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Casual Patio Pools & Spas - Houston TX Patio Pest Control Tips

Living in Houston means enjoying beautiful weather on your backyard patio — until mosquitoes, ants, and other pests crash the party. High humidity and frequent rain create the perfect breeding ground for unwanted visitors. The good news? With the right strategies, you can keep your outdoor living space pest-free and enjoyable all season long.

Most Common Patio Pests in Houston, Texas

Read more: How to Keep Unwanted Pests Off Your Houston TX Patio

Backyard-BBQ-grillingPurpose

Location

Size & Shape

Colors


These are the main items to consider when you are planning your new backyard.

Whether you are planning a quick make-over or a complete overhaul, planning for your next patio should cover specifics in order to make it last and be successful.

To make it beautiful and functional, ask, What is the purpose of the new patio?"  Will you have large gatherings of people, or will you use it as a small intimate getaway?

Where do you want its location?  Often patios are located near the kitchen.  This is important if you plan on using your patio for parties.  If you want to make your patio a secluded getaway, you may want it to be in a secluded area of your backyard.  Survey your land and look at the locations in terms of line-of-site, easy access, location to the neighbors and existing landscaping.

Usually people size the new patio with not enough space.  For example, if your patio id going to be used by 4 people with a grill in the middle  You should construct the patio with a 15 foot diameter.  Once you determine the size, add another couple of feet.  The shape of the patio will also help size the site.

You can categorize the shape into: 1) Symmetrical, 2) Asymmetrical, 3) Curvy.  Symmetrical is either a circle, a square or rectangle.  These are the simplest to construct.  Asymmetrical may increase the cost and complexity, but it may fit your space and needs.  A Curvy patio is trendy and give you an "interesting" look, but expect to pay more.

Now you want to determine the colors of the patio.  Colors will come from building material and any landscaping (i.e. plants) you use in the patio's final form.

When considering all of these factors, be sure you understand the maintenance costs.  The more complex, the more maintenance costs.

In any event, planning a new patio is fun and is guaranteed to bring more value to your home and improved quality time with your family and friends.

Casual Patios, Pools and Spas can help you answer questions, review your designs, and build your next beautiful backyard.


How to clean your deck or patio with vinegar and baking soda, fast and easy, environmentaliy safe and friendly, with no harsh chemicals, pet and plant friendly.

Another way - bleach and a power washer.


High-Pressure-Cleaning-patioPatio Paver & Brick Maintenance

Check for stains every three months. You grill can spill fats and drinks can cause difficult stains.  If left to penetrate the top surface, you may not be able to remove them.  Use a hose and some soapy water to remove them.

Check for loose bricks; they can becom a tripping hazard.  You can replace them by lifting them out and relaying them easily. Larger areas of loose slabs are best repaired by a professional - give us a call to help.

Keep your patio swept and thoroughly clean it every three months

Removing Weeds From the Gaps

Most patios paved with bricks will grow weeds in the spaces between.  Use a jet washer and blow them out then follow up with a treatment of weed killer.

Removing Mold and Algae from your patio

Black mold and green algae not only discolor patios, but it also makes it slippery when wet.

The quickest way of cleaning a patio is to use a power washer. Using a power washer with detergent works best.

When cleaning a patio, make sure you use safety clothing such as goggles and gloves.

After power washing, be sure to resand and fill in the gaps between the bricks or slab. Sprinkle ordinary sand over the surface then brush it into the gaps. The sand will not only make your patio look much neater, but also cover the weed killer and help suppress further growth.

Houston-Man-Cooking-Meat-On-A-Gas-BBQFinding a reliable professional to build and install a custom patio is critical to ensure years of enjoyment in your Houston area backyard.

Be sure to consult the web, friends and neighbors satisfied with their patio.

A professional will give you advice to things you haven't thought of.  For example, they can help you consider, the architecture of your house, the location of doors and windows and what to watch out for.  ...don't put your patio near the air conditioner outside your home.

Don't necessarily choose the lowest price. Remember, as with most purchases, you get what you pay for.

Be sure to ask for references before you hire your patio builder. Find someone who understands what you want and communicates well.

