How To Flagstone » admin

Home Remodeling and Renovation for the Do-It-Yourself Person

admin — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 02:02:10 +0000

In my attempt to help the average man be able to realize their "dream home" my blog gives several ideas and links to projects that can make our homes nicer and contribute to increasing the resell factor. After all, our homes are our biggest investment, so why wouldn't we try to get the most out of it? I will discuss the reasons fo......r choosing the DIY method over contracting. I will point out that no one can do the job better than ourselves. In conclusion I wiilhelp to overcome the obsticles that usually stand in our way.

Allow me to start by saying a little about myself; I have been in the home-remodeling or related field for over ten years. In that time I have encountered many different problems and challenging tasks, but I always finished the job and have not received any negative feedback. Home remodeling and renovation is 90% preparation and 10% labor. It is important to know exactly what you want and what is needed to get the desired results. All materials and help need to be on hand before the job gets underway! Even if the job requires several days to complete, with everything on hand you won't be making extra or unnecessary trips to the store.

Saving time and money is the key to having a good and rewarding time with your new remodeling project! With this in mind, it is a good idea to keep your eyes open for sales, rebates and discontinued items prior to starting your job. However we cannot use this as an excuse to put off starting our project. A simple technique to curb this sort of procrastination is to develop a time-line to when you will start. By having this time-line you will be sure that all your material will be at the site and your help will be on hand as well.

If you are reading this you may already know the obvious benefits of doing a job yourself over hiring a contractor. I will just briefly list a few here such as;

You pay no overhead which you would hiring a contractor; insurance, licensing fees, transportation expenses.
You must work around the contractors time-line.
You have strangers in your home. Most (but not all) contractor employees don't have to undergo very strict background checks.
Any material sales and rebates are not given to you as a discount.

I think you get the idea--Why hire a contractor? A famous quote we have all heard is:"If you want something done right,do it yourself." That saying holds more true even today with everyone racing to the "check" No one cares much about anything else than getting paid! This is our home, and if we can swing a hammer, read a tape-measure, and follow simple directions we are halfway there.

In conclusion, the only obstacle in our way is our self! We now know why we should do it our self and we know a little about how to get started. Our next step is to put it into action and get building something!

You can find my blog at http://www.guidetohomerenovation.blogspot.com

Related Blogs

Landscaping Colorado: Some Basic Tips

admin — Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:54:52 +0000

Colorado landscapers and gardeners should be very thankful for the beautiful backdrop provided by the Rocky Mountains for their landscape designs. However, there are many challenges being faced by these people when it comes to their landscaping needs. One thing is the limited water resources that for people in eastern Colorado, so...... they have to create their inspiration by adding adapted shrubs and flowers to add more texture and beauty to their design. Being in the USDA hardiness zones 4 to 6, Colorado landscapers also have to content with soils rich in alkaline that need constant organic amendments and which experience frequent drought period.

Because of limited water supplies, xeriscaping is very popular in Colorado. The basic principle of xeriscaping involves the limited use of turf grass, but instead using ornamental grasses like buffalo grass, blue grama, bluestem, switch grass and feather reed grass. This is because they grow well in poorer soils and have lower water requirements than shrubs and flowering plants. Xeriscaping also involves selecting water-wise plants, using efficient irrigation practices and assisting plant survival through the application of soil amendments and mulches. Suggestion for water-wise plants include penstemon, prairie zinnia, Mojave sage, coreopsis and showy black-eyed susans.

Aside from xeriscaping techniques, rock gardens are also a good idea for Colorado landscapers. It will not only help you solve the problem with water supply, but also gives you the luxury of using the many colorful and decorative rocks available locally. Some of the most commonly used rocks for landscaping available in the region includes the moss rock and Colorado red rock. Using these elements, you can design a landscape plan around large- and medium-sized rocks, leaving space between the stones for various-sized plants. Plant suggestions for rock gardens are sedums, alpine stonecrest, alyssum, alpine rockcress, cottage pinks and shrubs such as prostrate junipers and littleleaf peashrub.

Lastly, Colorado is also blessed with beautiful wildflowers that can be used as additional features of your landscape design. Plants such as sage, columbine, fireweed, prairie gentian, pink bergamot, prairie coneflower and Mexican hat will certainly add a more casual but natural look for your garden.

Just like in every aspect of life, using what you have is one basic principle for landscaping. Knowing this will give your landscape design more personality instead of looking very generic. Besides, a unique landscape is a good landscape in most situation.

To learn more about xeriscaping, including Boulder Xeriscape Landscape, visit The Landscape & Garden Blog.

Related Blogs

About Concrete Paving And Sealing

admin — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 01:49:34 +0000

About Concrete Paving

Concrete Pavers are made by pouring a mixture of concrete and some type of coloring agent into a mold of some shape and allowing it to set. Concrete pavers are a popular outdoor flooring surface. With modern technology, rough grey concrete pavers are a thing of the past, and many are p......roduced with a sophisticated look similar to come types of natural stone.

Sealing Concrete Paving

Concrete paving is very porous, and stains easily. It's high porosity makes it particularly prone to salt efflorescence. All concrete paving should be sealed to keep it looking good for a long period of time.

