Fried Turkey Safety Tips
Turkey. It's as American as—well—eating turkey on Thanksgiving. This patriotic bird, once promoted by Ben Franklin to be our national symbol, is the centerpiece for many holiday festivities. Question is, how do you cook such a large bird? There are the traditionalists who enjoy it roasted, of course, and those who will grill it, but a growing number of people seem to enjoy the added flavor and fun of a deep-fried turkey. The challenge to deep-frying a turkey is the bird's large size. With the average weight of a turkey being about 28 pounds, this is not a project for your kitchen stove. So, many cooks head outdoors to grill or fry their birds. If you decide to deep-fry your turkey this year, two words come to mind: be careful! You should not try this project in a garage, under an eave or even on your roof-covered deck. Set up away from the house, kids, and pets. Deep frying turkey is a definite fire hazard. According to the National Fire Protection Association, approximately 1000 fires[...]
Developing a Grateful Attitude at Holiday Time
Thanksgiving is just around the corner and with it marks the beginning of another major holiday season. Turkey Day melds into Black Friday sales, holiday rush, parties, and a hoopla of wonderful activities. But the holiday season is also rife with stress and anxiety, which can lead to depression and other nasty side effects. What can you do to ward off these unpleasant events? Develop an attitude of gratitude. That's right. According to Linda Osterlund Ph.D., LMFT, president of the Colorado Counseling Association and associate dean and associate professor at Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions, things like shorter days, colder weather, and the semi-annual time change can play against you at this time of the year, and its important to be ready to address your issues. "We gather with family and friends, which is great," said Dr. Osterlund, "but sometimes interacting with family members creates unachievable expectations. Things like 'you should' or 'you ought' establish a level of stress that's unhealthy." Dr. Osterlund recommends that one of the best ways to combat this is to take[...]
Saving the Sights & Smells of Autumn
With the cold weather upon us, you may think that its time to be inside for the next few months. But now is a great season to take a walk out with the kids, the dog, or just on your own. Enjoy the colors and scents of autumn, and then bring them home with you. Bring them home? Yes. A walk, even in your back yard at this time of year can bring you a treasure trove of natural beauty that you can use to make your own potpourri. This ancient craft originated with the Pharaohs. The French coined the word, potpourri or "rotted pot" for the scent of rotting rose petals used in moist potpourri, and the Victorians gave the practice significance with jars and bowls in just about every corner of good houses during that era. So what exactly is potpourri? It is a collection of herbs, spices, and visually appealing dried leaves and plants that help to gently scent a room and add a decorative flare to your home. You can go[...]
It’s a Fall Wrap Up
With the first frosts behind us, and the holiday season fast approaching, November offers one last set of golden days in which to clean up the back yard and make ready for the winter months ahead. Recently, we spoke to experts in the Outdoor Living experience to help target some great clean up and winter preparation projects you may want to tackle while the weather is still reasonably warm. Adam Guilford, client services representative from DeckTec had these pieces of advice for taking good care of your deck: After putting your furniture away, this is a good time to sweep and wash your deck. Use warm water and soap to remove discolorations from pots and furniture scrapes. Do not, however, power-wash your deck, as it will strip both your finish and leave splinters in your wood. Roll up any carpet or rugs, and put them away for the winter. "Outdoor carpeting is especially hard on your deck," said Adam. "It traps moisture and causes wood to rot." If you have a stain-covered deck, now is[...]
Birds Out The Back Door
The sign on the store shelf read: "Warning! Watching television gives emotional distress—Watch birds instead." What a great idea for people of all ages. And you can watch birds right out your back door. The hobby is easy, low-cost, and ever-changing. And simply by sitting on your deck for a while, you can enjoy Outdoor Living at its finest. "You don't have to know birds, to enjoy watching them," said Scott Menough, co-owner of Lakewood's Wild Birds Unlimited, himself an enthusiast for over twenty-five years. Here in Colorado, birding is especially rewarding as we sit in the midst of the Central migratory flyway—an upper air highway of sorts for birds who move from Canada down to Central America and back again in their need for optimal living conditions. We have 495 species of birds native to our area, which makes Colorado eighth in the nation for hosting the most variety of bird species, according to Scott. So, whether you're a casual viewer of nature or a determined bird watcher like the character, Brad Harris, in[...]
