Our Company Blog
The Value of a Gas Fireplace
When it comes to fireplaces, gas is the most popular and most efficient option today. Outdoor fireplaces are no different. The convenience of gas is unrivaled, and homeowners are taking the opportunity to get them installed before winter. Enjoy the warmth of a fireplace in the colder months!
Start Now
You can start planning now and find the fireplace of your dreams to enhance your outdoor area. Gas fireplaces are great fall and winter additions to your home. There is still time to choose the best fireplace and have it installed before the temperature drops.
Choosing Gas
When you choose a gas fireplace, you get the added benefit of convenience, efficiency, and a reduced carbon footprint. IBD Outdoor Rooms specializes in the gas powered fire pit and has a model to match every home, need, and personality.
Eco-Friendly
Gas fire pits are good for the environment. They are highly efficient, produce less byproducts into the atmosphere, and less smoke into your yard area.
Enjoyable
Because of the high-efficiency of gas, you and your guests will not be bothered by smoke, sparks, and odors from your fireplace. Gas fire pits burn only gas (unless you drop debris in the pit, which is not recommended).
Convenient
Your gas fireplace is perfect for cool nights when you don’t want to shiver while you light a fire for a short get-together. Gas will fire with a switch or match, and extinguish just as quickly and easily. Depending on the model, you can adjust the heat and flame with easy controls, making these fire pits and fireplaces perfect for every season.
Choices
You can choose a gas fire pit that sits at the center of all the fun and activity. This is great if you have the space. If your space is limited, you can also choose a gas wall fireplace. Rinnai Walls are a great and beautiful option for divider walls and offer all of the benefits of gas fire. You can also install a fireplace cabinet to house a manufactured gas fireplace of your choice. You aren’t limited to one model or one style when choosing gas!
Customizable
IBD Outdoor Rooms ships fire pits ready to finish. That means homeowners have the last say and can finish the fire pit with a material or style that matches the surrounding area, the patio furniture, the terrain, and more.
Real, Beautiful Flame
When you choose a gas fireplace or fire pit, you can even choose a traditional wood fire using ceramic wood that looks authentic! Enjoy a beautiful fire without hauling, splitting, or lighting wood. There’s no ash to dispose of, and no coals to extinguish at the end of the night.
With all the benefits, there is no reason to choose anything other than gas for your outdoor fireplace. To start your oder, call IBD today at 704-960-4530!
Protecting Outdoor Furniture and Appliances
When you’ve put consideration, time, and money into your outdoor space, you want it to last. You want it to be beautiful. Over time, though, even furniture and appliances designed for outdoor use can become damaged due to weather and sun exposure. The best way to prolong its life is to protect it from the damage.
Things You May Need:
- Outdoor Furniture Protectant product
- Bucket for soap and water
- Brushes
- Upholstery Cleaner
- Paint brushes
- Paint or stain
Protecting Fabric Furniture
When it’s time to prepare for summer, take all the removable cushions from your furniture and wash them. If the cover doesn’t come off the cushion, you can use an upholstery cleaner for the same affect. Once cushion and cover are clean, you can spray the entire surface of the furniture with Outdoor Furniture Protectant. An added protection you can try is to place the cushions in plastic before returning to the cover. This will ensure your cushions are as long-lasting as the furniture itself.
Protecting Wood Furniture
Wood is most often stained or painted at the manufacturer, but this process may need to be repeated due to time and sun exposure. First, clean the surface of the furniture with soap and water (some homeowners use a power washer) and allow to dry. Then, use a brush to apply Outdoor Furniture Protectant to the furniture, paying close attention to the frames and supports, and allow to dry. This is when you will apply stain or paint to your liking. Make sure you purchase appropriate paint for use outdoors. Your wood will need a coat of primer before paint is applied.
Protecting Metal Furniture
Much of the damage your metal furniture will withstand overtime is due to where it’s placed. If you place metal furniture beneath a tree, it will most likely have a steady drip of water in one particular place following a rain. This small place will rust, then eventually form a hole. Be sure to place your metal furniture completely under a canopy or roof, or completely in the open sunlight to avoid drips that add rust to your furniture. To clean and protect it further, you should wash with soap and water (or power washer), and allow to dry. At this point you can paint the furniture with a product rated for outdoor use. When you purchase paint specifically for metal, it usually includes a rust inhibitor.
Protecting Outdoor Appliances
The most effective way to protect your outdoor appliances is to cover them when they’re not in use. Your products should be rated for outdoor use, but can still be affected by the elements. Additionally, by covering your stove-top and sink, and closing your grill, you keep animals and debris from getting into your appliances. For your refrigerator, it’s important to clean it regularly. If you have an awning, roof, or custom structure with limited space, the refrigerator can go inside with full protection.
Like every good investment, your outdoor space is only going to be as maintained and long-lasting as you allow. It’s a space to enjoy, but requires some upkeep.
