Category Archives: Tips

Photo Credit: Flickr.com/Steve Parker (Creative Commons)

Gas heaters are a good choice if you need to heat a rather large patio area (up to about 20 ft. wide). If you’re likely to plan large family gatherings and need to keep everyone warm, this may be your best option. Gas heaters operate on either propane or natural gas, which comes with many stipulations on how and where they should be stored.

Electric heaters are a choice many people prefer because they don’t require the purchase or storage of fuel or wood. However, these heaters are not as efficient when it comes to heating larger areas or groups of family and friends. Electric heaters are best for smaller patios or decks utilized by only a few people.

Wood heaters are usually nicer looking than the other two options. Wood heaters look like tables with a large groove or pit in the middle for
fire flames. These are a definite plus for homeowners living in a woody area with access to plenty of free firewood.

If you’re not sure which patio heating option is best for you, give Outdoor Environments a call at 913-897-2706.

You finally have the outdoor living area of your dreams now all you need to do is accessorize to add your own personal style to the space. We know that you probably aren’t enjoying the area as much as you’d like since the weather here in Kansas has turned colder, but that doesn’t mean that come spring you can have the perfect place to lounge outside. Now is a great time to buy outdoor furniture and accessories with all the holiday sales and discounts. We have pulled together a few of our favorite must have accessories for your outdoor environments.

If you haven’t already done so you’ll need to purchase your patio or deck furniture. We love the look of this room below from House Beautiful. This outdoor living room is like another extension of your home.

From House Beautiful

Add a pop of color to your outdoors with these below accessories. The pillow and rugs will surely bring some needed pizzazz to any neutral palette. And the candles and lanterns are also a must have for your outdoors.

via Shelterpop

We’d love to hear any deals you have seen on outdoor furniture.

Courtesy of Outdoor Christmas Lights.

Tis the season to hang holiday lights and decorate your outdoors with Christmas lawn decorations, but before you do so, please inspect each set for any damages. Christmas lights definitely add holiday cheer to any home, but there are some safety concerns you should consider before you install the lights. Check out a few of our safety tips below so that you can have a safe and happy holiday.

1.       Avoid hanging or placing holiday lights near any sources of heat.

2.       Secure lights to avoid wind damage.

3.       Avoid puncturing the insulation of the holiday lights with staples or nails.

4.       Avoid placing holiday light bulbs on any electrical wires.

5.       Make sure you unplug the holiday lights when you leave your home or retire for the night.

6.       Keep your holiday lights away from small children to avoid burns or strangulation.

7.       Avoid closing doors or windows on the holiday lights or extension cords.

8.       Keep paper and cloth away from the light bulbs.

9.       Make sure you replace any burned out lights to avoid overheating the bulbs.

10.   Avoid overloading your extension cords and use no more than three standard-size sets per cord.

When hanging lights outdoors please be aware that you need to use only outdoor Christmas lights and plug all outdoor electrical decorations into a ground-fault circuit interrupter. If your lights burn a fuse than make sure you reduce the amount of wattage that is flowing through it.

Holiday season is upon us and at Outdoor Environments we wanted to make sure that you will have not only a Happy Thanksgiving, but a safe one. With all the cooking being done on Thursday for your Thanksgiving Day feast we wanted to give you some tips on how to avoid indoor and outdoor kitchen fires.

When frying a turkey please make sure that you cook it outdoors for safety purposes. Below is a short clip from KCTV 5 featuring our friends at Overland Park Fire Station 1. For more tips please visit KCTV5.com.

With the end of Daylight Saving Time (DST) on Sunday, November 7^th, 2010 at 2 a.m. comes two things– an extra hour of sleep and it gets dark a lot earlier. The first thing is a definite bonus, the second not so much. With the shorter daylight hours comes the desire to spend more time indoors. At Outdoor Environments we want to help you spend more time outdoors all year round. With our four-season additions we can help you enjoy nature from the comfort of an enclosed space. Whether you are looking to build a sunroom, conservatory or a screened in porch a four-season room can add value to your home.

