Summer is about to kick our outdoor time up a notch. And you know what that means: drinks al fresco. And yes, sure, you probably have a few bars and restaurants nearby that would happily serve you drinks on their patio — for a price. But why not shrink the expense of enjoying your beverage en plein air (and worrying about parking or a ride) by setting up your own outdoor bar? Want to seize the summer? Use this guide to set up an outdoor bar you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home.

Find your spot

First things first, you need to pick out a place for your bar. Ideally, it should be somewhere where both sun and shade are available. That could mean adding a patio umbrella or two, or it could mean positioning your bar under a tree, awning or pergola. You want to give yourself options to keep drinks in the shade but be able to enjoy the sun’s warmth if you want it.

Then, look for level ground. Drinks spill. It’s important to have somewhere flat to set up your bar to keep things as stable as possible.

Stock your outdoor bar

Now, let’s get into the fun stuff! Setting up your outdoor bar can transform your outdoor space, give you extra room for entertaining and help you grab some extra vitamin D and fresh air during the temperate months. But you’ll only use it if it’s got what you need to quickly and easily fix yourself a drink. Here’s what you should gather for a well-stocked bar.

Serving surface

First, you’re going to need a place to put everything. You can buy a weather-resistant bar (like these options from Wayfair) if you want to really set yourself up for success, but a simple serving cart can do the trick. Ultimately, you just want somewhere you can put a few bottles and pitchers without anything toppling over.

Weather-safe storage space

That said, you do need to consider where you’ll put everything when you’re not using your outdoor bar. And, sure, you could lug it all out from inside, but you’re much more likely to use your bar on a regular basis if it’s easy. A small, weather-safe cabinet could be all you need to keep any breakables or spillable items protected when your bar isn’t in use.

Cold storage

No one wants a lukewarm beverage. Make sure you have a place where you can keep things cold and where you can grab ice. That could be a mini fridge, cooler or even just a bucket that you stock with ice when you’re using your bar. If you go with the cooler or bucket route, consider adding an ice bucket into the mix so you can easily grab clean ice when you’re making a cocktail.

Break-resistant barware

Even if your outdoor bar is mere feet from your house, it’s still exposed to the elements. Wind can wreck even the best-laid plans, especially when glass is involved. Consider plastic or metal cups to give your barware some durability (and save yourself the hassle of trying to sweep up broken glass from uneven outdoor surfaces). Moscow mule mugs — like these ones from Crate & Barrel, which come in metal finishes well beyond the standard copper — can be a stylish and long-lasting addition to your bar.

Seating

To really make the most of your bar, you’re going to want to be able to get comfortable. Whether you add bar stools around a high-top table, Adirondack chairs or a couple of benches, adding some thoughtful seating touches can make all the difference. Outdoor pillows and a few throw blankets (Mexican blankets are ideal for their warmth and durability) can extend the hours of use for your outdoor bar well into the evening. If your outdoor bar is fairly exposed, choose a weather-safe storage space that can fit a basket of these comfort-adding touches to protect them and keep them clean.

Lighting and more

Speaking of evening enjoyment of your bar, don’t forget lighting. There are tons of solar options that prevent you from needing to have electricity at your bar. Citronella candles can add a nice ambient glow and keep pests away. You’ve got options, but don’t forget to think about how your bar will transition from day to night. Because, sure, we all love socializing during the day on a summer weekend, but the bulk of your bar’s use will probably fall later in the day.

Now that you’ve started setting the ambiance, we’ve got some more tips to help you make your outdoor bar feel like it’s set in an oasis.

Serve it up

It’s time for the fun part! You’ve put in the work to get your bar dialed in. Now, you can kick back and enjoy it. If you’re hosting friends or family, make entertaining extra easy on yourself by taking a few steps to prepare.

• If you don’t have a fridge at your outdoor bar, get drinks on ice a couple of hours before people arrive. Even if you do, make sure you have clean ice accessible for cocktails. Pair it with a scoop or tongs for easy serving.
• Consider making a large pitcher of a signature cocktail to minimize the amount of bartending you’ll have to do. Then, offer wine, beer and hard alcohol with staple mixers like soda water, tonic, lemons and limes and you’re all set!
• If you have outdoor candles, set a reminder to light them on your phone to go off ten minutes before people arrive.
• Drape blankets over your seating so people know they’re free to use.

