Tag Archives: certified remodelers in Kansas City

Add Radiant Heating to the Floor of Your 4 Season Room

One of the biggest outdoor remodeling trends that you should take note of is adding radiant heating to the floor of your four season room. Why is this such a hot trend in remodeling right now and why is it important to add radiant heating? There are a couple convincing reasons. Continue reading

Brighten Up Your Home This Winter With Outdoor Lighting

Include in your exterior remodeling ideas outdoor lighting, especially to brighten up the long winter months.

There are a variety of outdoor lighting styles from which to choose. Select ones that are energy efficient. Today’s technology provides low-voltage, high-tech LED bulbs, which use 80 percent less energy than standard bulbs. This makes the night lights functional and sustainable. Continue reading

Design Your Landscape With Storm Water in Mind

As you consider exterior remodeling ideas, do not forget to plan for storm water. Whether it is rain or melting snow, you can beautify your landscape in a myriad of ways that will not only protect your building, but use the water to its fullest. Continue reading

Playing With Proportion in Your Hardscaping

After completing a new construction, remodeling or addition home project, you can often be left with an unsightly yard in need of some much deserved attention. Deciding how to coordinate your hardscape with your landscape and tie them together with your new home can seem overwhelming. This is a perfect time to let the professionals assist you with their hardscaping services in Kansas City. Continue reading

outdoor living spaces

Have a Blank Slate Backyard? How to Plan an Incredible Design

outdoor living spaces

Source: Outdoor Environments

Yards are an extension of our homes.  They can be a haven—a beautiful place to spend time outdoors, or the perfect space to host an event.  If you’re backyard is a blank slate, here are some questions to ask yourself, and a few simple ideas and design inspirations to transform it into a sanctuary that extends beyond your walls.

Who is it for?
Make an assessment of your needs.  Who will benefit from the space you want to create?  Do you have kids, pets, or a lot of guests?  Make sure to add features everyone can enjoy.

Define your space
A clear design is helpful.  Designate areas—a place for a fire pit or barbeque, a play space, an area to relax, a dining space, or a spot to roam free.  Avoid clutter, and highlight each area in your design with different features.  For example, your dining area can be used day or night, rain or shine with the right lighting and cover.

Add unique details
Mix materials (like stone and copper), add structures (pergolas, gazebos), and display art pieces.

All of these exterior remodeling ideas can help you create a beautiful outdoor space to enjoy year round.  Contact us at Outdoor Environments for help designing your dream yard.

outdoor hardscaping Kansas City

Look at the Outdoor Hardscaping When Buying a Home

outdoor hardscaping Kansas City

Source: Pinterest

When buying a new home, most homeowners concentrate on the house itself and check the foundation, the roof and the appliances. Savvier ones will also look at the landscaping around the home. For this latter group, here are some tips on what to look for when evaluating the outdoor hardscapes of a home:

  • Patios & Walkways – While small cracks are not inherently bad, they can indicate a problem that is about to occur. Large tree roots that run under a /0/ “>patio will eventually warp and finally buckle it.
  • Stone Walls – Walls that tilt even a little bit indicate a problem with the wall’s foundation or with its drainage. This is not a situation that will fix itself and should be addressed before purchasing the property.
  • Steps – Stairs should be level and plumb with appropriate landing areas on both the upper and lower ends. Otherwise, they can be a safety problem as well as an eyesore.

For more information on hardscapes, contact the professional Kansas City contractors at Outdoor Environments. We can be found online at OutdoorEnvironments.com or you can call us directly at 913-897-2706.

outdoor living spaces

Must-Have Backyard Features Homeowners Want

outdoor living spaces

Source: Pinterest

Outdoor living rooms and kitchens are all the rage with today’s homeowners, and why wouldn’t they be? Homeowners are trying to use as much space to their advantage as possible, and the outdoor area often goes unused. The following are a few of the more popular features that homeowners are implementing into their outdoor living areas.

