Custom Patio Blog

Most homeowners when they see a pergola would love to have one in their outdoor. However, this sleek and elegant outdoor structure can rack up costs easily. So in this article, we discuss 5 major factors that affect a pergola’s cost.

Material

The first major factor that will affect your pergola installation cost is the material that will be used. Using more wood will always increase your costs as well as having the material customized to achieve a certain cut or look. To save on costs, instead of expensive cedar, you can opt for a pressure-treated wood which will still let you achieve the wooden pergola for less of the cost.

Height and Size

The taller your pergola is, the more expensive your building costs will be. Larger beams and rafters will also add up fast for your material and labor costs. Although, having larger pillars and posts will result in a stronger foundation you’re your pergola.

Area Covered

To keep costs down, most will try to scale down in size. However, you don’t want to shrink your pergola too much that it’ll end up not covering a lot of area. There is always a way to keep costs down while not sacrificing the area your pergola is supposed to cover.

Roof Type

If you live in a relatively hot climate, a solid transparent roof over your pergola will suit you better. Having a solid roof will also extend your hours of enjoyment even if it’s raining or snowing. Aside from making you enjoy your outdoors regardless of the weather, a solid roof cover will also protect the rest of your pergola structure better.

Contractor

Reputable and experienced contractors may charge more than less or inexperienced ones but by hiring an established contractor, you’re given a guarantee of their craftmanship. More often than not, you’ll also get a warranty on their project and be assured of a free repair if anything happens to your outdoor structure within the warranty period.

A screened porch is a covered deck installed along the perimeter of your home. It can be a front, back or wraparound screen porch which gives you a safe and secure outdoor space from which you can always enjoy a view of the outdoors without the unwanted outdoor elements.

Whatever type of screened porch you want to install, these are the 4 elements in every screened porch installed.

Flooring

While they may be screened and roofed, porches are still exposed to the seasons. To ensure your porch will last a long time and prevent it from collapsing, make sure to choose sturdy materials that are known to withstand the harmful elements outside. Ensure the material is impervious from rain, sleet or snow. Better yet, ask your contractor how to proof it when it gets installed. Also take the time to ask for the right way to maintain your screened porch. This way, maintenance costs run low and if you’re lucky, may never have to replace them for the rest of your life.

Roofing

Do you want your porch to use another roofing material? Or if you have a one-storey house, maybe you’d simply want to extend the roofline and use the same material. Whichever way you go, make sure the roof is wide enough to protect your screened porch. Ample protection is part of the maintenance process; once you get this right, it’s easier for your porch to stay intact for longer.

Screen

You might think a screened porch looks the same all over. However, there are different screen fabrics you can install—from fiberglass, aluminum, to bronze, stucco and even pewter-colored screen fabric. You can also have an environmentally-friendly solar panel sunscreen.

Accessories

Make your porch stay more comfortable with the right accessories installed like a ceiling fan, a porch swing or electrical outlets. Have natural daylight stream directly to your porch with a skylights, saving you electricity.

Gas and propane are two of the most popular options when it comes to installing fire pits. In this article, we discuss the two in detail and give you the pros and cons of installing the two.

Gas Firepit

Due to the easy availability of this fuel type, gas fire pits are one of the two top choices for homeowners in Sugar Land. This is because gas fire pits don’t take much time and effort to get it fired up. It neatly provides ambiance without the smoke getting in your eyes. If you’ve got small kids around, gas fire pits are generally safer, too, as it doesn’t provide sparks or embers. Gas fire pits are also easier to clean up since it doesn’t produce ash.

However, a gas fire pit is not ideal for cooking or roasting due to its smell. You may also have to do some pre-installation preparation such as connecting it to your gas line.

Propane Fire Pit

Propane is the next alternative to gas fire pit since the two are almost similar in features except for the fuel type. A propane fire pit also doesn’t need a lot of time and effort to get it running. It also doesn’t produce smoke, sparks, embers or ash that needs cleaning up. One advantage a propane fire pit has over the gas is that a propane can be installed with minimal disruption. You won’t need to have your gas line prepared and the tank can easily be hidden within the fire pit structure.

The only disadvantage it has over gas is that its propane tank will need refueling or replacing from time to time.

Both fire pits are also not recommended for cooking or roasting. These two also do not give off as much heat as a wood-fired pit does. Gas and propane fire pits are just two options out of many. If you’d like to explore more fire pit or even fireplace options for your outdoors, talk to us today!

Patios are not just empty spaces surrounding your home. Installed with the right materials and furniture, it can give you the perfect spot to relax, entertain friends or bond with your family. Here are 5 family-friendly outdoor spaces for you to consider.

If you love basking in the morning or afternoon sun, here’s a plush seating area for you. Watch the sun rise or set by having your most comfortable outdoor chair placed in your patio. Spend your weekends lounging, contemplating, or even just simply relaxing and recharging for the next week ahead in this relaxing spot by your patio.

Perfect for some afternoon tea or relaxing after a day’s work, rest your eyes on a seemingly endless green lawn and enjoy the breeze. The ornate steel chairs in black contrast well against the reigning nude palette of the patio space, giving a classic and regal look to this outdoor space. Catch up with your relatives and enjoy a trip down memory lane.

