think about.
First are the obvious practical considerations. How will you access the space? From which door? Since cooking outside is popular these days, you might want to consider accessing your patio from your kitchen.
How about the view? If your deck is lucky enough to provide a view, accessing it from sliding glass doors from your living room is a way to share the view from both places.
Not only is the way you get to your patio/deck important. It’s also necessary to think about how you want to leave it, and to where. Steps off a patio/deck can be a way to get to your backyard, so plan carefully where you want to wind up. You’ll want to avoid egresses that lead you to your heat pump or where your trashcans sit on pick-up day.
Then there’s the question of size. Are you planning on entertaining on your deck? How large are your parties? Will you be cooking there? And eating? Might you want to have a large outdoor grill?
And don’t forget how your patio or deck will affect the view from your windows, or the views inside. Do you want your guests to see into a bedroom or bathroom from your deck?
Secondly, there are aesthetic considerations-an aspect of outdoor planning that is often overlooked. The best way to design your patio or deck is to take your house plan, the one that shows your house and property lines, and look at how the shape of your house relates to the shape of your property. The most pleasing desk or patio shape often coordinates with your property lines, mimicking the angle or angles.
You can sketch right over the plans or, better yet, tape some tracing paper over it and try different shapes until you get one that “makes sense.” If the design looks good on paper, it will look good when it’s built. This is the approach that landscape architects and designers use.
Once you have your basic plan established, then you can begin to think about things like materials, railing, and outdoor furniture. But, for many years after, you’ll be glad you had the basics right.
Jonathan Scott is a purchasing manager for Umbrella Market Place, an on-line store for discount custom patio, market, and commercial umbrellas. More information can be found at http://www.umbrellamarketplace.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Scott
http://EzineArticles.com/?Planning-Your-Patio-or-Deck—The-Basics&id=1168190
You can also visit Zoomer Outdoor Patio Furnishing. For more of the best deals and discount.
By Nicole Martins
If you’re looking to buy patio furniture and accessories this year — think comfort! And this shouldn’t be hard to do as most outdoor furniture manufacturers are creating comfortable pieces, similar to indoor furniture.
Favorite features such as “deep seating” and “plush cushions” make sofas, chairs and love seats so much more comfortable than a decade ago. The idea now is to lounge-away and enjoy life outdoors.
Want a comfortable outdoor kitchen? You can buy just about any interior kitchen appliance for your outdoor kitchen. These include wine fridge, dishwasher, sink, warming tray, television, refrigerator, built-in grill, fan and more. Just make sure that it is designed for outdoor use.
Select Comfortable Cushions
Forget the cheap plastic chairs you can buy at your local hardware store. These chairs offer little comfort, and they’ll be delivered to your neighbor’s house in the next wind storm. Instead, spend more and go for lounges and chairs with lofty cushions. Buy pieces or sets that offer deep seating.
For luxury, opt for cushions with all of the bells and whistles. Advances in the manufacturing of cushions use materials such as durable vinyl, polypropylene mesh covers as well as soft, foam cushions upholstered in acrylic fabrics that feel like cotton and can withstand outdoor abuse. These fabrics are water-repellent and the cushions are quick-drying so you can leave them outside rain or shine.
Other plush options include comfortable higher priced fabrics like outdoor chenille.
As described in Outdoor Living Magazine, “it feels almost like terry cloth.” And, along with the softer custom fabrics; look for attractive detailing and luxurious tailoring.
Comfortable Chairs
If the idea of relaxing by the pool or drifting-off into a good book appeals to you, raise your comfort level with a lounge chair. With a great cushion this could be by far your most comfortable chair. Others: a deep seated sofa, club or Adirondack chair.
Deep seated lounge furniture such as a chaise lounge, love seat or sofa have taking the place of battered folding chairs or a decaying wicker sofa with thin cushions. People are spending more on their outdoor space because they see the value in being able to use this space more. Outdoor furniture is looking more like our indoor furniture: matching, comfortable, cushy and stylish.
Comfortable Accessories
Repeat the creature comforts inside your home and make for a home outdoors! Find, larger all-weather, super bright outdoor televisions for a home theater experience. Colorful outdoor rugs and lamps can help to finish off the décor for an outdoor space, much like an indoor space. Add an outdoor ceiling fan and patio heater for temperature control.
For the outdoor kitchen island, everything from a portable dishwasher, sink, wine fridge, ice maker, rotisserie grill to a warming oven are available for your outdoor space.
Nicole Martins is an author for Everthing Patio Furniture. Read more about patio furniture cushions and wicker patio furniture by visiting: http://www.everything-patio-furniture.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Nicole_Martins
http://EzineArticles.com/?Raising-your-Comfort-Level-With-Patio-Furniture-and-Accessories&id=1165189
You can also visit Zoomer Outdoor Patio Furnishing. For more information on the latest trendy, best deals and discounts.
Page 2 of 22«12345»...Last »