  • Fire Pit – Fire pits are currently one of the top features that homeowners desire. It’s not difficult to see why; fire pits offer a social gathering spot that can be both intimate and larger scale, and they provide the outdoor area with warmth and comfort.
  • BBQ Grill – Cooking outside has always been a popular pastime among American homeowners, and it’s no different these days. Homeowners like to be able to cook outdoors so that they can socialize with friends and family.
  • Pergola – A pergola is a great way to offer some shade from the sun without completely obscuring the sky or the environment around you.
  • Hot Tub – Not only are hot tubs fun and relaxing, but they have also been found to have numerous health benefits as well.

Be sure to contact Outdoor Environments for all of your outdoor living area needs.

outdoor design

Bad View? Smart Landscaping Can Help!

outdoor design

Source: Pinterest

Your Kansas City house is perfect. Ideal amenities, layout and furnishings. Unfortunately, the view out your windows is anything but perfect. Exterior remodeling ideas featuring great landscaping and hardscaping create a view everyone can enjoy. Breathe some new life into your property with some imaginative view fixes.

To deal with small, unsightly things ruining your view, such as propane tanks, electrical boxes and central air units, you can use some clever landscaping tricks to hide them. A strategically placed trellis or a decorative retaining wall covered with climbing plants is enough to hide a propane tank or electrical box. Central air units need space around them so landscaping needs to draw attention away from them rather than covering them.

Dealing with an unsightly view of the neighborhood requires more inventive exterior remodeling ideas. Rather than putting up a tall fence, add in large hardscaping details. Constructing a large wall featuring a cutout creates a frame for the tall trees and sky-reaching plants behind it. A corner waterfall with full, flowering trees bring the eye down from utility poles and power lines. These combinations of hard and soft elements camouflage undesirable views.

Need more ideas to alter an undesirable exterior view? Contact our experienced landscaping experts for planning ideas and inspiration.

 

decks in Kansas City

Hide Your Hot Tub for a Versatile Deck Design

decks in Kansas City

Source: Houzz

You love your home’s hot tub–it is a great place to relax, a perfect spot to enjoy a starry night, and a good gathering spot for family and friends. But it may take up a significant portion of your deck. What could you do with this space if the hot tub wasn’t there?

If you’re hoping for more space on your deck but you don’t want to get rid of your hot tub, we have a unique solution for you. We have a strategic design that allows you to maximize space and extend the function of your design. Hiding the hot tub is simple with help from our professionals at Outdoor Environments when the deck is essentially built around the sunken hot tub. The hot tub is positioned below the majority of the deck, but you would retain access to the mechanics and the tub from the lower point of the deck.  When the hot tub is not in use, sturdy wood panels are secured over the covered hot tub, creating a new space that is the perfect spot for guests to mingle and the party to begin.

If you’d like to learn more about versatile decks in Kansas City, contact us at Outdoor Environments. We have solutions for all your decking needs!

deck-style

Choosing the Style of Your Deck

A deck can accent your home and add value when done right. There’s a large variety of decks to select from and hiring a professional to assist with your ideas can help you achieve your goal. For Kansas City homeowners needing exterior remodeling services, consider Outdoor Environments where you will receive expert advice and assistance on the right deck for your backyard.

deck-styleDecks in Kansas City range from platform to multi-level decks. At Outdoor Environments we can help you decide which one is best. For the simplest style consider a low to the ground, platform deck.

It’s built on leveled ground and doesn’t require railings. Pressure treat the wood and give coats of protective sealer to preserve the deck for many years to come. A freestanding deck isn’t connected to the house, requires little expense or work.

A raised deck is higher off the ground, needing railings and stairs for added safety. You can hide exposed posts with vines and plants. A two story deck allows you to enter your backyard from the second floor. A multi-level deck is connected through stairways and walkways and is ideal for uneven lots. Become creative on how to hide exposed posts with decorative boards and skirting.

Consider these options when choosing the right deck for you. Contact us if you’re looking for professional help.