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Appliances, Mister System and Lighting

From "Grounds for Improvement"
episode DGFI-204

Deven and Jordan Brown are well under way in the renovation of their new patio. With the new kitchen island in place and tiled, it's time to complete the look of the redesigned space.

The grill's gas-supply line, which has a shut-off feature, is attached to the gas line (figure A). As mentioned earlier, always check with your local utility or codes department to see whether the connection can be made by the homeowner or if the work must be completed by the utility company.

Next, the refrigerator is set in the island and the cabinet doors, which are attached to a frame that screws into place using self-tapping screws, are put in place.

A mister system is installed to help cool the area during the summer months when outside temperatures can easily reach 115 degrees. This simple system consists of 3/8" tubing fitted with mist emitters (which dissipate water) and a screw-on attachment for connecting to the outside faucet (figure B).

Figure A

Figure B

Misting systems are easy to retrofit to meet the needs of the homeowner. Costs for these systems begin at approximately $80, the final cost being determined by the amount of hose needed for the outdoor space. Here, the tubing is attached along the patio roof with clips, the emitters are attached and the tubing is connected to the water supply line the same way a garden hose is attached to a water source (figure C). Once installed, the emitters will disperse a fine, cooling mist of water, and depending on water pressure, each nozzle can emit anywhere from one-half gallon to a gallon of water every hour. To further cool the patio, the existing lights are removed and replaced with ceiling fans (figure D).

Figure C

Figure D