By: John & Bridgette Knoeller

Concrete Patio

Back yards are being transformed into luxurious extensions of the house. They’re the new favorite room to relax, entertain, and cook. And the heart and soul of the backyard resort area is the concrete patio. The Hearth, Patio, and Barbecue Association, which recently held its annual tradeshow and exposition, says the growth of the outdoor living phenomena is the result of North America’s interest in ‘cocooning,’ the trend toward a more casual lifestyle, an aging population and the popularity of porches, decks, and concrete patios in homes. Concrete patios, sometimes referred to as cement patios, provide the perfect sanctuary for outdoor living spaces because they are often connected to the house and blend the interior with the exterior living areas. For example, homeowners can match the stone facade of their house by installing decorative concrete to create a stone patio without the expense of installing traditional individual stones. An increasing number of homeowners are going all out with outdoor kitchens, furnished seating areas, fireplaces, decorative concrete patios, pizza ovens, elaborate water features, and more. Homeowners want to enjoy their homes, but they also see upgrading their back yards as an investment. Creating the look of an authentic stone patio, or slate patio, or cobblestone patio is more economical to install using decorative concrete, and adds value to the home.

Outside Kitchens
One of the most enjoyable additions people are putting on their homes is an outdoor kitchen. Outdoor kitchens are so pleasant because so many of the features that you have in your indoor kitchen can be applied to an outdoor kitchen. In fact if you are considering an outdoor kitchen you can plan it so that everything you need is outside then you will not have to be running in the side for anything. Outdoor kitchens will often have refrigerators, cabinets and even dishwashers! The design of your outdoor kitchen will only be limited by cost and your imagination.

What exactly is an outdoor kitchen?
According to the Property and Environment Research Center, in the Northeast, 43 percent of homeowners report having an outdoor room. In the midwest, west and south, it’s 32 to 34 percent. Though all these numbers do not all include outdoor kitchens, these statistics are indicative of an emerging trend among Americans… Taking the kitchen outside.
Wikipedia describes an outdoor kitchen as “outdoor area set up for regular food preparation, for instance when camping.” However most home designers agree that a project to be called an outdoor kitchen it must include at least one good-quality cooking appliance like a gas grill or a wood-fired oven, some counter space and a sink. Barbecue Grills are the most popular cooking options. Other cooking options which homeowners use are outdoor fireplaces and fire pits.
For many years outdoor kitchens were a practical option only for people with higher incomes…..the maintenance and building outdoor kitchens prices was way too high. The rising popularity of outdoor kitchens has created a market that is starting to get very competitive and with extremely attractive designs and prices. The industry now even has big Do it yourself shops started getting into the market, making it easier to purchase an outdoor kitchen for all budgetsl. Prefabricated outdoor kitchen islands can now be installed in as little as a day. You just need to plug in the water, electric and gas lines to it.

Benefits of an outdoor kitchen:
*It adds up as a great entertaining source both for social gatherings and for the perfect family moments. *Cooking outdoors in the summer can keep your air conditioning bill down. Cooking emits heat which warms the home.
*It keeps both the mess and clean-up outdoors.
*All your cooking is done in the same space.
*Elaborate outdoor kitchens can also add to the real estate value of your house and may help you if you plan to move away after a few years.

John, and his wife Bridgette, reside in Delaware with their five children, and now 2 grandsons. Active members in their community and local church, and members of the christian motorcycle association. We look forward to meeting you, and working closely with you, to assure the highest quality of workmanship and customer relationship. To make your dreams come true with any of your improvement needs. www.cornerstone-builder.com John 302.670.6680 Bridgette 302.670.6681

Testimonials:
“John Knoeller is the most knowledgeable contractor we’ve ever met. We explained what we wanted, and, not only would he understand, he would immediately be able to discuss all the options and recommend the best solution. John was conscientious and tenacious in getting the job done and, more often than not, went the “extra mile” to satisfy us.”
~Chuck & Kay, Newark, DE

“I just want to thank CornerStone Construction for doing an absolutely beautiful job- they completely gutted and transformed our house. They worked with us on our budget and were finished in our time frame so. Thank You John, for all of your help and the marvelous work you did.”
~ Edward & Delores, Harrington, DE

Publisher’s Note:
John is another guy that I would give a 10 rating for his professional performance as a builder and carpenter. I hired John to build in my closets in my new home and I was a little nervous since I really didn’t know him or his work. I can say that I am glad I went with my gut instinct and hired John. He called me to schedule a time to come, since I had gotten busy and had not called him; he showed up early for the appointment, walked me through the process of selecting what materials I needed for my walk in closets, delivered the material to the job site, and started work and finished the job in a very timely fashion. �On top of all this the poor man was sick with a bad head cold. What a guy!