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The Outdoors IDEA

The Outdoors IDEA

Around the House, Around the Park, Around Adventure, and Around the Great Outdoors!

Living Lavishly Outdoors

6/25/2018

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Living Lavishly Outdoors

As many families prepare to ramp up their time spent outside, it can be helpful to keep the latest trends in mind while planning for outdoor living spaces. Since many people enjoy spending time in an outdoor living space, it’s fitting that the 2018 furnishing trends address the outdoor lifestyle experience.


Living Lavishly Outdoors with 2018 Trends

(Family Features) As many families prepare to ramp up their time spent outside, it can be helpful to keep the latest trends in mind while planning for outdoor living spaces.

According to research from the International Casual Furnishings Association, many people use outdoor rooms for things they can do indoors – from using cellphones for calls and games to working on computers, watching TV, eating, exercising and, of course, relaxing.

Since 70 percent of survey respondents said they enjoy spending time in an outdoor living space more than inside, it’s fitting that the 2018 furnishing trends address the outdoor lifestyle experience.

“Whether enclosed or open-air, outdoor spaces have come into their own as legitimate rooms in American homes,” said Jackie Hirschhaut, vice president of the American Home Furnishings Alliance and executive director of its outdoor division, the International Casual Furnishings Association. “Today’s outdoor rooms have it all – somewhere to dine, to relax and be entertained – with furnishings that function like they would for any room in the home and with style and flair that distinctly fits outdoors.”

Dining tables and chairs top many people’s outdoor shopping lists this year, followed by lounge chairs, lighting, fire pits, umbrellas and sofas. Leading the list of trends in the dynamic dining category is ultra-comfortable seating and a wide variety of table options.

Extra-large dining tables are popular for entertaining groups and al fresco dining. Yet manufacturers understand not everyone has a large outdoor space, so they also offer selections for small spaces, including dining sets suitable for apartment- and condo-size balconies, as well as sizes in-between.

The research also shows 68 percent of people use outdoor spaces several times a week in seasonally appropriate weather. Comfort, spaciousness and style were the most important factors in encouraging people to spend more time outdoors, which is why deep-seated chairs with high backs for relaxed comfort rank high on wish lists.

Often accompanying these group seating options are fire tables or pits, which continue to increase in popularity, according to the survey.

“We are seeing that fire of some sort for outdoors is topping many consumers’ wish lists again this year,” Hirschhaut said. “You just can’t beat a fire element for creating ambience.”

Much like spaces indoors, outdoor rooms are leaning more toward mixing rather than matching, both in individual pieces and in groups of pieces. To help meet this trend, try looking for pieces that incorporate several different elements such as aluminum, wicker and teak, as well as groups that pair, for example, wicker seating with iron or wood tables.

On the color spectrum, the survey found that after years of brown as a dominant color, shades of gray are increasingly peeking through as a more popular finish.

For more tips and information about creating a stylish outdoor living space, visit icfanet.org.

Photo courtesy of O.W. Lee

SOURCE:
International Casual Furnishings Association

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Plumbing the possibilities: Kitchens, showers and baths highlight outdoor living spaces

4/13/2017

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(BPT) - The trend toward outdoor living spaces that mimic the look, comfort, convenience and functionality of indoor spaces doesn’t have to stop at the backyard grilling station. A growing number of homeowners are exploring new additions to their outdoor spaces, including outdoor showers and powder rooms, and even garage entertaining areas anchored by sinks and wetbars!

While traditional plumbing techniques might once have limited just how homey you could make outdoor versions of kitchens and bathrooms, modern up-flush plumbing cost-effectively solves many problems. Above-floor macerating plumbing systems, like those from SFA Saniflo, U.S.A., allow the easy addition of a sink, shower or toilet outside, regardless of where plumbing lines are located inside. They also eliminate the need to cut through concrete if you’ll be placing your project inside a garage or on a concrete patio. Finally, the compact systems fit perfectly into smaller spaces, such as inside cabinets in an outdoor kitchen or in an outdoor powder room.

