Latest news with #outdoorliving
Forbes
3 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Forbes
5 Outdoor Living Trends To Implement
Photo courtesy of Homeowners continue to embrace outdoor living in 2025. From creating the perfect backyard entertaining space to implementing outdoor lighting trends and avoiding outdoor lighting mistakes, there's a desire to create exterior spaces for relaxing and gathering with family and friends. And now, a new report by Belgard and Yardzen reveals 5 trends in outdoor living. 'The trends from the report reveal that not only are homeowners increasingly interested in outdoor living, but they are also thinking about these spaces in a design-forward way,' says Joe Raboine, vice president of design at Oldcastle APG. He explains that homeowners don't want a cookie-cutter outdoor space – they want something that is personalized and customized to uniquely reflect them. 'Spaces for outdoor work, exercise, or other activities that let them spend more time outside are becoming increasingly popular,' Raboine says. He adds that it's nice to see this trend of homeowners wanting to spend more time in nature, reaping the benefits of outdoor living, which can include improving both mental and physical health. Photo courtesy of Graphic flooring patterns are one way to add personalization to your outdoor design. 'Using geometric-shaped pavers allows designers and contractors to create a wide range of patterns and also play with light and dark tones to create contrast and visual interest,' Raboine says. 'From herringbone to hexagons, there are a variety of options to choose from today in terms of paver shapes,' he explains……….. Large format slabs can be integrated to break up the design throughout the space. In the photo above, hardscapes in varying shapes and tones are combined to create a fun, playful patio. 'Light and dark grays are always a popular choice, and hexagon shapes nestle alongside traditional pavers for a twist on the traditional patio,' Raboine explains. Photo courtesy of Homes in urban areas or smaller developments may not have large lots, but that doesn't mean there are not creative outdoor options. 'Rooftops, terraces, balconies and other compact spaces can still be used to create a relaxing outdoor living area,' Raboine says. For example, he explains that large-format concrete slabs can be used to create built-in benches or planters along the perimeters, adding both functionality and sleek, modern design elements. 'Mixing materials, such as pavers and composite decking, in these smaller spaces also add more visual interest,' he says. In the photo above, the elevated patio creates a cool, moody style through multiple elements. 'Light gray pavers with deep accents create visual interest for the outdoor floor,' Raboine says. Also, dark accents like furniture, dark railing and a stone accent wall make this space look sleek and modern - but Raboine notes that it is still charming and cozy. Photo courtesy of For several years, modern design styles have been trending, and the report reveals ways to implement this look in outdoor living areas. 'Large-format pavers paired with clean lines and neutral, monochromatic palettes provide the clean aesthetic that is synonymous with modern homes,' Raboine says. Adding in textured materials, such as a textured paver, adds depth in monochromatic concepts. Kevin Lenhart, design director at Yardzen, says the photo above demonstrates how a few simple outdoor elements come together to create an elevated space for relaxing and entertaining. 'This space along a lot line uses simple pavers and gravel to create an outdoor dining space perfect for eating and relaxing with family and friends,' he says. Photo courtesy of By taking a modular approach to outdoor design, homeowners can create multi-functional spaces that can be utilized for various occasions. 'Building with products like pavers and decking systems with a modular format make it easier to build something custom in less time and using less material,' Lenhart says. From modular outdoor kitchens to concepts that echo the mod-era conversation pit, he explains that this concept houses something for everyone. In the photo above, Lenhart explains the outdoor space blends materials like hardscapes and decking to create a modern look and feel. 'The light tones and dark accents combined with the linear layout give the space its modern appeal alongside touches like garden lights andGreenery,' Lenhart says. Photo courtesy of Some color trends are more popular in some regions than in others. 'While modern gray is still a popular choice, homeowners in certain regions are starting to move back toward warmer color palettes,' Raboine says. By incorporating composite decking with woodgrain texture alongside earth-toned pavers, he explains that you can achieve a rustic, mountainous aesthetic that still blends with modern touches. 'Biophilic elements like added greenery, plants and water features bring in natural elements that make the space feel cohesive and calming,' Raboine explains. In the photo above, Raboine says the rustic but modern outdoor space blends beautifully with the surrounding landscape. 'Cool-toned pavers with added texture pair well with warm tone accessories like the pergola and furniture,' he sayls. Photo courtesy of In this photo, Raboine explains that sleek, porcelain pavers give a modern feel to a mountainside outdoor space. 'Paired with deeper tone fencing and a modern-art style water feature, this is a gorgeous way to blend a more modern aesthetic with rustic surroundings,' he says.
