Outdoor Living & Garden

A garden can be an attractive extension of your home. Everyone enjoys a well designed space in their home that they can use year round. This section discusses design principles and elements that will turn a patio or a back garden into a space that you want to enjoy year round. Some of it focuses on how to design for protection from the sun and rain and the rest focuses on the materials you use in the garden. Both aspects discuss how to maximize your space.

Most of the protection from the sun and rain elements can be achieved by a structure known as an awning or a pergola. An awning is a simple structure and gives you protection from the sun as it extends from the house and covers the patio. A pergola is a much more advanced structure. It has vertical support posts and an adjustable lattice. It functions more like an outdoor room than a sunshade. Both add value to a space and have differing costs.

Verandas are structures that sit somewhere in between awnings and pergolas. They provide protection from the sun and rain along the length of the house. They are an outdoor room. This section focuses on the materials you use for your structure. Railway sleepers are strong, durable, and economical.

You can even use these sleepers for garden paths. Many people are surprised to learn how cost effective sleeper projects can be. The following articles explain sleeper projects in an easy to understand way and give you the practical detail you need to avoid spending any money on a project you won’t use. In the following articles, find the project that best matches your plan.