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Installing a gazebo at your Toronto home can be as easy or as complicated as you wish to make it. Finding the perfect gazebo for your yard will involve several steps including deciding on it’s placement, how it will be anchored, the material it will be made out of and it’s permanence. Once you have settled on those elements, then you can think about how you want it to look. Gazebos can be romantic, modern, simple, ornate, functional or merely for show – regardless of what you choose for your yard, it will definitely be used!
 
The easiest gazebos to install are the temporary kind that you can find at most big box stores. They include structures that can be set up and taken down easily and quickly. The downside is that they are not very durable and not meant to withstand the elements. Most temporary gazebos are meant to last one season – after which the covering usually needs to be replaced. Even the more expensive temporary shelters will require a new covering after a couple of years.
 
More permanent gazebos are those that are built out of resin, wood or some form of composite. While there are kits available for sale at some retailers, most of these more permanent structures are custom designed and built to meet your specs. These more permanent structures can be quite elaborate and are meant for long-term use. Although considerably more expensive than their less permanent counterparts, they will endure for a much longer period of time.
 
The use that you plan for your gazebo will also influence the kind of structure you install. For instance, if you plan on using it as an eating area, then the shape will be more suited for tables and chairs. If you plan on making it an outdoor living room, then a square or rectangle is most commonly used, but it can also then be rounded or oval. If you merely want a screened-in spot for enjoying your garden quietly, then a round romantic gazebo might be more in keeping with your needs.
 
Gazebos can make terrific additions to any yard – they are functional, attractive and can add a layer of beauty and convenience to your grounds that you never even imagined.

Sunshine is great for more than just tanning and warming yourself at the beach – it is also a terrific way to get the lighting and heating you need for garden projects at your Toronto home. Whether you are looking for an alternative way to heat your pool or want some low-maintenance ways to light up your garden after dark, using solar power is an easy, affordable and eco-friendly way of getting the energy you need.
 
Garden Ideas
Solar lanterns, fairy lights and deck flares are great lighting options to get that soft glow and party-like ambiance in your yard for evening parties. Although there are the regular plug-in versions of these lights, the more useful option includes the solar variety. Just plant them in an area with full sun and let the solar cells soak up the light during the day and then they will turn on automatically when dark. Solar lighting for your garden is an easy, low-maintenance way to get the lighting you want without having to remember to turn on/off lights switches, plug/unplug cables, etc…
 
Solar Blanket
Solar blankets are one of the most popular ways of heating outdoor pools. Although it does require a steady supply of uninterrupted sunshine, newer solar blanket models are highly efficient and are far more effective than older versions.
 
Safety lighting
Another great use for solar power is for emergency and/or safety lighting. Ideally for lighting up walkways, lanes or infrequently used outdoor areas of your property, they are a good option for always having light when it is needed.
 
Solar power is evolving and getting better every year. The options for its use are varied and perfect for applications where you want a small energy footprint and high efficiency.

Nothing beats a swimming pool in the summertime! If you are fortunate enough to have a swimming pool at your Toronto home, then you likely have had to consider the options when it came to heating sources. Although a warm summer can sufficiently heat a pool for maximum enjoyment, our weather rarely leaves room for more than a few weeks of summer heating. Instead, it is necessary to rely on alternate sources of heat to ensure a constant, pleasurable temperature for your pool.
 
There are a number of options when it comes to heating your pool. Although most people will install install an electric or gas-powered heater, those options will likely add hundreds of dollars to your energy costs and will also run you a few hundred dollars to install. There are several alternative heating options that some ingenious people have concocted to avoid those extra costs while still maintaining a comfortable water temperature even during the colder parts of the summer months.
 
Solar
Solar blankets for your pool are a great idea. Conventional solar blankets can be costly, but why-not build your own solar blanket for a fraction of what you would pay for a manufactured one? While there are a number of great ideas on Pinterest, one of the easiest and least expensive is using hula-hoops and polyurethane. All you need to do is buy a few hula-hoops, cover them in polyurethane and toss them into your pool and let the sun do the rest. Easy to build, easy to remove and easy to replace, they can raise your pool’s water temperature sufficiently to make it comfortable.
 
Another inexpensive solar option is to use black tubing, coiled in a snake formation that you place on your lawn or on you roof for maximum solar exposure. A pump pumps the water from your pool through this coil that is heated by the sun. While it won’t heat up your pool they way a conventional heater can, it will definitely take the chill away.
 
Wood
Another terrific and inexpensive option for heating the water in your pool is to harness the heat from your firepit or outdoor fireplace. Using a pump to pump the water from your pool into a coil of copper wire suspended in a barrel over or next to your fire pit can heat the water up beautifully – full instructions on how to build this very practical device can be found at any number of handy websites online.
 