To maintain the look, breathe-ability and slip resistance of the surface, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable for outdoor and indoor surfaces, and for residential or high traffic commercial surfaces

About Brick

Brick is a man-made building material made from baked clay that has been used for over 5000 years. Bricks are also made from a mixture of lime and very fine sand that are hardened in stream at a high pressure.

Sealing Brick

Brick is hard and dense, but quite porous and easily penetrated by water oil, although the amount of porosity varies depending on the particular type of clay, baking methods etc.
To maintain the look and protect brick paving from oil staining, water ingress and salt attack, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. This is especially so for brick paving in entertaining areas or where there is a problem with salt efflorescence.
Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable for outdoor and indoor surfaces, and for residential or high traffic commercial surfaces.

About Bluestone

American bluestone is a high quality, dense sandstone, quarried around New York and Pennsylvania, and commercially known as Pennsylvania bluestone. It is very popular as a building and architectural stone.

Australian bluestone or basalt is a dense, hard wearing stone, generally a deep blue grey, and is a grand and popular paving stone. Bluestone was used in the interior of the new Melbourne Cricket Ground, and sealed with Dry-Treat's ENHANCE-PLUS and STAIN PROOF.

British dolerite is mainly used to make jewelry and small knickknacks. About 80 of the stones at Stonehenge are dolerite.

Sealing Bluestone

Bluestone may be a dense stone, but it is still porous - you only need to leave a tablespoon of water on a floor tile for 30 minutes or so to find a deep stain. It is important to seal bluestone if you want it to continue to look good for a long period of time.

To maintain the look and slip resistance of the bluestone, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable to seal bluestone surfaces of all types - from wall cladding to floors, outdoors and in, residential and high traffic commercial.

About Granite

Granite is an igneous rock formed by the slow cooling of molten liquid rock. It is made up of crystals of quartz and feldspar, and sometimes mica and hornblende. Granite is a tough, hard wearing and versatile stone, available in a wide array of mottled colors, from whites to blacks and just about every other color.

Finished to a high polish it is the most popular stone for kitchen bench tops, and with a honed or even rough hewn finish is popular for wall cladding and flooring - both residential and commercial.

Sealing Granite

Granite is dense, but quite porous - you only need to leave a tablespoon of water on a floor tile for 30 minutes or so to find a deep stain. It is important to seal granite to keep it looking good for a long period of time.

To maintain the look and slip resistance of the granite, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable to seal granite surfaces of all types - from wall cladding to floors, outdoors and in, residential and high traffic commercial.

About Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary soft rock that consists of mainly calcium carbonate. In its pure state it is white but it may be colored by other materials. Limestone is formed either from accumulation of animal shells in a calcium carbonate cementing matrix or by crystallization from solution.

Sealing Limestone

All limestone is highly porous - a tablespoon of water on a limestone surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish - highly polished limestone is a little harder to penetrate than limestone with a honed (matt) finish.
Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for limestone to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. Limestone is used both outdoors and indoors, and Dry-Treat's premium impregnating sealers will seal limestone equally well in either.

About Marble

Marble is a limestone that has been changed under intense heat and pressure and is composed of calcium carbonate. The most common mineral of this composition is calcite.

Sealing Marble

Although marble is a dense stone, water and oil will penetrate marble given sufficient time. Porosity is also affected by its finish - highly polished marble is a little harder to penetrate than marble with a honed (matt) finish.
To preserve its looks, breathe-ability and slip resistance, it is important for marble to be sealed with a high quality, high penetration, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are suitable for all marble surfaces, indoors and out, from kitchen counter tops to marble floor tiles or wall cladding.

About Sandstone

Sandstone is a sedimentary rock formed from debris deposited of silica granules by wind or water and consolidated with amorphous silica or calcium carbonate cementing matrix, often in conjunction with aluminum or iron oxide, which contributes yellow, orange or brown coloration.

Sealing Sandstone

Sandstone is very porous and one of the softest types of stone. Water and oil absorb into sandstone within seconds and, over a longer period, water and especially water with salt can do severe damage to the surface. All sandstone must be sealed to help keep it intact, free of salt efflorescence and looking good.

To maintain the look, breathe-ability and slip resistance of the sandstone, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Topical sealers will trap moisture in the stone which can damage it in time. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable to seal sandstone surfaces of all types - from wall cladding to floors, outdoors and in, residential and high traffic commercial.

About Slate

Slate is a fine-grained, homogeneous, metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low grade regional metamorphism. Slate is mainly composed of quartz and muscovite or illite, often along with biotite, chlorite, hematite, and pyrite along with, less frequently, apatite, graphite, kaolin, magnetite, tourmaline, or zircon.

Sealing Slate

Slate is quite dense, but it is still highly porous - a tablespoon of water left on the slate for about 30 minutes will leave a deep mark. Slate should be sealed to keep it looking good for a long period of time.

Topical sealers (glossy plastic coating over the top of the slate) are still used on slate, but these older style sealers can trap moisture in the stone and make the surface very slippery when wet. Plus, when a topical sealer wears in higher traffic areas, the entire surface has to be stripped and re-sealed,

To provide premium protection from oil and water-based stains, maintain the look and slip resistance of the slate and prevent damaging moisture from being trapped within the stone, it is important to seal slate with a high quality, invisible, fully breathe-able impregnating sealer.