Then, kick back and enjoy! One of the best things about an outdoor bar is how easy it makes hosting — and cleanup. Someone makes a mess? No worries. You can just hose everything down later.

Cheers to the summer!

The post How to Add an Outdoor Bar appeared first on Freshome.com.

This content was originally published here.

Plumbers in Texas will no longer be subject to state regulations after lawmakers this week flushed the state plumbing code and the Texas State Board of Plumbing Examiners, a state agency that employed dozens and generated $5.2 million in revenue in 2017.

Soon,anyone can call themselves a plumber without completing the agency-required education and tests, said Roger Wakefield, master plumber and owner of Texas Green Plumbing in Richardson. Wakefield, who has been a plumber for 40 years, said the industry is now “completely unregulated,” and will lead to more unqualified workers entering the workforce.

“We’re going to put the safety of the homeowners and the public of Texas in jeopardy,” he said. “Plumbers install medical gas, they install the potable drinking water that we have every day. If they’re not doing it right, people’s safety is at risk.”

Wakefield said he and other plumbers are calling Texas Gov. Greg Abbott and asking him to order lawmakers back to Austin for a special legislative session to remedy the situation. Abbott’s press office did not respond to requests for comment, but the governor indicated on Twitter on Monday that he has no plans to reconvene legislators before the next regular session in 2021.

The state plumbing code will cease to exist on Sept. 1while the state plumbing agency, which had 28 employees as of March, will have a “wind down” period to wrap up operations by September 2020. Several requests for comment left with the state board were not returned.

That entityis responsible for licensing plumbers and enforcing the state plumbingcode. The agency was up for what’s known as the sunset review process, when lawmakers periodically assess how efficiently state entitiesare organized and whether they should continue to exist. Two bills filed during the legislative session that ended Monday would have extended the agency’s life.

Senate Bill 621 received pushback from members of the plumbing industry because it would abolish the state board and put them under the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation, a larger agency that oversees more than two-dozen other professions. State Rep. Senfronia Thompson, D-Houston, voiced her opposition to the bill after a committee of House and Senate lawmakers took out her amendment delaying the move of the plumbing board until 2021. The bill failed 57-88. Paddie later tried to reconsider the vote, but he failed again, 68-76.

However, House members say state Rep. Chris Paddie R-Marshall had the power to save the plumbing board with House Bill 1550, a “sunset safety net bill.” Lawmakers usually pass a such a bill every session to keep a number of state agencies from shutting down by pushing their sunset review to the following session. Paddie had earlier called for a committee of lawmakers from the House and Senate to iron out the differences on the safety net bill, but they didn’t issue a report bya key deadline. Thompson said from the House floor Sunday that if Paddie chose to discharge the committee and call a vote before the House gaveled out for the night, then both the safety net bill and the plumbing board bill could have been saved.

Paddie said the plumbing board operated with some inefficiencies, including that in order to take a plumbing exam, an applicant must come to Austin for the test, no matter where he or she lives. He said it also took the plumbing board up to eight months to send a license to applicants after completing their education requirement, whereas the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation estimated they could do it in a few weeks.

However, members of the industry say the long licensing period is important to maintain the safety risks of the general public. Wakefield, owner of Texas Green Plumbing said Texas has one of the more “stringent” exams and requires more hours before plumbers are given a license.

Texas has about 58,000 licensed plumbers, but the growing population and rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey has led to a shortage, according to a report by the Sunset Commission.

However, Rick Lord, business manager at the Plumbers Local Union 68, said the shortage is more about the money than the waiting period. He said the shortage is due to to low pay, not the plumbing board, and his union has seen an increase in applications to join the union because it helps them secure benefits and fair pay.

Alicia Dover, executive director of the Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractors of Texas, said the organization was meeting Tuesday afternoon and could not yet comment on how the elimination of the plumbing agency will affect plumbers in Texas.

Many cities around Texas have local plumbing codes that build off the Uniform Plumbing Code, a policy developed by International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials that is also the basis of the Texas plumbing code. Without the state code, the regulation will probably go back to the cities and municipalities, Wakefield said.

This content was originally published here.