How to extend the life of your patio? Like all things, your patio has a shelf life that is certainly not infinite if you don’t take proper care of it. Because your patio is an important - and often costly - investment at your home, you owe it to yourself to maintain and care for it in the right way. Before you even begin to think about extending the life of your patio, it’s imperative that you only ever hire highly-skilled, professional patio builders. This way you can be sure it is built properly in the first place! Not only that, this will also make it easier to maintain your patio and extend its life so that you can use and enjoy it all-year-round! Protect Your Patio From The Elements Australia has lots of sunny days throughout the year, and temperatures can easily and frequently reach upwards of 35 degrees Celsius during the summer months. Although we may love the sunshine, doesn’t mean our patio will! As well as the rain, hail and various debris, sunshine can have a lasting and damaging effect on our beloved patios. Too much exposure to the sun can cause your patio to deteriorate rapidly. A great way to guard your patio against the summer sun is to invest in a protective roof. These roofs aren’t too expensive, and not only will they protect your patio from the glazing sun, but also you and your guests. They are usually made of robust, durable metals, such as galvanised steel, and hold onto their appearance even in the harshest conditions. Additionally, they require very little maintenance, coming in many different styles, which will allow you to pick one that best suits your home and taste. Extend The Life Of Your Patio With Regular Maintenance It’s very easy to invest in a patio and enjoy it when the weather is co-operating. After all, it’s why we have patios ion the first place - To invite our friends and family round for an outside gathering. But if you want to extend the life of yours, you will need to maintain it properly by regularly sweeping and tidying it so that the dirt and leaves that inevitably build up, are not allowed to form moil and mildew which invade your patio’s structure. Once this happens, returning your patio to its original pleasant state can be costly. You should also regularly clean your outdoor furniture and equipment, especially barbecues. Inspect Your Patio Regularly Carrying out frequent structural inspections of your patio can help to extend its life. You should check the gutters and surfaces for any damage - this is something you should always do after a storm. Spotting problems early can prevent them from escalating into bigger complications that will require money and external services to correct. The key to extending the life of your patio is simple - Take care of it! Perform regular checks and when there’s an issue, fix/clean it up ASAP. If you’re looking to get a patio at your home, contact the team at In Style Patios and Decks. We’re the pro’s when it comes to building top quality patios! Take a look at some of our previous projects -Gable Patios -Curved Patios .. It might be the nudge you need! Or simply call us on 0436 007 776.
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When the summertime comes, we all want to get outside more. If you’re lucky enough to have a patio, pergola or deck, you’re probably going to want some awesome outdoor decorating ideas so that you get the most out of being outside.
Perhaps you’ve got an outdoor shindig lined up for family and friends, or maybe you just want to create a more pleasant garden aesthetic for your own enjoyment. Whatever you’re looking for, let’s get some outdoor inspiration for spending more time outside with these top outdoor decorating ideas. Invest In Mirrors Mirrors on your patio or decking might seem like a quirky, unusual idea but mirrors placed either side of a central table can make your space look bigger. Indulge In Fragrant Flowers Why not convert your backyard into a fragrant oasis? Planting orange trees, hydrangeas and jasmine - among others - is a great and simple way of creating intoxicating aromas that put you into a positive, relaxed mindset each time you settle down in your garden. Install A Television Is installing a television an outdoor decorating idea? You bet it is. Adding a TV to your patio livens up proceedings by offering entertainment and visuals, from movies to sports games. Instead of worrying that your guests might become bored if conversation drifts, a television installed on your wall will add a warmer feel to the proceedings, ensuring that silence never becomes deafening. Make The Most Of Small Patios Not all of us are able to afford large patios, while some of us have small gardens to work with in the first place. As such, getting the most out of small patios is not easy, but the trick is to make the most of the space you have. You can easily turn your tiny patio into a pocket-sized haven