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Improve Your Health with an Outdoor Hot Tub in Kansas City

hot tube

Outdoor Environments deck and hot tub

If you’re looking for a way that you can remodel your home, why not have Kansas City contractors Outdoor Environments add a hot tub? Not only can a hot tub add a pleasant and entertaining facet to your house, but it provides several health benefits as well!

  • Believe it or not, sitting in a hot tub not only relieves stress, it can also provide better sleep. It does this with its massaging jets and soothing heat. The buoyancy of the water also produces a weightless effect that is relaxing.
  • The heat and pressure of the water of the jets help relax your muscles. The buoyancy created by the water will reduce your body weight by 90%, which helps take pressure off of your joints, thereby relieving joint pain.
  • Your blood pressure can decrease due to the water’s heat. This is caused by the fact that the heat will open up your blood vessels, allowing better blood flow and circulation.
  • Sitting in a hot tub can also benefit the health of those who suffer from chronic pain and fatigue.

Not only can a hot tub provide comfort and entertainment in the colder months, it can also provide these health benefits.  Contact Kansas City contractors Outdoor Environments today to make plans for a hot tub installation in your own home!  Be sure to take a look at our portfolio of work as well.

image via: Outdoor Environments

Stay Connected to Outdoor Environments

We know you’re busy even when it’s not the holiday season but you enjoy our posts and hate missing them. So why not take a minute and subscribe to our blog so you can get our informative, educational and fun posts just by checking your email?

Here at Outdoor Environments we keep you up-to-date on the latest trends in outdoor entertaining including outdoor kitchens and patio furniture, post great tips on deck maintenance and outdoor decorating ideas, along with fun things to do in and around the Kansas City area.

So that you don’t miss any of these super helpful posts please following the instructions listed below.

  • Enter the email address of your choice in the “Email Sign Up” box.
  • Click subscribe and follow the prompts.
  • Check your corresponding inbox for confirmation and click the verification link.
  • Read and enjoy! It’s that simple!

Everyone at Outdoor Environments wants to thank all our customers and clients for a wonderful 2012 and we forward to assisting you in the coming New Year!

 

photo: www.outdoorenviroments.com

 

Patio Maintenance for Winter Vital For Kansas City Home Owners

Take the time to prepare your deck or patio for winter.

The days are short, the temps are coming down and it’s time to prepare that patio or deck for the winter months coming. Outdoor Environments wants you to get the most from your deck in Kansas City so follow these tips and make the spring thaw easier.

Prepare outdoor plants
It will be pretty sad to go out on your patio on the first warm day next spring and see dead plants, especially when with preparation now, you can save those plants through the winter.

Clean and cover
Take care of your furniture by cleaning and covering it up. Your furniture will last longer and stay much cleaner when protected from the harsh winter elements.

Clean your grill and spray metal parts with vegetable oil. This keeps moisture off of them, preventing rust. You can buy grill and furniture covers at Lowes or Wal-Mart. A nice grill is worth the effort, right?

Sweep and spray
Sweeping away the summer dirt will give you a clean patio next spring with much less effort. Sweep away the dirt and then rinse it off while before the freeze sets in.

Doing some pre-winter cleaning won’t stop the cold from coming, but it will help you bring your deck or patio back to life much quicker next spring. The experts at Outdoor Environments can help you design, build and maintain the deck of your of your dreams. Call 913-897-2706.

Photo by Olger Fallas on Flickr.

 

Popular Patio Furniture Trends & Ideas for Kansas City

The warm weather seems to be hanging on in Kansas City and if you’re still thinking about your patio furniture, you will want to know what’s hot for next spring.

Gray is taking over

Neutral colors don’t always inspire enthusiasm, but this year’s furniture designs using gray are startlingly crisp. You can tone down those harsh blacks and still give your patio a clean look.

Love those curves
This year, patio furniture makers have loosened up their lines, and the results vary from sensual to elegant to pleasantly relaxed.

Surfaces
Patio tables and dining sets featuring concrete, mosaic and distressed surfaces are lending visual texture. You should also look at durable, low-maintenance resin wicker (both natural and glass-topped)

Mixed Media
The creative use of mixed media is a breakout trend that deserves attention. Table and chair combinations such as wrought iron and wicker, concrete and metal, or trios such as aluminum, wicker, and faux stone or aluminum, wicker, and faux wood bring sophistication to outdoor decorating.

Now that you have put together your outdoor décor, wouldn’t it look better on a custom deck from Outdoor Environment s. Call us at 913-897-2706 or visit www.outdoorenvironments.com.

Photo by osseous on Flickr.

 

Winterizing Your Wooden Deck

After going through the process of getting the wooden deck of your dreams, the last thing you want is harsh winter weather to leave it damaged.

The biggest enemy to your wooden deck is water. You’ll want to protect your Kansas City custom-built deck this winter from all the moisture blankets of snow and ice bring.

Water Resistance. Wood retains water. It’s just what it does. However, long exposure to water, like from a decent coverage of snow, will cause wood to warp, splinter, grow bacteria or fungus which can even eventually cause it to rot. As a part of your deck protection, thoroughly clean your deck. Freeing it from debris and dirt will help it dry quicker and more efficiently when it does air dry. Also, coat your deck with a water resistant sealant which will protect your wood from soaking in the moisture.