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Think you know Wickes? Think again – here's 10 surprising items you can buy at the iconic home improvement store
Daily Mail journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission - learn more A weekend trip to Wickes is almost a rite of passage for homeowners, offering DIY and trade home improvement items from paints to sheds. But there are a few surprising items you may not know they stocked. A go-to retailer for DIY, a wander down one of their aisles or a scroll online will reveal plenty of surprising products you won't expect to find. From the popular Utility Folding Trolley - a festival and camping essential, to stylish garden furniture to upgrade your outdoor space and children's play equipment, Wickes has plenty up its sleeve. Here to help you inside and outside your home, Wickes has plenty to make the most of summer. Whether you have a summer of DIY jobs ahead or are looking to keep the kids entertained, here are the things you didn't know Wickes sells. Things you didn't know Wickes sells Wickes Utility Folding Trolley Those off camping or to festivals this summer are going to want to make a beeline for the Wickes Utility Folding Trolley. The surprising yet super practical buy can carry loads of up to 100kgs- so whether you're lugging your tent, food, water or fishing essentials - you can do it in one trip. A time-saver and under £70, it's a brilliant buy for friends and families. £65 Shop Charles Bentley BBQ Pizza Box With Thermometer - Black Did you know that Wickes does BBQs and outdoor pizza ovens? Perfect for entertaining friends and family this summer, the Wickes Charles Bentley Pizza Oven and BBQ is a great solution for those seeking an affordable and practical solution for outdoor dining. Turning your BBQ into a pizza oven, just attach it to a BBQ and enjoy delicious homemade or pre-made pizzas without the need to invest in a standalone pizza oven. £62 Shop Norfolk Grills Atlas 400 BBQ & Grill with Side Burner If you have big groups over this summer, then investing in the Norfolk Grills Atlas 400 BBQ & Grill with Side Burner at Wickes is a savvy idea. The gas BBQ is packed full of practical features including tool and condiment storage, a cabinet for storing all your grilling equipment, a warming rack, a thermometer, a bottle opener and a stainless steel side burner. Better still? It can come as quickly as seven days. £565 Shop RotaSpin 4 Arm Rotary Airer - 45m Make the most of those warmer summer days and invest in a rotary airer, which can be found at Wickes. Priced at under £30, the RotaSpin 4 Arm Rotary Airer is a great option and can hold a generous 28kg, which is equivalent to four to five wash loads of laundry. £29 Shop Shire Playhut Wooden Playhouse - 4 x 4ft Wickes isn't just for the adults! It's also a destination for children's play equipment, including Wendy houses and playhouses. Our pick under £300 is the classic Shire Playhut Wooden Playhouse. Hailed 'great value' by shoppers, the house is supplied in a dipped treated honey brown finish for extra durability and can still be painted in a colour of your choice. £290 Shop Smart Solar GloBulb String Lights For an affordable way to create instant garden appeal and add atmosphere to your garden gatherings, solar lights are the way to go. And did you know Wickes offers a whole range? These solar string lights effortlessly wrap around trees, parasols, gazebos, and more, so you can carry on the entertaining after the sun goes down. £18 Shop Shire Lucas Kids Wooden Multi Play Set Equipment Score some brownie points with the kids this summer, and get them outside with the Shire Lucas Kids Wooden Multi Play Set Equipment. An undeniably fun-filled option, it measures a compact 9 x 10 ft to fit most gardens without compromising play features. It has a climbing wall, swing set, and a 17m slide for endless fun. £519 Shop Charles Bentley Rattan Egg Shaped Garden Swing Chair - Grey Whether you're looking for outdoor dining sets or a comfy garden sofa, you're spoilt for choice with a wide range of garden furniture at Wickes. And for one statement piece of garden furniture that's caught our eye? The £320 hanging egg shaped rattan swing chair, perfect for soaking up the rays or relaxing in on a balmy evening. £320 Shop Charles Bentley Large Round Outdoor Fire Pit A fire pit is key for keeping visitors happy on chillier summer nights - and Wickes has a popular one for under £100. The Charles Bentley Round Open Bowl Outdoor Fire Pit creates a cosy outdoor atmosphere and on a budget. Costing under £100 and with a generous 80cm size, it's perfect for providing warmth and light on those cooler evenings while the BBQ grill and mesh prevent debris and sparks from escaping. £96 Shop Keter California 2 Seater Outdoor Balcony Garden Furniture Set - Graphite with Grey Cushions Upgrade your garden furniture and make the most of summer spent in the garden with this £400 set from Wickes. The stylish wicker design set includes two wide lounge chairs and a square coffee table, perfect for hosting in your indoor conservatory, or outdoors in gardens and patio areas. £400 Shop
