} Everyone sort of has an escape in their backyard,” Seaberg said. “I think people are doing that more and more instead of travelling. . } tions. “We thought we’d get use out of this room maybe eight months out of the year,” and added, “but I’m amazed at how well it holds heat. Honestly, I’ve never seen it below 38 degrees out here.”     Seaberg said it’s the most unusual project he’s worked on. “That’s probably the most unique, to have a patio that size with those features, the skylights, the fire pit, the glass wall,” he said. “You don’t see that every day.”     RB came to Seaberg with plans drawn up by an architect named Gordon Whirry, in Great Falls. Seaberg though said most of his projects just come from conversations with customers about what they want, and finalizing the design from there.     According to Seaberg, there are quite a few options to decide on, such as simple concrete slabs, stamped or textured concrete, stones set in sand, electricity needs, natural gas lines for lighting or cooking, covered or open-roofed, and furniture. H AV R E D A I LY N E W S     If something off the ground is more up to a customer's liking, such structures can be supported by weathered wood, with decks made from redwoods or cedars. With a little increase in budget, customers can use a more convenient, no-staining, easier-cleaning vinyl railing or composite wood material flooring, like the Smiths’ decks. Additional support is needed in some decks to support the weight of extras like hot tubs.     To keep the space usable during more of the year, patios or decks can be covered or enclosed. Covers can either be a shed-style roof, continuing the slope of the house’s roof, or gabled, with its own rafters. Enclosures can range from a simple screen, to the addition of removable panels that keep out unwanted weather, but can be opened up during more pleasant times. These panels can be made from a number of materials, like plexi-glass or the same translucent corrugated material that old greenhouses are made of.     And for people who want it all, maybe just not all at once, much of this can be done in increments over time. The Smiths are already considering screening in their back cooking deck.     Some people like adding privacy to their deck or patio areas, with fences, shrubberies or vine-growing walls. With a little bit of a budget, and a conversation with one of Havre’s contractors, anyone can have a custom sunny, breezy, little spot they like, just outside their door. “Everyone sort of has an escape in their backyard,” Seaberg said. “I think people are doing that more and more instead of travelling” ... “between the homeowner and me, we can figure it out.” A P R I L 2 0 11 L I V I N G M A G A Z I N E 11