Have a product from IBD Outdoor Rooms? Feel free to contact us and gain an expert recommendation about protecting your furniture and appliances!
Protect Your Outside Kitchen During Stormy Weather
Spring is the time that homeowners begin to plan their summer. We find ourselves planning our days around holidays, parties, barbecues, and more. If you had the foresight to plan your outdoor space, you probably envision many of summer’s gatherings to take place outdoors. It won’t take much to ruin these plans, though, if necessary precautions aren’t taken.
Spring storms can cause unexpected damage, so it’s important to prevent as much as possible. These preparations cannot take place ten minutes before the storm hits. Protecting your outdoor kitchen from storm damage starts when it’s designed, installed, and built. Many homeowners go so far as to build walls and a roof over the outdoor kitchen for good measure. While this is a great option, it may be out of your price range, or you might not have the space for such a big space. No matter the reason, there are still steps you can take to protect your investment.
Fasten, Store, and Remove Items that Might Move
Wind and water can move items across the yard (or the county) if not fastened down. While your appliances shouldn’t be a problem, it’s important to fasten-down or store items that can blow away. Furniture can be stored, tied down, and even built into the design. Cushions, should be removed and doors fastened closed. If your outdoor kitchen has walls, removable curtains or partitions, you should remove or fasten these things so that they aren’t damaged or lost during the storm.
Shut Off Electricity to Appliances
Before a storm hits be sure to disconnect electricity to the outdoor kitchen. This includes cords that might become tangled, pulled out, and damaged. Also, a bolt of lightening can damage an appliance irreparably.
Shut Off Gas and Water Connections
If a major storm sweeps through your property and tears away appliances or counters, a gas or water connection may be severed. If a gas line is broken it can result in a leak and a major fire hazard. A broken water line, though not as serious, can result in a large water bill and added damage to your space.
Invest in a Roof or Cover
If you’d like your outdoor space to have a cover, it’s not too late. You can purchase and have built a pavilion, room, or roof around your outdoor kitchen. Professional installation can take place without interrupting your use of the space. If you are not ready to invest in the property in that way, you can also cover your outdoor kitchen yourself, using tarps and rope or bungee straps.
The last thing you want is to be surprised by a storm that might ruin your dream space. Whether you created an outdoor kitchen because you wanted a relaxing space for hostessing or because you wanted to raise property value for sale or refinance, you want to protect it! Don’t let a storm ruin your day.
Tips for Maintaining Your Outdoor Kitchen
You envisioned the perfect home and you realized that dream. Then you imagined your perfect outdoor space, and you saw that through to completion as well. Your outdoor kitchen is everything you wanted—an oven, grill, refrigerator, fireplace, cabinets, and even dining space. You’ve spent time and money making sure you have the space you dreamed of, so what do you do to keep it beautiful, functional, and efficient?
Proper Care and Maintenance
You have to regularly clean and maintain your outdoor kitchen just like you would your indoor kitchen. If you don’t you can invite bugs and wildlife into your kitchen as well as shorten the life of your appliances and cause unneeded costs in repairs.
Take care to remember these things while enjoying your outdoor kitchen:
- Call a professional for repairs, maintenance, and replacement of appliances and parts. Wood, gas, or oil appliances should be serviced by a professional to ensure correct installation and repairs are made.
- Seal your countertops to avoid staining. A professional can apply an industrial sealant on your countertop, or you can purchase a sealant at a local home improvement store.
- Clean the kitchen after use. Wipe the countertops to avoid stains. Leaving food and residue behind can cause animals to come into your outdoor space.
- Keep the grill clean and check it before and after use. Keep all parts of your gas appliance clean and free of debris and wildlife. Keep an eye on the flame while in use. The flame should be blue with a yellow tip. Anything other than this indicates a problem, and you should discontinue use immediately and check hose and valves for problems.
- Protect your outdoor furniture by choosing a material that best suits your needs and that will withstand the weather. You can also protect your furniture by cleaning it regularly, and keeping it covered when not in use.
- Winterize your outdoor kitchen before winter weather arrives. If you don’t take necessary precautions to prepare for winter your pipes can freeze and bust, electrical components of appliances can become damaged, and furniture can become cracked and damaged due to moisture penetration and a process of freezing and thawing.
The Life and Performance of Your Outdoor Kitchen
The seasons may change, but as a homeowner that invested a lot of money and space into an outdoor kitchen, you not only want it to be exactly what you envisioned, but you want it to last! By keeping up with routine maintenance, cleaning, and following manufacturer’s directions you extend the life of your outdoor kitchen.
Afraid an outdoor kitchen will be too much work? Are you not sure where to start planning? Contact IBD Outdoor Rooms to consult with an experienced professional today. At IBD Outdoor Rooms we turn fantasy into reality.
