Category Archives: Outdoor Entertaining

When the weather warms and your parties move outdoors, try these simple ideas. Entertaining doesn’t demand any elaborate decor, just simple food, good company, and your patio.

Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining

Businesses Benefit from Commercial Patio Heaters

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Patio Heaters Provide Heat and Revenue to Outdoor Restaurants, Cafes, & Bistros

As of November 2009, 35 states in the U.S. have enacted statewide bans on smoking in most, if not all, enclosed public places, including restaurants and, in many cases, bars.  During the summer, smokers can sit outside on patios, decks, or in gardens. But when the weather turns cold, and until it grows warmer in the evening hours, many smokers may prefer to stay home rather than dine out, which can significantly damage the restaurant business.  In response to this problem, more and more owners and managers in the restaurant industry are investing in business with Heaters. By using patio heaters, restaurants and bars can help their smoking customers feel welcome and warm and prevent drops in their revenues during the colder seasons.

Patio Heater Fuel Types

There are three fuel types used to power patio heaters: natural gas, propane, and electricity. For restaurants, natural gas could be the ideal option because the heater hooks up to the gas lines and never needs refueling. Natural gas heaters cannot be moved, however. If you plan to move the heater, for catering or other purposes, propane heaters may be the ideal option. Propane patio heaters run on tanks and can be set up in just a few minutes.

Common Patio Heater Safety Features

Of course, safety is a significant consideration for businesses. Many patio heaters are built with this concern in mind, so they come with excellent safety features. One important feature is an automatic emergency shut off. If the patio heater overturns, or is even jostled too vigorously, it automatically turns off. Another common feature is a piezo electric starter, which does not require a pilot light.

Patio Heater Options — How To Choose

When looking through the various commercial grade heaters, one of the most important considerations is the heater’s power, which is rated in British Thermal Units (BTUs). The average heater rates at about 45,000 BTUs, enough to make a 20 foot heat circle.  Keep in mind the size of your outdoor eating and gathering space; this will determine if more than one patio heater would be needed to maintain a warm and comfortable environment for your customers.  Another factor to consider is style. The heater should fit comfortably with the decor of your establishment, whether traditional or modern. Some models, for example, are reminiscent of a classic iron lamp post and bring a traditional elegance to the environment.  Other models offer a more sleek, modern, even futuristic appearance.

Important Tips For Patio Heaters

If you plan on moving the heater, choosing a patio heater with wheels would be the best choice. The wheels are often hidden, and so they will not affect appearance.

Having too much wind where you put the heater can adversely affect its performance. This problem can be solved rather easily, though, by using screens, shades, or other wind breakers.

An Asset to Restaurants

Patio heaters have no doubt proven their value to restaurants and bars.  Fortunately, as their popularity has increased in recent years, their price has decreased considerably. So it is now easier than ever to use patio heaters to help your business maintain old patrons and gain new ones.

Outdoor Entertaining, Outdoor Living Spaces

I’m Dreaming of Spring

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I have hardly stepped outside all winter except for an occasional walk with my beagle and sheetzu because it is FREEZING here. I miss sitting on my cozy back porch while the morning sun warms my face. I tell myself it will be worth the long winter months indoors. Come Spring come. In the meantime, I have my trusty patio heater. An outdoor infrared patio heater gives me a moment to breath in some fresh air in spite of the winter cold.

Outdoor Entertaining

Cheap Patio Furniture Covers Prove Cheap

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Expert Trey Collier,  owner of one of America’s most sought after outdoor living stores,  recently shared his views on the do’s and don’ts of covering outdoor furniture.

According to Mr. Collier “Inferior quality patio furniture covers may last only one or two seasons because they are often made with cheaper vinyl or plastic. These inferior materials are easily damaged by extremes in cold or hot temperatures. High quality covers can be constructed from a variety of materials, but some important qualities should be determined before deciding. Outdoor covers should be made of a durable waterproof and UV resistant material that can hold up beautifully against extreme temperatures and weather conditions, both hot and cold, without being damaged. Furthermore, covers should be lightweight so that they are easy to use and easy to store when not in use. Some covers are backed with a soft cloth material to help prevent anything from scratching delicate furniture surfaces, which is a desirable characteristic if your patio furniture sits near any trees that may drop small branches or other debris throughout the changing seasons.”

 

Outdoor Entertaining

Cooking in a chiminea?

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Fun fire… campfires, bonfires, and that long gone but lovingly remembered autumn ritual of leaf burning by the curbside… can still be yours through the noble chiminea,  the popular outdoor potbelly fireplace.

Chimineas are not care-free devices.  They need a certain amount of ongoing maintenance to guarantee the longest life.  Hopefully, you will read this before you buy one so that you can make an informed purchase.

What is a chiminea?

Originating in Mexico in the 17th century, the original chimineas were used to bake bread.  As with the originals, modern chimineas are handmade from raw, wet clay,  giving each chiminea its own personality.  They are actually made from two pieces… the chimney or “stack” made separately from the wood chamber or “base”.  After a short period of air drying, they are joined together to make a seemingly seamless fireplace!

The formed chiminea is allowed to air dry for a few more days and then is baked in a 900+  degree kiln.  Allowing enough drying time as important since chimineas placed into the kiln while too wet will invariably crack.  After thorough cooling, the outside is painted to give a rustic-looking, almost antique appearance.  (Personally, I like the some of the new styles that are made of cast iron because they are resistant to chips, cracks and fading.)

What can be burned in a chiminea?

The chiminea is primarily a wood-burning stove.  Hard woods burn best and produce the least amount of sparks.  Some chiminea users who cook in their chimineas burn charcoal.    One safe way is to first burn some hard wood to form wood coals, which in turn are hot enough to light the charcoal.  You could also use self-lighting charcoal.

Chimineas are for outdoor use only!