Furniture

Most people think of their yards as nice places to catch some sun, sip a beer, read the paper, play with the kids and generally goof off. That’s why outdoor furniture is usually a mix of styles, materials and colors – if you use it just to sit around on when the weather is nice, then quality and looks aren’t important. But if you’ve made a big investment in a pool or patio, you’ll want furniture that fits into the surroundings and adds to their beauty.

Outdoor furniture has two components: frames and seating. Frames are made from tubular aluminum, cast aluminum, wrought aluminum, tubular steel, tubular bronze, wrought iron, wood, plastic, and fiberglass. Seating is made out of saran webbing, vinyl lace, cotton canvas, acrylic canvas, vinyl-coated polyester mesh, wood slats, foam-filled pads, expanded metal and probably any number of other things. The materials and craftsmanship determine the price of the furniture: Aluminum and vinyl-coated polyester are usually the cheapest, while wood and wrought iron cost the most.

Outdoor furniture needs to be weather-resistant or it won’t last long. Make sure the pads are guaranteed not to mildew or rot if they are left out in the rain. If you’re looking for a table with a glass top for your patio it should be tempered glass that won’t turn a nasty yellow after a few months. Furniture that has a polyester finish will resist chipping and peeling better than enamelled surfaces.

Barbecue without briquettes.



As long as you’re furnishing your yard, you may as well plan for alfresco dining. Even during last winter’s blizzards you could find a few hardy souls out on their patios tending T-bones. Although there are many traditionalists who feel that the only way to barbecue is with charcoal, more and more people are turning to gas grills as a cleaner, easier way to cook.

Gas grills aren’t expensive if you barbecue often, considering the cost of charcoal, lighter, and hickory chips. Most single-burner gas grills cost in the neighborhood of $190; double-burner grills run from $250 to $360 (the latter for a grill with two lids and sets of controls).

Installation of gas grills usually costs $40 to $50 for each 50 feet of tubing hooked into your gas lines. It’s best to hire a company that specializes in installing gas grills; plumbers charge more. Gas grills don’t have to be stationary; they can ride on carts fitted with small butane tanks. This allows you to take your grill with you on picnics.

If you shop sales, be sure that you buy an established brand (such as Charmglow, Arklo, or Falcon). Many grills that go on sale are from very small companies, which can make it hard to get replacemerit parts. Lone Star Gas also offers gas grills at decent prices. They’ll finance them for you, so it’s good to check with them before you buy.



Electric grills aren’t as popular as gas grills because even though they cost less (around $180 for a unit the same size as a double-burner gas grill), their heating elements rust out quickly unless stored with care. Buying replacement parts, you lose the money saved on the initial purchase.

Gas grills use special briquettes that combine with the dripping meat juices to give food a smokey taste. If the briquettes are cleaned after every barbecue they will last longer and give meat a better flavor.

There are many accessories for grills. Rotisseries allow you to cook quickly and evenly. Rotisserie baskets fit onto the spit so that you can barbecue hamburgers and steaks. There are wiener wheels that cook hot dogs evenly and shish kebob sets for flamboyant cookery. And for those who get nervous when lighting fires, automatic igniters will save you the trouble.

The bodies of grills are made from cast iron and will eventually rust out. (If they are cleaned often they will last longer.) Some grills have stainless steel burners which won’t need to be replaced as often as cast iron ones.