Purchasing an Outdoor Shade for Your Home
The interior of the house may be where most family members spend much of the time. The garden or exterior of the house is subject to variable sun, wind, rain and other precipitation. Outdoor shades are one way whereby one can add to livable space outside the house to protect against these elements.
Shades can make the house more beautiful and functional at the same time. Honeycomb shades, also known as pleated shades, are beautiful for the window. The shades help shield against bright sunlight, or perhaps make the deck usable despite a little rain. For areas like backyard pools, it’s almost imperative to provide shade so guests and children alike may get respite from the fierce UV radiation. There are many types of outdoor shapes, the major ones being discussed below.
Party-like gatherings tend to have a lot of people. To ensure the gathering goes smoothly even in event of inclement weather, a canopy may be used to house all the guests, tables and chairs. A canopy is large structure resembling a tent. Steel standing poles hold up the shade fabric, and side flaps may be added to increase shelter and privacy. The flaps usually have small openings which can let air into the interior, or if left closed can keep the cold air out.
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.
Both manually operated retractables and automatic ones are available. The automatic ones are controlled by motor mechanisms, which are operated by remote control, and also automatic sensing electronics that activate upon detection of high wind speeds or precipitation. A less complicated type is the freestanding awnings that are unattached to the house.
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.
Many people will have had some experience with the outdoor umbrella. The most likely place one would have contact with such a product is by the side of a private pool, perhaps inserted into the center of a plastic table. Nowadays, umbrellas can be purchased with different accessories and in different configurations. For example, the side-post or cantilever umbrella has an arm that swings out from the central pole so the overhead umbrella extends from the side. This allows unobstructed views for people sitting directly underneath the shade.
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Finding Patio Furniture Covers
When I was choosing new patio furniture covers I felt a bit lost. I was really tired of having to wash my patio table each time my family wanted to eat in the backyard, which in the summer is almost every other day. I live in an area that has a lot of squirrels and birds and raccoons and I just wasn’t comfortable with my children eating off the table before I had a chance to wash in it good warm soapy water.
The other reason I wanted patio furniture covers is that the sun and the rain and the snow can really damaged the finish on my wooden furniture. I have some lovely furniture that looks teak but isn’t teak. I got a great deal on it at Canadian Tire a few years ago. It has really held up well and I’m pleased with it. However, it can show some age.
Almost every autumn I have a fall clean up ritual that involves the whole family. I lightly sand the table and chairs, re-apply a teak or walnut stain and then rub some furniture oil into the wood. The patio furniture really looks fresh and nice when I’m finished. Undoubtedly, this little effort has saved me money by adding years to the life of my furniture. I don’t really mind the job and enjoy the fact that it has become a family tradition. However, having some new outdoor patio furniture covers might allow me the time to do other fall clean up jobs.
I have spoken to a lot of people about buying covers and it would appear that I might be the only one in my circle of friends that has ever thought seriously about these covers. Furthermore, I have gone to a handful of patio furniture shops and very few of them sell covers for the furniture. The covers that were available were either the wrong size or far too expensive for my needs. Most of the staff at the patio furniture shop only thought about covering the furniture for the winter. One guy who was trying to be helpful suggested I just use a table cloth for family dinners.
Given the effort I’ve put into finding the covers, I have been able to clearly define what I need to get out of the covers. The covers need to be water resistant and washable. I’m ok with covering the furniture with a tarp during the harsh winter so the patio furniture covers don’t need to stand up to snow and freezing weather. They need to be reasonably priced. In my mind, I should be able to cover 4 chairs and a 3.5′ by 6′ patio table for under $100US.
Buying outdoor patio furniture covers is not as simple as I first expected it to be. The covers themselves are fairly hard to come by. Finding something in your price range and colour and that fits your furniture can be daunting. On the advice of a friend, I’m going to continue to write articles and post on my blog on outdoor patio furniture covers until I finally find a set to call my own.
Find more articles about outdoor furniture covers by visiting outside furniture covers.
The Colours of Patio Furniture Covers Are Brighter This Year
This season’s patio furniture covers are bright and cheerful. I suspect next year’s offerings will be equally as bright. This shouldn’t be surprising to anyone. As is often the case, fashion trends respond to the economic climate. During and immediately after recessions colours tend to be brighter and patterns tend to be busier and more cheerful. Whether it is in clothes or house wares or patio furniture covers, the trend is to be cheerful. Colours are more muted and patterns can be plainer during economic booms.
Although, I will be happy to see the end of the recession I don’t mind its impact on fashion. I love vibrant and cheerful designs so I love this season’s offerings. I have seen bright red, blue and yellow daisy designs that bring to mind the flowing peasant skirts and dresses of the 1960s. I have seen wide pink and purple stripes that remind me of the fashions of the 1970s. This year the colour choices and pattern choices are spirit lifting. Designers know what people are looking for and this year it is fun, fun, fun.
When you are looking for patio furniture covers this year I think you will be pleasantly surprised with the new color and pattern choices that are appearing. However, even with the move away from very subdued and monotone colors, the tried and true underlying design of outdoor furniture covers will not change very much. The general construction, material quality and fastening systems do not generally change with the trends, as these are elements which have been perfected over the years and change much less frequently.
The first thing I look for when shopping for patio furniture covers is the type of fabric used. Historically, these covers tended to be a thin layer of brittle plastic bonded to a weak felt-like lining. Those days are gone. Today’s covers are generally made from newer man-made fabrics. These fabrics are water resistant and breathable. These factors allow the patio furniture to be protected from the rain and dew while allowing accumulated moisture to escape and thus preventing any mold or mildew build up.
Also pay close attention to the quality of the cover. A good quality cover will be more expensive but it will last for years longer. The added expense will actually end up saving you money and hassle in the future. The closures or fasteners are very important. High end covers usually have sturdy zippers. The expense and hassle of having to replace a zipper will negate even the nicest patio set covers. Be certain to test every zipper before buying. Also check the seams. All seams should be double stitched and shouldn’t have any lose threads.
When considering what patio set covers to buy you should be mindful of a number of things. Do not be over influenced by just colour and pattern. Be mindful of the functionality of the covers. Can the covers actually do they are meant to do? Are the covers of a good quality? If you think of these factors with equal consideration you will be well set to choose the perfect patio furniture covers.
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