Steve Sparhawk, Author at DeckTec Outdoor Designs

7 Tips for Staying Safe in The Sun

May 7th, 2016|Life On Deck|

As the largest organ in your body, your skin is essential to everyday function in many ways: It provides a barrier between your internal organs and the germs and bacteria of the environment, manages temperature and fluid control, and manufactures vitamin D to keep your bones strong. That said, far too many of us neglect proper skin care practices that keep it functioning at full capacity. As you spend more time outdoors this spring and into summer, protecting your skin becomes even more vital. According to the American Cancer Society, skin cancer is by far the most common type of cancer. With more than 3.5 million new diagnoses every year occurring in the U.S. alone, there are more new cases of skin cancer annually than every other type of cancer combined. While these statistics may seem bleak, there’s some good news as well: Skin cancer, in many cases, is largely [...]

Heaven’s Kitchen: Bringing the Kitchen Outdoors

May 1st, 2016|Deck Design Tips & Trends, Decks & Backyard Features|

In many cases, the kitchen is your most-used room and likely the heart of your home. Many types of events involve food, and as people’s leisure living migrates outdoors, it’s only logical that the kitchen would move outdoors as well. Having not only a nice barbecue, but a nice barbecue area is becoming more appealing and in demand as an important element of the outdoor living environment. While the barbecue is still the key appliance needed for cooking your food, it doesn’t address all the aspects of meal preparation, serving, and outdoor enjoyment, especially when you’re entertaining, so outdoor kitchens are becoming more popular, and even necessary. Too often, the little wings on a grill fail to provide sufficient space for all the ingredients and utensils necessary to conveniently cook and serve a meal. The outdoor kitchen provides space for food prep, serving, side dishes, and condiments, which are often [...]

Featured Vendor: Marina Pool, Spa & Patio

April 30th, 2016|DeckTec News & Updates|

In 1979, mother-daughter duo Peg and Margaret Mangieri founded Marina Pool, Spa & Patio and began selling pools and accessories from their garage. Since that time, they’ve expanded to offer a full range of patio and outdoor living fixtures such as luxury patio furniture, outdoor kitchen appliances, and fire features. For the last 22 years they’ve been operating from a low-overhead location in Lakewood, Colorado, that allows them to offer high-end, name-brand products at incredibly low prices to customers all over the Denver area. Stop by their showroom on Wadsworth and Jewell to see all the ways you can transform your backyard into your own personal paradise, and don’t forget to say that DeckTec sent you! Marina Pool, Spa & Patio is located at: 7777 West Jewell Avenue Lakewood, CO 80232

Why Does Beer Go So Well with BBQ?

April 28th, 2016|Blog, Life On Deck, Outdoor Recipes|

It’s that time of year: Coloradans from Durango to Sterling are saying “good riddance” to the season’s last snows and heading outside to fire up their grills. No doubt we’ll be washing down all of that grilled goodness with a few of Colorado’s favorite craft-brewed beers. But why does beer go so well with barbecue? The truth is that beer is a great complement to all types of foods, but the caramelization of meats that happens on the grill is particularly suited to be complemented by the toasty, roasty, and smoky flavors of beer. In fact, the chemical process, known as the Maillard reaction, is the same when grilling meats and malting barley. Thus, combining the roasted flavors of meat and malt to enjoy on your deck is a no-brainer. Here are some combinations to consider when grilling this barbecue season: Hamburgers and American-Style Amber Ale The caramel notes of [...]

Creating A Leisure Oasis

April 21st, 2016|Deck Design Tips & Trends, Life On Deck, Outdoor Living|

A deck or patio addition is immediately functional for barbecues, furnishings, and leisure as soon as it is complete; however, that doesn’t mean you’re finished. Outdoor living on low-level decks and patios should integrate you into the beauty of the gardens and landscape. Landscaping around your deck doesn’t need to be a huge process! You don’t need to do a lot of research before you take on this extensive project, but here’s a quick overview of the process to get you started. We suggest planning prior to arranging and planting, and consulting with a landscaping designer if necessary. Before you even get out your paper and pencil, Better Homes & Gardens suggests that you study the sun and wind patterns so you don’t accidentally kill that beautiful bush by planting it in the shade. They also suggest that you live with your space for a while before you create a [...]

steve.sparhawk

About Steve Sparhawk

7 Tips for Staying Safe in The Sun

Heaven’s Kitchen: Bringing the Kitchen Outdoors

Featured Vendor: Marina Pool, Spa & Patio

Why Does Beer Go So Well with BBQ?

Creating A Leisure Oasis