Below are four-season rooms that we have created for our clients.

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

Outdoor Environments Four-Season Room

For more information on ways to extend your time outdoors this season sign up to receive our posts in your email. Just enter your email address to the right of this post.

Extend the life of your outdoor furniture this season by properly caring for it. Below are 4 tips on how to care for your outdoor furniture.

1. Properly clean your outdoor furniture several times each year. If you have wood outdoor furniture than you should buy specific cleaner so you don’t ruin the finish.
2. Make sure you protect your outdoor furniture with waterproof covers during the winter months. The covers will not only protect your furniture from the elements, but will prevent sun damage.
3. Re-stain, paint and seal your furniture when needed.
4. Check all the hardware on the furniture to make sure there aren’t any loose bolts or missing pieces.

Like anything you own, the better care you take of an item, the longer it will last. We’d love to hear any tips you might have for caring for your outdoor furniture, please leave your comments below.

Last week we highlighted some of our favorite outdoor décor ideas for Halloween, but with little ones getting ready to invade your home turf on Sunday night we wanted to help you prepare your exterior for the onslaught of visitors. Below are some tips for making sure your Halloween night is a safe one.

1. Make sure your home is well lit. Turn on your floodlights and porch lights to make navigating the dark night a little easier.
2. Do not use open flame candles in your jack-o-lanterns. Flashlights and battery operated lights are much safer and do not pose a fire hazard.
3. Make sure your driveway and walkway is free of any debris.

Hope everyone has a Happy Halloween this year and for more tips on how to keep your children safe this Halloween please visit The Kansas Department of Health and Environment.

The weather here in Kansas has definitely turned colder. The evenings are producing temperatures right around 50 degrees so go ahead and light your outdoor fireplace or fire pit. Nothing is better than a warm, inviting fire on a crisp fall evening while you lounge beneath the stars.

If you are looking to purchase an outdoor fireplace or fire pit than let Outdoor Environments help find you the perfect match. We can take a look at your current outdoor living space and see which would work best for your home. There are many things to consider when purchasing an outdoor fire pit or fireplace. You’ll first need to check your local codes and laws regarding outdoor air quality. Some areas prohibit wood-burning fireplaces.

For more information call Outdoor Environments at 913-897-2706.

There are many benefits to investing in an outdoor living space. So many people focus on the inside of their home, but the outside is just as important. The exterior is the first thing people see when they visit your home.

We put a lot of emphasis on the importance  of creating an outdoor environment for your friends and family to enjoy and now there is another reason why you should invest in your outdoors.  According to SmartMoney magazine, a new deck, patio or garden can help increase the value of your home by up to 15 percent.

So this fall let Outdoor Environments help you create a beautiful oasis outside. Give us a call at 913-897-2706 or visit us online at Outdoorenvironments.com.

Outdoor Environments

With the arrival of fall you need to start thinking about how to prepare the exterior of your home for the cold winter months. During the next couple of weeks we are going to help you get your home winter ready starting with your deck.

Chances are the summer heat had an effect on our deck. You’ll need to clean, repair and protect the wood on your deck before the upcoming winter months. Make sure you clean your deck and remove all dirt. Check to see if any of the wood is warped or damaged and make sure all nails are correctly in place. You can use a deck cleaner for a thorough cleaning to remove any mildew or stains.

If you are considering staining or sealing your deck now is the time to do so, just wait at least 24 hours after cleaning to apply the stain. Make sure you check the color of the stain before you use it on your entire deck. Apply the stain evenly and we recommend staining the rails before the floor for easier clean up. And try and avoid staining or sealing your deck before it rains.

Outdoor Environments

You’ll probably need an entire weekend, or more depending on the size of your deck, for this project so make sure you give yourself enough time to get the job done. Also check the forecast and make sure the weekend is rain-free. For help you can give Outdoor Environments a call at 913-897-2706 or visit us online at Outdoorenvironments.com.