About Terracotta / Saltillo

From the Italian for 'baked earth", refined clay is partially dried and cast, molded, or hand worked into a desired shape, then fired for hardness. When unglazed, the material is very porous. Glazed terracotta can vary from relatively water proof to partially porous. Terracotta / Saltillo is a good value surface material and quite hard wearing though not as dense or tough as most types of stone.
The unglazed color after firing can vary widely depending on the amount of and type of mineral/metal particles in the clay, from orange, orangish red, to brownish orange color and even yellows, grays and pinks.

Sealing Terracotta / Saltillo

Terracotta is usually quite porous and very prone to staining and to water ingress. All terracotta should be sealed for protection.
To maintain the look, breath ability and slip resistance of terracotta, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable for outdoor and indoor surfaces, and for residential or high traffic commercial surfaces.

About Travertine

Travertine is a sedimentary rock. When pure, travertine is quite white, but usually it at least partially patterned and colored in shades from light yellows to browns, from impurities in the stone. Travertine is also full of pits. These can be left or filled with a suitable color-matched putty.

Travertine is typically formed from mineral deposits (usually calcite) in mineral springs or hot springs, or streams saturated with calcium carbonate. When it is very porous, Travertine is known as calcareous 'tuff'.

Sealing Travertine

All travertine is highly porous - a tablespoon of water on a travertine surface will be absorbed in seconds, although it does vary in porosity from piece to piece. Porosity is also affected by its finish - highly polished travertine with all the holes filled is less porous than travertine with a honed (matt) finish.

Due to its high porosity it is particularly important for travertine to be sealed with a high quality impregnating sealer which will not affect its slip resistance or look. It is very difficult to seal travertine against acid attack. Travertine is used both outdoors and indoors, and Dry-Treat's premium impregnating sealers will seal travertine equally well in either.

About Polished Porcelain

Porcelain is pressed dust i.e. the raw materials are ground, mixed and moistened and literally pressed into the desired shape using tremendous force, creating a ceramic tile with a very low absorption level and high mechanical strength and chemical resistance. Vitrified / vitreous tiles are usually very hard for liquids to penetrate, but polished porcelain usually stains and absorbs water quite easily.

Even with dense vitrified tiles, it is always a good idea to seal tile grout, as this is usually the easiest pathway for water to get in and cause damage - in the shower for example. Once water gets underneath tiles, it is often free to move through concrete floors, brick and mortar walls and to rot wooden structures.

Sealing Polished Porcelain

Polished Porcelain is usually prone to staining and to water ingress. All polished porcelain should be sealed for protection. Polished porcelain tiles usually arrive with some type of wax coating (which protects it during shipping) - this wax coating must be thoroughly cleaned off prior to sealing.

To maintain the look, breath ability and slip resistance of polished porcelain, it is important to use a high quality, invisible impregnating sealer. Dry-Treat impregnating sealers are safe and suitable for outdoor and indoor surfaces, and for residential or high traffic commercial surfaces.

The Dry-Treat Difference

Dry-Treat's impregnating sealers are technologically different from commonly available silicone, teflon and siloxane impregnators. Our specially engineered molecules penetrate deeper into porous materials and bond permanently inside the pores, without blocking them.

Dry-Treat impregnating sealers stand up to cleaning chemicals, traffic, sunlight, and even commercial cleaning techniques such as high pressure hosing. We back our technology with written performance warranties of up to 20 years, when the sealers are applied by a Dry-Treat Accredited Applicator.

Stone Works Canada is a well established Canadian company which offers a variety of professional services to home owners in the Greater Metropolitan Toronto area. We have developed a specialized system to assist homeowners with all landscaping, outdoor maintenance and construction needs.

http://www.stoneworkscanada.com

With our own network of Landscape, Construction Specialists, Tile Setters and Masons who are skilled and well trained, and ready to work side-by-side with you, to ensure that you receive a high level of personalized service and expert advice, to assure your complete satisfaction.

Related Blogs

Wall Tile That Will Make You Feel Awesome

admin — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 01:53:57 +0000

I don’t know about you, but I thought that I have been there, done that and got the t-shirt when it comes to wall tile. I never imagined that I would ever experience the awesome feeling of seeing something new and breathtaking in the world of wall tile. Was I living in a cave wearing blinders in the dark? Was I transported to an......other planet where wall tile was nonexistent? Was I stranded on an island in the middle of the South Pacific?

No, I was living in the Chicago area and the thought came to me that I should take a look to see what has happened to wall tile in the 21st century. What a splendid idea! So I did…

As I began to explore all the possibilities I began to realize that wall tile has become an amazing decorating art form that has truly evolved over the past few years. As I researched the forms of wall tile available today, each step of my search brought me into new and exciting materials, styles, colors, shapes and textures that are sure to please even the most scrupulous of individuals.

At first, I came across wall tiles that are familiar to even the most novice wall tile seeker. These wall tiles were those made of ceramic, glass, limestone, marble/granite, porcelain, slate, travertine and mosaic.