Here are some questions to ask:
  • When can you start?
  • When will you be finished?
  • Are you going to work everyday?
  • How much will it cost per square foot?
  • What time will you quit for the day?
  • How long have you been in business?
  • Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance?
  • How many projects like this have you completed in the past year?
  • May I have a list of references from those projects?
  • What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?

This is our business, please call for an appointment so we can beautify your home with a new patio.

Your next Houston patio contractor is Casual Patio.

The smallest gotcha can ruin hours of patio construction if you choose a contractor poorly.  Problem patio can be unsightly and subject to uneven settling and draining.  These can even affect your home's foundation.  That's why choosing the right contractor is important.  Casual Patio has expert contractors that handle your paver installation on your patio.
Asking the right questions can help to ensure a successful installation. 

A professional custom patio contractor will:
  • Be sure your patio has a slight bank to drain water
  • They will compact the soil before laying any materials
  • Continue to compact each layer
  • Add a geo-fabric layer between the sub-surface and the crushed stone layer
  • Use a layer of sand to top off the foundation
  • Install edging which will keep the pavers in place
  • Use joint sand to fill in the spaces between pavers
When patio pavers are in place by a professional - it looks simple.  But a good job requires planning, attention to detail and an expert eye.  Choose Casual Patio to create you new backyard.

concrete-patio-in-katy-tx You keep the floors in your house clean, so do the same with your patio.

Here are a few ideas about how to keep your cement patio clean.

Sweep the surface to remove dirt and debris after you remove the plants out of the way.  Take time to extrace the weed that grow around the edges.

Slightly Dirty?

For a lightly soiled patio, you can remove dirt with a cleaner and a stiff brush.  Use bleach mixed with water and a little dishwashing soap to the solution and put into a spray bottle. Spray the solution onto the surface, let sit for a few minutes and then scrub with a stiff nylon-bristled brush.  A metallic brush because will leave metal "crumbs" on the concrete that rust and stain.
Read more: How to maintain your concrete patio

Extend your home's beauty and functionality by making your patio an additional living space.  Below are a few tips that, combined, will be a sure fire way to take your patio from drab to fab.

First things first, decide the functionality of your space.  Will your patio be for beautiful summer evening dinner parties with family and friends? Will your dining be followed with relaxing by the fire? Is that fire focal point a fireplace or a group of chairs resting casually around a fire pit?  What type of lighting do you envision? Tall freestanding oil torches?  Strands of classic party lights? Candle lanterns?

That covers the evening entertainment but what happens during the day?  Do you want a shaded retreat?  How about a comfy spot to sit in the sun?  Maybe both.  Music might be something to think about too.

As you can see a lot of thought goes into basic functionality.  Once you decide the use of the space its time to carve out those different areas.

Furniture, plants and lighting can all be used to create borders between spaces

Think atmosphere: fun, classic, indoor decor spilling out

Make it comfortable and inviting with rugs, fabrics, and pillows

Consider a soothing fountain to promote relaxation

Last, but certaintly not least, choose a hot tub area. Nordic Hot Tubs are perfect for fun parties and relaxing moments!

bullfrog1Time with your friends and family in your backyard, eating wonderful grilled food is always time well spent. How can you best prepare your backyard to make the most of your patio party.  Here are a few tips to help.

Organize

Your preparation may not be fun, but it will make the most of your time and budget. A well organized party will go more smoothly.  Create a checklist of food, decor, games, invitations, and the like.
  • Clean the clutter.
  • How does the outside look?  Cut the grass, clean the pool or hot tub.
  • Do you have enough seating? Get some inexpensive patio furniture for overflow.
  • Be sure to provide non-alcoholic beverages.
  • Remember to prepare as much as possible before the party it will make a more relaxing event for you.
  • Ask a friend to lend you some small side tables, they always come in handy.
Read more: Party tips for your casual patio, pool and spa

If you live in Texas, you can spend Christmas on your patio or in your pool. While you may not be shoveling snow, there are ways to decorate your backyard to get it in the Christmas Spirit. Looking for some outdoor Christmas decoration ideas? Here are a few.