Times
4 days ago
- General
- Times
How to get rid of wasp nests and unwelcome bees
In summer, wasps always make an appearance when we're eating in our garden. I've tried various gimmicks but they don't seem to work. What could we put on the table or nearby to minimise their impact?Kerry Piears, Godalming Wasp nests are remarkably common, but because the wasps are so busy in their earnest social activities — collecting wood pulp to build their nest, hunting insect prey for their grubs and tending their multitudinous brood — they barely interact with humans, so we hardly notice them. At the end of summer, though, the nest function changes and rather than more workers, a new generation of queens and males is produced. Once these hatch the workers have nothing to do other than forage aimlessly for sweet things like those on offer at your table. The bad news is that wasps are numerous and persistent. They can smell your food and will come looking. The good news is that this phase soon passes and all workers die off during autumn. Although you haven't seen it, a nest may be close, so you might try moving the table where you eat. Don't bother with wasp traps, these simply drown a few of the wasps — but there will be many hundreds more. And I'm sceptical of marketing claims that nest-shaped bags dangling from trees trick them into thinking another colony of ruthless competitors is nearby. Generally foraging wasps are not aggressive, they save that for attacks on the nest. However, do not be complacent. Cover your food and do not allow wasps to traipse over it — wasps also visit carrion and animal dung, and will transfer bacteria to your welcoming Jones is the author of House Guests, House Pests: A Natural History of Animals in the Home (Bloomsbury £18.99), • Read more expert advice on property, interiors and home improvement How can we prevent bees from entering the eaves of our conservatory lantern, where they become trapped and die?Jane Smyth You've highlighted an important aspect of insect behaviour here. When trapped against some sort of impermeable barrier, insects have a tendency to walk or fly upwards, thinking they will eventually reach the top of the obstacle and be able to fly off. However, insect evolution has not had time to reckon with the very modern human behaviour of making enclosed, sheltered spaces to live in. Bees, wasps, flies and other insects taking a wrong turn at your conservatory will start to bump their way upwards against the glass and eventually reach the lantern. Then, that most dangerous of insect vulnerabilities will hit them — water loss, a deadly peril for a small organism. It's all to do with relatively high surface area compared with low volume. Flying is metabolically expensive and although insects don't sweat like us, they cool by water evaporation from inside their bodies. Unfortunately, their hardwired instinctive behaviour is unwavering, and they are incapable of learning that they have made a mistake. You might try fitting gauze or net screens across all points of ingress. Otherwise you will have to fit an escape vent for them, or go in each day with a net and capture them for release away from the Jones • Pest-proofing a Victorian terrace: how to keep rats and mice away Any tips on how to get encrusted limescale off a bathroom tap as it has now affected the full flow of water?Margaret Simpson I found that dampening a two-pence piece and gradually scraping at the limescale causes it to just drop Furniss, Chesham Attach half a lemon using rubber bands to the tap spout, and leave for an hour or so. Remove the softened limescale and Grace Soak a J Cloth (or similar) in white vinegar and place directly on the affected area. Pop a plastic bag over the tap and secure with an elastic band. Leave for a few hours. Heavy deposits may require multiple rounds but this method shouldn't damage any metal finishes on your Leicester I buy food-grade citric acid (available on Amazon, etc). Run tap briefly, sprinkle dry citric acid onto a paper towel, then place directly on the encrusted (now wet) spout using an elastic band or old hair tie to attach. Let this sit for at least an hour. Works wonders for Kirk Viakal spray is great at destroying limescale. Be careful because it is strong stuff and can damage certain surfaces (which I discovered the hard way). Veronica, Leyton I've had dark grey limestone paving laid on my new terrace. I left a tree in the middle of the terrace for the birds to enjoy. However, the birds are seriously disrespecting my new paving — even a low-pressure hose used daily doesn't remove their mess completely. I've tried hanging reflective deterrent rods in the tree, and also photos of birds of prey, but they haven't worked. Short of removing the tree, do readers have any tips for cleaning the bird mess effectively without damaging the paving?SB A chair fell onto our wood-patterned vinyl flooring and left a one-inch crescent-shaped dent. The chair broke the vinyl's surface, and the dent is white. Is there anything I can do to improve its appearance?Hannah Send tips and questions to homehelp@ Advice given without responsibility
