Patio Furniture, Cushions, Personalized Doormats

This article by expert Thomas Easterday has great tips about the different kinds of wood patio furniture you can buy.

Choosing and Caring for Outdoor Wood Furniture
By Thomas Easterday

Why should you use wood furniture outdoors? To some people this is not even a question! The right question would be, “Why wouldn’t you use wood furniture outdoors?” There is a wide variety of materials that are made to be used outdoors, including plastic, metal, wicker and other synthetic materials. With all of the other options for outdoor furniture, the reasons of why one should use wood should be carefully examined before you buy furniture for your outdoor oasis.

Wood is meant to be outdoors. Trees grow in the great outdoors, so it makes sense that furniture made from trees should be kept outdoors. It is no wonder that wood furniture, when treated and cared for properly, can last outdoors for years. The type of wood you pick of will determine just how well the wood weathers over time.

Although wood does weather over time, you can protect your outdoor wood furniture by carefully taking care of it every season. Paint and stain are good ways of protecting your wood furniture from the sun because they add an additional layer of defense to the wood. Water-repellent stains are also important to add to your outdoor furniture to protect it from water damage, which causes the wood to rot and crack. When using either paint or stain, you want to have a durable blend so that it dries fast and completely, and does not rub off on people sitting down on the furniture.

Another way to protect your wood and make it last for years to come is to buy special kinds of wood. Treated wood is one such option, as it is resistant to rotting from the elements. But one of the issues with treated wood is that it often comes green, and can more easily warp than regular wood.

Teak furniture is a popular choice for outdoor furniture. Teak wood is an extremely dense hardwood is often praised for its durability. It also has natural oils that protect it from the elements, even when left untreated. Often grown in Indonesia, Teak is very resistant to attacks by termites and other insects because the high oil content makes it water repellent.

Chinese Oak is a dense hardwood with a very fine grain. It is a naturally light wood and sometimes has a pinkish tint. The tannic acid in Chinese Oak makes it ideal for use in outdoor furniture because it is naturally resistant to attacks by fungi and insects.

Cedar, especially Western Red Cedar is a very popular choice for outdoor furniture because of its beautiful color and finish. Often grown in Canada, Western Red Cedar is also naturally resistant to decay and insect damage when exposed to rain, sun, heat, or cold all year. When properly treated, Red Cedar furniture may last for decades in the harshest of environments.

A final way to protect your outdoor wood furniture and maintain it for the long haul is to simply put a roof over it. Whether it is an awning on your deck, a covered roof for your sunroom or your garage during the winter, a roof can go a long way to help you keep the sun, rain and wind off of your wood furniture and protect it for years to come.

Thomas Easterday is the Director of Marketing for The Cedar Station. The Cedar Station carries a complete line of Outdoor Furniture for your enjoyment. For more information about The Cedar Station please visit http://www.thecedarstation.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Thomas_Easterday
http://EzineArticles.com/?Choosing-and-Caring-for-Outdoor-Wood-Furniture&id=425362

Check out our teak patio furniture selection

High Quality Colored Icicles: Great Holiday Decor For Your Home
By Anne Clarke

Originally, clear Icicle lights were developed to simulate the heartwarming scene of a white Christmas, for those areas in which snow is rare. Today, you can find colored icicle lights in many colors, including blue, green, and red. You can see them hung from eaves, fences, railings, gutters, or the decks of homes and businesses. Colored icicle lights are considered by some to be more versatile than the clear type, since they aren’t specifically meant to look like real icicles and are sold in any climate, for both indoor and outdoor decorating. It doesn’t matter if snow isn’t in the forecast; the breathtaking beauty of colored icicle lights will always provide an added glow and festive spirit to your home or office building.

You should keep a few things in mind while setting up your colored icicle lights:

If outlining the edges of your house, remember to attach colored icicle lights not only from the roof, but also from windows and valences to balance the appearance. Another tip from experienced colored icicle light users and observers is to keep the string closer together than the advertised length. Spreading out the set of colored icicles to its max will look strange, so for the best lighting effect, use a few feet less.

It’s extremely important to only use the colored icicle lights specifically manufactured for outside use while you decorate outside. Outdoor colored Icicle lights are more durable and designed for wet weather than are indoor Christmas lights.

Hang your colored icicle lights outside where they are not hanging near any overhead power lines leading to your house.

Both for the sake of your electric bill, and for the conservation of energy, buy a timed photoelectric switch system. Whether mechanical or digital, these are invaluable during the Christmas season. It’s simple, just set the system to turn on the lights at dusk and off at a pre-selected time. There’s no need for electricity to be wasted during daylight hours! These timers are great both for outdoor colored icicle lights and indoor lights, including those on the Christmas tree!

Anne Clarke writes numerous articles for websites on gardening, parenting, recreation, education and décor. Her background includes teaching and gardening. For more of her articles about holiday design, please visit Colored Icicle Lights.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_Clarke

Porch Swings come in a variety of sizes and materials. Which one would you choose?

