Vacation for Nothing Without Time Off

New Outlook on Vacationing

The economy is growing right along with workload. This is good news, right? Of course, this is great news, but it means taking a vacation is practically impossible. Daydreaming you're at the beach in some background desktop photo on your computer for a few moments is downright sad and only reinforces the idea you have no vacation. 

Childhood Inspirations

Transporting myself into the private beach photo  is probably out of the question. This leaves me with nothing but thinking back to the many hours I spent as a child on my grandmother’s porch at her beachfront house listening to the soothing sound of waves break.

Vacationing Daily

Reminiscing about these times brought me to an obvious conclusion. You don’t have to leave home to create and experience your very own oasis. Just like waves crashing, I love the sounds of a  heavy rainstorm or the many sounds resonating from the woods on a summer night.  To add, wouldn't it be great to have a entertaining area with Tiki torches and outdoor furniture for friends to come over and sit back and enjoy a nice cold drink with a sizzling steak right off the grill.

Creating Your Destination

First, I need to create a private and enjoyable retreat at home to do just these things. That’s simple -- build an outdoor living center with a screen porch. Enclosing part of the deck and then installing a pergola or ultra lattice over a portion will give me both a more private intimate area and an open area for entertaining.

It doesn't cost anything to have someone come out , design my new outdoor living area and give me an estimate.  That’s a good place to start. They will have sample materials and 100s of different options to choose from ranging from choice of materials to sunroom styles, e.g., traditional, Florida, 3 Season, screened patios to screened porches, under decking and much more. Find out what you can build and the cost for free by completing the form below.

foxyform

Enjoy Your New Oasis 365 Days a Year

You can feel safe with the excellent workmanship and what vacation comes with a lifetime warranty. Depending upon your selection, your new private outdoor living area has a lifetime warranty.  For the same amount of money typically spent on the average vacation, you can create all of this, have it year-round to enjoy and increase the value and investment in your home with added living space. Sure, I will make it back to the beach one of these days, but this will turn out pretty well too.

Gas Grill vs. Charcoal Grill

Debating about gas grills vs. charcoal grills is about as sensitive as a political issue.

Then, how can we forget about the comical reference on one famous prime time cartoon television show? The deciding factor comes down to preference of taste, convenience, grill placement and cost.

There is no getting around gas grills do not enhance the taste of food whatsoever. Whereas, charcoal grills sear meat quickly, retaining natural juices and absorbing that deep smoky flavor. There is no argument this makes for the best grilled meat. In addition, there are a variety of charcoal briquettes to add different varieties of flavors that best fit your palate. However, in several independent taste tests, participants only detected meat grilled with charcoal for items that cook a little longer, e.g., thick steak and not so much for quick items such as hamburgers.

Just like there is no getting around the added taste from gas grills, there is also no denying the benefits of a gas grill. They are extremely convenient and ready to go at a moment’s notice. You still have to exchange the empty gas tanks which can be a hassle. With the price of gas, a lot of people are finding that this service is a lot more expensive lately. Whereas technology developed for charcoal grills has eliminated the need for lighter fluid or ready-to-light charcoal briquettes. Meaning much cheaper charcoal is now available.

To utilize this new method, you only need an inexpensive charcoal starter. They can be found in most hardware stores. You still have to be a little patient and wait for the coals to get just right, but it eliminates the need for more expensive brands of charcoal and buying lighter fluid. The device basically works by convection updraft currents getting the briquettes dry and white-hot and ready for the grill. Once ready, you simply dump them into your grill.

Regardless to the type of grill, cleaning is about the same in both gas and charcoal.

However, charcoal still does have one annoying little detail – dumping the used briquettes and if you are not utilizing newer methods for starting a charcoal grill and are impatient, you may be left with a slight hint of lighter fluid in the flavor of your food.

More importantly, space is a very significant issue when it comes to choosing a grill. Gas grills require more room. Therefore, a larger open area such as a patio or deck is essential. There are also usually strict regulations against gas grills on apartment and condo balconies. I can’t stress this point enough. You need to check your local policy if living in an apartment or condo. You may even be limited to an electric grill.

In my younger days while living in an apartment complex, there was a major fire from an innocent accident but not quite so innocent placement of a propane tank on an apartment balcony. While putting out a cigarette, the cigarette rolled under a storage door where the gas grill was kept and eventually set off a propane tank explosion – setting ablaze an entire row of apartments that even melted siding on other units 100 feet away.

