There  are some charming garden structures that can really convert your garden into an inviting oasis.

Eye catching decorative garden structures can really make your garden look impressive and elegant. These days such garden structures are very much in demand because they can really turn a simple and boring garden into an exotic paradise. Timeless classic garden structures like bridges, pergola, trellis, arbor and gazebos add additional charm and beauty to your backyard garden and lawn.

In this article, I would mainly like to tell you about some attractive garden structures that can change the whole ambiance of your plain and simple lawn area.

1. Beautify your garden with Trellises

A Trellis can be installed near the walkway, next to the entry gate and inside your garden area. You can use metal or wood for the construction as one of the many garden structures. For making the trellis look luxurious and elegant, paint them with vibrant and natural colors. Besides being an appealing backdrop for your garden, trellises are also used to support vines and flowers like wisteria, ivy, clematis, honeysuckle and morning glories.

2. Arbors are excellent to please your guest

One garden element that can really impress all your guests is the Arbor. These classic structures can be used to decorate the garden during festivals, garden weddings and social gatherings. They act as excellent backdrop for photographs and can also be used for decorating the entryway. Wooden arbors are also used for supporting long-stemmed flowers, vines and climbers.

3. Pergola is an excellent place for entertaining the guests

A pergola is a comfortable, charming and shaded outdoor space just like the patio area. You can arrange various small parties and picnics here for your family and friends. To make this welcoming retreat even more charming you can include a bistro table set, comfortable chairs and vibrant lights here. For constructing your own pergola you have to purchase construction kits which include pre-cut and pre-drilled posts. This comfortable oasis will provide you a cool ambiance even when the sun is blazing outside.

4. Garden bridges

Garden bridges can be used for practical purpose for just as a decorative structure. You can place this alluring fixture over your garden pond or creek. The length and style of the bridge should be chosen according to the requirements of your garden area.

5. Gazebos are perfect for social gatherings

A gazebo is another of many excellent garden structures that can be found in various huge gardens and lawns. They make a perfect place where you can organize spring weddings and parties. This shaded place can even be used for relaxing and playing games.

Garden structures are our specialty and we offer No Obligation Quotes or call 972-272-0554

So you have spent a lot of money, time and frustrations getting your new above ground pool installed.You invested this time, money and frustrations so you can spend quality time with your family and friends . You find yourself floating on your favorite float that has a built in cup holder for your favorite cocktail with your choice of music playing in the background, the smell of the steaks that are cooking on the grill way over there on the patio and think to yourself “Now This Is It”. You look out your backdoor to see the children splashing around in the pool. Ahh the joys of owning a pool !

Fall rolls around. You are still enjoying the pool but not quite as much since the water has cooled down a bit. The leaves start falling from the trees and right in the pool. You have to spend a little time every few days cleaning the leaves out. Winter sets in and unless you can afford the luxury of a pool heater your pool season has ended for a few months. You have a few not so cool days and you want to get outside so you bring out the lawn chairs and set them on the lawn to stare at the metal walls of this big structure and think  “I spent a lot of money, time and frustrations  and This Is It?” Now consider an Above ground pool deck.

Above ground pool deck

Include an Above Ground Pool Deck.

Well there is a better option.An area that becomes part of that investment in your family and friends that you can enjoy almost endlessly. An Above Ground Pool Deck can greatly enhance your Quality Time with your Family and Friends while extending your time outdoors. The options are numerous when planning your above ground pool deck . To name a few of them – Steps, built in Benches, Hand Rail, Shade Structure like a Pergola, Wood Deck Skirting, a place to swing a rope hammock to lay back enjoying a good book or laptop surfing the net, floating candles in the pool, Tiki’s, Patio Furniture arranged on this Wood Deck to fit your taste, low voltage lighting, gas fire pit for those cool days, Planters or potted plants, smelling  those steaks on the grill and your choice of music playing in the background. Now look out your backdoor and what do you see?

The only limits having an above ground pool deck are your budget and your imagination but the benefits and memories are immeasurable.