Telegraph
6 days ago
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
The best garden furniture covers to protect your outdoor sofas, tables and chairs come rain or shine
The products or services listed have been independently tested by our journalists. We will earn a commission from the affiliate links in this article. To keep your outdoor space in tip-top condition, come summer rain or heatwave, it pays to invest in the best garden furniture covers. While it's easy to delay considering furniture care and storage until autumn, covering it in between use protects from rain, UV sun damage, falling tree sap, leaves and animal mess. Many premium garden furniture stores produce bespoke fitted covers for everything from hanging egg chairs to rattan sofas. But universal designs are also available from retailers like Next, Argos and Dunelm, with prices ranging from just under £20 to £80. 'Protecting outdoor furniture properly is essential to maintain its condition and extend its lifespan,' says Ralph Aspin, Head of Product and Innovation for garden furniture brand, Kettler. 'A quality cover reduces the need for frequent cleaning and helps prevent long-term damage.' We tested 11 garden furniture covers to find the best for your favourite garden chairs, tables and sofas. Pair with an approved parasol, patio heater and garden solar lights to complete your outdoor living space. The best garden furniture covers: At a glance How to choose the best garden furniture cover Choose a design and size that suits the item of furniture you're looking to protect. Covers are available to for everything from dining tables to benches to barbecues. Ideally, the fit will be snug and secure. Aspin says: 'While universal covers are a cost-effective option that fit a range of sizes, they may not provide a close fit. Tailored covers designed for specific furniture types or sets offer better protection and a neater appearance. Modular options work well for flexible or corner seating layouts.' The material should be breathable and at least weatherproof, if not fully waterproof. 'The most effective waterproof covers are made from materials like PVC-backed polyester or ripstop fabric with a waterproof coating,' explains Aspin. 'These are both durable and resistant to tears. Features like taped seams and secure fastenings are also important to stop water from seeping through. Meanwhile, breathability also lets moisture escape, reducing condensation underneath.' Covers with a UV-resistant coating shelter furniture from direct sunlight, helping to prevent it from weakening, cracking or fading. A cover with 'high colour fastness' is more likely to maintain its appearance and resist discolouration, which can look shabby over time. How we test garden furniture covers I have reviewed a range of garden products, including hoses and solar garden lights. For this test, I tried furniture covers from a range of popular brands and retailers. I used them to cover my six-seat teak wooden dining set or a small modular sofa set, depending on the cover's size. Of course, your garden furniture may be a different size or shape, so while I considered the fit, I also looked for a wide range of sizes and a choice of colourways, so it's easy to find the right alternative for your garden. I assessed durability, weatherproofing and overall design. I noted how easy it was to drape each cover over my furniture, how easy it was to fold and handle and whether I felt the material would tear. To test how waterproof and effective each cover is at protecting furniture, I blasted each cover with a hose pipe (before any bans came into force) and monitored how well the water repelled or if it seeped through to the furniture underneath. I noted added extras, such as drawstring ties and Velcro fasteners to secure the base of the cover, which is important when the wind picks up. Why you can trust Telegraph Recommended Our thorough, real-world tests will always help you find the best gardening product. No manufacturer ever sees Telegraph Recommended reviews before publication and we don't accept payment in exchange for favourable reviews, nor do we allow