On the 28th, we’ll be headed to Charlotte for our second Paver Day of 2012. To get everyone geared up and ready, here are some fun snapshots of our Greensboro Paver Day, plus we revisit how to install a brick patio. Interested in learning more about patio installation? Visit us in Charlotte for a live demonstration and an opportunity to ask our experts. See you there!

Pine Hall Brick Rumbled® clay pavers are central to an innovative front yard patio in a modest Florida neighborhood. See how it’s done HERE!

Tucked behind Hamburger Square in downtown Greensboro, NC is The Farmer’s Wife, an old storefront antique shop and florist. The store is known for an interesting collection of furniture and accessories, unique prints, architectural found objects and wall art, as well as artisan floral arrangements. What they are less known for is their “backyard.”

Behind the building is a large brick patio shared by The Farmer’s Wife and residents of the adjacent buildings. Flanked on one side by railroad tracks and on the other by a bus depot, this outdoor area seemed destined to be a dead space, but thanks to smart design, use of color and texture and whimsical accessories, the space has been transformed into a lush oasis perfect for a backyard soiree or a solitary book.

Employ hard and soft-scapes to create privacy.
When your outdoor space borders a high traffic area (like a bus depot!) or an unsightly transportation route (like railroad tracks) intimacy can seem out of the question. Privacy fences are a necessity to create the feeling of an outdoor room. Fences or masonry walls are one way to create privacy in your outdoor area.

You can use plants to create privacy while also adding color and texture to the design of your space. Evergreens are an especially popular choice because they maintain their foliage all year long. Emerald Green Thuja, Leyland Cypress and Irish Juniper are beautiful options.

Visual interest can create the illusion of more space.

In smaller spaces, if you draw the eye outward and upward, you can create visual height and give a lofty sensation.

Winding paths can lead guests into spaces of your garden that might not have gotten used otherwise.

Curved lines that draw you along the path can make a short space seem much longer. Creating patterns with pavers can also draw the eye in particular direction. Consider using a herringbone or chevron pattern to lead people toward a focal point.

Work with the shape of your space.
The Farmer’s Wife patio is long. To ensure the eye doesn’t cruise along without enjoying the space, create logical stopping points.

A small table and chair with a cluster of unique concrete pots creates an intimate seating area. A bench tucked underneath low hanging branches is like a tiny tree house.

An open gate defines one space from another.

Use color and texture to your advantage.
A garden with no variation in shape or color can look drab. At the same time, too many colors or plant varieties can look overwhelming and haphazard. Take some time to decide what plants work well with each other and within the same palette.

This garden uses a variety of rich greens punctuated by the vibrant red leaves of maple varietals and the deep auburn tips of sedum plants. Texture is what creates the visual interest.

Low growing thyme and oregano create a lush blanket of green.The glossy leaves of the shade plants play against the sharp, spiky leaves of sedum and echeveria varietals.

Use a little surprise.
One of the best features of this space is its use of whimsical objects.

A millstone propped against an accented wall and pots of tiny sedum tucked behind shrubs keep guests looking through the space.

Though the area is small, no space is left unused.

Pots and paths wind through the evergreens, even the outside border is dotted with rosemary and lavender.

Small statues peek out from behind chairs and foliage.

Whether you have a rolling country garden or a narrow sun-dappled urban alleyway, your home outdoors can be a pleasant work-in-progress, changing with the seasons or your whims.

Stachybotrys spores magnified.

Mold is a single cell organism, a form of fungi, that reproduces by releasing spores into the air. Though this little cell may be small, it can cause huge issues in your home.

All mold needs to flourish is some moisture and organic material. This organic material can be anything: wallpaper, wooden furniture, cloth and even dust. Often there will be a musty, stale odor when mold is present.

Mold growing on dust and debris under a wood floor. Courtesy of StApostol via Wikimedia Commons.

Mold problems can be costly to fix. Prices range from $500 to $4,000 for mold removal in a crawl space and can be as much as $30,000 if it affects the whole home. In addition to the financial burden, it can have a negative effect on your family’s health, as well. People living with mold may experience symptoms that include itching eyes, sneezing, coughing, fatigue, headaches and asthma attacks. It has also been linked to sick building syndrome.

Anyone building a home has an opportunity to choose materials that will reduce their chances of developing a mold issue. According to a study done by the National Home Builder’s Association, of the some common building materials used in home construction, brick is the most effective at controlling moisture and preventing mold.