Decorative Lights

Christmas and lights are like peanut butter and jelly - they always go together. Add a unique holiday splash to your backyard with some decorative lighting. You can add these lights to enclosures, light fixtures or plants to create unique looks. Your pools LED lights can also be used to display holiday colors.Holiday Pool Floats

These Christmas decorations entertain your friends and family! From Santa Claus to his Reindeer, they are all excellent! And to go to the next level, take on this DIY project of making Santa his very own floating sleigh.

Noodle Crafts

Noodles are a staple of pool fun, and odds are you have a few lying around. If not, you can get some for relatively cheap at your local Pinch A Penny. There are many crafts that you can create from pool noodles, from a Christmas wreath to decorative candy canes. Let your imagination run wild!

Paper Snowflakes


A winter wonderland without all the shoveling. Cut some snowflakes out of foam or use paper and laminate to protect the flakes.

  1. Make sure to seal your wooden deck every few years. Make sure you don’t sand before sealing unless absolutely needed. Otherwise you may need to apply three coats of sealer rather than one. An easy way to save some hassle is to get a product with stain and sealer in one. 
  2. Avoid painting your deck if you can help it. Painting your deck will introduce a whole other steps of maintenance. The paint flakes and chips and is a pain to re do. 
  3. Be careful with power washing. We all know how fun it can be to see the before and after power washing your patio but too much pressure can damage certain wood and stone surfaces.
  4. Make sure to sweep away debris regularly. Trapped dirty and leaves can lead to mold, rotting, and stains. It’s always easier to prevent these issues than to cure them. 
  5. Try to rearrange the patio furniture once a year. This helps prevent the spread of mildew due to moisture building up in rugs and certain furnishings that don’t move to often.  
Make sure to reach out to Casual Patio Pools and Spas for more info on how we can make your backyard the best it can be. 

Inground with deckSpringtime will be here soon; and you’ll want to be ready to enjoy your backyard and in-ground pool. Prepare now to have your deck ready for the first days of spring.

After a long winter, your deck could use some love. The amount of work needed to get your deck ready for Spring depends on the material used to build it. For a wooden deck, preparing it after winter could include applying a fresh coat of paint, replacing rotted wood planks, or hiring a deck builder for a major repair. As for composite decking material, minimal work and upkeep are necessary so more time can be spent in the spring enjoying your outdoor oasis.

Read more: Is your deck ready for Spring?

ivermectin fighting covid 600x396From the EPA: People who are infected with COVID can release particles and droplets of respiratory fluids that contain the SARS CoV-2 virus into the air when they exhale (e.g., quiet breathing, speaking, singing, exercise, coughing, sneezing).  Particles from an infected person can move throughout an entire room or indoor space.

The take-away is, your outdoor patio and pool are has loads of natural ventilation and as a result the spread of COVID outside is very small.

So have a pool party!


You don't need to wear a mask unless you want to wear a snorkel and mask for underwater fun. 

What you don't see promoted is health care.  We hear about vulnerable populations: the elderly, people with comorbidities and the over-weight.  Also, vitamin D levels have an impact on the severity of COVID-19.

What could be better than enjoying the sun to increase vitamin D levels and run, laugh and swim to keep up your health.

Marios deck constructionWhen considering an above ground pool, you'll need to decide on the shape of your pool and the shape of pool deck. You have a number of options to choose from.

Kidney Shaped Pool Deck

A kidney-shaped deck adds an interesting look to your backyard and improves the visual appeal of a pool. Note: building a kidney-shaped design will increase installation cost by 2X to 4X that of an oval-shaped pool deck.

Circular or Round Pool Deck

Most above-ground pool decks wrap around a circular or oval-shaped above ground pool. Installing stairs gives access to a platform to the pool.

Oval Pool Deck

An oval pool deck is aesthetically pleasing to the eye. It will complement a circular above-ground pool. The disadvantage is an oval deck may be more difficult to build than a standard rectangle deck.

Rectangular Pool Deck

The biggest benefit of a rectangular pool deck is the ease of construction and lower cost.


We work with Mario's Pool & Deck Company to help install above ground pools and build custom decks.
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