Outdoor Environments

Experts Dish on Wood Deck Care

tmaberry — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:45:50 +0000

Homes already equipped with a wood deck must take the proper care and precautions to keep that deck safe and clean. As spring approaches, it’s a good idea to inspect your deck and see what repairs, if any, need to be addressed. Here’s some sound advice from the February 2012 issue of Exterior Contractor:

If you are interested in deck building, remodeling or repair in the Kansas City area, call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.

Image by Alex Hibbert on GettyImages.com

Private Deck and Patio Ideas

tmaberry — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:25:36 +0000

Have you started thinking about your outdoor living plans for the spring yet? By planning now, you can ensure that the features you want can and will be ready to enjoy by the time the warm weather finally sets in for good. Private decks and patios have always been a hot topic on this blog… but what are some more creative ways to block off your outdoor space from the general public and nosy neighbors?

Add a pergola – It helps to create a cozy outdoor space with shade and tons of visual interest.
Use your home – If there’s a section of your home that protrudes, that might be the perfect opportunity to hide your deck or patio from plain view.
Columns – You can have the best of both worlds with the right columns in place. They close off your outdoor space, but you still get to enjoy the elements.
Take advantage of height – If space permits, an upper level deck is a creative way to get the outdoor space you want without having it open to everyone at the ground level.

Check out some examples from our very own portfolio of projects around the Kansas City area:

To learn more about our outdoor design services around Kansas City, Overland Park and beyond, call us at 913-897-2706.

Research Shows that Consumers Want Green Building and Remodeling

tmaberry — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:43:01 +0000

Are green building products important to you when it comes to remodeling? According to new research, they probably are. It seems as though the green movement is finally hitting home with consumers because now they are expecting green materials for their residential projects.

But why exactly are green building products so attractive to consumers? Mainly because their environmentally friendly, cost-effective, beautiful and high-quality.

Some of the specific research findings include the following:

72% said that green building materials are more important than five years ago.
18 % responded that a product’s sustainability is an extremely important decision factor.
60% anticipate an increase in the importance of green building/sustainable materials in the next five years for their building/construction needs.
39% of total respondents listed environmental factors as key in selecting green building materials.
31% of total respondents listed aesthetics as key in selecting green building materials.
30% listed cost savings (rebates) as key in selecting green building materials.

To learn more about our green building capabilities in the Kansas City area, contact us today!

Image by Dorling Kindersley on GettyImages.com