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With spring here and summer around the bend, the seasonal migration of Sonoma Valley residents to our beautiful outdoors will soon begin. Some will picnic at wineries and parks, others will choose to bike, hike or horseback ride, but many will just want to spend as much time as possible in their backyard. Instead of fighting the traffic and paying the price for gas, more and more homeowners are choosing to stay home and enjoy their own private paradise.
According to home and garden experts, the following are the three elements homeowners need to enjoy outdoor living.
The deck
A central space is essential for creating a pleasurable outdoor experience for both homeowners and guests. It could be a patio, veranda or raised deck but it’s really a stage, a place where folks congregate, converse, drink and nibble as they enjoy good fellowship and summertime weather.
For patios, slate, tile, flagstone and interlocking pavers have replaced the common slab of cement. But many homeowners are adding an elevated deck, which offers a better vantage point to enjoy the colors of the garden or watch a rousing game of backyard volleyball while sipping your favorite highball.
If you’re a traditionalist or live in a charmingly rustic A-frame house,
you’re likely to want a redwood or cedar deck. To protect the wood from weathering or to return an old deck to its natural appearance use a UV-resistant clear wood finish. Home improvement experts say, before applying any type of stain or sealer to the wood, first remove all the old stain with a wood stripper and/or power washing. It’s best to apply the new finish with a brush instead of a spray. Try to do the job out of direct sunlight, when the temperature is below 80 degrees, so the stain will neither dry too quickly nor be absorbed into the wood.
Instead of natural woods, many homeowners are now choosing Green materials that offer the look of wood. Trex decking and railing materials are among the more popular brands of composite, renewable materials on the market. Durable and easy to install, Trex will look better for longer than real wood. It is available in a variety of grains, textures and stains at Friedman’s.
Outdoor furniture
Rattan patio furniture looks cool outdoors but to prevent weathering, you’ll always have to throw a tarp over it when the fog rolls in and rains come. Home outdoor experts say that for durability, come rain or shine, choose outdoor furniture designed with cast aluminum or coated steel foundations. For tabletops it’s best to go with glass or a plastic material. And don’t forget the option of choosing bar stool heights for outdoor tables and chairs. The extra 12-inch boost makes a big difference in backyard viewing enjoyment and outdoor barstools add a sense of casual sophistication.
No matter what patio furniture you choose, it’s important to be sure it has sun protection. After all, Sonoma summer weather is wonderful, but it can get a bit hot. If you’re lucky, a century or so ago an oak tree or two decided to grow near your outdoor deck and have now conveniently covered your patio furniture with a shelter of cooling shade. If you not so lucky, you can buy yourself some shade with a myriad of umbrellas and tent like gazebos that are perfect for keeping the sun out and the bugs at bay.
For high-tech outdoor sun protection, check out the Multi-directional Remote Control Umbrella (available at www.hammacher.com). The stylish nine-foot umbrella has a remote-controlled tilt and lift mechanism that can be adjusted from up to 40 feet away. As the sun’s rays change position or the wind alters direction, the handheld unit allows for quick and simple adjustments – a handy gadget for backyard chefs who’d rather not have the guests roast under the sun while they wait for the coals.
The barbecue
Without the grill, the pleasure of outdoor living would be far less enjoyable and a lot messier. Outdoor cooking not only keeps the kitchen relatively clean (and the carpet unstained by steak juice) but it gives the man of the household something useful to do while the salad is being made. After all, outdoor cooking has always been a “guy thing” since most women are more than happy to avoid its volatile mixture of fire, grease, grime and beer.
Backyard cookery was born in the late 1950s when a welder for Webber Metal Works stuck three legs on the bottom half of a buoy, jammed a grill on top and called the contraption Sputnik. A decade later, the barbeque reached American icon status as homeowners from all ranks of life discovered the joys of outdoor cooking. Soon, little Hibachis were sprouting up everywhere. But in the 1980s, gas-fueled grills overtook charcoal in popularity, and the BBQ became not just a rite of manhood but also a rite of summer.
You can still find the pot-belly Webber model that started it all at Friedman’s and Parson’s Lumber and Hardwood Supply store; both carry a fleet of BBQs to choose from, though the most popular are the stainless steel models made by Lynx.
When you step behind one of these high-tech babies, better get a good grip on your tongs. Lynx makes mouth-watering gorgeous barbeque ensembles that resemble the bridge of a starship. But forget about warp drive. Lynx’s advanced technology, ceramic infrared burners, multi-position controls and up to 100,000 BTUs of power will make the greenest of barbeque cadets a Captain Kirk of backyard cookery.
Of course, a BBQ, patio furniture and an elevated deck are just the basics. Add a spa, pool awning, an outdoor bar, a fire pit and you’re on your way to creating your own personal backyard paradise.