brands to pay for placement in our articles. All reviews are based on independent expert opinion and our hands-on testing. Visit our Who We Are page to learn more. 1. Best Buy Garden Furniture Cover: Aerocover Rectangle Garden Set Cover This cover is designed for use with a rectangular garden set, but there are lots of shapes and sizes within the wider Aerocover range. There's a nifty storage bag attached, but you'll need to practise how to fold it as I found packing it away harder than unravelling it. It draped neatly over my dining table and chairs without making a crunchy noise like that of some of the cheaper covers. I also liked the pre-threaded drawstring tie, which meant I could simply pull it tightly to secure the whole cover without any fiddly set-up required beforehand. Made from pure polyester, there's a water-resistant lining which effectively held the water from my hose at bay. The furniture underneath remained dry and the cover itself dried reasonably quickly after being soaked, which meant I could pack it away in its bag soon after use. It boasts UV protection too, and it is designed to be breathable to prevent mould and mildew from finding a foothold. All told, I think this quality cover is reasonably priced with features that should suit any garden. Key specifications 2. Best Value Garden Furniture Cover: Charles Bentley Black Garden Premium Rectangular Cover Charles Bentley sells a substantial range of garden furniture covers (from parasols to barbecues) both directly on its website, and through retailers including Next and Amazon. I tested this larger design (215cm) as it's well suited to dining tables and modular sofas. Made from polyester, the cover feels heavy duty and durable. Like the Aerocover above, it draped effortlessly over my dining furniture set, with plenty of wiggle room left at the sides to adjust and fix it into place. There are holes for a drawstring at the base, but you have to thread it through yourself first. Then it pulls tight to ensure the base of the cover stays secured. While matte and smooth on the outside, the inside has a shiny coating which added to its durable finish. When I hosed down the cover, it repelled the water, which beaded on the surface making it easy to drain it away and shake it off. There's no UV protection or built in air vents, though. Key specifications 3. Best Water Repellent Garden Furniture Cover: GoodHome Hamilton Grey Rectangular Dining Set Cover Compatible with B&Q's range of Good Home Hamilton furniture, this sober grey cover comes in a range of sizes to suit various designs and sizes. I tried the Rectangular Dining Set Cover (now out of stock, but other sizes are available,) and found it to be a good size for a six-seater table and chairs. The generous dimensions would also work well for bulky rattan furniture. Impressively, water beaded and bounced off the cover when I hosed it down. It also didn't take too long to dry in the hot sun afterwards. Two panels on either side let air circulate, ensuring that the furniture can breathe while preventing mould and mildew from building up. There's a drawstring to tighten it securely at the base, but what I like most are the Velcro ties that fasten the cover to furniture legs. I didn't come across many others like this during my testing. Key specifications 4. Best Breathable Garden Furniture Cover: Enzeno Garden Covers For such a large furniture cover, this design arrives compactly folded into a small black carry pouch. Returning it back inside for storage takes time; there is a knack to folding it so neatly. While the black material feels thin and a little noisy when unravelling, it covered my dining furniture effectively. The waterproofing claim stood up to inspection too, withstanding a soaking from my hosepipe to keep the furniture underneath bone dry. I was also impressed at how securely this design fixed into place. Velcro fastenings attached to the chair legs, while two large straps on each side of the cover clicked into place to prevent it from flapping in the wind. Another practical design feature is the air vent at the side that is intended to actively improve the air circulation and limit condensation. I think this cover has a lot of useful features built in and there are some 35 different configurations to choose from. While I can't tell if it will stand the test of time after one month, I am surprised at its reasonable price given the initial quality. Key specifications 5. Best Fitted Furniture Cover: Kettler Palma Low Companion Set Protective Cover Kettler is a respected garden brand with a 35-year history selling a wide range of outdoor and conservatory furniture. All its garden furniture covers are tailored-made to fit specific pieces of furniture, although not every item has a specific cover to match. To assess