As long as people have been stuck indoors recently, more and more of them are looking for ways to spend additional time outdoors. For many of them dining outside has become a regular event. It is a great way to get some sunshine and fresh air on a weekend afternoon barbeque or a gentle breeze and nighttime ambience later in the evening.
Regardless of what time you prefer to eat outside, there are a number of hazards that you will probably encounter including weather and/or insects. Here are a few ways to deal with them:
Since most people don’t have outdoor eating areas with a roof, this is a great place to start. A lot of time when there is a birthday party, BBQ, seafood boil/fry, or anything else that involves cooking or eating outside, it isn’t done in an area with a roof.
This means that even just putting up a temporary cover can significantly reduce the exposure to the sun and UV rays. It can also serve as an acceptable deterrent to light rain or drizzle. As far bugs and other elements, it doesn’t offer much protection. For those who want something more permanent, those options are available as well.
Screen-In Your Porch or Outdoor Kitchen
For homeowners who have a roof or cover installed, as well as those who already have one over their dining area, screening it in can take care of the insect and animal problem. It’s not just bugs that you have to worry about.
There are certain animals that may come up and bother things because they smell the food. And they will almost assuredly come sniffing around after dark trying to find morsels of dropped food and trash.
Buy a Gazebo With Mosquito Netting
But what are people who are without a ready-made dining area at all supposed to do? There are great options available there as well. One of the best ones is buying a gazebo which already has protective insect netting like Shelterlogic offers.
That way you have your dining structure, with a durable roof that can stand up to the weather and it’s already screened-in. It is a fantastic one-stop choice for an entire outdoor dining experience in your own backyard.
Build a Cabana Area
Cabana areas take up a little bit more space and can’t really be screened in. But, for folks who don’t mind a few bugs or mosquitoes, or maybe only plan on socializing in the cooler weather, this could be a good idea. These types of areas are usually set up on decks or around swimming pools where there is a lot of concrete.
You can set up tables and chairs with oversize cabana umbrellas over the top of them. You can also position them under big trees or the awning of the house for more shade. This helps with the sun, but not much with any weather or the aforementioned insects.
Keep a Regular Extermination Routine
As far as the general bug problem goes, making sure that your property is sprayed or otherwise treated for insects on a regular basis is a good, basic rule to follow. Even if you have a netted dining space like the gazebo or a porch, you still don’t want bugs crawling all over the outside of the screen.
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Clare
Hi, I'm Clare (Emmy's Mummy). A former Nanny and Mother of 2 - Emmy (born February 2010) and Harry (born October 2012). We are Essex based and share our adventures and misadventures of a busy crazy life.
