Deck the deck with strands of holly! No, wait… Something’s not right there. Decking the halls makes good sense – but leaving holly on your cedar deck, Portland residents, is not a good idea. Left in place too long, holly attracts water and can cause damage to a cedar deck. Below, we offer more outdoor holiday decorating ideas for your decking materials. Portland residents can protect their decks by keeping the following outdoor decorating tips in mind.
Posts Tagged ‘cedar deck’
Cedar Deck: Portland Tips for Holiday Decorating
Thursday, December 22nd, 2011
Preparing Your Deck Furniture for Winter
Monday, October 17th, 2011
Putting away the barbeque, checking for rotting decking materials – Portland residents typically know to accomplish such tasks before winter arrives. And almost no one who owns cedar decking is unaware that regular restraining and waterproofing is required to protect wood decking materials. Portland homeowners may not know, however, just what to do with the patio furniture that sits on top of a cedar deck.
The easiest approach to protecting your patio furniture is to store it indoors, where it won’t be subject to the months of rain we usually see during a Pacific Northwest winter. However, even those without the extra storage space in a garage or storage shed can take a few measures to protect the furnishings that sit upon their decking materials. Portland homeowners can maintain their outdoor furniture by heeding the following tips.
Portland Decking Q&A: When to Stain, and Other Post-Construction Tips
Wednesday, March 23rd, 2011
So you’ve taken the plunge and are enjoying the glow of a new cedar deck in the backyard. The next question on many homeowners’ minds is how to keep their decking looking as good as when it was installed.
Deck maintenance is seldom a fun chore, but it’s an important part of protecting your investment. A well-built cedar deck can increase your home’s value by up to 80.6% of the project cost, so it pays to keep your cedar decking in top shape. Following are some post-construction tips for taking care of your new cedar deck.
Get a Free Autumn Deck Evaluation
Thursday, November 11th, 2010
How much life does your deck have left? Interested in finding out?
Between now and Jan. 15, Rick’s will be offering free autumn deck evaluations to assess your composite or cedar deck safety and condition. With a harsh winter coming up, now is the time to find out if your wood deck needs any repairs or adjustments in order to make it through the next few months. Minor deck repairs can often extend the life of your deck and are an essential part of keeping your outdoor living space safe.
November Yard and Garden To-Do List
Wednesday, November 10th, 2010
November is the perfect time for last-minute yard and garden chores. You may think there aren’t any yard tasks left to accomplish before the nasty winter weather sets in, there’s always work to be done. From raking the yard to winterizing the deck to planting spring bulbs, there’s plenty to do in the month of November. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your yard or garden this month:
1. Raking
Decorating Your Yard for Winter
Saturday, October 23rd, 2010
Just because nasty weather is right around the corner doesn’t mean you have to resign yourself to an ugly yard all winter long. Most people assume that once their flowers die there isn’t much more they can do to beautify their landscape. Oh, how wrong they are! Here are a few tips for keeping your yard and garden beautiful all winter long:
Lights
Most people put up decorative lights around the holidays, but there’s no reason you can’t use string lights to brighten up your yard all winter long. Use small white lights for a delicate effect, or try Japanese-style lantern strings to a give your pergola a soft glow. Remember to hide the lights well, though – visible string lights can seem a bit tacky during the day.
Fall Maintenance for Your Cedar Deck
Monday, September 27th, 2010If your yard has a lot of deciduous trees, fall can be a rough season for your cedar deck. Falling leaves and other debris, combined with rain, can cause problems if not dealt with promptly, so it’s important to keep your deck swept clean as much as possible.
Here’s a look at how falling leaves can damage a cedar deck:
Avoid Nasty Slips on Your Cedar Deck
Thursday, September 23rd, 2010
Fall has hit the Pacific Northwest, and with it comes the rain. If you are like most people in the area, a little rain isn’t going to prevent you from enjoying a few more last-minute barbeques or outdoor parties on your deck. Unfortunately, cedar decks and rain can be an injury just waiting to happen.
Here are a few ways you can make your deck slip-resistant so you can get out there and enjoy it before it gets too cold:
Building a Cedar Deck Box
Thursday, September 16th, 2010With winter just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about how you are going to store all the beautiful chair cushions and deck accessories you’ve amassed over the summer. Wouldn’t it be great if you could build a beautiful cedar deck storage box in a few easy steps? Well, now you can!
The great folks over at BobVila.com have put together a how-to video on building a cedar deck storage box. It includes step-by-step instructions and plenty of pro tips for building a storage box that’s both practical and attractive. Here’s what you need for the project:
Outdoor Entertaining Tips
Wednesday, August 18th, 2010
Barbecues, pool parties and deck get-togethers are some of the highlights of the summer season. Unlike more formal dinner parties, these outdoor activities are much more relaxed and laid back; however, they still require some work if you really want to wow your guests. Here are a few tips on being the best backyard host you can be.
Have comfortable seating. While your new cedar deck may have beautiful deck benches, chances are they aren’t very soft. Placing pillows and cushions on decks, benches and outdoor seats brings the comfort of the indoors out to the party.