We offer No Obligation Quotes for your above ground pool deck just for the asking or Call 972-272-0554

Composite deck materials or WPC (wood, plastic, composite) are slowly gaining popularity. According to a market study done by : Principia Partners for new, remolded and replacement decks market share of deck boards based on millions of linear feet, from 2004-2009 WPC has gained 14% over pressure treated softwoods or PTS.

While 65% of the decks installed are made with PTS, the consumers are realizing that the initial lower cost  is being offset with the almost yearly maintenance. This coupled with the “Go Green” revolution is giving rise to the increase in popularity of a composite deck with WPC.

The cost of a composite deck can be up to 3 1/2 times higher and will still require some upkeep. There are lots of deck builders that have experience working with WPC so finding a deck contractor for WPC deck construction should be a easy task.

Some of the Advantages and Disadvantages

1- A Composite deck can have a higher heat retention but can be offset by purchasing a lighter color.

2- Composite deck cost is higher than a wood deck but you have more choices on deck design with your deck ideas.

3- Surface is of a composite deck is nonskid vs wood deck with stain applied.

4- With a Composite Deck there is no splintering or warping that you get with PTS.

5- No reapplying of weather sealant/stain every 2-3 years although some of the manufacturers recommend a light application.

6- WPC has wood fibers with the recyled plastics and when cut and left exposed are subject to rot and mold unless it has additives such as zinc borate.

7- WPC contains plastic, either polyethylene which is recycled and more malleable plastic and wood fiber, or polypropylene which is virgin plastic which is more rigid.

8- WPC can stain with  oil, rust, wine, chemicals or grease from your BBQ grill but can be minimized with an approved protectant.

9- Some of the WPC’s are softer than others and will scratch easier.

10- You can choose from a variety of colors,  textures and wood grain simulations.

11- They call WPC environmentally friendly but yet the chemicals that are needed to clean are not quite so environmentally friendly.

12- If scratched or stained you have to replace and can not refinish like you can with wood.

I have been in deck construction for a long time and have seen products come and go. I like working with the different brands of WPC and have been very pleased with ease of installation as well as the appearance

but only time will tell if it will last as some of the claims made.

If you are considering deck construction with WPC then first do a online search on the composite’s that are available and what some of the pro’s and con’s are so that you can make an informed decision. We offer No Obligation Quotes.

Here is a short list of some of the more popular Composite Deck Materials available :

Trex, Timbertech, Correct Deck, Choice Deck, Ultradeck, Veranda Decking and Lattitudes.

Composite Deck

Do it yourself fencing repair can be a challenge for the inexperienced but it doesn’t have to be. Knowing times are tough and as a thirty year veteran I will try to make fencing repair, changing rotted fencing posts and replacing panels in your fence doable for those who like to do it yourself and save money. I will address :

* Do it Yourself Fencing Repair

* Replacing rotted Fence Post

* Cedar fence Fence Post

* Treated Wood Post

* Galvanized Metal Fence post

* Changing a Wood Fence Picket

* Adding or Changing Fence Rail

There are as many How to Wood Fence and Fencing Repair as there are nails in fence pickets. The way that I describe here has worked for me here in the Dallas Texas metro area for many years.

Do it yourself fencing repair  : Is easy if you go about it the right way but is very hard if you go about it the wrong way and can get very frustrating and costly.

Fencing Repair made easy:

Replacing Rotted Fence Post : Replacing posts in Fence is one of the hardest things about fencing repair. I have seen DIYer’s try everything to get broken fence post out of the ground. One of my favorite is what I call the Grand Canyon. This is when a DIY will dig a hole so big around the fence post that they almost need a cement truck to bring in enough concrete to fill it. Have you ever dug a hole fence post ? If so use the concept of digging a 8 inch diameter hole for a fence post against the concrete of the old fence post about 2-2 1/2 feet deep. Then take a sharp shooter shovel to clear a little dirt from each side of the concrete. Use post hole digger to remove the little bit of dirt that you loosened. You now have a hole that is deep enough that with a little effort you can use a rock bar to lever the broken post and concrete into the hole you just dug so that it will be easy to lift out.

Put the new pole in the hole, take the old hard concrete and use as filler in the hole and put as much premixed wet concrete in, plumb the pole with a level. You can then wait 24 hors for the concrete to harden around the new fence post or you can nail the old or new fence panels to it and then use an old fence board to support it.