For more advice on how to winterize your beautiful Outdoor Environment deck, call us at 913-897-2706 or visit us at www.outdoorenvironments.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image via builddirect.com

5 Tips on How to Winterize Your Outdoor Kitchen

Winterizing your outdoor kitchen not only keeps it looking new and beautiful, but it will also save you money in the long run.  Here’s a quick guide to getting your outdoor kitchen winter-ready:

  1. Deep clean. Before sealing up your outdoor kitchen, you’ll want to make sure it’s clean inside and out. Take a few hours to clean out your fridge, dishwasher, sink and even the cabinets. If able to, consider pulling out the appliances and vacuuming anything that has accumulated behind there.
  2. Drain it. Turn off the water supply to your sink and ice maker, if applicable, and let any water in the pipes drain out. If water freezes in the pipes, you take the chance of bursted  pipes, which takes both time and money to fix.
  3. Cut off power. If you’re able to, pull the plug on your outdoor appliances. In addition, turn off the breaker switch that supplies power to your outdoor kitchen.
  4. Add shine. Polish your outdoor kitchen’s stainless steel appliances, cabinets and even counters. The moisture from the polish will serve to protect these surfaces from unsightly cracks and stress from the dry cold.
  5. Cover it up. Buy appropriate covers for your kitchen that won’t hold moisture but will still stand up to winter winds and temperatures.

For more advice on how to protect your outdoor Kansas City space this winter, contact us at 913-897-2706 or visit us at www.outdoorenvironments.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Image via bkshowplace.com

 

The Steps to Remodeling

Image via Outdoor Storage

 

Remodeling can be exciting, but just like all wonderful things, you have to do your homework and brace yourself for the process that leads to your oasis.

Here are a few steps you can take to get yourself and your mind ready for your deck remodeling project:

  • Finances. Assess your finances to make sure you are financially ready to make changes to your home without causing strain on your living or your savings.
  • Have an idea of what work you want done. By looking through magazines and websites, get an idea of what you want your finished deck or patio to look like, then refer back to your finances and create your budget.
  • Allow time for your remodel. Perfection can’t be rushed, and when you add the possibilities of unforeseen problems to the mix, patience is a necessary factor. Just now, at the end of it all, your Outdoor Environments customized deck will totally be worth it.
  • Enjoy. Take a moment to realize you’re actually doing it. You’re finally actualizing your dream of building your own private deck or patio that’s built to your liking and your family’s usage. You did it!

To get the process of building your Kansas City deck started, contact us today.

Top 5 Tips on Keeping Your Deck Private: Part II

Continuing our previous post on Keeping Your Deck Private, these are other great easy and attainable suggestions on keeping your deck private and serene:

 

  • Plants.  Plants are the most beautiful, as well as the easiest way to add privacy to your deck or patio. We recommend decorating your deck with beautiful plants anyway, so why not use them as a source for additional privacy? Line the side that faces the most open spaces with tall, lush plants.
  • Canopy. In the summer times, you’ll appreciate this addition more than ever, but it can add much desired privacy all year around. Awnings, canopies and sails are offered in a multitude of styles, some even retractable.
  • Trees. Planting trees doesn’t just make you seem more caring of the environment, but it brings a sweet reminder of childhood, too. (The largest tree was always “base” in tag games.)  Trees aren’t just aesthetically and environmentally pleasing, but they create shade to keep you cool in the summer months as well as a barrier to keep away the nosy neighbors.
For the Kansas City deck or patio to enhance your home, contact Outdoor Environments, a certified contractor in Overland Park. Visit us online at www.outdoorenvironments.com or call 913-897-2706.
All Images via Google Images

Top 5 Tips On Keeping Your Deck Private: Part I

You finally got the customized deck of your dreams built, but a few final touches can make a world of difference. When relaxing out on your new Outdoor Environments oasis, the last thing you want is to hear pesky street noise or look over to see a nosy neighbor peering through his or her window to see what you’re up to. So we at OE have put together a few tips on how to better ensure your privacy while enjoying your beautiful new patio or deck.

  • Fountains. Fountains aren’t just a beautiful way to decorate your yard, but the sound of a running fountain can easily drown out the noise of children playing in the street or cars driving by.

  • Build with a Twist. If you’re building (or have built) your customized split level deck, consider planting a large tree, such as a cypress, that doesn’t just add to the aesthetic appeal of your deck but also blocks visibility to a portion of it.

 

To be continued… Stay tuned for our sequel post!

 

 

Images via:

Photo 1 & 2: DIYNetwork
Photo 3: Better Homes and Garden

Decorate Your Deck for Thanksgiving

Now that Halloween is over, it’s time to put away the fake, fuzzy spiders and the webs made of cotton and pull out decor that is warm and welcoming for Thanksgiving.

Decorating your deck is, in our opinion, one of the most fun parts of having a customized deck. It’s a great activity that brings the family together, energizes the holiday spirit in all those involved, and brings a fun and festive liveliness to your home.

However, decorating can be tricky. So we’ve put together some great ideas for you to try out on your Kansas City deck this fall:

Wreaths. Create them yourself or by them store made, but wreaths incorporating colorful leaves or festive mini-pumpkins are a welcoming addition.

Potted Plants.  A year round favorite, potted plants instantly bring color to any deck.

Customized Pumpkins. Paint a welcoming message across a few pumpkins. Whether it’s your family name, house number or even just a plain “Welcome,” personalizing your home has never been easier.

Horn and Husks. A classic fall favorite. Create something artistic, display in a garland, or just bunch together a bunch of colorful corn tusks and their dried husks.

Cornucopia. A Thanksgiving classic, but instead of filling it with food, try filling it with festive flowers, leaves and dried berries instead.

 

Celebrate this beautiful season by decorating your custom built Kansas City deck today.