Before inviting friends, family members or neighbors over for barbecues, spruce up your outdoor space with Ace’s ultimate tips to amp up your backyard. “During the dog days of summer, entertaining outside is at a peak across the country.” stated
Randy Holmes, Manager, Sneade's Ace Home Center, Owings, Maryland.
“One way to bring further enjoyment to these celebrations is to make sure that you’re outside living spaces, pool and deck areas are updated and ready to enjoy.”
Holmes
offers these handy tips to renovate and rejuvenate your
backyard living area.
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When In Doubt, Deck It Out: Keep your deck looking great by scrubbing it with a stiff brush or cleaning it with a power hose once or twice a year. If you have a wood deck, paint or stain it every two years for a pristine and refreshed look.
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Get Your Grill On!
:
When cooking for a crowd with a barbeque
make sure your grill equipment is in good shape. Propane and natural gas can leak from rusty tanks, cracked hoses and corroded couplings, which can be dangerous. To combat this, use leak-detection solutions, to check all connections for tightness. Also, cover disconnected hose-end fittings and burner air intakes with small plastic bags or fitting caps for protection when the grill is not in use.
Serenity Now : Create an outdoor water feature to bring some tranquility and Zen into your backyard area. Complete and easy-to-install kits are available to infuse the soothing sound of a waterfall throughout your exterior spaces.Backyard Invaders Be Gone : Lavender and other herbs are natural bug repellents! For a porch or deck, place potted herb plants near doors or use dried bunches of herbs as a centerpiece on your table. The oils from the herbs emit scents that repel insects.
- Pool Party : Your backyard swimming pool represents an important investment for both fun and value. Backwash or clean the pool filter as recommended by the manufacturer to get the best efficiency. Also, make the most out of water recirculation by removing the “gunk” from the strainer baskets and skimmer regularly
Bring the Indoors Out : Make your backyard the hotspot for summer parties! Add style and color to your outdoor space with canopy chairs, weather resistant fabrics and creative lightening fixtures to create a space that resembles a comfy interior room.Rockin’ Garden: Need a unique way to bring music to your outdoor living space? Try the “Garden Rock Speaker!” Its clever design, which blends into your exterior landscaping, provides quality music without distracting your guests and family members. “Whether you are grilling, swimming or just lounging outside, enhance your backyard area with simple touches that will help you enjoy the season’s nice weather,” explained Holmes. “Create a backyard that shines even after the sun goes down! By adding decorative accessories and clever features, you can create a backyard oasis that will be the envy of neighbors and friends!”For more information, visit your neighborhood Ace Hardware store or go to www.acehardware.com to learn more about Ace products as well as DIY tips and project ideas from Lou Manfredini, Ace’s “Helpful Hardware Man.”