Shutterstock.com
Deck out your yard
with an exciting space to gather By Kathleen Moran, House and Home Writer
Graduation parties, Fourth of July celebrations and cookouts are some great opportunities to partake in outdoor gatherings. One thing every homeowner should contemplate when hosting an outdoor function, though, is the option for guests to eat and socialize in an area that affords guests with shade as the hot temperatures continue. Another consideration is lighting, especially if an event starts in the evening.
Photos:Shutterstoc
k.com
One structure that quickly comes to mind in terms of offering shade is the pergola. According to Don Wantuch, a sales representative with Big C Lumber, “Building one is generally a two-person job with one individual drilling holes and the other set of hands working to steady and fasten the beams.” A wooden structure like a pergola should set for at least one or two seasons or, depending on the time of its building, a minimum of six months so that it can dry out, he explained. For instance, if a homeowner builds a pergola in the fall, it is ideal to wait until the spring before sealing, painting or staining.
| Michiana House and Home | July 2021 | 5
