winter Archives - Page 2 of 3 - DeckTec Outdoor Designs

Shovelin’ A Winter Wonderland

February 7th, 2016|Life On Deck|

How to Shovel Like a Pro In the U.S., some 100 people die shoveling snow every year. But that’s not a recent development. According to studies conducted at the U.S. Nationwide Children’s Hospital, there were over 1,600 cardiac-related snow shoveling fatalities from 1990 to 2006. When people shovel snow, the increase in heart rate and blood pressure, in conjunction with cold air that constricts arteries and blood supply, makes for ideal heart attack conditions. To keep you and your family safe this winter, consider some of these snow shoveling guidelines. For areas affected most heavily, a snow blower might be the best way to go, though they do come with their own risks. This winter, take the proper measures to ensure maximum safety. But remember: A pristine driveway is not worth your life! Do: Push the snow rather than lift it. Lifting wet, heavy snow over the shoulders can surge [...]

Springing Into Action with the Colorado Home & Garden Show

February 15th, 2014|Blog, DeckTec News & Updates|

Yes, it's been a very cold, very snowy winter this year. And the weather reporters are not likely to give warmer reports for some time to come. But at DeckTec, spring is just around the corner. How do we know this? The Colorado Home and Garden Show starts this week and kicks off the building season for DeckTec's community. Are you ready? Will you come to the show? The Colorado Home and Garden Show runs today through February 23 and will help inspire your home improvement and garden plans for this spring. With over 1,400 booths and an acre of gardens, there's something for everyone. Here's what we mean: First, representatives from the DeckTec community will have booths to visit. Be sure to check out great fireplaces and fire pits from Colorado Comfort and our friend, Dave Hall. They have booth #314 and will be happy to help answer your [...]

Winter Care for the Denver Garden

February 1st, 2014|Blog, Garden & Lawn Care, Gardening|

On one day, temperatures skyrocket into the sixties, and the next, they plummet to zero. The sun blazes away for weeks, and then suddenly hides behind a wall of grey clouds. Welcome to a Denver winter season. And with climate change, no stable temperatures or weather conditions are likely for some time to come. What's a gardener to do with this situation? Are there ways to ensure that your yard survives the roller coaster of temperatures and precipitation? Recently, we had a chance to check in with local landscape designer, Annie Houston, of Columbine Design, Inc., a sister company to Birdsall & Co. She helped level out what good gardeners should do to keep a healthy yard and garden throughout the winter. "The most important thing to remember," said Annie, "is that gardeners need to trust their own green thumbs, and then, of course, to water even in the [...]

Cold Weather Getting To You? Try A Fire Pit!

December 14th, 2013|Blog, Deck Design Tips & Trends, Decks & Backyard Features|

As the thermostat continues to drop over the winter season, it may seem difficult to imagine a great Outdoor Living Experience for you and your family. Yes, you can head to the mountains for a day of skiing or snowshoeing, but what happens when you get home again? Where's the après ski experience? Why not continue your fun with a family gathering around your own fire pit in the back yard? According to the American Society of Landscape Architects, fire pits and outdoor fireplaces are among the most popular outdoor additions with a 97% rating in popularity for 2013. Here are some of the reasons we found for this: Fire pits extend your Outdoor Living season – the added heat, while not enough to warm your entire back yard will keep those gathered at your pit comfortable. Fire pits bring people together—Let's face it. Part of the human experience is [...]

Protect Your Pets This Winter

December 7th, 2013|Animals Out the Back Door, Blog, Outdoor Living|

Pets add so much fun and love in our lives that it is no wonder we have as much as 164 million furry friends throughout homes in the United States.* But as winter's cold and snow keeps us humans inside, it is important to realize that our pets need much of the same sheltering and care. "Our highest times of lost animal intake is after heavy winds, snow, and thunder storms," said Operations Manager Susan Fredinburg of the Humane Society of the South Platte Valley. This low-euthanasia and not-for-profit shelter takes in strays and lost animals from seven cities in the Denver area, and does their best to either reunite a pet with their owner, or prepare the animal for adoption by another family. Susan said that the changing weather conditions she mentioned cause pets to jump backyard fences, dig holes underneath, and generally look for ways to escape their [...]