Leaf Design Chimenea

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The embellishment on this cast iron chimenea gives it a lot of character. You’ll love the compact size because it can fit in more places. There’s a cooking grid for grilling and an ash door for easy ash removal. Intricate and ornate, this cast iron chimney adds an 18th century twist to [...]

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41.25 Inch Square Lp Gas Fireplace With Slate Mantel

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Enjoy this outdoor LP gas fireplace for many years. The 41 1/4 inch square fireplace has an impressive square theme throughout. Front doors open out to reveal the electronic ignition. The hand crafted slate mantel displays a striking design. Porcelain covered steel square bowl in the middle of mantel. * [...]

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Cosmopolitan Outdoor Fire Pit

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Add a touch of cosmopolitan style to your patio with this outdoor fire pit. The curved stand is steel with a black powder coated finish. Along the edge of the pit is a copper porcelain finish for an upscale look. Screen top. * The copper porcelain finish is both attractive [...]

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Infratech W20 Flush Mount Plaster Frame

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Suitable for indoors and outdoors, ceiling, wall, or Flush Mount Mounting brackets included Low cost of ownership Quartz elements rated for 5000 hours No moving parts – low maintenance Easily regulated heat output No tanks to fill One year warranty UL Listed Wide range of accessories available Assembly Instructions 8 Ft.

Retail [...]

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Offset Infrared Patio Heater of Stainless Steel

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* 18 in. Base x 93 in. H 53 lbs No UV rays, silent operations 90% energy conversion 100% Heat production within seconds No wasteful heating of the air 9 ft. blanket of heat, not affected by wind 5000 hour lamp life About 1/10 the energy costs of LPG Heaters No harmful emissions or [...]

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Tips on How to Purchase a Hot Tub

Hot tubs are gaining popularity. Unlike the pool, a hot tub can stay open year round. But before you purchase your hot tub, there are a couple of things you need to consider.  Let our list below help you make a more informed decision on buying a hot tub.

Make sure you properly [...]

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Using a hidden deck fastener system to achieve proper spacing for composite deck boards

If you’re considering replacing / refacing your old worn out lumber deck boards with new composite deck boards, make sure you have proper board spacing based on the manufacturer’s recommendations.

Latitudes Decking with Equator Hidden FastenerWhen composite deck boards are not spaced correctly you’re setting yourself up for deck drainage issues, dirt and debris buildup and potential expansion/contraction problems, as deck boards expand and contract with changes in the temperature.

One of the best solutions to achieve proper spacing on composite deck boards is to use a hidden fastener system to install your decking instead of deck screws. The patented Equator hidden deck fastener pre-gaps each board with the proper ¼” spacing and its special design allows for proper side-to-side expansion and contraction. These hidden deck fasteners are compatible with most grooved / slotted composite boards.

Equator Hidden FastenersOne box (175 pieces) of Equator hidden fasteners will install 100 square feet of 6" wide (5-1/4" actual) deck boards on 16" centers, or 87 square feet of 6" wide (5-1/4" actual) deck boards on 12" centers.

Read one of my past blog posts for additional information on hidden deck fasteners.

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Deckorators deck railing accessories – Testimonial from a landscape designer / builder

"I wanted to write to give you a testimonial about the Deckorators products.

Our company is committed to providing high-end design and construction services for our customers.  We try to stay on top of the latest products and trends in the industry. One of the greatest improvements in deck construction over the past generation has been the improvements in deck handrail design, and Deckorators has been a leader in this movement. All-wood deck handrails used to be the mainstay, but they had little architectural interest and they aged poorly. Deckorators came along and changed everything. For more than eight years Deckorators has given LandWorks the innovative deck railing product options we need to make our decks stand out from the competition. Your products are well designed, easily available, and have stood the test of time. We have been rewarded with countless customer referrals, industry awards, and even magazine exposure.

Thank you Deckorators for your fine products and thank you for your contributions to our industry."

Steve Patterson
Owner
LandWorks
Silver Spring, Maryland
www.elandworks.com

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Dress Up the Night with these Outdoor Essentials

We came across these outdoor entertaining must-haves on My Home Ideas and we wanted to share with you some of our favorites! These items are the perfect pick me up for your outdoor dining experience.
Make sure you set the table with these biodegradable bamboo plates.
Toast an evening under the stars with these indestructible wine glasses.
Light [...]

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How to Arrange your Porch Seating

Rocking chairs, porch swings, tables and recliners, Southern Living shows you how to arrange your porch seating to make the most of the space allotted.  Jennifer Kopf, Home Editor at Southern Living, walks you through the different types of porches and suggests the best layout for the best views.  Whether you are looking for a [...]

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Landscape lighting is all about shadow and texture

I was on my way to Pawley’s Island right after the 4th holiday and I saw this amazing American flag tribute. I made a mental note to myself of approximately where it was so I could photograph it on the way back.