Finally, you have to consider the overall cost.

Gas grills are usually going to run twice the price of their charcoal predecessors. The reason, gas grills have all sorts of bells and whistles today for all sorts of cooking. However, charcoal grills are starting to close the gap by offering comparable features. It all comes down to your taste preference, convenience, location and how much you want to spend. Remember, if you live in an apartment or condo with a balcony, always check the policy for what is and is not allowed.
Happy Grilling…

Isn’t my deck by itself good enough?

There is no arguing that a really nice deck can make a backyard and home much more beautiful.

However, does it make it more livable? That is the main question you should ask yourself. When you are in the middle of full-on summer, will you really get much enjoyment sitting directly in the sun? Yes, you can sun bath or grill out, but why not do these things and more?

Adding a patio cover or pergola over part of or over the entire deck multiplies the benefits. To begin with, you now have shaded areas that offer anywhere from 20 – 30 degree temperature differences compared to being in the full sun. It doesn’t stop there. Adding an outdoor ceiling fan even makes it better. You now really have an outdoor living area.


Partial areas can be blocked off for privacy with oversized ferns, palms, border walls and other areas can remain open for entertaining on any occasion.  Outdoor patio furniture can remain truly outdoor furniture year-round. How many times have you started to grill and all of the sudden you find yourself fighting time against an approaching thunderstorm? You no longer have to worry about issues like this or rained out parties. Everything and everyone is now protected from the elements.

With summer just weeks away, I know you don’t want to hear about heat, but even with winter months, rain or snow, you still have an enjoyable living area with a fire pit or outdoor heater to keep you toasty and warm.

Backyard living is a very trendy subject in today’s home improvement projects.

A deck is just a deck. Add depth and dimension with a patio cover and/or pergola and you now have added square footage that adds to the value of your home and makes it much more attractive. If you ever decide to sell, your home value has now increased. Contact Factory Direct Remodeling of Atlanta to get started turning your backyard into a truly enjoyable living area regardless of the weather.

Top 10 Reasons Why You Should Choose Aluminum Patio Covers and Pergolas vs. Wood

Aluminum construction has many advantages over its wood predecessor

Various textures and colors give you an endless array of options and finishes. For completely seamless integration, veneers can also be added to match the existing exterior of your house, e.g., brick, stucco, siding.

1. 200% stronger than traditional stick built construction
2. Materials cost and construction is a fraction of the cost.
3. Resistance to natural weathering
4. No maintenance with the exception of occasional cleaning
5. Impervious to boring and nesting insects
6. Wood construction is subject to fire damage and termites
7. No refinishing every 2 – 3 years common with exterior paints and stains
8. No splitters, rusting nails, warping, bowing and rotting common with traditional wood
9. In addition, warranties are available which is never the case with traditional construction
10. Aluminum is also superior to steel in that fact that corrosion and rust are not common

All of these benefits, the durability and overall lack of maintenance involved makes Factory Direct Remodeling of Atlanta #1 in patio cover, pergola, under decking, sun room and screen room additions. While wood is not the most favorable choice for construction, we do have solutions for building with wood. In these cases, we use only the highest quality treated wood with a special patented finish that will last for years to come. At Factory Direct Remodeling of Atlanta, we use only the best material.

Expand Your Living Area to Your Backyard

Expand Your Living Area to Your Backyard

Boring concrete slabs are a thing of the past. Right now, custom patios are one of the hottest trends in the housing market. There are endless options that can be shaped to accent any home, lawn and garden.

 A custom patio truly is an extended living area if planned and built correctly. There are a lot of things to consider, e.g., facing east or west, privacy measures, intended use. In addition, the patio doesn’t even have to be attached to the house. It can be hidden away in a little nook for a private sanctuary.



The two most common requirements are an entertaining area and a private area. This can be achieved with half-walls of stone, plants with a lot of foliage, i.e., large fern, and a patio cover or pergola for privacy from above.

Use large ferns or other plants for
additional privacy

To really make your patio inviting, you have your choice of traditional brick pavers, stone pavers or even colored concrete. If you already have a concrete slab, it can be stained for a unique look or color can be added when the concrete slab is put in place. Once you have the basic layout completed, add a fire pit and small fountain or pond to complete the package. Both items are great for entertainment and fountains work great for drowning out noise.

To get started, you only need to request a free in-home estimate and go from there. Factory Direct Remodeling of Atlanta has 100s of patio options.