Deck Out Your Yard With An Exciting Space To Gather

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.

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.

“Gazebos are another option in addition to the pergola and can be attached almost anywhere, like an existing deck or directly onto a home.” Just keep in mind the importance of checking with the local building department when attaching one structure to another.

Overall, it is important for homeowners to carefully think through the planning and building of a pergola or gazebo because they are fairly permanent structures. As Wantuch explained, “They will not be taken down between seasons, meaning a certain amount of yard space will continually be occupied by the structures.”

Guests wishing to congregate on a porch rather than venture out into a yard can take advantage of solar screens. Chuck Mayer, owner of Budget Blinds in Granger, explained that “these screens inhibit UV rays, which goes a long way in preventing discoloration.” Additionally, these screens are durable and meant to withstand the elements.

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Shutterstock.com photo courtesy of Kendall Lighting Center

“Screens with hard-wired wind sensors, called anemometers, can be adapted for use in gazebos, too.” Freestanding gazebos, such as those built in the middle of one’s yard, can have screens that damage easily when caught in the wind. “Thus, the neat thing about an anemometer is that it can measure the wind velocity and automatically roll the screens up when a certain wind velocity is reached,” stated Mayer. This is meant to protect the screens from damage and ensure their long-term function.

Hannah Taylor, lighting showroom manager at Kendall Lighting Center in South Bend, suggested “building hardscape and/or landscape lighting into the posts of a pergola or deck.” She made the additional recommendation to adorn a pergola with string lighting.

“One can really have fun with the lighting in a gazebo, too, by including an outdoor chandelier that is wet rated in order to withstand the elements, which is particularly important in a gazebo that is more exposed.”

The benefit of such lighting options is that guests can stay outdoors without feeling forced to retire indoors at night.

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RESOURCES:

Big C Lumber, multiple locations, www.bigclumber.com Budget Blinds at Toscana Park, Granger, 574-277-6800, www.budgetblinds.com Kendall Lighting Center, multiple locations, www.kendalllightingcenter.com

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