#timetogrill

Summer Snuck Up On Us!

Memorial Day weekend is widely considered the kick-off weekend for summer sun and backyard barbecues. And believe it or not that milestone is just a few short days away. Filling your yard with flowers and lounge chairs, grilling the perfect hamburger (hint: make an indentation in the center so that when it puffs up the burger remains perfectly shaped), and enjoying long days is a bit of an American tradition. So, as you start to dream of potato salad and corn on the cob, here are 4 simple tips to make your backyard “BBQ ready”!

* Fly a Flag - This is a perfect weekend to install a flagpole over your house. Proudly raise your flag to honor fallen sodiers on Memorial Day, hoist it again on June 14th for Flag Day, and of course lift it up once more on July 4th.

* Perfect Your Pavers - Check patios and walkways for uneven pavers or bricks. To reset bricks, remove soil underneath and refill the space with paver-base sand. Use a rubber mallet to tap the brick into place. Finally, fill gaps between bricks with remaining sand.

* Launder the Lights - Exterior lights can become dull with layers of dirt and bugs. Brighten them up by cleaning the covers with glass cleaner and wiping bulbs with a microfiber cloth.

* Service Your Screens - With front, back, and side doors flung open to welcome fresh summer air, you may have noticed a few nicks in your screen doors. Screen doors can be repaired by cutting out a section around the hole and replacing it with a patch. Screens can also be quite easy to replace altogether with a few tools from the hardware store.

Enjoy your long weekend  - and welcome summer!