American flag shadow over pondThere was a private residence that had a huge pond out front. Across the back of the pond, they had a series of American flags on elbow poles to lean over the water. I thought about the shape of the poles as I was driving and realized why they used those poles. The pond was gorgeous. The scene with a row of American flags was stunning and meaningful. But to see the reflection of the flags on the water made these two elements come together in a completely new way.

I wondered if the home had landscape lighting and pond lighting and longed to see the scene at night.

To fully appreciate the beauty of this tribute to America, I have to describe the rest of the scene. At the entrance to the drive, they had two flags marking the entrance. As you began to drive down the driveway, they had a statue of the Statue of Liberty flanked by two flags. Then, on the wooden rails that decorated the front of the pond, there were semi-circular flags across.

The whole scene was spectacular.

describe the imageI envisioned what this scene would look like with landscape lighting. Landscape lighting, and outdoor lighting, is all about shadow and texture. If you use spot lights to illuminate an entire tree or house, you get to see the tree or home the way they look during the day. At night, the shadows created by the light reveal nuances of the texture of a the tree bark. The shadows reveal the subtle features of a window such as the way the slats divide the window panes. Light creates shadows such as the shadow of an American flag on water.

Don’t forget that if flying flags at night, they need to be illuminated. We’ve all heard this but have you wondered where it comes from? The US Code, Title 4; Chapter 1 says the US Flag should be flown only from sunrise to sunset. The code further states that if the flag is flown at night, it must be illuminated.

Do you have any great pictures of illuminated flags? Please send them to us and we will post them on this blog.

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Popular products to consider when remodeling your deck

Whether you’re prepping your house for sale or just looking to make a change, nothing lends a splash of the new and different than remodeling or updating your deck. Real estate agents know how popular decks are with prospective buyers and few home Deckorators scenic glass balusters with copper post capsrenovations will get you a higher return on your investment dollar. And if you’re staying put, a remodeled deck breathes new life into the enjoyment of your home. If you’re considering selling your home, check out one of my previous blog posts—How to make your deck and outdoor living area stand out when it’s time to sell.

Deck Railing Ideas
Consider replacing your old wood balusters near your pool decking with scenic glass balusters from Deckorators. They’re great for opening up the view and will make your deck seem larger without adding a single square foot. Plus they offer a clear unobstructed view.Deckorators solar metal post cap

Deck Lights
New deck lighting can make a dramatic difference when dusk arrives. From solar metal post cap lights to recessed deck lighting, Deckorators has a wide range of deck lighting to amp up the ambiance.

Decking Material
Don’t forget about the deck surface itself. Latitudes Capricorn composite decking mimics the look and feel of real tropical hardwood decking like mahogany and ipe. If your deck is made of pressure treated lumber, consider stepping up to Latitudes Intrepid composite decking for low-maintenance, superior durability and your choice of four natural colors with a reversible finish.

If you’re selling your house, buyers will love it. If you’re staying, your family will love it!

Check out my other related deck blog post on getting the most out of your deck investment.

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Inspiring Outdoor Spaces

Always one to help out when we can, we’ve decided to assist you in jump starting your creative juices.  And what better way to get inspired than by Lonny, one of our favorite design resource sites.
Take a look at these inspiring spaces that will make you want to head outdoors.

This space above is one of [...]

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Deckorators best deck contest features inspiring deck designs

Desckorators Best Deck Design ContestDeckorators Best Deck contest highlights creativity and superior worksmanship of both DIYers/consumers and professional builders. Each photo submission was ranked by creative use of deck building material and overall appearance.

Best Deck Designs – Winners
Deckorators Best Deck Design Contest Grand Prize Winner
There were many masterful entries, but the stunning, two-story New England composite deck from Josh Flowers (DIYer)  captured the top prize due to its seamless implementation of decking and railing materials, resulting in two gorgeous decks. George and Caron Evans’ DIY entry of a beautiful two-toned synthetic deck in Maryland earned them second prize for utilizing hidden deck fastener technology, low-voltage deck lights, Deckorators autumn-tinted Scenic Glass Balusters. Rounding out the top three was Steve Patterson’s (professional builder) luxurious pressure-treated wood deck that displayed the stately nature of Deckorators to perfection with bronze classic deck balusters and decorative centerpieces. See all three winning entries.

Best Deck Designs - Honorable MentionsBest deck design hornorable mention
The level of work on display made choosing a difficult task, and there are three more decks we would like to show off as honorable mentions. Joe Wengrin, Brian Manthey, and Mark Ferguson all submitted exquisite examples as well. View each of these marvelous wood decks in the honorable mentions section.

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Tips on Beating the Summer Heat

We are definitely advocates of spending time outdoors at Outdoor Environments, but with the summer heat reaching high numbers we want you to take certain precautions.  Below are some tips on how to stay safe and cool this summer season from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

You need to regulate your time spent outdoors, [...]

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