Outdoor Living Tips & Local Guides

October 28, 2026 · Pergolas & Gazebos How Do You Protect a Wood Pergola or Gazebo From Formosan Termites? Formosan termites are the most common termite in New Orleans, and wood pergolas and gazebos are part of what they… Read more → October 25, 2026 · Patios Why Do Some Patio Surfaces Get Hotter Than Others in the Sun? Patio surface temperature depends mostly on how much sunlight the material reflects. The EPA says conventional concrete and asphalt can… Read more → October 22, 2026 · Outdoor Kitchens How Do You Keep Food Safe in an Outdoor Kitchen During Louisiana Heat? Outdoor kitchen food safety comes down to time and temperature. The FDA says perishable food should not sit in the… Read more → October 19, 2026 · Outdoor Living Does Your Flood Zone Change How You Plan a Backyard Project in New Orleans? Your flood zone can change how a backyard project is permitted in New Orleans. The city says all development needs… Read more → October 16, 2026 · Patios How Much of Your New Orleans Yard Can You Pave for a Patio? New Orleans limits how much of a residential lot can be covered with impervious surface such as concrete or asphalt.… Read more → October 13, 2026 · Sunrooms What Permits Does a Sunroom Addition Need in New Orleans? In New Orleans, a sunroom addition needs a building permit from the Department of Safety and Permits. The city's permit… Read more → October 10, 2026 · Decks Is Your Older Deck Built With CCA-Treated Wood, and What Should You Do About It? If your pressure-treated deck was built before 2004, it may contain CCA treated wood, a preservative made with chromium, copper,… Read more → October 7, 2026 · Outdoor Living How Can You Design a Backyard That Draws Fewer Mosquitoes in New Orleans? Mosquitoes in your backyard start with standing water. The CDC advises emptying and scrubbing, turning over, covering, or throwing out… Read more → October 4, 2026 · Outdoor Kitchens How Far Should a Grill or Fire Pit Sit From Your House? The U.S. Fire Administration says to keep grills and fire pits at least 3 feet from your house and from… Read more → October 1, 2026 · Decks What Time of Year Is Easiest to Build a Patio or Deck in New Orleans? In New Orleans, October and November are usually the easiest months to build a patio or deck. NOAA's 1991 to… Read more → September 28, 2026 · Outdoor Living Gas vs. Wood-Burning Fire Pits: Which Is Right for Your New Orleans Backyard? Deciding between a gas and a wood-burning fire pit shapes almost everything else about the project, from where it can… Read more → September 26, 2026 · Outdoor Living Designing a Multi-Zone Backyard for Entertaining A backyard that tries to do everything in one open space often ends up doing nothing particularly well. Cooking smoke… Read more →