Pergola or Patio Cover … Decisions, Decisions

August 4, 2015 Uncategorized
Texas Custom Patios
We have built our business since 2004 on the idea that we will design and build projects that look original to the home.  We love to create projects that look like they belong on the home and that we know will add value to the home.  Certainly, a homeowner’s budget restrictions, or a difficult tie-in to the home have dictated some compromises over the years, but generally we’ve been able to adhere to our desire to design and build to look original to the home.  This has become our philosophy and it has served us well for over 11 years.

 

Recently, we designed a project for a homeowner that was a simple patio cover.  We designed a roof with an attractive pitch and the finishes were low-maintenance and would last the life of the home.  Unfortunately, they didn’t pull the trigger on this design, and instead asked me to quote a painted cedar pergola with a clear plastic on top.  They like the look; they had a photograph of a similar project; they felt like this would allow more light in the windows on the back of their home.  This is a project that runs completely contrary to our philosophy.  While we liked this homeowner and they seemed eager to work with our company, we wanted to decline the project and I felt that we owed them an explanation.  We also felt like we should “save them from themselves” and help guide them to a better project for their home, even if they chose a different builder.

 

If you are weighing the options of a pergola with clear plastic vs. a patio cover with shingles to match your home, here are some things to consider:

– A pergola is a temporary structure as opposed to a permanent structure.  It doesn’t add value to the home and it begins to show signs of wear very soon after being built.  Honestly, our company tears down more pergolas than we build.
– Painting wood instead of staining will result in this project being high-maintenance.  This is why new homes are built with Hardieplank trim and siding instead of wood.
– The see-through plastic on top (Polygal or Lexan are commonly used products) is the primary issue … it will also be high-maintenance, especially with mature landscaping in the backyard.  It will not be clear for very long because it will become very dirty in a short time period.  The constant cleaning and difficulty of cleaning will cause other maintenance issues – it will leak, it will make it difficult to repaint the structure (which will need to be done frequently). It will need to be flashed against the house wall just like a roof … this will be unattractive and will need to be repaired when it is time to replace the pergola.

I closed my email to this prospective client with these thoughts…

“We like to build projects that are intended to last the life of the home.  We feel responsible for everything that we build and we don’t want to be on the hook for something that is destined to have so many problems.  If you want to seriously entertain the project I designed previously, I’d love to work with you.  If you want to go the route of the painted pergola with a see-through top, we believe another builder is better suited for you.”

You learn a few things after building 1,200 projects.  We truly are experts in outdoor living and we should share that knowledge and educate buyers whenever possible!

 

Landscaping for Your New Home: Where to Start?

November 19, 2012 Uncategorized

After buying a new home and decorating the inside to suit your personal taste, it’s time to set your sights on the outside of the home and its curb appeal. If you’re planning to sell the home in the future, the landscaping should be appealing for the next buyer. Performing landscaping chores should be done to improve the home’s current value.

Resale value is not the only deciding factor in choosing to update the old landscaping and clear out the dead plants and shrubs.  Working outdoors is a relaxing hobby, and an easy one for the whole family to enjoy. And, a well-manicured lawn provides the perfect backdrop to a patio or porch.

Testing the soil

The first step is to determine what kind of soil is in the yard. Any landscaping from trees and shrubs to grass and flowers starts with good soil. It is the foundation of a beautiful yard. A healthy yard needs nutrients, but without testing the soil it can be difficult to know what the dirt is lacking. Soil testers can be bought that allow homeowners to see what was missing. The homeowner can then make adjustments to their fertilization plans based on the missing components.

Brown patches and missing grass

The grass covers the majority of most yards. If it is not healthy, that can undermine the look of the property. The brown spots or holes in the lawn may have been from the previous owner’s pet or bad landscape maintenance. Patches of missing grass and large brown spots are easily fixed. Brown grass should be dug up, and then you can aerate the soil and sprinkle new, grass seed into the spot. After the initial watering, keep an eye on the growing grass and water when needed.

Dead foliage

Inspect the landscape for old, dead and dying plants, shrubs and trees. Trim back overgrown areas. They just look messy and detract from the beauty of the yard. Remove the dead or dying plants and plant new ones. The plants you use to replace the old ones depends on the location itself. The amount of sunlight and the soil needs to be considered before planting. A plant that needs full sunlight throughout the day should not be planted in the shade.

It will take some time to get the landscaping in pristine condition, but the work can be relaxing and once finished, it will be extremely rewarding to see the nurturing you performed on the plants come to life.

Author Bio

Melisa Cammack has been freelance writing for several years. She loves writing for home improvement and parenting blogs. She and her husband recently had a brand new aluminium fence installed on their home property by Fencemakers, and it gave Melisa the idea to write this article.

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