Brick uses a multi-layer construction system. Between the outer layer of brick and interior walls is a column of air. This airspace allows any moisture that may seep in to escape through weep holes or evaporate. The thermal mass of brick also aids in the quick evaporation of any trapped moisture, further protecting wooden house frames and interior walls. Where there is no moisture, there is no mold.

Few other materials are able to provide the natural warmth of a brick wall. The natural texture and colors provide the perfect canvas for large, decorative focal points like mirrors or unique wall art. Hanging decorative items on brick, however, presents a unique set of challenges. Unlike other building materials, it takes more than a hammer and nail to get those items up. With a little planning, though, it can be done quickly and easily.

Before you begin your project, its important to ensure you have the proper equipment. A lightweight electric drill will not be strong enough to handle the stress of drilling into your masonry. Instead, invest in a more heavy-duty drill with a hammer feature. This allows the drill bit to break up the masonry.

You will also need to purchase a masonry drill bit. These bits have harder cutting tips made of tougher materials than their standard counterparts. The tips of masonry bits are also shaped differently, more like an arrow, than other drill bits. You can also tell that you are using a masonry bit because the tip will be slightly larger than the rest of the bit. You will also need a screwdriver bit, plastic anchors and safety glasses.

It is also important to consider where in your wall you will drill. There are two options when drilling into a brick wall: either directly into the brick itself or into the mortar between bricks. We recommend drilling into the mortar instead of the brick for a few reasons. Drilling directly into brick is more difficult than drilling into mortar and runs the risk of damaging the brick. It is also easier to repair mortar if you drill into the wrong location or decide to remove your decorative item.

To get started, use a marker to make a point on the mortar indicating where you need to drill. This will depend on the object you are hanging. Using your masonry bit, start to drill into the mortar. Go slowly. Drilling too quickly may lead to an unnecessary mistake or may cause the bit to overheat.

Once you have drilled your hole, insert your plastic anchor. You should be able to slide them in with your hand or tap them in gently with a hammer. Once your anchor is in place, remove your masonry bit and replace it with the screwdriver bit. Drill a screw into the anchor as you would into an interior wall, ensuring you leave enough of the screw exposed to hang your object. As you screw into the plastic anchor, the anchor will expand and grab onto the edges of the masonry. This ensures your object will be hung securely.

Show us how you decorate your brick walls!

If you already have a concrete patio or sidewalk, you can update the space without having to hire an entire construction crew. Simply change the look of your walkway or backyard by laying brick pavers over the old surface.

Laying bricks over an existing surface has some advantages.

Since there is an existing base, there’s no need to create a level surface, you have one ready and waiting.

Using this approach also helps you avoid digging up your old concrete and hauling it away. Once your pavers are in place, the best advantage is no power washing each spring!

Step 1
With concrete that’s smooth and even, start by choosing a clay paver and the pattern that you will use. Keep in mind that there are “thinner” pavers (1 3/8”) for these applications and that some patterns like herringbone will require more cuts than others.

Step 2

Next lay a “soldier course” of bricks, perpendicular to the edge of the concrete to form the outside “frame” of your project. The secret here is to use four dots of masonry adhesive on each brick, each about the size of a penny, which allows rainwater to pass underneath.

Step 3

On the inside of the soldier course, cut pieces of roofing felt to put a single layer inside the “frame” covering the concrete, don’t overlap the felt edges, and then lay a second layer of felt, perpendicular over the top of the first layer.

Step 4

Then, starting at one corner, begin laying the brick in place, leaving a 1/8” gap between the pavers for sand. Finish by sweeping concrete sand in between the joints until they are full.

Utilize your home outdoors year-round, even in February.

A patio is an extension of you home and your lifestyle that can be enjoyed year-round, even in the dead of winter. Why not throw a Super Bowl party that feels like you’re really at the game? It may not be a temperature controlled luxury skybox, but with easy arrangements it can transport you to a 50-yard-line seat in the stadium, with unlimited refreshments.

Get the best seat outside the house.
In order to enjoy the game on your patio, you have to be able to watch the game on your patio. You could invest in an all-weather television. Units are designed to resist corrosion, rain, dirt, snow and insects. This a great option for those who plan on doing a lot of outdoor entertaining, but with prices starting at $1,500, it may be too expensive for one event. LCD projectors are a popular, inexpensive option, too.