Although we’ve only covered two options here for heating your pool, a quick search online will reveal a number of very useful links to great ideas for heating your pool while keeping your costs down.

Ever wondered whether your Toronto home has a porch or portico? You are not alone! While very similar, the two structures serve different purposes.
 
A porch is an extension of your home’s living space and usually runs the length of your facade. It is generally covered and used for sitting and relaxing or even entertaining. Porches have been around for centuries and still see plenty of use. The function of a porch has greatly evolved through the years and while they are still used regularly for enjoying a cool breeze at the end of the day, they have also become decorative and are used to enhance the overall look and curb appeal of a home.
 
The construction of porches varies greatly across structures. The flooring used also runs the gamut from place-to-place as does the covering as well.. They range from very casual structures to more formal ones. However, the one thing they all have in common is how functional and useful they are.
 
Porticos are strictly functional and are mainly meant to shelter your doorway and yourself from the elements while trying to enter or exit the house. They are also used to add plenty of drama to a structure. Usually reserved for grand homes and large buildings, porticos have also been successfully used on smaller residential properties.
 
Sometimes porticos are large enough to house a decorative table and set of chairs but they are rarely used for actual socializing due to their size and restrictiveness. However, they can still add plenty of drama and flare to an entranceway.
 
Regardless of whether you are thinking of adding a portico or a porch to your home, both options are great ways to enhance the overall look and curb appeal of your home.

The walkway leading to your front door is an integral part of your Toronto home’s curbside appeal. Without a decent-looking walkway your home will look incomplete and unfinished. The kind of look you want for your property will dictate the kind of material that you choose for your walkway. In fact, walkways can run the gamut from poured concrete to wood to mosaics. Each medium has its own beauty and level of difficulty in application.
 
Concrete
Concrete is probably the longest-lasting material you can use for your walkway. Whether you hire someone to do it or do it yourself, concrete will require the proper prepping of the walkway site and the proper mixing of the concrete itself. Once poured, you can get creative and add patterns and/or whimsical elements to add dimension and visual interest to the walkway. When concrete is poured, you have to make sure that is cures slowly and remains slightly damp so that it is evenly dry throughout. Once it is fully dry, you will need to seal it ensure it lasts for as long as possible.
 
Flagstones
Flagstones are a very popular when it comes to walkways. However, flagstones can also be quite expensive if you are using natural stones. Artificial or composite stones are less expensive but don’t always have that unique look that natural stones impart. Flagstones can be laid out in a similar way to regular interlocking bricks or they can be laid down in a less formal way with grass in-between each stone. The latter option is easier to install and requires fewer stones, but more maintenance.
 
Mosaics
For the more ambitious, creating a mosaic out of stones, rocks, glass or other materials is a great option for really making the pathways around your home unique and memorable. Although requiring a lot more work, they can last a lifetime and are truly an expression of your unique personality.
 
Wood and Gravel
Wood and gravel are other very viable options for walkways. They add a different kind of sensibility to a home. While wood is warm, earthy and more organic, gravel is more a casual, contemporary and clean option.

Sprucing up the front porch of your Toronto home to make it more welcoming is not very hard to do. In fact, depending on the start of repair of your front stoop, usually it doesn’t require much more than some well placed potted plants and/or a coat of paint to really take things up a notch. If your porch requires more extensive repair work before being presentable then, yes, it might cost more, but depending on the work that needs to be done, there are all kinds of interesting solutions for you.
 
The simple fix
If your front porch is already in good shape, then investing in some good pots and yearly blooms might be all you need to throw colour into your entrance way. A pair of matching pots with healthy flowers can go a long way toward livening up your front door. Planting perennials and shrubs around your front porch can also add interest and beauty to your home.
 
If you have a covered front porch, then the addition of a few comfy chairs a table or two and maybe even a throw rug can definitely beckon people to sit and relax. If your porch is made of wood, then refreshing the paint every couple of years will keep it looking its best and preserve the wood as well.
 
More complicated fixes
If your stoop is in need of major repair work, then finding a good contractor is of essence. A poured concrete porch is the longest lasting option available as long as it is done well and cured properly. However, it is also often the most expensive option. Although you can certainly opt to repair damaged concrete, unless it is done well, it won’t adhere to the existing work.
 
Another option is to cover your existing concrete using stone tiles. When glued down properly they look just as good as poured concrete and add another dimension to a setting.
 
Regardless of the work that needs to be done on your porch, it is worth the investment. The entrance to your home is the first thing people see and is what makes or breaks curb-appeal. If it is done well, then the value of your home will increase immediately. Done poorly, regardless of how well maintained and updated the rest of your home is, the unappealing exterior is all people will remember.