Welcome to my website. I’m hoping to provide you with some useful packing tips. My name is Ellen Monday. My family and I moved from a very large home to a large home. My point being, although we still live in a large house, we did downsize. It was almost like packing for two moves because we had belongings going to the new house and some going to storage. We had to make decisions about what we wanted to keep, store and get rid of. I have some tips on how we made those decisions, and the best ways we found to pack. Items that were going into storage were packed differently than those we were moving to the new house. Boxes had to be carefully and clearly marked so we didn’t end up storing our everyday dishes or something tragic like that! Hope you enjoy my blog.
Aaron Carroll
If you love spending time outdoors, then winter can be a real bummer if the cold drives you inside. The good news is that you can continue to enjoy your patio, regardless of the season, if you implement a few changes to make it a four-season outside extension to your home.
Tip #1: Get a Patio Heater
The main factor that makes a patio fall into winter disuse is extreme cold. You can solve that issue with a patio heater. Freestanding heaters are relatively available, but they have a few major limitations. First, the heat from these tends to radiate upward, so it can be cold closer to the ground — where people tend to sit. Second, these heaters can take up a lot of valuable square footage, particularly on a small patio. Third, floor heaters can pose a hazard, especially if you have children or pets on the patio.
A better option are ceiling mounted patio heaters. These heaters can be mounted anywhere on your patio cover. They radiate the heat down to where you are sitting. Plus, they take up no floor space, and you don't have to worry about someone bumping into them.
Tip #2: Install Weather Enclosures
Another way to keep out the cold, as well as bad weather like rain and snow, is to have an enclosure installed on your patio. Sliding enclosures are the best option so that you can open them up in spring and summer when the weather is much nicer. Even better, an enclosure helps trapped the warmth from your ceiling patio heater so that you are less likely to feel a chill.
Enclosures can be beneficial outside of winter as well. Those that also feature screens can help provide shelter from summer mosquitoes. You can also have shades added to the enclosure to help block out sunlight when needed.
Tip #3: Improve the Lighting
Lighting and early sunsets can also be an issue on the patio in the winter months. Proper lighting will make the space much more welcoming on those cold winter nights. Avoid harsh overhead lighting, and instead, opt for several sources of softer lighting.
String bulbs that provide pinpoints of warm-toned light are perfect for an outdoor seating area, whether you are trying to light up the patio for an early winter evening dinner or for a late-night summer party.
Contact a dealer to learn more about ceiling patio heaters and other methods you can implement to use your patio year-round.