The ceramic wall tile I first came across came only in earth tone shades. The glass wall tile had more to choose from. Different shapes of glass in each tile, multi-colored tiles and an array of surface textures.

When I looked at glass tile I found that you are able to get glass tile in every color under the rainbow. The options for glass tile textures are open to exactly what you are looking for. The variety of styles is one of the largest of the tile family.

The limestone wall tile was mostly of earth tone, but offered a multitude of design patterns and borders. This made it possible to mix and match designs to create works of wall tiles art on your surrounding walls.

The marble/granite wall tile was presented mostly in shades of off-white and beige, but dark brown marble and an aqua blue granite tile are also offered. It was nothing new. This type of wall tile has been around a long time.

The porcelain wall tile came mostly in medium to dark shades of tans and browns. With the exception of Flagstone (a mosaic porcelain style) and Cognac (with a design pattern), most of your porcelain wall tile is solid color.

The slate tile in general has a mixture of earth tone colors creatively combined into each tile. With grays, tans, browns and reddish browns mixed into the display depending on what particular color combination you are looking for.

With Travertine wall tiles, you have a diverse selection of colors to choose from. From earth tones of brown and beige, from rustic walnut to golden volcano, from Egyptian Gold to Tuscany Blend, these tiles have a natural beauty that has descended through the ages.

I’m sure you are familiar with mosaic tiles. Each tile consists of small tile or stone pieces placed in some sort of geometric pattern. There are a variety of pastel colors to choose from. You can also choose from tile pieces or stone pieces with a flat or polished finish.

Now let’s get to what I call the interesting wall tiles. These are wall tiles that you have to see in order to get the full impact of their unique elegance. So let’s get started.

I will now take a look at what is offered in hand crafted wall tile. First I will describe the hand crafted tiles available in an array of colors such as Mojave, Dijon, Vermouth, Espresso, Savannah, Breakwater and several other artful shades.

This is the Ashbury collection. As for the textured surfaces of these tiles, they are presented in Anchor Bay, Du Bois, Ghiradelli, Montreaux, Presidio, Soledad and several other elegant textured designs. You have to see for yourself how beautiful these truly are.

Next, we will take a look at the Classic Shapes Collection. Here we have classic shades of beige tones with elegant shapes called Mini Acanthus, Acanthus, Dot and Dash, Acropolis, Crown and Stop Corner, Peter's Lattice and Sonia's Flower. To see the articulate detail of these pieces, you have to examine them online.

The Artisan-Heritage Collection consists of Country Hen, The Rooster and Plentiful Platter. The title of each of these pieces does describe what is present on the tile, but does not express the detail these beautiful tiles will bring to your kitchen decor. You truly have to see these exquisite pieces for yourself to feel the charm and warmth that radiates from each piece.

Before I move on to Modern Wall Tile, I would like to delve into the Olde California Collection. This collection consists of multi-colored designs fired into these tiles making them a desirable addition to any room in which they are displayed. With titles such as Adobe, Patio, Plaza, Benecia, Clara, Diego, Mojave, San Gabriel, San Luis Rey and Vallejo, you just have to see the rich Spanish heritage devoted to these extraordinary works of tile art.

Other collections in the handcrafted tile category are the First Choice Collection, the Casual Elements Series, the Confetti Collection, the Campagna Collection and the Heritage Pecos. Take a few minutes and explore these and all the others I mentioned. You will discover how you can create an enchanted atmosphere in the comfort of your own home.

Now it is time to take a look at modern wall tile. This version of tile is creating a new frontier that will pave the way to future generations of artfully expressive fashion.

I will start with tile categories. Here you will find modern wall tiles in topics such as Glass Tile, Tile Blends, Ceramic/Porcelain Tile, Cork tile, Pebble Tile, Steel Tile, Brio, Lush, Mod Dots and Mod Rocks. Now I will attempt to provide you with some basic information on each of these. Remember, this is all Modern Tile.

For modern glass tile you have Mosaic, Blends, Square, Subway, Recycled and Tattoos. Out of all of these modern glass tiles, I thought I would give you an idea of the styles of Glass Tattoos offered. You have Sailor Girl, Compass Blue, Anchor, Compass Red, Koi, Swallow, Dagger Heart and Mom Heart. If you are familiar with regular tattoos, then you will have an idea of what these glass tiles look like. Otherwise, just go online and have a look at these and all the modern glass tiles that I have mentioned.

Moving over to Modern Tile Blends. This is just exactly what it sounds like. These tiles are made with blends of different tile materials. Here you can pick from stock blends that are tile blends that the manufacture has already catalogued, or you can put together your own custom blended tiles with unlimited possibilities.

Now we will discuss Modern Ceramic/Porcelain wall tiles. There are 2 main styles to choose from when it comes to modern Ceramic/Porcelain tiles. First you have your Mod Dots. These are glazed porcelain penny rounds. With a variety of colors to choose from, you can mix and match color dots for a modern look to any wall indoors or outdoors.

The other style of Modern Ceramic/Porcelain wall tiles is called RAW tiles. RAW Tiles are derived from fabric designs and graphics. The process for making these tiles was first used by Persians and over the years the technique was introduced to California from immigrating Spaniards. The modern version introduces patterns or designs on the tile that match well with contemporary decor.

