Tips for the Remodeling Homeowner to Create an Outdoor Retreat

May is National Home Improvement Month, summer is just around the corner, and homeowners are remodeling their outdoor living areas like never before.  During long and lazy summer days, many homeowners spend hours outdoors enjoying the warmth, cooking outdoors and socializing and with friends and family.  Backyards are no longer just about decks and swimming pools, often resembling a family’s favorite vacation spot blended with their home’s style. According to the U.S. Census Bureau Housing Survey, homeowners across the nation spent more than $47 billion in 2005 improving outdoor living areas.

Members of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) consider the trend to be on the upswing, stating that across the nation homeowners are more often requesting multi-level decks, spas, fireplaces and the latest “in vogue” remodeling project, outdoor kitchens in their backyards.  From wood fire pizza ovens to cabinets and countertops, outdoor kitchens are no longer just for the well to do. Increasingly, products that remodelers would normally use for indoor kitchen remodels are now being designed for outdoor use, including range hoods and fans to keep cooking heat and smoke away from a homeowner’s guests.  “Homeowners today entertain in their homes a great deal,” said NARI President Renèe Rewiski.  “An outdoor kitchen is a novelty and provides another area to entertain guests.  Outdoor kitchens can be added to patios, decks, under a gazebo and in courtyards,” Rewiski adds.

NARI urges homeowners about to undertake an outdoor remodel to start by making a basic lifestyle checklist:

·         How do you currently use your indoor kitchen? How would you like to use your outdoor kitchen?

·         On average, how many cooks use the kitchen at one time? If you have multiple cooks in the family, you may want to consider dual work zones for more efficient use of the space.

·         Do you enjoy cooking or will the area be more a gathering place than a gourmet retreat?

·         If it is a gathering spot, is there room for family or friends who are not involved in the meal preparation? Is that space convenient and comfortable for everyone?

·         Is the lighting in the area sufficient for evening entertaining?

·         Will your family use the area for regular dining or will this be primarily an entertainment spot?

·         How many on average would you need to seat? Do you have enough room for all of them?

·         Remodel according to local code. Before finalizing the design of your outdoor space, your remodeling contractor should check zoning laws to make sure your outdoor space will be the proper distance from your property line, and obtain the necessary permits for the job.

Customizable grill islands, much like indoor kitchen islands, can be found in more elaborate outdoor kitchens, along with dishwashers and refrigerators that are designed to be used outdoors.  Gas patio heaters even make it possible to entertain outside when the weather is chilly.  Homeowners also have more options than ever when it comes to outdoor lighting, including sophisticated outdoor lamps that resemble the finest indoor models, and intricately designed hanging lights, a far cry from garish plastic light covers strung across a clothesline.  Homeowners have a wide range of accessories available to decorate their outdoor kitchens as well, from durable easy-to-care-for furniture, sculptures and fountains to décor items like paintings specially designed for use outdoors.

For more remodeling tips, homeowners considering a remodel can download NARI’s free brochure “How to Select a Remodeling Professional” at  http://www.remodeltoday.com/ and obtain tips about avoiding home improvement scams and more information about the remodeling process.

NARI members represent a select group from the approximately 800,000 companies and individuals in the U.S. identifying themselves as professional remodelers.  NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics.  Consumers can search http://www.remodeltoday.com/ by zip code to find a qualified professional who is a member of NARI.

About NARI: The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is the only trade association dedicated solely to the remodeling industry.  With more than 7,700 member companies nationwide, the Association -- based in Des Plaines, Illinois — is “The Voice of the Remodeling Industry.”TM  For membership information, or to locate a local NARI chapter or a remodeling professional, visit NARI’s website at http://www.remodeltoday.com/ or contact the national headquarters office at 800-611-NARI.

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EDITORS NOTE:  HIGH-RES BEFORE & AFTER PHOTOS OF WINNING REMODELING PROJECTS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE.   Contact Jessica Tobacman or Nikki Golden at 847-298-9200 or e-mail marketing@nari.org