Special Outdoor Projects

A water filler installed in a swimming pool is designed to keep the water level in the pool at a consistent level. The Pentair Automatic Water Filler is one type of water filler. This type of...

If you are like many homeowners, you probably feel comfortable performing some basic home maintenance tasks. Finding holes in your concrete driveway however, may cause you to pause on how to go...

Cement forms or concrete forms are used to mold concrete into various shapes from large septic tanks to small planters you can make at home. Cement is actually one of the ingredients used to...

Whether they are fish ponds, rock ponds or just water features, these outdoor additions bring a sense of peace and calm to any landscape. However, all that enjoyment is quickly erased if the pond...

Gutter downspouts collect rainwater that falls on the roof of a house and directs it away from the home. Unfortunately, downspouts sometimes simply direct the water to the foundation of the home,...

An outdoor clay oven is the ideal place to make wood-fired pizza or to roast meat. Outdoor ovens are capable of reaching much higher temperatures than standard ovens, and this high heat creates...

Dry powdered cement mixed with sand, gravel and water forms a durable concrete that is used in molds. With a proper do-it-yourself recipe, you can create a variety of molded stepping stones,...

A column mail box can add curb appeal to any home or business. It's a project that you can do on your own, but requires some concentration and time, according to Pyzique Wall Systems. A column...

Having a backyard pond can be relaxing and enjoyable from April to October; maybe longer if your climate has mild winters. You can have an active pond filled with Koi and frogs, or you can have a...

Many store bought swingsets include anchors to hold the swingset firmly onto the ground and prevent it from tipping over while children play. These anchors will sometimes come loose when children...

You can build your own column mail box, but the task can be challenging. According to Pyzique Wall Systems, Inc., a column mail box is sturdier than any other type of mailbox because it's made...

A pergola is a small, open-air structure, sometimes covered with vines. Adding a pergola to your garden will accent your plants and provide a relaxing shaded area. You can construct a DIY garden...

Cement is just one component that is used to make concrete and mortar. It is used to make buildings, driveways, garage floors, sidewalks and more. The effort needed to remove dried paint from...

Cement block compost bins offer solid construction for the right price---close to nothing if you can obtain salvaged blocks, often offered online, and generally around $45 (2009 prices) if you...

White Portland cement is essentially the same as grey cement except that it has a white color produced by iron and manganese metal oxides. It is primarily produced in the specifications of Type I...

The wood-burning brick oven has probably been around since humans discovered how to fire bricks. A brick pizza oven is a smaller version designed specifically for cooking pizzas and other breads....

PVC may be the easiest and lightest material you can use to make a flag holder. It won't rust or decay, and it can be painted in any color you choose. A PVC pipe flag holder is also versatile...

Concrete mixes are a ratio of 3 elements: cement, water and aggregate which is sand and rock. Sometimes other admixtures that may be added to the mix for special purposes, such as speeding up...

Nothing smells better in the summertime than some ribs or burgers on the grill. A backyard barbecue party is sure to draw a crowd. Building your own outdoor barbecue oven is a must for any outdoor...

Brick mailboxes improve your home's curb appeal and are strong, sturdy, secure and weatherproof. You can hire a professional to build one for you, but you don't have to be a skilled bricklayer to...

The aroma of meat on the grill is a summertime classic, and many barbecue enthusiasts build their own backyard barbecue setup. Built-in brick barbecues are rustic and elegant, with a stone side...

Do-it-yourself cement balustrade accents for the front porch or veranda offer a stylish upgrade at an affordable price. A little practice in working with cement moldings will help you save...

Spending time working outside or near your pool means a lot of dirt or chemicals on your body. Odds are you don't want these things brought into your home. One of the best solutions for this is to...

Most homeowners install cement ponds with the thought that they will be a long-lasting, durable landscape addition. For the most part, they are, but cracks can develop, necessitating a fix. The...

Having children means providing them them outdoor activities. If you have a yard, getting some play equipment can provide hours of entertainment for your children. One of the simplest equipment...