whether its covers have the quality and craftsmanship it claims, I trialled the Palma Low Companion Set and its matching cover. It made a good impression, arriving neatly stored in its own bag. The cover felt strong yet lightweight and was a snug fit on the chairs. Drawstring pulls at each corner ensure it doesn't blow away. For added peace of mind (Kettler's furniture is expensive after all,) weights are available to secure the cover further. While this may be helpful on particularly blustery days, it's not entirely necessary as the fabric is long enough to fit underneath the furniture to secure it from below. When I hosed down the cover, the water ran off effectively, keeping the furniture dry underneath. Vents at the side to encourage breathability and limit the build up of condensation within. This material is also designed to protect from UV, frost, tree sap and bird droppings, and I found it wiped down neatly. Incidentally, the grey finish doesn't attract the heat as much as many of the standard black covers I've tried either. Key specifications 6. Best Heavy Duty Garden Furniture Cover: VonHaus Garden Furniture Cover This affordable garden furniture cover ticks a lot of boxes. It's easy to manoeuvre and position, due to two handles either side of the cover. Small touches like this make all the difference, especially given the one I tried was pretty large, at 250cm wide. There are also two strategically placed air vents on either side of the cover to encourage airflow making the cover breathable and less prone to condensation and the build up of mould. It's designed to be fade resistant, anti-UV and waterproof. When testing the latter, the cover seemed to keep furniture nicely dry, even when I gave it a good drenching. It just took a while to dry afterwards as the heavy duty fabric is rather thick. Finally, it has fastening buckles, hook and loop tightening straps and a drawstring. Few covers seem to offer all three and these make it a secure buy, too. Key specifications 7. Best Rectangular Garden Furniture Cover: Sol 27 Outdoor Patio Dining Set Cover This design claims to have it all. It's made from a heavyweight polyester that is resistant to UV, water, weather, stain and heat. With a jet black finish, the fabric feels strong and well made. It's also smooth, which means minimal scrubbing is required to wipe away any marks. When I turned my hose to it, the water simply beaded away. The tarpaulin doesn't have any air vents. But if you tighten the drawstring at its base so that the cover is gathered above the ground, there should be enough air flow throughout to let your furniture breathe. It only comes in one large size (270cm) which would suit a table of up to six seats. The brand also sells a similar smaller cover that measures 84 by 104 cm and is similarly UV and water resistant. Key specifications 8. Best Patio Set Cover: Argos Home Deluxe Rectangular Cover This wide cover should suit a modular sofa set. Drawstrings secure it at the base, but set aside some time for the initial set-up as you need to feed them through yourself before use. A storage bag is included, making it simple to store away neatly, although I found it tricky to fold it up as tightly as it was when new. When I hosed it down, water sat on the surface of this cover rather than running off. But it still prevented any seeping through to the furniture beneath it. Note, it's not completely waterproof, instead described as weatherproof, so provided it isn't sat out all month in monsoon weather, it should do the job. At under £40 and considering its eye-catching grey finish and practical design, it feels reasonably priced for such a good quality product. Key specifications 9. Best Rattan Furniture Cover Set: Outsunny 600D Oxford Set Cover I tested this cover on a small modular corner sofa set in my garden and as it was so large it draped over easily. The fabric is quite heavy duty, making it one of the bulkiest designs I tested when folded away. However, it wasn't much of a bother to unravel it or to fold it back again after use. Plus, it's so robust it feels like it will stand the test of time. While it doesn't have an accompanying storage bag, it has a pull cord fastening at its base to fit it securely. A protective coating protects against UV and mild showers seeping through and causing damage. Water seemed to bounce off effectively when it faced the might of my hose. Key specifications 10. Best Weather Resistant Garden Furniture Cover: Garland 6 Seater Rectangular Furniture Set Cover This Garland cover is made from polyethylene, the same material found in many plastic bottles and bags, but it has a smooth, wipe-clean finish. A storage bag is included, as is a generous five-year guarantee which is unusual among the garden furniture covers I tested, and testament to the