Why dine inside a stuffy restaurant when you can have all your delicious homemade stuff freshly made in your outdoor kitchen and go straight to eating it with your loved ones or friends right in the dining area next to your outdoor kitchen? Yes, you can have all that in a small space like this.

Cozy and warm colors fill this outdoor space perfect for family bonding. This outdoor living room features comfortable but sturdy outdoor furniture filled with plush cushions, and a lively and colorful paver patio surface to make the room imbibe a sense of vitality and warmth. The patio surface also matches well with the existing brick exterior of the family home.

An outdoor setup designed more for the adults, if you love entertaining family and friends over a cocktail or two or having a summer pool party, this outdoor project is for you. Fitting the patio with some custom-fitted counter and space-efficient bar stools, this layout makes the most out of the limited patio space.

This year’s Pantone color of the year is just bright and lovely, it’s also one of the most naturally-occurring colors in the floral world. If you want to brighten up your garden this 2019 with the color of the year, read on and find out which flowering plants are best suited to your garden!

Coral Cove Rose

Be mesmerized with the explosive way this rose blooms all-year round. With its small flowers dotting your walkway, front yard, side yard or even your backyard, we’re sure these roses won’t fail to make you slow down, smile and appreciate the beauty it adds to your curb appeal.

Hybrid Tea Rose

This modern rose is more than just your favorite flower to turn into a corsage. With its long stem and vibrant hues. It is best paired with the Floribunda.

Coral Honeysuckle

From its name alone, you know it will have coral blooms. Thriving in part sun and shade, this climbing flowering plant is perfect if you are looking to cover your pergola or outdoor posts with coral blooms. Not only will you have coral blooms, these flowers will also attract hummingbirds.

Coralberry

Also known as Indian Currant or Snapberry, it will thrive if you have clay or loam as your garden soil. This flowering plant is also a great groundcover especially if your plot is prone to erosion. Once it bears berries in winter, you’ll see it attract birds and insects to your yard.

Impatiens

The smaller the flower gets, the bigger the visual impact it creates. The same thing goes for Impatiens. Thriving in full sun, it’s perfect to plant it right after the last winter frost. If you want it to reach its maximum height of 30 inches, plant it near each other to encourage growth spurt. If you’re looking for a coral-color flower to plant in a container box, Impatiens is your best candidate!

‘Everybody knows a turkey and some mistletoe help to make a season bright’ so the song goes. This holiday season, cook a sumptuous feast fit for a glorious holiday celebration right in your newly-installed outdoor kitchen.

Choose from our outdoor kitchen layouts below or get inspired to design your own. With our custom-made outdoor kitchens, you can choose which parts and sections you need or want and have your dream outdoor kitchen finally come true!

Pressed for space? This neat outdoor kitchen layout easily solves that. Using the classic L-shape, this layout provides ample space for a small sink, grill, and enough counterspace for your ingredients, cooking utensils and food. You’ll also have enough storage space underneath, saving you time from going to and from your indoor kitchen just to get utensils and other cooking tools.

From the patio, you see a tasteful exterior design and patio space which can accommodate a couple of foldable chairs and tables for your family and friends.

A larger implementation of the L-shape layout, this shows how we customize our layout designs to cater to the client’s chosen kitchen equipment. Based on your preferences, we can easily measure and customize the design so everything gets their own proper place. For the counter space, you can also have two levels for better presentation.

Emulating a bar’s ambiance, we also set up some bold red bar stools which provides a neat contrast against the counter.

Not a fan of grilling? No problem at all! Here’s a simple and straight layout which can easily be done to the side of your patio. A two-level counterspace with storage and fridge space underneath, this outdoor kitchen can accommodate your food and utensils easily. There’s also a mini-sink so you won’t need to bring dirty dishes back to your indoor kitchen for washing.

Front porches serve as a covered space where family, friends, and guests can make themselves presentable before ringing the door. It can also be a place to welcome visitors. In time for the holidays, when there’s a surge of friends and visitors coming over, here are our 5 front porch ideas to make your front porch a place of festive appeal!

An Aromatic Potted Plant

Make your front porch more comfortable for visitors by putting insect-repelling plants by the doorway or seats. This will not only ensure your porch is bug-free, it’ll also keep your front porch smelling great all the time.

Hanging Lantern

A rustic décor by day, and a beautiful source of light by nightfall, a hanging lantern is also a symbol of the festive gatherings to come. Increase joyous ambiance with a hanging lantern by your porch. If your have steps leading to your porch, it’ll also be a wise investment to install light near the steps to avoid accidents.

A Festive Welcome Mat

Make your guests feel more welcome even before they knock on your door with a festive welcome mat!

Landscaping

If you’re keen on getting privacy, climbing plants on a lattice work can give you a beautiful screen without blocking too much sunlight from your porch. If you have the budget, you can even have sculpted bushes and hedges as privacy screens. You can also create container gardens to line up your steps.

A Living Christmas Tree

Think a living Christmas tree is too big for a front porch? Think again. With a potted rosemary, you can have a miniature tree adorn a nook of your porch. Mimic the design you have for your indoor tree and extend the festive ambiance of your home out onto the porch.

A porch well-designed can create a smooth transition from the outdoors into your home. An experienced landscape artist can help you create the perfect front porch in time for the holidays. Call us today for a free, no-obligation consultation!