Next we have Modern Cork Tile. This cork tile follows in the footsteps of Mod Dot tile. This is a cork mosaic in a penny round style. You have the option to stain the cork rounds to any color of your choice or using wood stain you may retain the natural color of the cork. Before grouting the cork tile a sealer must be applied. You have to see examples of the finished product in order to fully appreciate the beauty.

Our next example of Modern Wall Tile is Pebble Tile. These are natural polished pebbles. They are now available in six color combinations. These tiles are mesh mounted and are shaped in an interlocking pattern. With outstanding durability, these tiles can be applied indoors or outdoors.

So now we have come to Stainless Steel Tile. This tile is constructed with a heavy porcelain base and a 1mm stainless steel overlay. This tile is ideal for kitchen backsplash applications. Not recommended for standing water applications, such as spas or pools. With six styles to choose from, you’re sure to find a style to match your application.

For those who wish to go green, most all of the Glass Modern Wall Tile that I have gone over is also available in recycled material. All of these products are environmentally safe and are generally easy to apply.

If you are ready to make a striking and dramatically pleasing appearance to one or more rooms of your home, then you should seriously consider wall tile. You will see how an ordinary room will suddenly turn into a masterpiece.

Barbara Tobiasz is an expert in interior/exterior decorating. Along with her husband Joe, they own and operate Wall-Decor-Concepts.com. For more information on Wall Tile, go to: http://www.Wall-Decor-Concepts.com

Related Blogs

Houston Deck Design

admin — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:53:46 +0000

Decks add form, texture and interest to your landscape. The most common deck design attaches the deck to the house, although freestanding decks can be quite dramatic. With the variety of materials available today, deck designs come in all forms and shapes from their inclusion in a small garden design to an unexpected urban landsca......ping project to a sprawling hillside sun garden.

Decks add natural beauty, warmth and desirability to your home. And not just for you and your family. A well-designed, properly built deck-one that is sturdy, long-lasting and beautiful-will add value to your property as well.

Deck Design: Choosing a Designer or Contractor

The long list of choices you will face concerning the design of your deck begins with choosing who will build it. In this region, you have a wide choice of Houston landscape designers and landscape contractors to choose from. It is a critical decision for many reasons, not the least of which is the desire to avoid an under-built design-one that is inadequately attached to the structure or inadequately supported.

Here are some tips for finding someone suitable for your project, courtesy of Jeff Halper, landscape design specialist at Exterior Worlds:

Spend time interviewing the designer. Discuss the types of projects they've done and how long they've been in business.
Ask friends for referrals.
Ask for references and then follow up on them.
Halper advises you to keep in mind that "the more complex the project-the more sophisticated the design-the more important your designer and contractor become."

Deck Design: Design Choices

Once selected and hired, your contractor or designer will start the interview process. It is during these discussions that you define and convey what you want out of your deck design. For instance, whether to cover the deck or not. Be creative in thinking through this aspect since other solutions, like planting trees, might work. (This type of issue is where professional designers really earn their keep since they'll be mindful of the deck's impact on the total landscape.) You also might want to consider deck railing and built-in seats.

Other add-ons include outdoor fireplaces or fire pits, outdoor kitchens, and outdoor water fountains. Houston's infamous rainstorms need to be taken into account so you will want to tie the deck's design into any existing drainage systems. Consider the need for gutters, French drains, or decorative drains. Decks also present a great opportunity to enhance your landscape lighting.

Your designer or contractor will work with you to make sure the deck is in proportion to your home and other structures. The deck design will also take into consideration the house's architecture, exits and entrances, what space is available on which to build, the grade of the yard, and any existing trees or gardens.

Deck Design: Material Choices

In landscape design terminology, the term "deck" refers to both a wooden deck and the decking, usually some kind of masonry or stone, around a luxury swimming pool. Materials used vary with personal preferences, design considerations and your desired budget. Main choices include wood, stone (cut stone, flagstone, limestone, bluestone, slate), brick, concrete (colored or textured or both), and pavers.

When choosing wood for a patio or terrace, pressure-treated pine is the mainstay option.

Another good choice is an engineered product like Trex. The original financial outlay is a bit more than with wood, but, if maintained properly, the longevity is 1 ½-2 times that of wood. Trex offers another benefit in these eco-conscious times: its decking, railing and fencing are made primarily from recycled plastic grocery bags, reclaimed pallet wrap and waste wood. Halper also points out that Trex is great for tree preservation. "You only have to make a few holes to hold up the decking. And you don't cover the ground with it, something that suffocates trees," he says.

For pool decking, surfaces like stone, brick and concrete are durable options. Beautiful, too. These products are also valued because they can be roughed up and made to be non-slippery, which is essential for the wet areas around a pool.

Deck Design: Maintenance

Houston's weather is hard on everything, including your deck. Wooden decks can be cleaned with a special cleaner, which will remove the gray mildew. Whatever cleaning agent is used, be sure to rinse thoroughly.