Here are four water- and drainage-dependent, outdoor living features that are more possible and popular than ever, thanks to up-flush plumbing.

Kitchens


Outdoor kitchens are in high demand, and have evolved to be true mirrors of their indoor counterparts. In addition to cooking facilities, such as a grill, cooktop, or pizza oven, today’s outdoor kitchen incorporates running water.

While a sink is an obvious necessity in outdoor kitchens, traditional plumbing can limit the location, configuration, size and capabilities of the space. Up-flush plumbing affords homeowners greater flexibility in designing an outdoor kitchen.

For example, using a Sanivite drain pump to remove wastewater more than 150 feet horizontally allows homeowners to install their outdoor kitchen where they desire, rather than having to rely on gravity and grading to move water. The pump is also capable of draining up to three separate fixtures, meaning you can have a sink and a dishwasher in your outdoor kitchen.

Showers


If you have a pool or are lucky enough to live near the beach, an outdoor shower can keep sand and other messes from getting tracked into the house. However, traditional plumbing practices can limit where you can locate your outdoor shower. Up-flush plumbing systems use pumps to move wastewater away from the drain, so you can locate an outdoor shower where it’s most convenient.

Products like the Sanishower fit into a small footprint and its low profile is easily concealed beneath the shower floor. Yet the system can handle drainage of up to 20 gallons per minute.

Wetbars


Whether you would like to add a wetbar to a patio or tucked into a corner of the garage, up-flush plumbing can make the process easy and cost-effective. Above-floor plumbing can handle wastewater removal in spots where no drain is present or possible. This means you can easily install a wetbar on a wooden deck, concrete patio or anywhere else where installing a traditional drain would be costly and inconvenient.

Powder rooms


When is an extra bathroom ever a bad idea? Imagine hosting a backyard barbecue or pool party without the need to make guests traipse through the house to reach the facilities, or wait in line inside the house while missing all the fun going on outdoors. Exterior bathrooms can solve those dilemmas, and up-flush plumbing can make it easy to add a toilet and sink outside the house.

While tying into existing traditional plumbing lines might require you to snuggle your outdoor powder room against the side of a house, above-floor plumbing allows you to position it virtually anywhere that’s convenient and appealing for your needs. The Sanicompact is a decorative one-piece system that combines a classic china toilet bowl with a built-in macerator/pump that can handle drainage from the toilet and a nearby sink.


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8 Steps to a Better Deck

3/28/2017

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The season of backyard barbecues and outdoor entertaining is here, but for thousands of homeowners with worn out wooden decks, the return of warmer weather means one thing: deck repair and maintenance. The time and energy required to strip, sand and stain a wood deck could instead be used to replace those old boards with new ones. Where designing and building a new deck from scratch can take months, resurfacing an existing deck is a doable DIY project that can be completed over the course of a weekend by following these eight steps.


8 Steps to a Better Deck

(Family Features) The season of backyard barbecues and outdoor entertaining is here, but for thousands of homeowners with worn out wooden decks, the return of warmer weather means one thing: deck repair and maintenance.

The time and energy required to strip, sand and stain a wood deck could instead be used to replace those old boards with new ones made of high-performance, low-maintenance composite material. Wood-alternative decking, like Trex, is resistant to fading, staining, scratching and mold and, unlike wood, requires no sanding, staining or painting. Just an occasional soap-and-water cleaning is all that is needed to retain a “like-new” appearance and durability for decades.

Where designing and building a new deck from scratch can take months, resurfacing an existing deck is a doable DIY project that can be completed over the course of a weekend. If your deck is more trouble than its worth, recruit a few friends and follow these eight steps to a new deck that you can spend less time maintaining and more time enjoying.

For more details, watch this step-by-step video covering the deck resurfacing process. When you’re ready to begin, take advantage of Trex’s online sample program to see firsthand how different colors and textures work with your home’s architecture and decor, and learn more about the full range of high-performance, low-maintenance outdoor living products at trex.com.


