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How to Shade Your Deck or Patio This Summer

retractable awning

Getting sunshine is one of the best parts about having a functional deck or patio to lounge at during the spring and summer. These outdoor spaces are great for sunbathing or other outdoor activities, but too much sun can also be a problem. Having control over how much sun you want, when you want it can really come in handy, especially if you’re already sporting a sunburn. This is why retractable awnings for your deck or patio is a trend coming back in a big way.

If you’ve ever tried working from home while the sun is filling your screen with glare, then you know the struggle. Shade is the only solution to this problem, and large canopies and patio awnings are a great way to do it.

Retractable Awnings

When planning out the design of your deck, there’s no shortage of choices for awnings. One of the most common, and most practical options is a retractable awning. These extend, retract, and can even be easily removed depending on your preferences or the weather. They filter out harmful UV rays while also giving you a break from the harsh sun. Depending on your needs, they are available both motorized and manually retractable variations. Motorized awnings give you the convenience of retracting and extending at the push of a button, while standard awnings offer less moving parts and complications.

Canopy Awnings

Alternatively, you could look into a canopy style awning. These are great for geographic areas that are a little drier or that have warm weather year round. However they don’t perform well with heavy snow or rain, so we don’t typically recommend them to our New England clients.

For those of us who do have to deal with tougher winters and wet seasons, sometimes a metal deck awning is the right fit for a client, but it certainly doesn’t offer the same flexibility or summery feel of a retractable awning.

Shade Sails

If you’re looking for something a little more low key and flexible, shade sails are an easy-up and easy-down solution. They come in really any color or style you can imagine and are usually a little more affordable than the other options. While this thin fabric won’t offer much protection from the elements they do still provide some much needed shade and can truly be an accessory to your home.

Contact New England Hearth & Home

If you’re looking to turn your backyard area into your own personal oasis, you’ve come to the right place! We offer awnings, fire pits, and even outdoor kitchens that help you transform your backyard area! Please give us a call at 781-562-0771 or contact us here.

 

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Why You Should Get an Outdoor Fire Pit for Summer

outdoor natural gas fire pit surrounded by furniture

During summer nights, we often want to spend time outdoors, but lack a good way to do so. In a word that is so dominated by screens on our phones, computers and TVs, spending quality time around a fire pit is a nice return to simple living, free of distractions. Not only do outdoor fireplaces and fire pits provide warmth at night, but they can also act as a very design driven centerpiece in your patio or backyard area.

 

Fire Pits are a Great Way to Style Your Patio

Outdoor fireplaces can be built to match the design language of your home. From metal to stone they come in a wide variety of styles both modern and more traditional. A high quality fire pit can definitely set the tone for the rest of your back yard or patio set up, and many enthusiasts end up investing in higher quality outdoor furniture once they realize how much time they’re spending outside.

 

Fire Pits are Easy to Installation

Fire Pits are relatively inexpensive and easy to install compared to some of the more complex backyard staples such as pools, trampolines, or playgrounds. Not only are outdoor fire pits affordable, but they can definitely contribute additional value to your home and can be a great selling point for those looking to put their house on the market in the near future. Fire pits are available at nearly every price point, from simple fire bowls to custom stone or iron, you can find a fire pit for any budget.

 

Fire Pits are Great for Gatherings

A fire pit creates a focal point for your outdoor gathering. Some might say that it’s simply in our DNA to gather around a fire. Solidify your position as the go-to host for the neighborhood barbecue with a centerpiece that doubles as a conversation piece.

 

Fire Pits Come in a Variety of Fuel Options

The most popular fuel option for fire pits are wood, natural gas, and propane. If you’re looking for a more natural experience and you have more space, wood is a great option, but be aware that it’s more work to find firewood, chop it and light a wood fire. Natural gas and propane have the benefits of being ready to go at the flick of a switch. They also require less space and are usually more safe than a wood fire pit. The main difference is that a natural gas pit cannot be moved and pulls from your home’s supply of natural gas. A propane powered fire pit can be moved, but you also have to deal with a clunky propane tank which isn’t always the most stylish option.