If you would like the easier way out then you can install a new fence post in next to the existing so that you do not have to dig the wood post out.

 Reducing the frequency of Fencing Repair:

Cedar Fence Post : Cedar highly resistant to rot, decay, warping and bugs when used below or in contact with the ground. If it is saturated with moisture when installed in the  with concrete around it and dries out, it will shrink leaving a void that will take on water. This creates a premature rotting process. This can also happen at the ground level if the concrete is not poured to a level that will help repel the water away from the fence post. You can use a good weather treatment to soak the post end prior to installing to extend the like of a cedar fence post . I have used Behr and Olympic with good success.

Dont like fencing repair then use Treated Wood Post  : Pressure treated wood post have a chemical that is resistant to rot. The tag on the end of the post at most retail chains like (Home Depot or Lowes) will tell you if it is good for ground contact. I have seen a lot of Landscape timbers used for posts in a fence. These usually do not have the proper treatment that will give it the rot protection so unless someone is on a very tight budget I will not recommend this type of wood post for fencing.  Pressure treated pine fence post can warp or check from drying and shrinking (looks like a split) . To minimize warping and twisting make sure that you attach the fence panels with the correct screws or nails. They need to be long enough to penetrate through the rail and the post by 2 1/2 – 3 inches. Also make sure that it is a Hot Dipped Galvanized screw or nail so that the chemicals in the wood do not deteriorate them.

I have seen that pressure treated wood post will last several years but can dry rot at the ground level but you can also minimize this by soaking the part that will come in contact with the ground in a good weather sealant.

Eliminate Fencing Repair with Galvanized Metal Fence Post  : Galvanized Metal Fence Post are my choice to use for fencing a backyard or changing out a rotted fence post. When they are installed correctly they can last a lifetime. Diameter of the hole they are to be cemented in to should be 8 – 10 inches and the depth should be a minimum of 30 inches and up to 48 inches. The type of soil and ground condition will dictate this. They will cost a little more but in my opinion are worth the difference. Make sure that you get a heavy gauge like a .095 and put a dome cap on it so that it doesn’t act like a rain gauge. The appearance is not as natural as wood fence post but this can be easily but boxing it with fence board or two.

Easiest part of fencing repair is Changing a Wood Fence Picket  : Changing a Fence Picket is almost self explanatory. In the Dallas Texas metro the choices of fence pickets are starting with the best then to the last are Cedar (3-4 different grades), Composite ( recycled materials like Trex, Correct Deck ), Pressure Treated Yellow Pine, Fir, and White Pine ( These are all in the white wood category}.

Once again make sure that your screws or nails are of the proper length and either hot dipped galvanized or aluminum.

You can attach a fence board  to the top of the pickets or a nylon string to use to keep the top straight as you fasten them to the rails.

Easier part of a fencing repair is Adding or Changing Fence Rail  : I have had the most success changing a fence rail by leaving the fence panel attached to the post. Use a sawzall with a metal cutting blade. Slip the blade in between the rail and the post so you can cut the nails or the screws. Use a Wonder Bar and a hammer so that you can wedge it between the rail and the fence board. Pry the fence board away from the fence rail. Fllow the same procedure with all the fence boards. Take the fence rail out. Cut the new one to the same length. Drive the nails through the fence picket leaving the nail in. Insert the rail. Hammer to nails back into the fence rail. You then can use 3 1/2 inch hot dipped galvanized nail to hammer through the rail into the fence post.

To do or not to do Fencing Repair

If you would like to have a experienced Fencing Repair Quote or Call 972-272-0554

I have been serving happy customers in the Dallas, Rockwall, and Collin counties since 1981 and would love the opportunity to have you as one of these happy customers. We can work together to create and build you a custom wood or composite deck, cedar pergola and arbor, shingled patio cover, tropical cover with thatched palm leaves, custom cedar privacy fence, wrought iron fence, electric driveway gate or custom gazebo. We also do repairs.

Please feel free to drop by my website and visit the gallery and/or request a free quote.

Please stop by often as I build on this blog to help people better understand.