Wood porch swings are durable and attractive. I think I’d put a cushion on a wood swing anyway. Wood could get kind of hard to sit on after awhile without a cushion, and I’d be worried about splinters you-know-where.

Metal frame porch swings with cushions are comfy, but I have heavy winds in my back yard at times. The extra weight of the wood is helpful in windy areas. However, sitting on Sunbrella cushions on the metal frame could be a lot more comfortable. Sunbrella is also UV resistant, giving you long lasting cushions and upholstery.

The wicker porch swing is “sweet” and romantic. Put a nice cushion on and curl up with a Victorian romance and a mint julip! How well does whicker last, anyway?

Check out the Porch Swings and enjoy a lazy summer afternoon.

Updated the teak patio furniture page. Still need to find a source for a teak care kit, or at least tung oil.

Tung oil is the oil that you use to polish up your teak furniture if it gets scratched. Very convenient care, really. Plastic patio furniture just cracks in a year or two, and you really can’t do much about renewing it. Teak is a heavy wood that is very resistant to decay and insects. The teak furniture carried by Home Decorators Collection is plantation grown, so you needn’t worry that your patio furniture is deforesting the world.

Check out the teak patio furniture page.

Hey, the narcissus and freesia are up already! Check out the pics at the bottom of our page on Fall Bulbs.

Also, the online store we recommend, GoodBulbs.com, is having a blow out sale until November 30th. It’s almost the end of fall bulb season, so they want to clear out the stock.

If you live in a region not yet hit by snow, but which will get cold enough for bulbs (into low 30’s and 40’s) this winter, get some bulbs now on sale. The discount is 20% off of everything in the store.

Or if you prefer indoor gardening, get some of the paper white narcissus kits and plant indoors for winter bloom and fragrance. You can’t beat 20% off your bulb kit!

For spring blooms for years, plant fall bulbs. Our article on planting bulbs includes pictures of the bulbs, tips for planting, and what bulbs we decided to plant this fall.

Whether it’s tulips, daffodils, narcissus, or a coordinated color blooming kit, you’ll find it online. Use our tips to make sure your bulbs bloom in the spring.

Get ‘em while they’re got: Red White and Blue wind toys!

Buy any patriotic item and your entire purchase will be 15% off.
At checkout Enter Promo Code
RWB
Write down the promo code to use later!
May not be applied to prior purchases
Offer good Today through May 31, 2005

Our favorite:

Patriotic Triple Spinner29.99

Have you seen a triple spinner in action? They dance in the wind, hypnotize with their motion. Delightful to watch for hours!

You’ll find all sorts of lovely wind toys on line. Save on all of them with any purchase of a RWB product. Spruce up your garden decor with some wind chimes, spinners, streamers, spinsocks, and flags. Let the wind be your garden friend.

ices on Kites, Wind Chimes, Garden Wind Wheels, Flags and more!

No set of trees or solid beams just the right distance apart? Try a hammock stand for your hammock!

This great hammock stand allows you to swing your hammock wherever you like. The Tri-Beam-Hammock Stand is crafted of portable steel construction and will accommodate large and deluxe hammocks. On the lawn, Deck, or poolside, this large hammock stand creates an air of luxury and style while offering versatility of locations. This unit is easy assembly and comes complete with instructions. The delightful green color adds to your garden or patio decor.

Get one today and hang a hammock anywhere you like!

Click here for full ordering instructions of a hammock holder!

Sounds too good be true! A grill that you can use with either gas or charcoal!

It’s a grill. Grill it with either charcoal or gas. Your choice!

It’s a smoker. Smoke it with either charcoal or gas. Your choice!

It’s a fryer/cooker. Fry it with gas!

This super duper grill holds a massive 50 lbs of food. It’s versatile. It’s easy to use. It’s just awaiting your creativity!

As the ground unfreezes and is still moist, it’s the time to consider putting in garden stepping stones. If you’ve got a flower garden that you want to guide visitors and children through visually, garden stepping stones are just right.

Decide where you want your garden path, and decide how many stones you’ll want to put in. An easy way to figure the amount of stones is just to walk the path, counting your footsteps as you go.

Decide on which Garden Stepping Stones will suit your style.

Looking to make your own garden stones or path? They add so much to your garden decor, but having them installed can be pricey. Buy a Walkway Mold and save yourself money. You’ll get exactly the job you want done when you do it yourself!

There are a number of attractive walkway molds available, for just the kind of stone look you desire. There’s Belgian stone, Slate, Random Stone, round stepping stone, or Venetian Stone available. Each walkway mold comes with instructions of how much mortar or cement you will need, and can be reused limitless times. Ingenious, easy, and inexpensive, these may be the answer to your garden stepping stone design at a fraction of the price.

Click Here for Stepping Stone Molds

Each mold comes with instructions. Only about one minute is needed for setting, so you can finish your walkway in a small amount of time.

You can also purchase a kit for a mosaic stepping stone:

Save time, save money, get your own garden walkway! Buy a Garden Stepping Stone Walkway Mold now for your spring garden projects!