Special Outdoor Projects

A swing set can turn your backyard into a playground for your kids and their friends. Properly anchoring the legs is important to ensure safety. If not anchored, the legs can lift off the ground...

If you've seen rhubarb growing in a garden, you've noticed the plant's attractive, large leaves. These same leaves can be picked and put to use as a mold for a garden fountain or birdbath. You can...

The most common form of boat lift is the davit, a small crane that raises and lowers your boat into the water. To keep the davits from pulling themselves out of the ground when you lift your boat,...

Composting is an essential part of the cyclical nature of gardening. Turning your organic remains into a nutrient rich substance for putting back into the earth benefits the plants and helps...

Adding color to a concrete walkway adds dimension to the normally bland surface. Change the gray tone associated with concrete through the use of dry-shake color hardeners, colored liquid,...

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...

Snowboarding is a popular winter sport. Gliding top speed down a quiet, snow covered hill while the adrenaline courses through your body can be almost spiritual. Unfortunately, as with other tools...

An outdoor clay oven is a brick box with an arched top open in the front. The entire box is covered with clay adobe, a straw and cob mortar mixture, or stone and mortar. To use an outdoor clay...

An outdoor clay oven is a brick box with an arched top open in the front. The entire box is covered with clay adobe, a straw and cob mortar mixture, or stone and mortar. To use an outdoor clay...

Mailbox gardens have become a popular way to add curb appeal to a home. Use the bare piece of ground at the base of a mailbox for a mix of evergreen flowering perennials like pinks and lavender....

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...

A metal carport can be a quick and easy solution for getting your car or recreational vehicle out of the weather. You can complete a typical metal carport installation over the weekend if you have...

Grilling is a favorite summer pastime of many homeowners. Some people grill once a week, others grill only for large parties, and some grill in the middle of the winter because they love the...

Most concrete steps aren't attractive. Dress yours up by using these tips. You'll create a welcoming, beautiful space. After all, it's the first spot your guests will grace.

Greenhouses are lightweight, easily uprooted and quickly made airborne. If a greenhouse is not properly anchored, a gardener can lose not only the structure but the crop growing inside. The best...

Tree stumps are for more than just sitting. In fact, there are quite a few creative ways to utilize a tree stump and avoid the costly process of tree stump removal. If you have recently done some...

Build a charcoal grill to cook your favorite recipes. An inexpensive and safe material for a charcoal grill is a concrete block. Concrete blocks are non-flammable and sturdy. Stack them as high...

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...

When you pour concrete into a form, it has the form of a wet slurry mix. As the mix begins to cure or dry, the mix will slowly contract. Once the concrete fully cured, it will, due to weather...

Before you pour the concrete for your garage slab, you need to check and make sure that the forms are "in square." Being in square means that all the corners in the pour are at 90-degree angles....

Grade beams are used in footing construction when a full footing is not needed, but spot footings are inadequate to the task of distributing the load carried by the foundation piers. Grade beams...

A concrete slab has many uses--driveway, patio, or foundation for an addition, garage or porch. While the size and the shape of the concrete are very important depending on its use, proper...

Installing a mailbox post for the curbside delivery of mail is regulated by the United States Postal Service. Consult the local postmaster for any special rules regarding specific heights or back...

A compost bin provides a location to store organic waste until it can be reused as garden fertilizer or mulch. