Creating a Functional Outdoor Room with Vinyl

Whether you have a small back patio or a huge backyard, your outdoor space doesn’t have to be plain and boring. A vinyl fence, deck, or shade structure from Future Outdoors® can help you turn the outside of your home into a functional and beautiful outdoor living space. Here are a few tips and ideas for making any outdoor area into a new outdoor room.

1. Landscaping is Important

Just like with a room inside your house, an outdoor room or living space needs to have a good “flow.” You can’t just put up a shade structure and set some furniture down and have a functional space. Consider the entrances and exits to the space, any paths or walkways, and your own ideas for what you want the area to be - for instance, a dining room, a conversation space, or a comfortable lounge. You can also add additional elements like planters, shrubbery, or deck rails to change the flow and create a more cohesive space.

2. Have a Goal in Mind

It’s important to have an idea of what kind of room you want to make - after all, you wouldn’t confuse a living room and dining room inside your house, even when they don’t have any furniture or decoration. When you’re creating an outdoor space, try to design it so that it naturally fits your goal. If you want a space to encourage conversation, keep it close and intimate. If you want a space for food or lounging around, give it some extra breathing room and plenty of places to serve or cook.

3. Don’t Forget the Fire

A fireplace, fire pit, or outdoor chimney is a great addition to almost any outdoor living space. Fireplaces and fire pits can encourage conversation and make your outdoor space usable through the fall and spring (and even the milder parts of winter). Also, make sure that your fireplace or fire pit conforms to Dallas-area regulations by calling your local fire department or checking your town’s building codes.

4. Seat Yourself

Depending on the type of outdoor space you want, you’ll need to find or invest in a variety of seating options. An outdoor dining area might use chairs or benches, but a conversation area or lounge might do well with sun chairs, stools, or even a sofa or bench built into your deck or patio. More seating options will also make your space more flexible and livable, which will encourage you and your guests to use it more.

5. Use Shade to Your Advantage

While it can be nice to feel the sun on your face, trying to read a book outside or enjoy a quiet conversation while the sun shines in your eyes isn’t our idea of relaxing. A shade structure such as a vinyl pergola or gazebo is a great way to keep the sun at bay without restricting your view or blocking your space in too much. Plus, these shade structures can be a great way to “zone” your outdoor space, creating separate areas with their own feel and function.

6. Incorporate the Inside and Outside

If you have a large sliding door or double door that leads to your backyard, you can easily use that as a starting point for incorporating your indoor and outdoor spaces together in one cohesive arrangement. You’ll be more likely to use your outdoor space if it’s easy to get to, after all.

7. Make Sure it Lasts

The last thing you’ll want to do after setting up an outdoor living room or dining room is take it all apart again just to clean and stain the wood. However, if you don’t take care of your outdoor living area, you won’t have it for very long. A better option is to construct your deck, fence, or shade structures from long-lasting vinyl. This will allow you to use your outdoor space for years without needing to worry about expensive and time-consuming maintenance - not to mention avoiding rot, pests, and ugly warping and fading.

Future Outdoors® is the leading vinyl fence expert in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. We’ve installed hundreds of miles of vinyl fence and more vinyl shade structures than we can count, and we’ll bring our expertise and amazing products to your home with just one call. Call us at (972) 576-1600 to arrange your free quote for a new vinyl fence or vinyl shade structure, or visit our Facebook and Google+ pages for more tips on creating beautiful outdoor spaces.

Outdoor Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Dallas Fence

Now that spring is under way, you’re probably thinking about going outside one weekend and giving your yard and house a thorough spring cleaning. One area that homeowners often neglect, however, is their fence. Cleaning a vinyl fence in Dallas isn’t difficult, but it can help it stay fresh and new-looking throughout the rest of the year. Read on to get some helpful tips for revitalizing your fence and yard this spring from Future Outdoors®.

Cleaning a Vinyl Fence

Though it might seem like a big job, cleaning a vinyl fence is actually very simple and painless. Over the winter, wind and ice can cause grime to build up on your fence, and mud and dirt can also accumulate near the bottom due to splashing rain. Fortunately, this grime is very easy to wash off - usually a simple spray with the garden hose is more than enough to clean a vinyl fence. If it’s been a while since you’ve washed yours off, you might want to wipe it down with a soapy cloth or towel (much like you would when you wash your car) or spray it with a power washer. Either way, it shouldn’t take much time or effort to clean your vinyl fence this spring.

Here are a few tips to make your cleaning go quickly and smoothly:

• If you need to scrub your fence down, use a simple, biodegradable soap or cleaner to avoid sickening your grass or garden.
• Power washers are a great tool to make the cleaning go faster. You can even add cleaning solutions to many power washers to increase their effectiveness.
• You can use the same strategies to clean vinyl decks and shade structures if they need it!

Cleaning a Wood Fence

If you don’t have a vinyl fence, you’ll probably need to invest some more time and effort into your spring cleaning. Wooden fences tend to grab and hold onto dirt and moisture, and they deteriorate at a much quicker pace than vinyl. Keeping your wooden fence looking new and clean will take some work.

Like a vinyl fence, you can use a pressure washer to remove the worst of the dirt and debris from a wooden fence. However, this is only if your fence is stained and not painted. If you did paint your fence, be wary of using high-pressure cleaning, since it can easily strip the paint right off your fence. Test an inconspicuous area first, and avoid any places where the paint is chipped or peeling.

If your wooden fence has mold or mildew on it, you can use a bleach-based cleaning solution to kill the fungus and remove dirt at the same time. You’ll need to scrub the affected areas thoroughly with a stiff brush, and you should be sure to wear gloves to protect your skin.

Here are a few more tips for cleaning wooden fences:

• If you pressure-wash your fence, be sure to wait until it’s fully dry to paint, stain, or seal it. Water in the wood can affect the way these substances adhere.
• If your wood fence is warping or bowing, don’t worry too much - that’s relatively normal for wooden fences more than a few years old. It shouldn’t be too hard to pull off boards or panels and replace them with new ones.
• Cleaning your fence from the top down prevents sections you’ve already cleaned from getting dirty again.

Fence Repairs & Replacement

Occasionally you’ll need to do more than clean your fence to get it ready for the next year. Spring is storm season in Texas after all, and high winds, hail, and debris can easily damage your fence. Depending on the type and extent of the damage, you may need to do some significant repairs or even replace your fence entirely.

Some homeowners choose to go the DIY route, and there are a few benefits to that choice. First, you can save money over hiring a contractor by doing the labor yourself - but remember that contractors often do the same work with better quality and in less time. Also, doing your own fencing is a good way to get exactly the project that you want, assuming you’re skilled enough to create it.

For most homeowners, though, fencing isn’t a DIY project. In that case, you should call an experienced Dallas-area vinyl fence contractor such as our team at Future Outdoors®. We can repair or replace any vinyl or wooden fence, and we’ll also help you choose the exact style and color to meet your needs and match your home. Call (972) 576-1600 to schedule your free estimate or visit our Facebook and Twitter pages for more information and tips.

The Most Common DIY Vinyl Fence Installation Mistakes

Even though we offer installation for all our Dallas-area vinyl fences, some people prefer the accomplishment that comes with installing their fence themselves. A vinyl fence is actually a very good DIY project - they’re easier to install than wood fences and the materials are lighter and easier to handle. That said, you can still make mistakes when installing your vinyl fence. Here are a few of the most common vinyl fence installation mistakes we see.

Mistake 1: Not Planning the Job

In some ways, poor planning is not just the biggest mistake a homeowner can make when doing a fencing job, it’s the only mistake. Before buying a fence or charting your property or tearing anything down, make sure you plan out every step of the project beforehand. That way you know you’ll have the tools, materials, permits, and anything else you’ll need to get the job done. If something unexpected does happen, you’ll always have your plan to fall back on.

Mistake 2: Not Following Property Lines

If you’re installing a vinyl fence yourself, it’s vital that you follow your property lines closely and avoid accidentally installing your fence on someone else’s land. Making installation mistakes can result in fines or fees from the government, civil suit from your neighbors, and the high cost of having to move and reinstall your fence in the right place. Similarly, you might find that your property lines are further than you originally thought, which could result in running out of fence.

Fortunately, you can avoid this mistake pretty easily with some careful measuring and forethought. Request either a property plat (a chart that shows your property lines and measurements) or a blueprint of your property from your township so you can verify the location of your property line. You can also pay to get a survey done by professional surveyors to ensure you don’t make any mistakes. Either way, don’t trust the existing fence line or your gut - always measure and double check.

Mistake 3: Not Following Fencing Laws

Many townships and neighborhoods (especially those that have HOAs) don’t allow all types of fences, or require owners to have a specific type or style of fence to ensure uniformity across properties. If you build your own fence without following the zoning laws or fence regulations, you could end up facing costly fines, and you might even have to replace your fence to conform with the rules.

The best way to avoid this mistake is to check with your local permit office or planning commision to see if there are any restrictions or regulations about the types of fence allowed in your area. If your neighborhood does have an HOA, you should also check with them about the same thing.

Mistake 4: Not Marking Utility Lines

Fences require digging, and digging means you could hit a utility path. Unfortunately, many DIY vinyl fence installers think that by simply placing their new fence posts in about the same place as their old ones, they’ll avoid striking anything. This is not the case. The process of removing old fence posts and installing new ones can easily put your shovel or post digger in contact with a gas, electric, or other utility path.

Instead of trusting your gut, call 811 at least two days before you dig and have your property and project information ready. The 811 operators will contact the relevant utility companies, who in turn will come out and mark your utility lines so you can dig safely. There’s no cost for this service except the time it takes to do, so do it early and stay safe.

Mistake 5: Not Installing Your Fence Properly

This final mistake is actually several mistakes in one. There are a multitude of mistakes a homeowner can make when installing their fence, from setting posts improperly to cutting sections prematurely to failing to account for sloping ground. Any one of these mistakes can ruin a fencing project if you aren’t careful.

The best way to avoid these mistakes is to read guides or product manuals that specify the right way to handle different situations or circumstances. For instance, vinyl fence posts must still be set at least three feet into the ground to avoid shifting later on. If your property is on a grade, you’ll need to measure the angle of the grade and compensate for it by either buying angled fence panels or cutting your panels to match the grade. Not taking these aspects into account can result in a weak or unstable fence that won’t last more than a few years.

All things considered, installing a vinyl fence isn’t the hardest job in the world, but it’s not the easiest either. Unless you’re a skilled DIY-er, you might be more comfortable allowing a professional vinyl fence installer handle the work. At Future Outdoors®, we’ve installed hundreds of miles of vinyl fence in and around the Dallas metro area, and that means we have the experience and skill to install your fence right the first time. Contact us today at (972) 576-1600 or visit our Facebook or Google+ pages to learn more.

The Top Reasons to Install a Vinyl Privacy Fence

For homeowners, business owners, and property managers, a fence is a great investment for many reasons. A privacy fence isn’t just a barrier between your property and the outside world - it’s a feature in its own right. There are several good reasons you should consider a vinyl privacy fence for your property.

Reason 1: Privacy

It shouldn’t come as a surprise that increased privacy is one of the chief benefits of a privacy fence. Vinyl privacy fences are perfect for enclosing your property and keeping out prying eyes, which makes them perfect for homeowners in suburban areas with houses that are close together. A quality privacy fence makes it easy to create your own backyard oasis where you’re free to do what you like. Privacy fences also make your yard safer for children to play in, and they prevent dogs from barking and howling at passers by.

One of the best things about choosing a vinyl fence for your privacy fence needs is that you can make them as private as you want. Full privacy fences block virtually all sight lines between inside and outside, but they can also be ordered with open accents or in semi-privacy styles that allow limited visibility through the fence.

Reason 2: Security

No matter where you live or work, keeping your home or business safe is probably a priority for you. A quality vinyl privacy fence is perfect for increasing the security of your property. Along with strong and durable six-foot fence panels, vinyl privacy fences are also available with sturdy and secure locking gate options for increased security. Because of vinyl’s increased durability compared to wooden fencing, it’s the perfect material for a long-lasting privacy fence.

And remember, a privacy fence doesn’t only secure your property from the outside - it also keeps things on the inside safe and secure, too. Your children and pets will be able to play safely and securely inside your fence without worry that they could escape.

Reason 3: Durability

When you install a privacy fence around your property, it isn’t with the expectation that you’ll have to do it again in just a few years. However, if you don’t take care of a wooden fence at least every other year, you’ll find that it breaks down and weathers much faster than you’d like. In contrast, a vinyl fence will stand strong for years upon years - from 30 to even 50 years - without needing any maintenance at all beyond a simple wash with a garden hose.

Plus, vinyl privacy fences stand up to difficult conditions like wind, hail, and ice storms better than wooden fences do. Unlike a wooden fence, a vinyl privacy fence never becomes waterlogged and never rots or warps due to temperature and humidity changes. That means your vinyl fence will last far longer than a comparable wooden fence, with far less maintenance.

Reason 4: Value

Along with all the other reasons, a vinyl privacy fence is a great investment for your property because it holds its value better than wooden fences. Since it lasts so much longer and it’s so much more durable, vinyl fences cost much less over time than wooden fences do - especially when you factor in the costs of staining and repairing a wooden fence over time.

Vinyl fences add value to the properties they’re on, too. If you’re trying to sell your home, a vinyl privacy fence is a big plus to many potential buyers. They’ll see it as a maintenance-free solution that won’t require lots of repairs and replacement down the line. When you buy a vinyl fence from Future Outdoors, it comes with a lifetime warranty on the material from the manufacturer, and that warranty is one-time transferable to a new homeowner.

If you’re interested in learning more about vinyl privacy fences and why they’re a great option for homeowners and business owners, contact us today at Future Outdoors®. We’re the top provider of vinyl privacy fences and other vinyl fencing and shade structures in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro. Call us at (972) 576-1600 to set up your free vinyl fence estimate, or follow us on Facebook or Google+ for more helpful tips and information.

Creating the Perfect Four-Season Vinyl Deck

Most people see a deck as a summer-only space. With planning, though, you can create a vinyl deck that serves as a perfect outdoor living space the whole year round. And the vinyl decking and fencing experts at Future Outdoors can help you do just that. Here’s how.

Step 1: Plan Your Ideal Deck

The first step to designing your perfect deck space is to think of the features you want and how the deck will be used throughout the year. Try to envision what you want in an outdoor space: Do you want an enclosure that will protect you from insects and sun? Are you planning on putting in a pool in the backyard (or do you have one already)? Will you be using the deck for entertaining guests, or just as an outdoor relaxation spot for you and your family?

Coming up with answers to these questions will help you plan the features and overall look and feel of your vinyl deck. Today’s vinyl decks can be built with a variety of features built-in, including benches, fire pits, garden planters and more. This makes them extremely personalizable, but it also means you need to know what you want to get the most from your deck.

Step 2: Choose a Look

Vinyl decking comes in huge variety of styles and colors. It can be used to simulate the look and feel of wooden decking, or you can get a more sleek and modern look with other types of vinyl. Either way, you’ll need to plan out what you want your deck to look like when its finished.

Many people will use home and design magazines to help them find inspiration for their deck. These are a good resource for people who aren’t sure exactly what they want and need some ideas of what is possible. Take a look around for photographs of other vinyl decks, or search online to find more inspiration.

To help with these stages, some people will also use 3D modeling tools like SketchUp to draw their own plans for what they want the deck to look like. These tools are pretty simple to learn and use if you give them a little time, and they can help you visualize what your deck will look like and how it will feel in your yard long before you break ground.

Step 3: Get Quotes

After you have an idea of what you want you’ll have to find a vinyl deck supplier that can provide it. A good vinyl deck contractor will be transparent through their whole process and give you advice on what works well for your property, and they should also keep you involved through the process of building your vinyl deck.

When you’re getting quotes from your vinyl decking contractors, keep a few questions in mind:

• How long have they been in business? A company with a longer record and more experience will most likely provide better products than one that’s only been in the business for a few years.
• Where are they located? It’s always better to work with a local contractor, since you can meet with them first-hand and easily address any concerns. Even if the prices are better, it’s usually not worth it to contract with someone from further away just to save a few bucks.
• What’s their customer service like? When you call your vinyl deck provider, do they pick up the phone or just let it ring? Does someone return your calls quickly? Do you get the answers you need? If you feel like your chosen contractor doesn’t care for or appreciate your business, don’t work with them.
• Do they offer warranty service? Companies that trust their products will work with you to make sure you’re happy. If the contractor or the manufacturer doesn’t offer warranties, or the warranty is conspicuously short or restrictive, ask yourself why.
• Can they offer other products? Vinyl decks are great, but you might also want a fence, a shade structure, or other outdoor improvements at the same time. Make sure you work with a versatile contractor that can deliver on a variety of projects.

Once you find a contractor that you’re happy with and can trust, all you have to do is sit back and wait for your perfect vinyl deck to take shape. It will only be a short time until you can enjoy your new outdoor living space all year long.

Future Outdoors® is an experienced and qualified vinyl fence and deck company in North Texas. We work with customers around the Dallas-Fort Worth metro to bring quality vinyl fencing, vinyl decking, and vinyl shade structures to their homes. Contact us today to get a free no-obligation quote on your fence or deck project. You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to get news and updates on our services.

Visit Future Outdoors at the 36th Spring Texas Home & Garden Show

Want to learn about the latest and greatest updates in home and garden solutions? Visit the 36th annual Spring Texas Home & Garden Show on March 6th through the 8th at the Dallas Market Hall. We’ll be one of the hundreds of exhibitors showing off great indoor and outdoor products and innovations to make your home beautiful.

At the Future Outdoors booth, you’ll find all the information you need about our fantastic vinyl fence and deck products as well as details about our vinyl shade structures and contracting. We’ll be able to tell you all about our vinyl products, including:

• What makes vinyl so much stronger than wood and other materials;
• Why vinyl requires less maintenance than other fencing types;
• How vinyl fences and shade structures hold their value better and add more value to your home;
• What kinds of options you can get with your vinyl fence, deck, or shade structure.

Additionally, we’ll have a full display of our vinyl products available at our booth so you can see the quality of the vinyl as well as the color options you can choose from. Our colors include Chestnut Brown, Redwood and Weathered Cedar, as well as the traditional white vinyl.

Finally, you’ll be able to talk to our knowledgeable contractors and salespeople at the event, giving you plenty of opportunity to learn about the benefits of vinyl fencing and shade structures compared to wood and other materials.

Attending the Show

If you’re interested in attending the show, you can purchase tickets at the door or ahead of time at the Texas Home & Garden show website. Tickets cost $10 for general admission, $8 for seniors and military, and nothing at all for children age 14 and under.

In addition to the Future Outdoors booth, you can also visit some of the other attractions and events at the show, including:

• The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) pavilion, where you can talk to expert home remodelers and even show them home plans for advice and tips.
• The Dallas County Master Gardeners Stage, where master gardeners will give you advice and answer questions about your garden projects.
• Saturday and Sunday workshops on a variety of topics and subjects, suitable for any home and garden enthusiast.
• An expanded KidsZone featuring inflatable rides and educational classes and projects to entertain the little ones all day.

If you’re interested in learning more, visit the Texas Home & Garden show website. And to get updates on the latest vinyl fencing and shade structure projects from Future Outdoors, follow us on Facebook or Twitter. You can also call us at (972) 576-1600 to get answers to your questions and set up an appointment for your free vinyl fence or shade structure quote.

Signs That You May Need to Replace Your Fence

Nothing is forever, and that goes doubly true for wooden fences. At the top end a good wooden fence will last for a decade, but eventually all wood rots and degrades. If you have a wooden fence in your yard, you know that you need to regularly maintain it with stain and paint. However, you should also make sure to inspect it regularly to see if it’s experiencing any of these issues. If it is, it may be time to replace the fence with a new one, such as a quality vinyl fence.

Issue 1: Missing Fasteners

Most wooden fences are held together with a combination of nails, wood screws, and firm metal fasteners designed to keep the wooden panels and boards in place. However, over time these fasteners can loosen and even fall out due to wind, ice, and other natural forces. When inspecting your fence, check to see that nails and screws are regularly placed and that there aren’t holes where nails used to be, or discolorations to indicate a missing fastener.

Issue 2: Loose Connections

Along with missing parts, nails and screws can become loose over time. This is due to several factors. First, the natural action of wood swelling and contracting with heat and moisture can cause nails and screws to lose their grip. Second, rot and decay can make the wood split or rot out around a fastening, leaving it with nothing to hold. Third, rust can cause the nails and screws themselves to break apart over time, letting the wood break free. All of these issues are indicative of a fence in need of repairs or replacement.

Issue 3: Wood Rot

Northern Texas is known for hot, dry summers, but there are still plenty of opportunities for rot to set in. The wet, rainy spring and fall seasons in the Dallas area give moisture plenty of time to seep into your fence. Winter brings snow and ice that can work its way into the pores in the wood, rotting it from the inside out. In all of these cases, wood rot only needs time to cause irreparable damage to your wooden fence. Once wood starts rotting, there’s no saving it. Plus, sealants and moisture repellants only work for so long - you’ll need to reapply them regularly to have a chance of beating the rot.

Issue 4: Cracked or Broken Boards

Cracking is common in older fences, especially in boards that have remained untreated for too long and have been damaged by moisture or high heat. In unprotected wood, moisture can seep into the pores, causing the wood to swell and change shape. Because parts of the wood are held in place by nails or screws, the board can’t extend laterally very much. Instead it bends and bows. Over time, this deforming motion can cause the board to crack or warp permanently. Cracked boards are obviously not good for a fence - they can cause splinters, can easily break in inclement weather, and are a much bigger security risk.

Issue 5: Too Expensive to Fix

In isolation, many of the issues above can be repaired by installing new parts or panels in the fence. However, if your fence is extensively damaged, it may be cheaper to tear the whole thing out and replace it with a new fence. Get quotes from a Dallas-area fencing company and determine how much it would cost to repair your fence versus replacing it outright. If the prices are similar, you may as well replace it. After all, a repaired fence may still need lots of maintenance after the repairs, whereas a new fence will likely last much longer.

Of course, if you are planning on getting a new fence, there’s no reason to limit yourself to wood again. The above issues with a wooden fence will happen no matter what if given enough time. In contrast, a fence made from a material like vinyl will not decay over time or lose its structural integrity. Vinyl fences are known for lasting years longer than wooden fences, and they require virtually no maintenance over their entire lifespan.

To learn more about vinyl fences and their many advantages, contact us today at Future Outdoors®. We’re the vinyl fence specialists in the Dallas-Forth Worth Area, and we’ll give you a free no-obligation quote for your vinyl fencing project. Call us today at (972) 576-1600 or follow us on Facebook and Google+ to learn more about our products!