In dry weather, you can simply move your regular television outside. If you are watching the on the west coast before sundown, ensure you set up the television in a shaded area. Use protective plastic to keep the cables and cords dry and safe from spills.

Without the walls of your home to contain and reflect sound, you may notice that your television sounds much quieter on the patio. You can combat this by adding additional speakers to help amplify the audio. Want more information on setting up outdoor audio? This post has a lot of good information.

On the other hand, audio might be less of a consideration. It IS a party and your guests might want to socialize while they watch the game.

Friends around the fire, regardless who’s winning.
Outdoor enthusiasts look for any excuse to build a fire. Why not the Super Bowl?

If you don’t have a built in fireplace, portable fire pits give you lost of options for heat and the fun of a welcoming blaze. Construction material is an important factor. While inexpensive materials like thin-gauge metal or clay (most often used in chimnea-style fire pits) are an affordable option, they will most likely only last one or two years. Copper, cast iron or cast aluminum fire pits are good choices for durability. Need tips on building a fire?

Heaters offer a sophisticated alternative to a smoky fire. Main fuel sources for patio heaters include electric, propane and gas. Because they can operate without cords or connections, propane heaters are probably a better option for your patio. Stand-alone and tabletop varieties are available. Deciding which model works best for you will depend on your needs. Smaller, tabletop varieties work best for small groups, while stand-alone towers last longer and heat a larger area.

Plan for the weather for any upcoming outdoor event using the tried and true Old Farmer's Almanac. See what Super Bowl XLVI will be like in your back yard.

When placing your fire pit or heater, remember to keep the heat source on the brick portion of your patio. Avoid any wood decks or railing to ensure you do not create a fire hazard.

Having blankets on hand is as much a designer choice as a heat source. The best stadium blankets are made of wool. It will insulate your body and keep a pocket of warm air around you. Also, wool is naturally flame resistant – a plus when you’re sitting next to a fire pit. The texture of your blanket is also a factor in keeping you warm. Crocheted afghans or thermal weaves trap warm air and keep your body insulated.

Make sure your invitations say to dress appropriately. But you can be a thoughtful host with inexpensive disposable hand warmers as favors!

Patios are food-friendly.

With hearty fare like this, who cares who wins? (Photo courtesy Carsto, via Wikepedia Commons.)

Super Bowl parties are gastronomically driven. You’re going to have guests who come for the eats, more than the game. And when things get rowdy, hosting outdoors means your carpet gets a break.

Depending on how cold game day is, food storage considerations will vary. For cold weather, skip the cooler and let Mother Nature chill the beverages. Then, use the empty ice chest to keep hot foods insulated and warm. The insulated container will maintain the heat of the food inside. Soups, chilies and warm beverages are best kept in an insulated container or a thermos.

Regardless the temperature, keep basic food safety guidelines in mind (cold foods are stored below 40F and hot foods are served at 140F) and consider chafing dishes for keeping hot food at a proper temperature if it will be served over an extended period. Make sure that there is always enough water in the bottom tray. Fuel packs are usually available in either alcohol or gel packs. If you are concerned about fuel spilling or getting knocked over, select the gel packs. They are more stable and easier to use than the alcohol types.

Need a great game day chili? Try our recipe!

1 pound ground beef
1 pound ground pork
2 cans black beans
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 can tomato paste
1 medium chopped onion
1 medium chopped green bell pepper
1 finely chopped jalapeno (Add more jalapeno if you like it spicier.)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon Siracha sauce (if you cannot find Siracha, use your favorite brand of hot sauce)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
2 teaspoons cumin
1/2 teaspoon coriander
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon dried oregano
1 teaspoon dried parsley
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 cup beer
1 cup beef stock (preferably unsalted)
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar

Heat a large pot over medium heat. Add the ground beef and pork. Cook until meat is evenly browned. Drain off the excess grease. Add onions, garlic, bell pepper and jalapeno. Cook until the vegetables begin to sweat. Add remaining ingredients to pot and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium low and simmer for about 1 1/2 -2 hours. Taste the chili and adjust salt and spice level accordingly.

Chili always taste better the next day, so save some time on game day by making this the night before.

Want to try other recipes? We love this Cincinnati-style chili and this White Chicken Chili.