Joy of the Pigskin
Along with crisp autumn air, turning leaf colors, and kids heading back to school, the season reminds us of that great American sport, football. The game, started in the United States in the mid 1800s as a variation of rugby and soccer, has grown to become a popular sport worldwide. While we in the States call it "football" our friends around the world may refer to it as "Gridiron" to keep the sport separate from soccer. Do you want in on the game? Dash outside this fall with the ol' pigskin and enjoy some of the following trivia: The name "pigskin" comes from the inflatable inside of the football. At one time this inside was truly a gift from pigs, but not their actual skins. The innards used to inflate footballs were made from pig bladders, which were durable and flexible in a time before rubber became widely used. In 1887 a man named Walter Camp of Yale University is said to have led the way to football, as we know it today. Mr. Camp first[...]
Welcome Trick-or-Treaters To Your Front Porch In 7 Easy Steps
With the start of school and autumn days growing chill, thoughts of a hauntingly happy Halloween begin. With these 7 tips for your front porch, we hope you'll enjoy an eerily fun holiday: Make a List – Think of the candy, the decorations, and the music you may want to set up for a successful trick-or-treat event on your front porch. From your list of tasks, decorations, and treats, you can bundle activities to keep your workload light, and the howls of delight coming. Box it Up --If you haven't done so before, this might be the year to make sure you store your decorations in standard sized boxes for easier retrieval next year. Sets of banker boxes are inexpensive and can be labeled on the outside with contents you'll reach for year after year. We keep our friendly ghost face up and smiling at me for the first box to open. Chill with the weather – Don't worry about how professional or garish your overall Halloween looks. Your neighbors and friends are coming to show[...]
Fall Home Show 2013
DeckTec proud to once again be part of the annual Colorado Fall Home Show starting September 7-9th at the Colorado Convention Center. We love to see past clients and meet new ones. This is one of the best shows in Colorado for finding inspiration and the best vendors to help you realize your home and garden dream. Stop by booth #314 and meet our deck specialists. Discover what we can do for you this fall and winter season. We'll help you create the most functional and appealing outdoor room imaginable at the best time of the year. We look forward to seeing you at the Fall Home Show!
Create an Outdoor Room
You’ve built the perfect deck and equipped it to suit your needs. Perhaps it has comfortable furniture or a fire pit. It’s a great space, but it doesn’t truly become a room until it has a roof over it. Your outdoor space should be a reflection of your lifestyle. Whether it’s creating an outdoor kitchen space, where you can whip up a fantastic dinner under the stars, or building a cozy living room to entertain guests, a roof helps create a space that will be used and enjoyed for years to come. A roof creates the boundaries of your outdoor living space, just like the walls and ceiling do inside your home. A large deck is just a big area without the definition of space a roof cover provides. Call 303-277-1550 or visit DeckTec.com/SummerRoof and setup your consultation today. Remember, at DeckTec we’ve got you covered.
Say “Hello” to our new tool!
We're excited to announce a new tool in our communications tool-belt at DeckTec. The 2013 spring season has been filled with wet weather and an outstanding response to our Early Bird service offer. We are always looking for ways to improve our customer service, and hope this simple solution will improve communication during your service. Our expert finishing crews are now leaving a sticky note on either your front or patio door after they complete one of the stages of service. We're hoping to keep you better informed about the status of your project, always with the best result in mind. Our new service manager Jill said, "Seeing these come in was like Christmas! I look forward to keeping our customers up-to-date and continuing the fantastic year we've been having."
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