brand's belief in the product's longevity. There are various iterations available, although it may take some hunting and cross referencing to find the best option for your garden. While the one I tested is designed for a six seater table and chairs, it was way too large for my dining set. It is described as weather resistant, and this proved true on test; even when the water pooled on its top, none penetrated down to the furniture below. The material was a little noisy, but that's a small complaint. Perhaps more notable is the lack of loops or ties to secure it in place; you'd need a makeshift solution should the wind pick up. Key specifications 11. Best Budget Garden Furniture Cover: Funshot Garden Furniture Cover Much like the Garland cover, this green polyethylene cover feels like a camping ground sheet. But for under £20 (for the 170 metre-long version featured), it's a good budget solution. There are 14 sizes to choose from too, so it should be quick to find a size that will snugly fit your specific piece of furniture. The fabric is a little crunchy, so it didn't drape over my furniture as smoothly as some of the more premium designs. But there's a nylon drawstring at its base threaded through brass, allegedly rustproof rings, giving ample scope to fasten the cover tightly to prevent it being caught by wind. The anti-UV material is waterproof and protected the furniture beneath when I hosed it down. While the brand claims that its construction is stable and hard to tear, at first use, I'm not convinced that it will age as well as some others that I have tried. But given its wallet-friendly price, I wouldn't expect years of use and if you're bringing your furniture in during heavy rain or strong winds (as is recommended generally) it should still serve you well. Key specifications Garden furniture cover FAQs
National Post
16-07-2025
- Business
- National Post
Deck Specialist Launches New Podcast Featuring Vanilla Ice as the First Guest
Article content COSTA MESA, Calif. — Deck Specialist, the leading North American magazine for outdoor living professionals, has officially launched the Deck Specialist Podcast. The inaugural episode features Rob Van Winkle—better known as Vanilla Ice—who shares insights into his second career as a luxury builder, TV personality, and outdoor design enthusiast. Article content In the debut episode, sponsored by Regal ideas, Vanilla Ice discusses his journey from pop culture icon to construction expert, lessons learned from decades of flipping high-end homes, and his love for outdoor design. Article content Article content The new podcast series offers conversations with builders, designers, and business leaders who are shaping the future of decks, patios, and outdoor spaces. With a focus on real-world experiences and expert strategies, the podcast is a natural extension of Deck Specialist's mission to inform and inspire professionals in the decking and building materials industry. Article content 'We're excited to bring our readers and industry pros a new way to connect with the voices driving innovation in outdoor living,' said Sara Graves, host of the podcast, and editor of Deck Specialist. 'Launching with Vanilla Ice allows us to highlight both the craftsmanship and the energy that define this industry.' Article content The Deck Specialist Podcast is available now on all major podcast platforms. Additional episodes will be released throughout the year, featuring interviews with contractors, product innovators, and business experts across North America. Article content About Deck Specialist Article content Deck Specialist Article content is a North American magazine and online resource focused on the lumber and building materials industry, specifically decks and outdoor living projects. It's a trade publication designed for professionals in the building products sector, including builders, contractors, and decision-makers. The magazine provides inspiration, business strategies, and industry insights through articles, videos, and profiles of the best outdoor living products. Article content About 526 Media Group Article content 526 Media Group is a diversified publishing, marketing, and business services company serving the building products and home improvement industries. With a portfolio that includes print publications, digital content platforms, and strategic marketing services, 526 Media Group connects businesses with targeted audiences across the U.S. and Canada. The company is committed to delivering expert insights and high-impact visibility for brands in the construction, retail, and manufacturing sectors. Article content Article content Article content Article content Contacts Article content Media Contact: Article content Article content Sara Graves Article content Article content Article content
