Outdoor Furniture, Patio Furniture and more!

Despite it being March, the temperatures here on the east coast are still cold.  In fact, if I see one more snow flake, I’ll start rooting for global warming.  Since it is March, I do know that Spring is not far away (which means summer and bathing suits are close, too…maybe snow is good). 

The first thing you must do this Spring is organize your wish list.  Is this the year to decorate the garden with a few odds and ends, or is this the year you add a cedar garden bench, Adirondack chair and canopy gazebo?    Is this the year to just plant a few flowers, or finally lay down a rock bed and a cedar garden bridge? 

Spring is the time of optimism and a Can-Do attitude.  Make a list of your Do-It-Yourself backyard projects.  Circle your favorite, and immediately get to work!  The longer you wait, the closer August gets.  “I should have…” is never a good statement.

You can organize your list in two ways—most important or in order of easily accomplished.  Some people like to start with a couple small items, build some momentum, and then tackle the big one.  Not me!  Bring on the challenge!  I’ll do it now, while I’ve got the energy and desire to get it done.  If I do a few small projects, I’ll take time off and never get back to the real projects.

CedarStore.com presents the best of both worlds.  The projects appear large, such as a Vinyl Pergola, but really, they’re built in only a few hours.  The same goes for the cedar and treated pine arbors.  Spend half a day building the arbor, the other half placing hanging vines or flower pots, and call it a day! 

Another idea is to start the season with a storage shed.  Maybe Cedar Log for that rustic look?  Maybe a vinyl shed for its longevity and economical cost?  Starting with a shed gives you a chance to store all the tools for your upcoming projects in one place, and out of your way! 

Or you may just decide; no work for me!  Add a few pieces of outdoor patio furniture, relax, recline and reset. 

The most important thing is to enjoy the journey! 

Shari 

Tags: adirondack chair, Arbors, garden bridge, outdoor patio furniture, Sheds, Spring Cleaning

One of the most common debates our customers have is:  “Should I buy a pre-assembled kit or build it myself?”  Let’s examine the pros and cons of each…

First, a quick story.  One of the first gazebos we sold was to a couple in Pittsburgh, who stopped by our greenhouse and retail site.  They didn’t buy right away.  The wife fell in love with a little Cedar Octagon gazebo.  The husband, after studying it for several minutes, looked at me, hitched up his pants (it’s a guy thing), and proclaimed to his wife, “I can build that for a lot less!”

I next saw the couple at our retail site about three years later.  I instantly recognized them, but didn’t say a word.  It wasn’t long before the wife approached me, and with a rye smile asked, “Do you remember us?” 

“Of course”, I told her.  “How is your gazebo?” 

At this point, the husband had his hands in his pockets.  I knew why, and it’s a story I’ve seen dozens of times since.  His wife turned to him and victoriously said, “Tell him how far you’ve come with the gazebo!”

He had the floor done.  After three years, he had only built the floor!  It wasn’t his fault, really.  We’re all busy.  If the kids don’t have practice, our parents need help with something, we have chores of our own, and we occasionally try to relax.  Who has time or skills to build a gazebo?

For the record, our gazebo kit prices are only a few hundred dollars more than buying just the raw, uncut materials.  The question you have to ask yourself is:  “Are the weeks and frustration to build it worth a few hundred dollars?”  The compound angles alone on an octagon gazebo kit are enough to drive professional contractors a little mad.

Our gazebo kits assemble in one day.  The same formula applies to our wooden picnic tables, which only take about 15 minutes to assemble, wooden pergolas, shed kits, and all of our pre-made outdoor furniture kits. 

The reason our kits are so easy to assemble is the use templates, otherwise known as jigs, which allow us to consistently create perfectly made components without wasting a splinter of wood.  Also, our lumber is a higher quality than you can buy at national hardware stores.  Our expert craftsmen hand select the #1 grade Cedar, Pine and Teak. 

In fact, one of our biggest customer segments is general contractors and handymen.  So, my slightly biased opinion, but one based on years of experience, is leave the saw the in shed and buy a kit.  Invite a few friends over, put a few steaks on the grill, and when the neighbors smell the steaks, they may even offer help, too!

Enjoy your day!

Shari

Tags: Gazebo Kits, Outdoor Furniture, Pergolas, Shed Kits

Many customers call us to ask if they need a permit to add one of our large garden structures to their backyard.  The simple answer is:  Maybe. 

Permit Law

The permit rules vary from state to state, county to county and even township to township.  What you may need a permit for your friends just a few miles away may not.  Sound a little crazy?  It is, but a simple call to your local building department is usually a quick and easy way to sort things out.  If you need help, Cedarstore.com will be glad to assist you. 

Some states such as California, New York, Massachusetts and New Jersey seem to require a permit for everything, even building a pergola or porch!  However, exceptions often exist for outdoor structures under 120 square feet. 

Other states prefer a more common sense approach, which allows residents to build any structure, including a deck, Pergola or arbor, as long as it maintains a proper setback from the property line and does not interfere with the rights of others.  Again, a quickie call to your building department usually clears any doubt.

Permit Requirements

If a permit is required, the next thing to ask your building department is, “what is required to obtain the permit?”  The same states which are most stringent in requiring permits usually have higher standards to obtain them, also.  Fortunately, CedarStore.com has dealt with hundreds of departments across the country and we have the necessary paperwork to get you through the process!

Unique Situations

If stamped and sealed engineer drawings are required for your new Patio, Deck, or Garden Structure, we can provide them!  Our engineer will examine your local codes to ensure the structure meets the requirements.  Some places have unique codes, such as Florida requiring structures to meet 140mph wind loads, and parts of Utah requiring high snow loads.  In cases of extreme requirements, additional charges may apply to modify our structure to meet your code, but the cost is typically minimal. 

For most places, simple spec charts and shop draws are acceptable in the permit process.  CedarStore.com provides those drawings free of charge, and you can find them on our web page.

If you need assistance getting through the process, call us immediately.  We’ve helped many clients through difficult processes.  And if we’re not able to help, chances are we know somebody who can.  Call anytime, 1-888-293-2339.

Have a wonderful day!

Shari

Tags: building permits, permit, permits