Stone, brick and concrete are relatively maintenance free. However, you will want your landscape service company to perform regular checks for any cracking or splintering. Also, if your deck is deeply shaded, mildew can grow on these surfaces. A deck cleansing product or a mild bleach solution will take care of most problems. Make sure your landscape maintenance contract covers all these items.

Jeff Halper is passionate for Landscaping and wants to share information about that passion. At Exterior Worlds you can read more about Deck Design or Landscaping Design

Related Blogs

Pavillion de la Reine: Discreet sophistication

admin — Wed, 25 Aug 2010 01:49:54 +0000

Traveling to Paris? This time round, when you enter your travel agent’s office ask them if they have Pavillion de la Reine in any of their Paris packages. The reason we state this is because it is one of the few el.justluxe.com/luxury-hotels/Europe__France__Paris/index.html">luxury hotels in Paris steeped in real, old-world Parisian sophistication and chic. Essentially a majestic townhouse of the 17th century, it is swathed in a velvet blanket in the bejeweled city square Place des Vosges, one of the most enviable tourist spots in all of Europe. Literary enthusiasts and art connoisseurs might like to know that this grand mansion attracted intellectual stalwarts like La Fontaine, Madame de Sevigne, Moliere, and Racine.Among the best hotels in Paris, the Pavillion de la Reine can be approached through an arcade that opens out onto a garden which is small but beautiful. The Louis the 13th interiors is piquantly blended with antiquated Spanish rusticity to the most dramatic and eye-pleasing effect.

The reception area has a large stone fireplace and the flagstone floor is covered by rich carpets. A distinct chateau-like atmosphere pervades the entire hotel. With regard to the Pavillion de la Reine has 56 units, each one distinctive and with a character all its own, one the few luxury hotels in Paris to do so. The Standard Single Room is 22 square meters wide with a queen bed and a patio. All the bathrooms have marble flooring with a hand-held shower. The cozy Superior Room is meant for dual occupancy with a large queen-sized bed or twin beds while the Deluxe Room is a largish 0-square meter double room with a little sitting room. Certain deluxe rooms are actually duplex.

The most luxurious accommodation in this unostentatious jewel among the best hotels in Paris is the Large Duplex Room, obviously. It has a lounge downstairs and a bedroom with queen or twin bed upstairs. You may also request a sofa bed for a third guest or two small children. Most bedrooms in this luxury hotel show off their proud antiquity with regard to ancient oak beams, tapestries, and four-poster beds (in some rooms). Look at the walls around you and take in paintings and objets d’art that are original and ancient. Despite the period décor all modern trappings are visibly present including cable TV and air conditioning. The hotel also boats of Wi Fi connectivity, a fact business guests seem to like a lot.

Significantly, the hotel does not have a restaurant or café on its premises but in-room dining is available throughout the day with breakfast served between 7 am to 11 am inside a vaulted cellar. In many ways, the Pavillion de la Reine combines the old-world charm of a country manor with palatial splendor steeped in modern conveniences. Step out of the hotel for little walks in the lively city of Paris. Take a cruise down the Seine or simply go luxury shopping. Whatever you do this vacation; do not forget to ask your tour operator to include the Pavillion de lReineinyour Paris package.

Mike Greaves is a self-made entrepreneur, a well known travel consultant and internet marketer. Over the years he has traveled across the world and has numerous writings credited to his name in many renowned publications. His areas of writing include travel experiences including reviews of best hotels in Paris and luxury hotels in Paris

Related Blogs

Fire Pit Safety Tips – Consider These Safety Tips as You Use Your Fire Pit

admin — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:50:52 +0000

Without doubt, an open-air fire pit can add warmth, style and elegance to your backyard or patio. That exclusively relaxing and charismatic feeling of sitting around a campfire with friends, relatives, or a special one no longer has to wait for the yearly camping trip. Many people nowadays make it occur right in their garden right...... through the year. On the other hand, ahead of you make your purchase, there is one thing you would like to think about watchfully, in order that your, new open-air fire pit offers the kind of warmness, style and elegance you would like to experience for years to come.

Make safety your main concern, in particular as it is associated to fire. Caution and common sense will not come with your fire pit. You have to take care of them. If you do not, the possibility for harm to yourself and others, in addition to damage to your property and that of your neighbors, increases to a great extent. Plan now and follow these guidelines to bring the right type of exhilaration and stimulation to your back garden.

At all times maintain a fire extinguisher, sand, pail of water, or other supply of water in close proximity. Just do not leave your fire unattended, and confirm the fire is fully doused earlier than you go to bed, even though it means extinguishing a smoldering fire with water. At all times take special care to keep little children as well as pets from getting too close, and never ever leave them unattended near a fire. Do not give up safety to save a few bucks on a cheap open-air fire pit, extinguisher, and so on. It is not worth the risk. Place your fireplace as a minimum 10 feet away from combustible materials or things: low-hanging branches; piles of dry grass, leaves or brush; gas cans or your house. Confirm you have enough space around and on top of the unit. Determine position in keeping with wind patterns and where you would like the smoke to be blow.