Step 1: Examine the Substructure

Before removing any boards, check your deck’s joists and the overall condition of the framing to ensure the substructure is sound before proceeding. If the foundation and deck framing system are sound, you can move on to the next step.


Step 2: Remove Old Deck Boards

After obtaining any necessary building permits, carefully remove and discard the old decking and railing, leaving the substructure and framing in place.


Step 3: Follow Your Guides

Inspect all framing and framing hardware for code compliance, structural integrity and compliance with your chosen decking material. Consult the decking manufacturer’s installation guide for specifics.


Step 4: Level It Out

To ensure a level surface for the new deck boards, make sure that the joists are level and even with each other. You may need to shave the joists to achieve this.


Step 5: Install New Deck Boards

Begin laying new deck boards. Closely follow the instructions for spacing from the manufacturer’s installation guide. Consult the installation guide regularly, and if you have any questions along the way, contact the professionals before proceeding.


Step 6: Add Posts

Attach pressure-treated structural rail posts to framing as required by code and the installation guide.


Step 7: Complete with Railing

Slide sleeves over the railing posts and assemble railing and balusters per the installation guide. Finish off by adding your choice of decorative elements, such as post caps or top rail caps.


Step 8: Enjoy for Years to Come

Your deck makeover is complete, but your enjoyment is just beginning. With a 25-year Limited Fade and Stain Warranty, a Trex deck will look great for years to come.

SOURCE:
Trex


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Deck Design Made Easy

10/4/2016

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While outdoor living season may be winding down, there’s no better time to start planning your dream deck. These 5 quick tips make creating your outdoor oasis exciting and easy.

Deck Design Made Easy

Start planning now for a beautiful outdoor living space

(Family Features) While outdoor living season may be winding down, there’s no better time to start planning your dream deck. Prep work is a big part of the process – much of which can be done now and throughout the cooler months to get your backyard retreat ready for next spring.

The following are quick tips to make creating your outdoor oasis exciting and easy:

Get digitally inspired
The Internet is a great place to get your creative juices flowing. There are countless online resources to help homeowners create and plan their ideal outdoor living space. A great starting point is perusing the outdoor living projects posted on social media channels, such as Houzz and Pinterest. For more inspirational images and valuable information, check out the websites of home and garden magazines, contractors and decking manufacturers.

Dive into design

Designing a deck starts with the same questions as planning interior rooms, such as whether it will be used for relaxing, grilling or socializing. Determine how to incorporate those activities into your space by exploring the possibilities with online apps. Trex, the leading manufacturer of wood-alternative decking and railing, offers several ready-to-build Deck Design Plans representing today’s most popular and versatile designs. Once a user selects a design, the tool provides the details of the deck’s dimensions and materials needed, as well as an overview of the design’s benefits so that homeowners can be assured they are selecting the ideal layout for their planned outdoor living activities.

Decide on details
When planning, have fun exploring the many design elements that are available for customizing your deck. You’ll need to decide early on if you want to incorporate features like built-in seating, planters and storage, as well as add-ons such as a pergola or outdoor lighting, which can add comfort, character and convenience to your outdoor living space.

Incorporate railing
As one of the most visible parts of the deck, railing can provide design inspiration and should be considered from the outset. Available in a wide array of styles, shapes and materials, you can tailor your railing to personalize and frame your outdoor space. To help simplify the selection process, Trex introduced a Decking & Railing Duos guide, which offers customized, designer-curated railing looks. This feature provides a user-friendly way for homeowners to explore the latest trends and find a perfectly paired look for virtually any outdoor living space.

Understand costs and value
To ensure your dream deck remains within reach, keep costs in mind. Several factors will affect the price, including the size and shape, along with any extras you incorporate. When evaluating expenses, think beyond the initial material and labor costs and peer into the future. With wood decks, the costs of sanding, staining and painting add up over time. Over the life of a composite deck, the reduced maintenance costs of simple soap and water cleanings add up to a greater return on investment – not to mention the value of all the time spent enjoying the deck rather than maintaining it.

For more information and inspiration for getting the deck planning and designing process started, visit trex.com.

SOURCE:
Trex

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