Ozco Builders Blog - Page 6 of 7 - OZCO Building Products

10AugAugust 10, 2017

Outdoor Pavilion Design Ideas That Incorporate a Pergola

While a pavilion creates a sturdy, practical structure, a pergola makes a stylish, versatile addition. If you’re thinking of building a pavilion, or are working with one you already have, why would you want to add a pergola as well? Good question. In my opinion, a pavilion and a pergola are the perfect partners. One creates a solid, sturdy, room-like structure that protects from rain and sun (and is pretty easy to run electricity to, if you want to add fans, lights, or a kitchen setup), and the other adds style, beauty, and versatility. A pergola, with its open rafters, can...

03AugAugust 3, 2017

How to Add a Pergola to a Deck: Tips and Considerations

If you choose to add a pergola to your deck you’ll want to keep a few things in mind before and during the project. This past spring, my wife and I made the decision to transform our backyard into a more welcoming, aesthetically-pleasing environment that we could both enjoy and use for entertaining. In fact, it has been part of a larger DIY home improvement project that I’ve mentioned in a few other articles on the topics such as choosing decorative metal brackets for wood beams and how to choose between a gazebo and a pergola. So in one portion of the...

28JulJuly 28, 2017

Pergola Ideas for Small Patios to Make Maximum Use of Space

The best pergolas for small patios are multi-purpose. When my parents sought a townhome in the city (as part of their quest to live in a more walkable area than the sprawling town they had been living in), they were thrilled to find that their top pick had a small patio and “micro yard.” It was this outdoor space that sealed the deal! But actually decorating and making use of that small space would prove to be quite challenging. My mom–who has a few courses in decorating under her belt–explained to my dad that the key to creating a beautiful outdoor space...

20JulJuly 20, 2017

How to Make a Fence Look Better: Dressing Up Your Ugly Fence

A good stain and high-quality, decorative hardware can take a fence from bland or even outright ugly to a stylish complement to your home. When we moved into our house, it was very clear that the old fence had been installed with just one thing in mind: utility. Let’s not mince words: this fence was just plain ugly and aesthetics were obviously not taken into consideration. We purchased the house as a bit of a fixer-upper, so it was basically impossible to convince my wife that we should postpone an interior remodeling project and instead, put the money toward installing a new...

12JulJuly 12, 2017

Making a Dog Window in a Fence: Simple Ways to Give Your Dog a Peephole

A decorative metal fence insert can make a strong, beautiful dog window in a fence or gate. I have a paranoid dog. She’s sweet but she has an anxious streak. That’s something that caused me to nearly stop letting her out in my front yard. Someone would walk down the street, and little Hershey would hear a noise and immediately start barking. She couldn’t tell if they were coming onto my property or not, because my yard is hidden from the road by a fence. So, I guess she figured ‘better safe than sorry,’ and just started barking. But before I...

06JulJuly 6, 2017

Turn Your Deck Railing into a Bar by Retrofitting Your Wooden Top Rails

With beautiful, tough hardware, some wood, and a good wood stain, you can create the bar area of your dreams. I love reinventing spaces to transform an existing area into something new. The pavilion I built in the backyard recently was a fabulous project, but it lacked one key component: a bar. That’s when my wife had the idea to turn a section of the wooden deck railing into a bar top, complete with bar stools. Genius. Now we can enjoy an outdoor bar under my mini cooking pavilion. This bar top project was actually a bit more involved than I’d expected,...

30JunJune 30, 2017

How to Choose a Stain Color for a Fence: Pick a Fence Stain Shade You Won’t Regret

The right stain can make a huge difference in how well your fence or pergola fits with the look of your home and yard. I’ve always been pretty good at building things, but choosing decorative elements has never been my strong point. So, I found myself facing a challenge as I set out to choose the right stain color for my new fence. It was a high-stakes decision because stain is not like paint, which sits on the wood’s surface. Stain literally soaks into the wood, staining it. You basically have only one shot because the alternative—layering stain colors—can result in...

22JunJune 22, 2017

Clever Pergola Ideas for Shade: The Best Options to Create a Shady Refuge from the Sun

If your pergola is in a sunny area, adding a covering or something to provide shade can make it more pleasant. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. That’s something I learned when I realized I’d put my pergola in the sunniest part of my yard. Those high noon rays left it near abandoned during the middle of the day, so I decided to look into options like covering it or adding an awning. That’s part of what I love about pergolas: their flexibility. Pergolas are a great option for a do-it-yourself shady spot because they provide...

15JunJune 15, 2017

Find the Right Fence Replacement Parts: Identifying Your Fence and Gate Hardware

Our family recently moved into our new home, a lovely Victorian that most would classify as a “fixer-upper.” As a DIY weekend warrior, I classify it as a dream come true, as it’s given me lots of wonderful home improvement projects to delve into on nights and weekends. But the big obstacle for me is finding the right replacement parts and hardware items. What’s more, I have the added challenge of trying to find parts that match the style of my home. I felt especially out of my element when I went outdoors to fix up the fence and gate...

09JunJune 9, 2017

The Best Pergola Decorating Ideas: Vines, Fabric, and Decorative Hardware Spruce Up a Bare Pergola

Decorative, powder-coated hardware can take your pergola to the next level, making it look more finished and elegant. I spent a couple weekends constructing my new pergola. I was really happy with the finished result, but when my wife emerged from the house to check out my creation, she said: “It’s nice….but it’s too bare. It needs some decoration!” At first, I was a bit insulted. After all, I’d spent the better part of two weekends working on this project; how could it be anything but fabulous? But if I’m honest with myself, my wife’s words echoed a thought that had already...