by installing walled courtyards, a small fountain, as well as a sumptuous marble table. Use Lighting Creatively When the evening sun slowly recedes into the distance and the sky turns to a burning pink, nothing adds to the twilight atmosphere quite like lighting. You could install a string of fairy lights along the edge, or up the side, or even in some trees, or for something more extravagant you could add a chandelier to your outdoor pergola to add a touch of magic to your outdoors. Be creative - but also be minimalist and simplistic. Remember, less is often more, especially if you’re aiming for elegance. Use Bold Colours Maybe you’re used to employing neutral colours in your home, but it’s now time to be more daring outdoors by using bold colours. Bold colours, such as electric greens and lilacs, add excitement to your patio and pergola. You could invest in radiant chair cushions and tablecloths, turning your yard into an exquisite paradise. These are just a few outdoor decorating ideas, but the key message to take away is that you should always be creative and never shy away from taking a risk. Use your imagination, fire up your senses and create your own private haven. If you love being outdoors but don’t have a patio, pergola or deck, In Style Patios and Decks can help with that. Our team can make your dreams a reality with the widest range and styles available. Contact us today to arrange for one of our design consultants to work with you and your home to create a stand-out living area at your place. Phone 0436 007 776! A healthy, well-looked after deck is great to look at. But when you begin to neglect your deck in the short-term, its long-term outlook is greatly reduced. For this reason, it’s important that you look after your deck and treat it well. Prevention is key. Once damage to the structure begins, extensive problems can easily develop. Let’s take a look at a few tips and tricks on how to extend the life of your deck. Carry Out Regular Inspections We recommend that you inspect the overall state of your deck at least twice a year, preferably once in Summer and then again in Winter. What you’re on the lookout for is moisture that has built up on the joints, posts and beams. If water has pooled anywhere, it could compromise the overall structural integrity. You really need to catch moisture as soon as possible so that you can make the necessary adjustments. Keep Your Deck Clean Regular cleaning can preserve the life of your deck to no end. All you need is a garden hose and you’re sorted. Dirt does build up really easy, while other niggling issues include algae and mould. For things such as mould and algae, you will need to scrub with a brush and mild soap. Your brush should not be made up of wire or steel wool though, as these can easily scratch and stain your deck. And once a year we recommend that you clean the whole deck with a power hose and finish off with a polish. Make Sure You Prevent Insect Damage Insects are a real pain, especially for people who have decks in Australia, but there are steps you can take to make sure your deck doesn’t get damaged. Insects see wooden decks as places to build their nests, as well as things to eat! To reduce your risk of seeing your deck eaten away by bugs, you need to keep it sealed and freshly painted. You should also scour the local area for wasps and bees, as well as switch off any night lights that could be attracting insects. You’ll be surprised at how much damage a wasps’ nest can incur on a wooden deck! Old nests need to be removed as soon as possible. They’re easy to sort out too; you just scrape them off. Rake & Sweep It’s very easy to allow debris such as sticks and leaves build up around your deck. Very easy. And while you might simply assume that all they’re doing is creating an eye-sore that you can easily eliminate at any time, what is actually happening is that the debris is rotting and permanently staining your deck. Moreover, leaves are really good at holding moisture next to your wood, which in turn leads to rot. So, when autumn comes around, it’s time to rake and sweep! Paint and Seal You certainly don’t need to apply a fresh coat of paint every year, but once every five years is definitely recommended. This will help to keep insects away and have your deck looking nice and new again. If you’d prefer, you could always use a sealant instead. If so, you need to stain the deck first before applying the sealant. Whatever you choose to do, we recommend that you power wash your deck beforehand. Timber decks are a specialty of In Style Patios and Decks, and a ‘must have’ for any new outdoor extension on the Gold Coast. The QLD climate and home designs mean that a deck is the perfect option, and can also add significant value to your home. So what are you waiting for? Contact our team today on 0436 007 776 and let’s get started! We’re not all blessed