Cedar Pergola Shown with Optional Swing
What’s the greatest thing about watching those home improvement shows on TV, the reason you sit there for 30 or 60 minutes and watch the entire program, commercials and all? That’s easy. First you’re willing to sit there and watch because it’s brutally hot outside this time of year but secondly you’re intrigued by the show because you want to see the before and after picture at the end! Same goes for weight loss shows like The Biggest Loser and Celebrity Fit Club. We’re enamored with seeing what things looked like before, watching the process change slowly, then seeing the final result to compare the before and after. There’s something motivating about seeing a profound change that makes a big difference in the home or life of someone else, makes us feel like we too can realize a profound change in our own life (or home!). And since the summer is coming to a close, fall is upon us, it may even invigorate us to get outside and spruce up our outdoor living area so we can enjoy a few evenings outside before winter arrives (and while prices are great!).
One of the things that I love about the work we do here at IndoorOutdoorStore.com is when a customer is so enthused with his or her purchase that they want to share the results of their dramatic transformation with us by sending in a few pictures. Above the praise and recognition that comes from a happy customer (which is nice by the way, don’t get me wrong!), I just LOVE seeing how the products we sell have helped transform the homes and lives of our customers. Over the weekend I received just such a story, along with a few pictures, from Mark C. Orlando so I thought I’d share how he’s planning to enjoy this fall with his family! Mark was also kind enough to give IndoorOutdoorStore.com a glowing review on Yelp too. Thanks Mark! You’re the best!
Mark first contacted me and was interested in purchasing the popular PO72 Cedar Pergola as a replacement for the existing, aging one in his backyard. He already had a perfectly good swing and wanted to try and retro-fit his swing with our pergola, a great idea! After working through some initial questions around dimensions, logistics of shipping, etc and realizing that Labor Day was nearly upon us, he decided it was time to make his purchase.
Mark first decided to clear away the area where his new western red cedar pergola would be placed.
After clearing away old pergola and swing
Once this was done and the unassembled pergola had arrived, Mark decided to stain the wood to suit the color of his choice (as well as lock in the cedar brown color) and then to begin assembly. Beginning by placing all of the boards in the newly cleared area, Mark assembled the pergola and even made some brilliant customizations!
A really cool customization Mark made to the pergola during assembly was adding a custom fitted drink table to each side of where the swing would go. And living in Florida, prone to hurricanes and strong winds, he also chose to anchor the new pergola to sturdy posts.
Here you can see the small drink tables Mark added to the cedar pergola next to his existing swing! Great idea!
These customizations were easy to make and were very inexpensive but will allow Mark and his family to enjoy the cool Florida evenings for many years to come on their new cedar pergola. I just know Mark is going to love his new pergola, but more importantly his backyard even more now that this inexpensive and fun project is completed. And what a dramatic difference it’s made!
The Before And After!