Do not overfill your open-air fire pit with wood or wood substitutes. Similarly, do not over-gas your open-air gas fireplace. You would not like the fire to get very high or uncontrollable. Use a spark screen with your fire pit. Use a fire pit pad or flagstone below your open-air hearth on wooden decks. Check the rules in your area earlier than building any open-air fire. In different parts of the country, those rules show a discrepancy. Get in touch with your local fire department to realize where fires or grills can be used in your area. Watchfully read and follow your manufacturer's directions, which are there for good reasons. Do not use a fire pit in the house. Familiarizing yourself with safety rules like these will go a long way to confirm that your open-air fire pit offers several years of entertaining and satisfying experiences.

Due to your alertness and common sense, you can take pleasure in listening to the popping and crackling sounds from the fire and watch, the fire dance. Poke at the logs with a tong and enjoy whiff of the burning logs. Unwind and take pleasure in the instant with your near and dear ones.

Peter is an expert in the field. For more information on fire pits, and all types of fire pits Please visit: http://www.myfirepits.com/

Related Blogs

Luxury Ski Chalets ? How Luxe Can You Go?

admin — Thu, 19 Aug 2010 01:55:30 +0000

A little look into the winter wonderlands of the world's very best chalets and lodges As the popularity of skiing has grown exponentially over the last 20 years, and as snowboarding and other winter sports have also taken off, the demand for high end mountain-based holidays has exploded.

In fact, so in love with snow and ic......e are the nation’s holidaymakers, that they now demand just as much from their Winter holidays as they do from their luxury Maldivian beach breaks and Caribbean Christmases.

The traditional and fairly basic chalets of old still exist, and business is as good as ever in that market, but the luxury chalet business is now in a league of its very own. Jacuzzis and hot tubs, swimming pools, gymns and spa rooms, private balconies and ensuite wet rooms, games rooms and bedside log fires, all come pretty much as standard in a luxury chalet these days. But there’s more too – in fact pretty much anything is possible.

Size & Capacity
Size doesn’t really matter when it comes to luxury – a high end boutique luxury chalet can be just a few hundred square metres in size. One may accommodate up to ten people, another 20 or even 30. Ski accommodation varies in size. Eight hundred square metres is very large by European standards, but if it’s size you are looking for, the luxury chalets of the American and Canadian ski resorts simply have much more space on the mountainside than those in Europe! Some have over 15,000 square foot of interior space, and 5,000 square feet of outside patio and decking (including of course an outdoor fireplace, firepit, open air spa and summer kitchen!).

Resort-wise, even the smaller resorts can now offer real high end luxury. The most top-notch prestigious resorts in the Alps such as Courchevel, Verbier, Zermatt and St Moritz can cater for the most discerning of tastes. One of the most expensive chalets in the world in fact - the Tivoli Lodge in Klosters – costs well over £60,000 a week to rent over the New Year period.

There are companies that can make this kind of luxury a little more affordable though, and realistic. Companies like Scott Dunn, for example, can tailor the luxury quotient to what you and your guests really need. They spend much of their time and money making sure that nothing is too much trouble and that no tiny detail is overlooked. And high levels of service and decorative flair can provide real luxury without breaking the bank. This kind of luxury is all about your individual requirements and dreams for the perfect winter break, and perhaps the little things you haven’t thought about too – in chalet ski and boot fitting, ski passes waiting for you on arrival, and then things like rainforest showers, or retro red velvet cinema chairs….

Design & Decor
Design is a big deal in luxury chalets. Interior design is often inspired by the finest Italian furniture, or the most beautiful French art deco style – look out for expensive silk curtains and cushions, fine polished and buffed teak floors. But a good quality chalet design will never overlook the warmth of old and well-loved Swiss wooden beams either. All make for an atmosphere of complete beauty for family and friends – more luxury yacht than damp school trip of old!

Staff & Service
Staff wise, the best chalets have the very best staff – butler, concierge, driver, housekeeper, chef, dedicated ski guides and instructors, sports therapists, nannies, nutritionists and physios. They are responsible for the luxury of detail – fresh flowers, towels and bedlinen, home baked cakes and pastries every morning, the finest coffee, the best meat and fish and local seasonal produce. Some companies have even offered the services of celebrity chef consultants such as Tom Aikens, endless vintage Krug, Norland nannies, and Jo Malone beauty products.

A concierge is almost par for the course now with luxury chalets – a good concierge has superb knowledge of the surrounding area and excellent contacts, so that you’ll always know what to do and where to go. They can guarantee you the very best tables in the very best restaurants and bars, and the best tickets for the most ‘must attend’ resort parties. In fact they can be your private event organiser too - planning heli skiing trips or building you a personal ice bar on the mountain for some night skiing!

Ambience Away From Home
Much of these luxury chalets’s success is in providing a traditional old-fashioned escape ambience – gluhwein and log fires, mountain air and snowcapped dawns. But the 21st Century demands a contemporary high tech ‘anything is possible’ edge too. If you don’t quite want to get away from it all, if you are looking for a full working office or business centre away from home for example, so that work never quite stops, then you can find the most superbly equipped offices imaginable in a good luxury chalet. But keeping in touch with the working world occasionally isn’t so bad when you can have a hot bath drawn for you and a glass of Laurent Perrier Rose poured for you at the end of a full days skiing.

