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Landscaping

Popular Concrete Home Renovations And Landscaping Ideas For Your Front Yard

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When people think of home renovations and landscaping, they often do not consider using concrete. However, there have been many innovations in the use of concrete that have made it an aesthetically pleasing feature that will add charm and elegance to a property and home. As well, concrete is an inexpensive, durable, and long-lasting material. With a little creativity, it is easy to enhance and beautify any part of the home and property using concrete. Below are a number of popular concrete home renovations and landscaping ideas for your front yard:

1. Garden stepping stones: Adding concrete garden stepping stones is a creative way to enhance and beautify the front yard. You can create innovative stone shapes and have your own choice in size of the stones to create walkways and enhance certain areas in the front yard such as placing them around he door way or in front of the flower garden or around trees or shrubs. The most popular preference is creating walkways because you can have custom design including color or stain preference, and your own unique design. You can exercise your creativity to make your own unique garden stones.

2. Concrete Patios: Creating a brick design for a concrete patio is a popular choice. Stamped concrete is a technique used to create the brick design. The concrete is altered and color is added to the surface of the concrete to make it look like bricks. As well, the concrete can be altered to look like cobblestone and wood. The choice is yours so you can pick the best concrete design to suit your home and property. It will give you the flexibility to create a patio that is unique and appealing, As well, you never have to worry about rot, termites, or degradation. Homeowners now have the ability to have their patios customized to their own unique preference. A concrete patio is a great addition for families. It cannot be damaged by children and it can withstand harsh environmental conditions. The children can have fun on the patio playing games and other activities.

3. Concrete Walkway: Creating a concrete walkway is a great way to enhance the beauty of the front yard. You can create a walk way based on your personal preference. You can use your own choice of design, pattern, and color. You can even plant flowers along either side of the walkway for added elegance. Cobblestone and brick designs are very popular choices for a walkway.

4. Concrete Driveway: A cobble stone or seashell concrete driveway is a very popular choice. This type of driveway is achieved by using stamped concrete. The concrete stamps are used to apply the impressions and the result is concrete that mimic the chosen design. A special color dye can be added to make the concrete more like the pattern that is being imitated. Homeowners now have the ability to have their driveway customized to their own unique preference.

Improving the front yard is always a rewarding home renovation project. In the front yard, homeowners are now able to create patios, driveways, walkways, and any other area that can use enhancement using concrete. Decorative concrete is an inexpensive way to add value to the home and property while making it more beautiful.

Looking for a concrete contractor? Then be sure to visit the experts at Elite Concrete, one of the top concrete contractors in Toronto and the GTA offering stamped concrete services including patios, driveways, walkways and even full landscaping designs.

Gardening

Simple Steps On Building A Deck Or Patio Awning

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During a hot summer day, patios and decks tend to absorb a lot of heat. Sitting in these open outdoor spaces can definitely get uncomfortable as you sit there sweating and burning in the sun. Many people add awnings to solve this problem, but they can be a bit expensive. If you want to have the luxury of sitting in the shade on a beautiful summer day, there is a cost-effective way of doing this. By building your own awning, you’ll save a ton of money and you’ll be able to enjoy some shade as well! This article will guide you on how to build your own awning.

The first step in building your patio awning is making sure you have the proper materials. You’ll need a measuring tape, electric drill, four grommets, four stakes, four sections of rope, two key rings, two screw hooks, two support poles, a sewing machine with a large needle and a large piece of canvas. These materials are extremely cost efficient as well.

Let’s begin building! Step one will require setting up the canvas. One thing you must do is be sure you purchase enough canvas and always get a bit extra since you’ll need to hem it. Sew the hems around the material so the canvas won’t fray. The canvas will be outdoors and with the rain and other outdoor conditions, you need a durable thread. Use a nylon thread for the sewing as it’s on the durable side of materials. On each corner install one grommet.

Once the grommets are in place, take the tape measure and measure from one grommet to the other. On the side you plan on having the awning branch out from, drill two pilot holes on the wood siding. These holes will make it much easier for you in the next step; screw the hooks into the pilot holes.

Take a single key ring and install each key ring on each grommet. Start on the side that’s going up against the house first. You’ll need to place the first two key rings on the two hooks and at this point, one entire side of your awning should be complete!

You’re awning should be hanging off those two hooks and it will need support from the other side. You currently have support from the house, but the awning needs two poles to support the other side. Pull the canvas out in order to determine where the poles will stand and make sure the canvas has a tight and clean look. Once you’ve determined a place for the poles, either place them into the dirt of use a sturdy flat base stand to support the poles. The poles will then go through the grommets on the canvas awning.

Now it’s time to use the rope. The rope will play a major role as a support system. Take the rope and tie it to the grommets, on the side of the poles. Since you have four ropes, use two ropes on each side of the pole. You’ll want to stake the ropes into the ground for support. One rope should point directly straight out from the pole and the other should point directly to the side at a ninety degree angle for more support. Do this to both poles.

This process should only take a few hours. Once complete, you’ll be able to sit back and enjoy some shade on those hot summer days. This is extremely cost-efficient and a pretty simple project! Good luck!

This writer is a specialist on building custom home awnings. He truly believes that the right awning fabric will play a major role in how long your awning will last. More information can be found at this authors blog, awningfabric. net.