Making your own garden containers not only will save you money but also will provide you a fun project. By planting DIY garden containers, you add a personal touch to your garden area that may...

Adding a garden pond to your current landscape will instantly perk up the space. Although plastic liners can be purchased to make a garden pond, these will eventually wear out and need to be...

Gypsum is a soft evaporite (water soluble) mineral and is considered sedimentary rock (formed by the deposit of minerals and organic material). The chemical formula for gypsum is CaSO42H2o and is...

Many shed floors are elevated above the outside ground level, making a ramp a necessity. Fortunately, shed ramps are relatively easy to build and the materials are fairly inexpensive. A shed ramp...

Pole barn construction is one of the easiest ways to build a barn, shed or storage building. Setting posts and attaching beams is a simple method to build a frame for an open-sided structure or...

Real rocks can be beautiful but heavy. For many projects it is preferable to have a lightweight rock-like object that is easily and cheaply transportable. Making your own rocks for your garden or...

Arbors and trellises are supportive structures for vining, climbing and spreading bushes, plants and trees. Make a beautiful grapevine arbor or trellis in a weekend using simple, inexpensive,...

Concrete driveways, sidewalks and patios are prone to chipping and cracking after a few seasons of extreme temperatures and general wear. Hiring a contractor to resurface and repair the concrete...

Adding a flagpole to your landscape is a great way to show pride in your country or to support your favorite team by flying their colors. A 20-foot flagpole will make a statement in your yard, but...

Adding an outdoor fire pit to your home's landscaping can not only provide a peaceful sanctuary for your family and friends on summer nights, but also increase the value of your home. Your entire...

A broken sprinkler line can cause a lot of damage by eroding soil and flooding your lawn. It can also lead to a huge water bill. Sprinkler line repairs usually can be handled by anyone with...

A trip around the Internet tells us birdbath recipes abound, but three formulas dominate. The first and easiest is using clay pots. The next is a little more complicated and makes use of an old...

A landscape isn't complete without a birdbath. If you've priced birdbaths recently, you know they aren't cheap. Here's a way to have that birdbath without the pricey tag:

Being able to build your own pergola saves you money. It is also a great way to add elegance and comfort.

While a concrete bird bath is easy to make, you cannot deny its usefulness in making an otherwise boring backyard peaceful and serene. The number of birds you'll attract do wonders to improve the...

PVC (polyvinyl chloride) pipe is tough, durable plastic piping used for residential and commercial irrigation systems. Sections of pipe are typically connected by couplings, elbow joints and...

PVC is light and can be assembled fairly quickly using adhesives and connectors. However, PVC structures are easily blown over in the wind unless they are anchored to the ground. PVC gazebos...

Adding a fountain to the landscaping provides visual and aural interest to your yard. Designing a garden around a new fountain requires the combination of hardscaping the fountain and adding a...

How to make a Pizza/Bread Oven Door: The door of a wood-fired oven is the most prominent feature of the oven and yet seems to have been ignored by most oven manufacturers. It affects the aesthetic...

Build your own PVC trellis easily with these step-by-step instructions and a few plumbing supplies. You can create any size trellis with PVC pipe; this one is 6 feet tall and 3 feet wide with...

Post lights are nostalgic and practical. Before street lights, the front yard gas light provided illumination for winter's icy walks and summer evening's last twilight games for children. As...

Understanding concrete is a incredibly important and often overlooked DIY skill. Seeing as concrete is the most versatile building material on the planet, not to mention the most cost efficient...

Traditional flagpoles in the United States were once made of wood. You can still wooden ones, but they can be expensive. You can make your own wooden flagpole at a fraction of the cost. You also...

Occasionally every homeowner must replace a mailbox post. If you live in an area that receives lots of snow, then you may need to replace your mailbox post more often than other people do....

Building a deck over a solid level cement surface is fairly simple. Decks can be built in any size or height depending on the area of the cement surface, but for the purpose of this article, a...