Jennifer Coppola At Home
I thought it would be a good idea to show why I have not been as active on the blog this summer. The backyard was my main destination and the covered pavilion that was installed provided an easy way to stay outdoors for hours.
The covered pavilion or outdoor pavilion was the second most important part of the backyard design and needed to be part of the design with the pool. John and I didn't want the pavilion to be too big or too small, so we left it up to the backyard design experts at Seasonal World to lay it out for us. I'm glad we did this since it provided a great plan for where to place the pavilion and also to know how big we could go.
We decided on a large 20 x 20 ft pavilion so we could fit a large table and chairs, a pool storage chest which doubles as a serving table, and the grill. It was a great investment and was installed just in time for our July 4th BBQ a few months ago. This project did require working with multiple vendors since some of the pavers that were installed last fall needed to be temporarily moved for the concrete footings. J&L Amish Depot built the pavilion and also made our dining room table and outdoor furniture.
Put Your Best "Footing" Forward
Concrete footings were a non-negotiable given the size of the outdoor pavilion and the fact that we did not want it moving in any way. Our neighborhood contains very few mature trees, so wind is constantly moving through the yard. The wind is a great relief in the summer, but when storms pass through, it can easily turn backyard items into projectiles.
It was a bit of a challenge to find the right company for the concrete footings since the landscaper we used last fall couldn't do it, and the company building the pavilion wasn't licensed to do it either. After some investigation, John found a local landscaper who was willing to do it and move the pavers back once the concrete passed inspection.
RISE, Pavilion, rise!
I ended up missing out on the entire pavilion construction since it was 90% completed in one day while I was at work. The only reason J&L Amish Depot came back the next day to finish is that a severe thunderstorm came through at about 4 PM the day before.
The completed pavilion contains four posts and an A-frame roof with exposed beams inside. The entire structure provides full shade from the sun from 10 AM to 3:30 PM. From 3:30 to 5:00 PM, there is some sunlight that comes in on the west side due to the sun starting to set. After 5:00 PM, it goes back to full shade for the rest of the evening.
Electrical Package
The final piece of the covered pavilion was adding electrical outlets and a light switch for a light or fan. We ended up adding both in one fixture to keep it cool under the pavilion and also keep bugs away. The additional outlets give us flexibility to plug in other things we need without having to run long extension cords to the one outlet near the back door.
We have used it several times for other family gatherings this summer and even for the two of us on our weekend days off. I was very happy with the work from J&L Amish Depot again and feel that every penny was worth it since it provides protection all afternoon from the sun.