with huge garden spaces or massive outdoor decking areas, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t turn your small space into something charming and beautiful in its own right. The ways to maximise your outdoor space aren’t that difficult, and are really about enhancing what you already have, and using a few handy tricks to make spaces look larger with optical illusions. Check out how it’s done: Plan, plan, plan! In order to get the best out of what you have to work with, you need to plan your space. This could mean drawing diagrams, playing around with furniture and moving it to see what works where best, because experimenting and planning the final layout is very important. Less is more There is nothing worse than cramming a small space full of ornaments, because before you know it your space will have shrunk down to half the size of what it was to start with. Think less is more, and think small in terms of furniture – streamline and functional are the two aims you should have in mind. Use the walls If you have walls work with them. A great way to maximise your outdoor space is to wall-mount things and take them away from your floor space, freeing it up. There are some funky wall water features out there available to purchase, you just have to shop around, then there’s bird boxes, or even hanging plants. Work upwards, not across We mentioned before that cluttering up your floor space will just give the illusion of less room, so instead work upwards. This will open up the space and give the illusion of a bigger area. Using stylish ladder style shelves are very popular these days, giving the area you choose to use it in some character. This is one of the best ways to maximise your outdoor space with minimal fuss. Make use of colour Again don’t over-do it, but using brighter colours draws attention away from the size of the space and towards the brightness instead. It’s all about distracting from how much space you do have, and instead creating the illusion of more through shapes and colour. People won’t notice a small space if it’s done smart. As you can see it’s not particularly difficult to maximise your outdoor space, in fact it’s simply a case of knowing a few tricks of the trade. Still to this day, the most effective and most popular way to maximise your outdoor space is to invest in a deck or patio. This allows you to extend your living area, and in the long run, add value to your home! The team at In Style Patios and Decks are the best on the Gold Coast. Call us today on 0436 007 776 and let’s discuss how we can make your outdoor vision a reality. If you don’t have a huge garden to fill with exotic and beautifully scented plants and flowers, then there’s no reason why you can’t make the most of the space you do have. Patios are fantastic spaces for chilling out, but they’re also ideal for a few potted patio plants too, to give colour and pizzazz to your small piece of garden sanctuary.
The best patio plants are hardy little things, and although they might look delicate, you’ll be surprised to learn about the different weather conditions they can withstand, making them ideal for your patio space. If you’re considering jazzing up your patio with a few plants consider these, as sure to add colour, life, and beautiful scents to your life. Emerald Arborvitae You can plant this all-year-round shrub in full sun or shade and it will grow upright and narrow, making it perfect for your small patio space. A deep green colour will add a sense of grounding to your flower designs. Japanese Pieris Another all-year-round plant which will give you beautiful little flowers of red, pink or white during springtime, and a more seasonal red or deep pink during winter. Another hardy plant, again making it one of the best patio plants you can grow either in the shade or sun. Variegated Redtwig Dogwood Sounds a mouthful, but once flowered this is a statement plant indeed. Able to grow in full sun or half shade, this plant will give you large grey/green leaves with shimmering white edges, or a red sheen during the winter months. Anemone Not to be confused with the underwater variety, this pretty plant flowers during mid-summer to September and is tough despite its size. Very easy to grow and results in pretty flowers to spruce up your space. Brunnera Another of the best patio plants you can get is the Brunnera, which is easy to grow and tough as nails. This beauty grows heart-shaped leaves of silver and green. During spring you can look forward to small but cute blue blooms. Athyrium metallicum This deciduous fern will give you silver leaves which are occasionally purple-hued, beautiful no matter what the season. Very easy to grow. Buddleja Free Petite This one is another easy to look after plant, which just goes to show that you don’t need to be an expert to have a beautiful patio space. This plant will bloom during the