Anything is Possible
The ‘anything is possible’ tag really can apply to luxury ski chalets, and in fact things you might think only existed in James Bond films really can happen on a mountain somewhere in the world!

Whether it’s a baronial mansion just outside St Moritz, with original frescoes, panelled walls and flagstone floors, or a modernist masterpiece in Zermatt accessed by an underground cable car and private tunnel, luxury chic can easily go a little bit over the top. Are you looking for a fully stocked wine cellar and walk in humidor carved in to the mountain? Or a private nightclub and sushi bar? How about an exotic wood panelled library filled with first edition classics, or a 15 metre indoor onyx lined pool and hammam? Believe it or not, you can rent a chalet that has all things.

Tailor-Made Luxury
Much of what makes luxury ‘real’ is about guests being able to make the rules. If you want a grand piano in your living room, it can be delivered to your exact specifications. If you want to sleep until noon, then breakfast should be ready for you when you wake up. If you want to carve the first tracks in virgin snow as the sun comes up, or take a sleigh ride at dusk, then your boots should always be ready, warmed and waiting. Whichever way you look at it, these kinds of ski holidays are ones you will cherish the memories of forever. The height of luxury on top of the world – it doesn’t get much better than that.

Here the author Sara Allom writes about ski chalets. She narrates the beauty, luxury in the lap of nature, Sara Allom describes how family ski holidays are offered in the best manner as a package.

Related Blogs

Decorative Concrete Design

admin — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 01:51:00 +0000

Custom Decorative Concrete is one of the most used concrete technologies today. Weather it’s for residential or commercial, custom decorative concrete has grown immensely in popularity for new construction and remodeling. Different types of uses have grown in popularity as well. The most common uses today are fo......r counters, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, bathrooms, walls, garage, sidewalks, driveways, decks, pool area, and patios. Just like any other project, it starts with an idea. There are hardly any limits with what can be done with custom decorative concrete. Concrete on it’s own is very durable and strong. By employing certain key additives and finishes, used in the latest technology today, enhances strength and longevity significantly.

Colored Decorative Concrete comes in many different colors. There are also several different ways to color concrete. Concrete staining is the most cost effective and easiest way to rejuvenate existing concrete. Applied like staining wood, concrete stain dries and hardens to give you a flake proof surface. Concrete stain colors can vary from black stain, English red stain, green lawn stain and even aqua blue stain. Integral colors are primarily earth tone base that employ additives in a ready-mix fashion. Some of these colors include canyon, dune, green slate and flagstone brown. Not quite as cost friendly as stain, but is still budget savvy and easy to install as well. Concrete dyes are a great alternative to achieve colored concrete. Dyes are mixed at the job site. After the drying process the brilliance and luster of the finish product will last for many years to come. By adding a Lithochrome hardener, you will notice right away the exquisite shine and durability Lithochrome hardener provides.

Stamped Concrete Designs are generally pre-stamped in blocks by a manufacturer. The stamped texture can give you a wide variety of looks such as cobblestone, slate, fieldstone, fan stone, Spanish tile and many, many more. Stamped concrete can be arranged to make a particular pattern or you can choose to have it laid out in a traditional inter-locking fashion. Stamped surfaces come in a nice array of finishes too, such as, smooth, aggregate, brick and stucco just to name a few.

When it comes to a decorative concrete design project, it is a good idea to hire a reputable contractor to assist you. Visit this Raleigh decorative concrete design web site and see your concrete design ideas become reality.

Related Blogs

Beginner Tips for Garden Design

admin — Fri, 13 Aug 2010 01:51:18 +0000

Once you figure out what kind of garden you're planting and where you'll put it, you should start coming up with ideas on what to do with your garden environment. This is an important step when designing a garden.

The first thing you should do is pick out a material to use for borders. You'll want to seperate your garde......n from grass and other plants. Another good idea is to have some kind of mesh support for your new plants.

Most people will choose either a metal or a wood barrier for their garden. Boards stacked up around a garden will give it the nice wood-cabin effect. Or you could get some cheap metal lining from your local Menards or Home Depot. This stuff is pretty easy to install and gives a very modern look to your garden.

Another choice could be to build your border out of flagstone. This natural stone material is great for buildings paths, patios, outdoor fireplaces, and tree borders. Of course, there are also other rock materials you could use.

Something else you want to take into account is some kind of support for your plants. Most gardening stores sell small, cone-shaped mesh supports to help hold up your plants. Once they get enough strength to hold themselves up, you would simply cut the support away.

Another important part in designing a garden is how much soil should you buy? Depending on what your growing, dig out the ideal depth of soil for your plant. You can then measure how many cubic feet your garden is, and that tells you how much soil you need.

I always like to buy a few extra bags just to make sure I have enough for the job. Also if you're working on very dry, cracked ground that has a lot of rocks and gravel, you should add a couple inches of soil onto the recommended depth.

Plant arrangement is another important decision you'll need to make when designing your garden. Certain plants may hog all the water and not let others get any, so you have to make sure you have a good watering system. Put these plants next to a plant with weaker, shorter roots, and your only asking for disaster.

A beautiful flagstone path will finish your garden off very nicely and give a very professional look. You can find more ways to lay flagstone on my website.