Posts Tagged ‘garden decor’

Ensure Garden Parties Go Well With Canopies

Saturday, July 17th, 2010

In the summer, the weather turns comfortable, many people will plan or hold social gatherings in the backyard, on a porch, or in the wonderful home garden. Having the event outside gives the party-goers a chance to experience the nice weather, but also allows the party-giver to take care of many more guests than is feasible inside the house.

However, even in the summer the weather sometimes turns bad. A summer storm or some spring sprinkles will ruin well thought-out plans. To obviate such problems, planners can save their parties with the use of an outdoor canopy. These outdoor shades will protect guests against rain and wind, but can also make the party a bit more private.

Canopies are really a fancy word for tents. They are usually composed of fabric stretched over a metal frame. There is always a fabric top or roof, but whether there are wall flaps or not depends on how much protection the party planner demands. Fabrics can be both natural or synthetic. Small cut-outs in the wall flaps serve as conduits for air and also a way for guests to look outside. Without flow of air, it can become quite stuffy.

In the case that the garden or yard is very small, it may be possible to forgo a canopy and instead use an existing awning of the house to shelter guests. Awnings are limited in area because they must extend partially supported from an attachment point to the house. As a result, only about ten people can comfortable fit under typical awnings. A pool or outdoor umbrella can shade even smaller numbers. When the party is somewhat large, from a single dozen upwards to a hundred, an outdoor shade canopy may be the best.

Renting a canopy is possibility to consider. This is due to two problems with buying one. One problem is that it’s quite expensive, in the hundreds to thousands of dollars for a medium or high quality product. Another problem is that storage of the canopy during off-seasons can be hard if there isn’t much outdoor storage. Many party supply chains will be able to rent out canopies, freestanding awnings, umbrellas and other types of outdoor shades.

Another problem is that if a homeowner has purchased a canopy, he or she will have to spend some time cleaning it every year. Prolonged storage or use results in accumulation of dirt and stains. Specialized fabric cleaners may be used for the canvas kind, whereas soap and water may be ok for synthetics. Specialized spray systems are also used if the canopy is very large and difficult to clean. These are often used by store owners who must ensure the store front awning remains spotless for customers.

Come to our site on outdoor shade for home to find out the most latest information. Uncover the latest research and writings in regards to purchasing deck shade.

The Exterior Umbrella For Your Pool And Garden

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Activities that require spending time in the sun can lead to sunburn, premature skin aging, and more serious skin-related ailments down the line. Taking advantage of the home pool, working in the garden during the day or sitting on the patio are three examples of common activities that require spending appreciable time outside.

Outdoor shade usage is one way to help shield against the damage induced by solar radiation. Among the outdoor shades, a relatively cheap but effective option is the umbrella. The width runs from 8 to 10 feet. Most people first see them around personal home pools. Even better is that contemporary manufacturers are providing a host of accessories which extend the usefulness of these umbrellas.

Near pools, the umbrella is most often configured to be held in place by a hole in the center of a table. However, the center pole obstructs the view of those sitting around. To remedy this problem, manufacturers have designed a side-post umbrella. The pole is placed in a stand away from the table, and a side-arm or side-post extends from the post to hold the umbrella shade over the table. A table is not even needed.

Heavy wind will topple poorly anchored umbrellas. The base should be heavy enough to withstand strong gusts. Classically, a cheap base was just a plastic container filled with sand. Newer bases are made of very dense metal that not only anchor but also look elegant and classy.

Usually when the sun sets, the outdoor umbrella becomes useless as it’s no longer needed. However, it’s now possible to install umbrella lighting that fits into the ribs. The lighting can illuminate, ironically, the area beneath the shade umbrella. People can continue to chat and socialize even when the sky becomes dark. The lights plug into a nearby socket or can be made cordless by using batteries.

Umbrellas should be retracted and placed into storage during off-seasons. The closed configuration can be shielded against further damage and dirt with a special cover. Covers are picked for both style and for their compatibility with existing decor.

A final popular option is the addition of a motor which can power the opening and closing of the outdoor shade umbrella. Using a traditional hand crank is not only hard work, but potentially dangerous to dangling fingers. The motor allows also for remote opening and closing. However, the motors are usually quite delicate and prone to damage. They are usually not part of the original installation and must be purchased and fitted separately.

This and other topics on outdoor shades are accessible to all. Study more about outdoor porch shades by directly reading our site.

Exterior Shading and Awnings for Your Garden and Yard

Wednesday, January 6th, 2010

The majority of people spend their time indoors, but more people would spend their time in the garden or outdoors if shades were installed to protect them against all the discouraging elements such as varying amounts of sun, wind and rain. Outdoor shades, in short, add much to the living space of a house.

Shades can also beautify the house by adding a bit of extra flair that differentiate it from others on the block. An example are the honeycomb shades and the related pleated shades that add uniqueness to your house. Furthermore, they are essential around areas like pools where UV radiation can pose a hazard to the skin of guests or children.

For large events held in the backyard, a tent-like structure will be needed to ensure that not only will people fit, but tables and chairs for dining and drinking. The tent-like shades are called canopies. Canopies are set up with several poles holding the shade fabric overhead which provides the majority of overhead protection. Side flaps can be added to add even more protection as well as privacy from onlookers outside. Canopies can be outfitted with airflow devices to help keep the interior comfortable.

The deck or porch of a house may not always have a fixed overhead structure for outdoor shading. Deck awnings were made for this purpose. They are usually fitted over a large window, using attachments that work for several kinds of materials. Awnings should be retractable, and need to be in certain regions of the country where snow fall is heavy during winters. Heavy snow can damage the frame of the deck awning, even causing it to collapse.

There are several types of retractables. One is operated by a manual hand crank. Another uses a lateral swing-open configuration which can be pushed in or pulled out. Finally the motorized versions can be automatically opened at a push of a button. Simpler variants include the freestanding awnings, which are also known as unattached awnings.

Large garden areas can benefit from the addition of a gazebo. A gazebo is a self-contained structure which has both a ceiling and floor, and can be a few square yards in area. Gazebos can be constructed on site using wood, but there are also ready-made gazebos made of metals such as iron or steel. Depending on other outdoor decor of the house, a homeowner can choose the most appropriate material for greatest consistency. Homeowners may also consider setting up a pergola design, which is a bit simpler and less labor intensive than gazebos. Pergolas are basically wooden beams, topped off with a few more slats of wood.

The most familiar shade of all may be the humble and simple umbrella. The traditional place to place them is around the home pool area, near tables where people may sit to avoid the sun after getting out of the water. Modern umbrellas come with some fancy accoutrements and configurations. To make the space usable at night, small but bright lights may be installed under the umbrella to illuminate the area. These lights integrate with the rest of the umbrella frame and are usually powered by a cord to the house hold electrical supply.

You can find more information on shades. Additional resources supplied for deck awnings can be read here.