Whether we like it or not, cold weather is upon us. It’s no use pushing it away, instead- let’s find new and innovative ways to still take advantage of the beautiful spaces that we’ve built outside our homes. Just because the temperature gauge is reading something different, doesn’t mean it’s entirely time to close out the outdoors. After all, Vitamin D is a real need- year-round. Today, the Restumping Melbourne blog will be focusing on the best ways to use a specific outdoor element- your verandah.

You spent valuable time, money and energy on your verandah. It’s an important investment, and you should be able to see returns year-round. Are you already longingly recalling the summer barbecues and hangout sessions of warmer days? Never fear, you can make just as many awesome memories now that Winter is upon us. Here are some tips and tricks, that the Restumping Melbourne team would recommend keeping in mind:

Turn up the temperatures

Let’s be honest, this is the easiest fix. You’re most likely not taking advantage of your verandah, because it’s too dang chilly outside. Luckily, there are so many awesome options out on the market, for you to explore. The key, when researching, is to ensure whatever model you land on, it can be used safely under solid roofs and near the main house structure. Two that we’ve seen great luck with are patio heaters and outdoor fireplaces. Both lend different benefits to the look and feel of your choice. If you go the patio heater route, you’ll still need to determine if you want to explore natural gas options or those powered by electricity. Both of these will have specific stipulations around where the heater can live.

Provide some shelter

We know, we know, isn’t the verandah already more sheltered than elsewhere in the backyard? While this is true, the act of winterizing your verandah, takes this to the next level. We recommend that you explore blinds specifically designed for the outdoors. These can be made from a variety of materials, including durable fabrics, lighter PVC, even something as fine as mesh. You don’t really need to line the entirety of the verandah, instead- you can focus on the sides or front that are most susceptible to the cold and the wind outside. With these blinds in place, rain, snow, sleet and other types of weather, will be a non-issue.

Add some color to your verandah

Sometimes all you need is a little facelift. This is especially easily-achievable when it comes to your outdoor verandah. The Restumping Melbourne team recommends nothing too major, but instead, encourages you explore getting creative. Think about brightly colored cushions, or adding new plant life to the verandah environment. With just some small changes, it can feel like a whole new oasis for you and your loved ones to explore.

Restumping Melbourne is dedicated towards creating homes where you can create generations of wonderful memories. Questions? Comments? Concerns? Give the team a shout. We’d love to hear from you!

Tis the season… to spend lots of time enjoying the great outdoors. Whether that means cross country road trips, vacations at a beach resort, or just an afternoon of backyard relaxation, we bet you’re trying to soak up as much sunshine as you can. The Restumping Melbourne team certainly can’t fault you for that. In fact, we’re huge proponents and want to ensure that you’re set up for success in this area. As you know, our services run the gamut, but they most definitely include design and installation assistance with verandahs and decks. Part of our service ethos is a commitment to educating our valued customers. Not just about what we can offer you, but as much general industry inspiration as possible. We want to share whatever nuggets of creativity we can, so that you can play an integral role in designing the home or business of your dreams.

Today we focus on a unique take on the verandah– one built with glass. Sounds a bit odd at first, doesn’t it? Maybe it sounds fragile- not an optimal backdrop for energetic young family members or those who are more accident prone. And wouldn’t a material like glass reflect light, rendering all of your visitors blind whenever they attempt to look at your new architectural work of art?

These questions and thought processes make sense, but let’s dispel any confusion. The glass in a glass verandah would refer to the roof. It would protect you from elements like rain or snow, but it would need to be reinforced, a thicker width, so that it could stand any tests from wind or debris. When it comes to the posts that would support the glass roof, we recommend looking into aluminum or steel, so that there is no question of any corrosion. These posts could be any color, so the options for your look and feel are many. This is also an opportunity to mix and match materials. You could leverage a glass roof and aluminum posts, and then mix things up with a beautifully stained floor. Concerned about too much light overhead? There are many diferent options available for retractable awnings or sun screens. These are easy to use, and easy to put away when done. The sky is the limit when it comes to flexibility.

A glass verandah could work for many different designs of homes. It doesn’t matter if you’re living in a Victorian manner, or if a modern style is more your preference. Either way, going this route provides you with an outdoor experience, without heading too far from the comforts of home.

Do you think that you might want to explore a unique verandah design option, like one that integrates glass as a material? Do you have another idea that you’d like to talk through with a restumping expert? Questions about our services in general? Feel free to give us a shout, anytime. The Restumping Melbourne team would love to hear from you.