Home Removal Services Blog

Fall is the season when I seem to take most advantage of our backyard outdoor lighting. Less daylight means longer evenings in the backyard while it is still warm enough to bar-b-q enjoy the patio set until bedtime. It also means that I turn on the backyard lights a little earlier each evening to enjoy the late summer nights.

During the longer days of mid summer, it seemed that I could cook and entertain relatively late without worrying about turning on the lights. Safety is a big issue for me, and I like having stairs and pathways of my back yard lit well enough so my friends and family don’t end up in a bush. But now that the days are shorter, I just enjoy turning on the lights so that my evening guests can enjoy the ambiance as much as I do.

I didn’t pay much attention to outdoor lighting design until I bought my own house. Since then, I am all about making a cozy and beautiful space both indoors and out. The backyard is such an easy space to work on. It seems that you can make spectacular changes with just a little hard work, a bit of landscaping, and a combination of some permanent lights and very inexpensive temporary lights. Lighting is often seen as just seasonal, but if you stick with a neutral color (my scheme is generally all white), you can use cheap Christmas lights all year to create a wonderful backyard lighting design.

When you decide to come up with a lighting scheme for your backyard or patio, you will want make sure that you design with safety in mind. People unfamiliar with your outdoor space won’t be expecting changes in surfaces, or won’t be familiar with how many steps from your patio to the backyard. Improper lighting could create safety hazards that are easily avoided with some planning. Consider adding extra lighting at doorways, stairs, and any areas that are main traffic areas.

After ensuring that your main areas have been well lit, you can take care of the interesting part of your backyard lighting design. Wrapping rope lights around the trunks of trees is always a striking effect, as is using spotlights to focus attention on an interesting statue or bush in your garden. For special occasions I have a string of twinkly lights that I’ve placed in the ivy along our neighbours fence. And my favorite effect is always natural light – torches serve double duty as a lovely ambient touch, as well as keeping mosquitoes away by burning citronella oil.

Spending some time to design the lighting scheme of your backyard can be a very rewarding experience. Having guests over to enjoy the outdoor ambiance that you have created is a perfect way to enjoy your outdoor space. Remember that changing the outdoor lighting design is easy and inexpensive, so don’t be afraid to experiment with different placements and types of lighting. You could change your lighting design every year, or your might end up finding the perfect combination, and decide to keep it as a permanent backyard lighting design.

Learn more information on decorating with outdoor lights at outside lights.

Metal carport kits are the cheapest and easiest way of constructing a new carport. The kits come with full and detailed instructions and most can be constructed with a day or two using only the most basic of household tools. These pre-fab carport kits are generally made out of steel or aluminum and come with everything you will need to complete the construction process.

There is some lingo to learn when you start to look at carports, so I’m going to define some of the terms you may hear when you begin your research. Two main distinctions are attached and detached. Detached carports are stand-alone structures with supports are all four corners, and possibly along both walls. Attached car ports (also called lean to carports) share one side with another building, generally your house. Supports are only needed along one side, as the other side is supported by attaching the roof to the other building. Often attached carports will either have a flat roof or sloped roof (also known as single slope car ports). Detached carports most often have a roof style matching the buildings around it.

Even if you don’t have a car, or you already have a spot for your vehicle out of the weather, carport kits are still popular these days for many other uses. The attached car port style is extremely versatile, and is often used as an alternative to custom built covered porches. If you can find a kit with a style that complements the existing style of your house, it is very easy and economical to add additional living space to your house. It’s often not even obvious that many front porch awnings were originally intended to protect your car, rather than house a porch swing.

Stand alone or self supporting metal carports can be used as a protected gathering area in at your cottage or in your backyard. These shelters can be as big or as little as need be. If a double carport is constructed then the area can seat up to 20 people. Benches and or picnic tables can be installed permanently or temporarily. You can also use the area to build a nice outdoor kitchen and BBQ area. Using a standalone carport for this purpose will result in never being held hostage by the weather.

Of course carports of all types and sizes can also be used to protect vehicles from the elements. Metal carport kits can come in one car or two car designs. There are also metal rv carports which are generally longer and higher than the average carport.

The extra durability that a metal carport offers over tarps and temporary canopy structures is really worth the extra expense and assembly effort. A quality metal carport kit will add value to your house, and with the proper attention to selecting a complementary style, you will also enjoy the added aesthetic appeal. Whether you use your metal car port kit to protect vehicles, or add extra outdoor living space, you will definitely be glad of the investment you make.