 

Contact New England Hearth & Home

Are you looking to spice up your backyard living space? We offer custom fire pits design and installation that can offer style, warmth and a great change of pace to your backyard area! Please give us a call at 781-562-0771 or contact us here.

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Outdoor Furniture Trends for Spring 2021

outdoor patio with furniture

This past year has been unlike others, and the inability to travel had us all craving nature and the outdoors more strongly than ever before. We saw a massive increase in families creating spaces in their home that resemble the places around the world they love the most. For most people, this meant creating outdoor spaces that were comfortable, functional and stylish. There’s no need to escape to a new city when you can escape to your very own backyard.

With travel still suspended for most, we expect these trends to continue into 2021, as work from home continues and people adapt their homes to their new lifestyles.  People are looking to bring the tropical vacation vibes to their homes once again for spring and summer.

Outdoor Fire Pits

In the summer, outdoor firepits become the perfect night time escape to gather with friends or family. Not only do they provide much needed heat at night, but they also provide a much needed space for outdoor gatherings. Outdoor fire pits can also provide more structure to your patio or outdoor area. They can be found in a wide variety of styles and materials to complement the design language of your home, patio or backyard area. These fire pits help bring the feeling of a fancy vacation to your living space!

Comfort Over Everything

Another trend we are seeing is that basic furniture like plastic chairs or even wire benches just aren’t cutting it anymore. Those who are working at home or just spending more time than usual at home are investing in more comfortable chairs with larger cushions. Whether you’re looking to get some work done outside and need some sunshine in your WFH routine or want to catch the sunset after a productive day, better furniture can help you enjoy your time outside to the fullest.

Tile Patios

Tile patios are an emerging trend that can bring a lot of color and energy into your backyard living area, depending on the tile pattern you choose of course. This is another great example of people really looking for change in scenery while staying put. The right tile choice can be not only very stylish but also quite durable. 

Contact New England Hearth & Home

Are you looking to spice up your backyard living space? We offer custom fire pits design and installation that can offer style, warmth and a great change of pace to your backyard area! Please give us a call at (781)562-0771 or contact us here.

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Converting a Wood Fireplace to Gas

gas fireplace

Having a wood fireplace is great, but many homeowners are making the switch to gas. Wood fireplaces require a fair amount of upkeep, and you will spend a lot of money on wood. Lucky for you, making the switch to gas will not require you to get a whole new fireplace. Here are the benefits of switching to gas in your fireplace:

Cleaner Air and Home

Soot tends to get everywhere when you light a fire in your wood fireplace. If you don’t have proper ventilation, soot can get on walls and objects to create a sticky grease. Wood fireplaces also tend to release toxins into the air as well as pollutants. These include benzene, formaldehyde, and carbon monoxide. When you switch to a gas fireplace, you won’t have to worry about soot or debris, so your air will be a lot cleaner.

Energy Efficiency

Gas fireplaces are more environmentally conscious. They are created to mimic a wood fireplace but are manufactured with energy-efficient materials and technology. You will get a lot more energy from the fuel as heat, about 75 – 98%. Wood fireplaces do not get more than 30%. This is way better than wood fireplaces, which run at around 30 percent efficiency because they waste about two-thirds of their heat up the chimney.

Safety

When you have a fireplace in your home, there is always a risk for danger. When you have a gas fireplace installed by our professionals, you’ll find it to be a lot safer than a wood fireplace. Gas fireplaces have a system for safety shutoff, which can prevent gas leaks. When the fireplace is on and in use, the gas levels stay stable so that the flames do not get too big. Wood fireplaces are more prone to accidents, but it is still essential to make sure gas fireplaces are properly vented.

Easy to Use

Gas fireplaces are way easier to use than wood. Gas can be started with the touch of a button, rather than having to light logs and keep the flame going. If you are looking for a simple fireplace option, converting to gas is the way to go! Although gas still requires some work from time to time, try to make the switch. 

Contact New England Hearth & Home

The fireplace experts at New England Hearth & Home are here to help you choose the best fireplace options for your home. We can help convert your existing wood fireplace to gas! Contact us to learn more about our services and repairs. Call us today or send us a message through our contact form to get in touch with our experts.