Decks & Patios

How to Excavate for a Concrete Slab

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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You have a nice spot in the yard for a patio, or want to build a garage or storage shed. No matter how big or small the project, the first step is to excavate for a concrete slab. If you don't mind some hard work, you can excavate yourself. Once ... more »

How to Fasten Deck Boards

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Once the frame of your deck has been completed, the next step is to fasten the boards onto the frame. Fastening deck boards can be done in many different ways and is relatively easy to accomplish as long as you have the proper materials and set-up... more »

How to Fasten Deck Flooring

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Getting the deck flooring down is one of the most rewarding parts of the deck-building process. It's also one of the most crucial, since you don't want all of your hard work to look like a haphazard mess. Learning to fasten deck flooring properly ... more »

How to Find Deck Lumber Faults

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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When building your deck, it is important that the lumber you are using is top quality. This will preserve the beauty and longevity of the deck itself and save you money that you might otherwise spend on replacing rotted or warped boards. ... more »

How to Find Design Ideas for Decks

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Whether you are designing and building it yourself or preparing to sit down with a landscape architect, you'll need some idea of the type of deck you want. Here are some ideas for finding the creative inspiration you'll need... more »

How to Finish a Deck

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Finishing a deck can seem like an intimidating task with the different products and materials used. However, it doesn't have to be overwhelming when you break everything down into steps and figure out exactly what you need to get the job done... more »

How to Finish a Patio with Rock Salt

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Using rock salt to finish a patio is one viable option if you have a concrete patio. Rock salt generally shouldn't be used to finish anything other than concrete, which limits its use, but it has relatively good results when used correctly... more »

How to Get an Estimate From a Deck Contractor

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Adding a deck to your house not only allows for great entertaining; it increases the value of your home. Finding the right deck contractor can be scary, especially if you have no experience working with contractors. Getting an estimate is a vital ... more »

How to Haul Deck Lumber

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Transporting deck lumber from the place of purchase to your home can be a tricky process. There are several ways to do it including both doing it yourself and hiring someone else to do it... more »

How to Haul Patio Materials

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Hauling patio materials to your yard or place of building can seem like an intimidating task if you aren't well prepared. Luckily, as long as you proceed with a plan in mind, it should be a relatively simple and quick process... more »

How to Hire Help For Deck Building

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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If you have doubts that you may not be able to plan and build a deck by yourself, you should consider hiring deck building help. This help can vary from an architect or planner to a contractor and labor workers... more »

How to Install a Deck Sunshade

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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A sunshade can offer protection from harmful UV rays while you relax on your deck or patio. The shade it provides will help keep you cool and let you enjoy your summer days outside. Sunshades come in several different shapes and sizes and some ... more »

How to Install a Gas Grill

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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A gas grill can be a great addition to your backyard. It will provide you with another cooking method that gives your food a flavor your stove and oven will not produce. If your home has an outside gas connection, you can hook your grill up to ... more »

How to Install a Patio Canopy

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A patio canopy can provide you and your family the comfort of the indoors with the natural amenities that the outdoors provides. Canopies provide you protection from the sun and can make your patio a nice place to be during the enjoyable weather ... more »

How to Install a Semicircular Brick Patio

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For those that appreciate architecture and design, a semicircular brick patio may add just the right touch of personality to a backyard. Brick patios are popular for space off of a deck, or simply on their own. Look at these steps for installing ... more »

How to Install an Outdoor Misting System

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Too hot to sit outside? For those hot summer days, an outdoor misting system, based on evaporation of water, can cool a yard up to 20 or 30 degrees F. It turns hot air into cold air and brings relief from a sizzling summer. To install a ... more »

How to Install Girders for a Deck

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A deck can beautify any home and increase the home's value. Like a house, a deck that isn't on a solid foundation is a dangerous thing. Be sure to build a solid deck by correctly installing the deck girders. This can be done in the following manner... more »

How to Install Guard Rails on a Porch

By eHow Home & Garden Editor

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Guard rails are an important part of a porch. Not only do they keep you and your family safe from accidental falls, they are also attractive accessories for your home's exterior. You can install guard rails to an existing porch fairly easily. ... more »

How to Install Joist Hangers

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Joist hangers are placed to secure the floor joists of a new deck to the beams that form the outer edge of a deck. They allow the joists to butt up against the outer beams and attach securely. They are strong and will keep a floor strong as the ... more »

How to Install Outdoor Kitchen Plumbing

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Having an outdoor kitchen can be very convenient for people who spend a lot of time cooking outdoors. Having access to water and drainage without going into the kitchen can cut down on the amount of time you spend cooking and can increase the ... more »

How to Install Patio Overhead Beams

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The beams for a patio overhead are one of the essential framing elements of a secure patio installation. Installing the patio overhead beams sounds a lot more difficult than it actually is. It simply requires cutting the boards correctly and ... more »

How to Install Patio Overhead Posts

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Installing posts for your patio overhead isn't a very difficult process. The easiest posts to install are single pieces of lumber, such as 4-by-6 boards or 8-by-8 boards. Which size you choose depends on the weight of your patio overhead and what ... more »

How to Install Patio Overhead Rafters

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The rafters of a patio overhead serve two main purposes. They're meant to firmly hold the overhead in place, and they're meant to add decoration to your patio. Patio overhead rafters are moderately easy to assemble and install... more »

How to Install Porch Posts

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Porch posts serve cosmetic and practical purposes on your property. A classical wooden post with an ornate design can make your porch look like a blast from the past. These same posts provide support for handrails that are needed by guests who ... more »

How to Irrigate a Patio

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An irrigation system for your patio is actually a small network of tubing that drives water to hoses that you place at the base of plants or around a group of plants. The irrigation system can be a great convenience once you have it in place to ... more »

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