year, but will mainly flower during June through to October, attracting beautiful butterflies, which in turn brings more colour and life to your patio. Diascia The rose pink variety is a favourite, as it gives a really rich colour. No matter what colour you choose, they all look amazing and the flowers last a long time, but mainly flower in June predominantly. Again, a lasting little plant. Gaura Lindheimeri The large flowers of this particular plant will really light up your space, as the best patio plants should! Cream, pink and green is the colour scheme, flowering in late May to September, giving you a long life span to enjoy. Helianthemum Last but certainly not least in our list of the best patio plants, we have the helianthemum, which will sprout evergreen leaves and brightly coloured flowers during May through September. A beautiful plant to add life to your space, and again tougher than most. So there you have it, our recommended best patio plants that will surely spruce up any patio or deck space. If you don’t have a patio or deck but would love one, In Style Patios and Decks can make your dream a reality with the most stylish patio or deck to suit your taste, and the added bonus of adding value to your home. We cover all areas including the Gold Coast, Tweed Heads, Logan, South Brisbane & Brisbane, so call us today on 0436 007 776 and lets get started! Summer might be on its way out, but there’s still plenty of warm weather to be had on the Gold Coast. To get the best out of the years rays and some valuable vitamin D, what better way than to entertain outdoors? The success of any get-together relies on some awesome outdoor entertaining ideas, but if you’re stuck for what to do, it can be easy to over-elaborate on things. You know how it goes: you’ve got more seafood than the ocean bed, more dinner guests than the Oscars, and more wine than a French vineyard. Before you know it, you’re hosting a carnival you just can’t handle, and your bill has gone through the roof. It doesn’t have to be this way. The trick to ace outdoor entertaining ideas is firstly, keep things simple and secondly, check out our list! First things first What’s the one thing all Aussies are known for around the world? Putting a shrimp on the bar-b mate! Except, it’s usually sausages and steaks. An outdoor entertaining area is never really complete without the presence of a BBQ. Make things comfortable To enhance comfort for your guests invest in some comfortable cushiony couches, or if you’d prefer a more casual feel, chairs with cushions or even beanbags are a great idea. It’s all about the vibe When it comes to awesome outdoor entertaining ideas, we suggest going for a much-loved Australian laid-back vibe. This means ditching the la-di-da bits and pieces in favour or a more eclectic mix-up. This gives off a very chilled-out feel and helps to get a comfortable atmosphere brewing whenever you have people over. Spread the furniture around Particularly if you have a large patio, you should look to set up a few different tables or chairs spread throughout the entire area, so everyone can appreciate the beauty of your outdoor entertaining area. This will also encourage your guests to walk around and check the place out. It helpfully creates a social vibe and ensures that people aren’t sitting in one place the whole evening. Drinks, drinks, drinks Because you aren’t all stuck indoors, having a bar cart, esky, or outdoor mini bar fridge is pretty much essential to make sure your guests don’t have to go too far for a drink. Stock it with all the essential drinks and try to have glasses and ice nearby, and make sure that you re-stock it whenever content is running low! This also makes it easy and accessible for everyone to grab a drink whenever they want. Nibbles are a must-have You’re all outdoors and for this reason you should look to create more of a picnic-feel than a formal atmosphere. We suggest a varied pick ’n’ mix of salads, fruit, vegetables, fresh meat for the bar-b, chips and dips. If you give off a tapas vibe that everyone can tuck into at will, you really will be creating a laid-back but social and interactive feel. Above all else, the key to entertaining outdoors is to make sure the preparation runs smoothly, so that you and your guests have as much fun as possible and you get the most use out of your new awesome outdoors area. If you get the prep work spot on, you can then bask in the party atmosphere. If you love entertaining but simply don’t have the room inside, why don’t you invest in a deck? Not only do they extend your living area and allow you to entertain outside even when it’s raining, they also add value to your home. The qualified team at In Style Patios and Decks can build you the deck of your dreams in no time. Call us today on 0436 007 776 and let’s get started! |
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