Shade Sails or Outdoor Awnings

When it comes to Australian social culture, outdoor awnings play a big role. Awnings are often used as a way to stylishly shade outdoor entertaining areas and this is where they clash with shade sails or shade cloths. The main difference between awnings and shade sails are that awnings are often made of stronger and more dense fabric than shade sails, meaning they are more expensive. So what if you’re trying to decide between shade sails or awnings as the way to go for your Sydney home? 

Here are few things to keep in mind when you’re making your decision:

Choose Shade Sails:

• Shade sails do exactly what they say they do - create shade
• Shade sails can cover a far greater area than awnings as they do not require as much foundational support
• In terms of handiness, a shade sail can be easily taken down if you wish to take full advantage of the sun during winter
• The material for shade sails is often quite cheap, saving you money

Source: http://www.hardware2u.com.au/

Choose Awnings:

• Awnings not only provide great protection from the sun and create shade, they are also useful in providing protection against light rain
• When it comes to shading small spaces like windows or small decks, awnings are a far better choice than shade sails
• Awnings can also be taken down if you want to, but you can only do this with retractable awnings
• If you live in a particularly windy area, retractable awnings are the go as they can be easily removed when the wind becomes too strong
• Though awnings may be more expensive, the fabric often outlasts that of cheaper, poorer quality shade sails
• Awnings come in a wide range of styles meaning they easily fit a wider range of styles of homes

source: http://www.accentblinds.com.au/

There are plenty of reasons why you should choose a shade sail for your home, and there are just as many reasons for you to choose awnings for your Sydney home. It all comes down to three key areas: personal taste, how much money you’re willing to spend, and what it is exactly you want from your shading.

If you’re interested in outdoor awnings in Sydney visit Wizard Home Improvements or call 1300 920 788 today.

By Kevin Pobjie

Queensland Rooms to Your Sydney Home | Infographic

Queensland rooms, also known as sunroom extensions, are the perfect home additions for those who love a bit more of natural sunlight in the home.

They are also great for additional living spaces for relaxation and recreation.

Queensland rooms let in a generous amount of sunlight. But they can be fitted with equipment to make them cooler during the summer. Some are fitted with thermal windows that filters the amount of sunlight. Most can be installed with blinds and curtains.

Ready to have a Queensland room built in your home? Visit Wizard HomeImprovements or call1300 920 788.

By Kevin Pobjie

Great Decking Design Ideas for Sydney Homes | Infographic

Here are some great ideas of the common outdoor deckings forSydney homes.

For more outdoor decking ideas, consult with the leading home improvements company in Sydney. Visit Wizard Home Improvements or call 1300 920 788 today.

By Kevin Pobjie

Properly Cleaning and Sealing Timber Decks | Infographics

Many homes in Sydney prefer their decks to be made out of timber. That's because timber looks more elegant than most materials. As for the kind of timber used for decking, the most common is treated pine. It is especially preferred because of its durability, being able to withstand rotting for about 30 years. 

Below are some tips to properly cleaning and sealing timber decks:

However, like most types of timber, pinewood is also susceptible to splintering and discolouration as soon as months after installation. Extreme weather conditions can be a factor to this. That's why, as timber decking is constantly exposed to heat and moisture, it is crucial to provide it with regular maintenance

For further information on maintaining your timber deck, call Wizard Home Improvements today on 1300 920 788.

By Kevin Pobjie

How to Winterise Your Deck for the Winter

Even though Sydney is often seen as a sunny place to live, it can be pretty chilly in winter. As the temperature drops so does our willingness to venture outside. So what do you do with that gorgeous deck that you spent spring and summer on? You winterise it of course!

Protect your Deck Furniture All Year Long

From the actual removal, to figuring out where to store them and then having to haul them back onto the deck - it can be a hassle bringing in all of your deck furniture every winter. Instead invest in covers to throw over your furniture to protect them from the harsh winter mornings. This is also essential if your deck lacks a roof as your furniture will not dry properly in winter which can cause a range of health risks for you and your family.

Before covering your furniture make sure you:

• Ensure that your furniture is completely clean by shaking out cushions, vacuuming seating and spot cleaning any spills with a mild detergent.

• Brush any remaining crumbs and loose dirt from tables and then wash them with mild soapy water.

• Once everything is completely dry proceed to cover your furniture.

Source: http://www.acefireandwater.com/winterizing-your-outdoor-furniture/

Protect the Wood of your Deck

Much like rust is a boats worst enemy, mould and mildew is a decks. Before the Sydney winter sets in and it gets too cold outside remove all the furniture and plants and give your deck a good wash so that anything growing on your deck doesn’t get a chance to damage it throughout winter. Make sure that before you return any furniture to the deck that the wood is completely dry. Moisture caught between the furniture, plants and the deck can seep into the wood and stain the surface.

The last step in ensuring that your wood is protected during winter is to cover it with a repellent sealant. This protective layer prevents water or any other moisture from penetrating your decks wood and causing serious decay over winter. To make the process of applying a repellent sealant easier we would recommend using a paint sprayer.  

To find out the best way to winterise your decks wood or for more information about decking, visit Wizard Home Improvements or call 1300 920 788.

By Kevin Pobjie

Sunroom Uses | Video

For homeowners in Sydney looking to build an addition to their homes, one of the finest to consider is a Queensland room, also known as a sunroom extension.

Wizard Home Improvements, one of Sydney’s top builders, builds Sunrooms of any design and materials for any purpose.

If you want to find out more about Sunrooms, visit Wizard Home Improvements or call 1300 920 788.

By Kevin Pobjie

The History of Sunrooms

Sunroom extensions are a relatively new concept for homes, yet they are extremely popular in Western countries such as the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and, of course, Australia, so it may not be long until you see sunrooms on every suburban Sydney block.

They are favoured in places where the weather can change on a day-to-day basis, or even part of the way through the day, and it was from this issue of climate uncertainty that they were born.

This is a brief history of sunrooms:

Screened-in Porches

The screened-in porch is the ancestor of the sunroom. They were mostly prominent in the United States as a means of enjoying the outdoors in a way that minimised the effects of rain and insects. However, the problem with screened-in porches was keeping them free from dust, dirt, and pollen.

Patio Enclosures

In the late 1940s, patio enclosures became the solution to the dust and pollen issue by using storm windows placed together on a traditional screened-in porch. The problem with this solution was though it was far more sheltered from the elements, any patio enclosures looked like additions to a home and therefore lost a great deal 

of their appeal. It was too clear that the sunroom was one of potentially many extensions.

The Modern Sunroom and Queensland Room

As we become more energy conscious, and building technology improves, the sunroom has grown to reflect this. A modern sunroom can be far more integrated with a pre-existing home than its predecessors, and can be built from a number of materials, including insulated glass to keep out UV radiation but to keep in heat. This notion of retained heat is what can be seen to as leading to sunrooms to be called Queensland rooms in Sydney and throughout Australia.

Sunrooms have come a long way from their humble pre-war roots, and they continue to evolve and modernise into stylish must-haves for homes.

If you are looking at sunroom extensions for your Sydney home, visit Wizard Home Improvements  or call us today on 1300 920 788.

By Kevin Pobjie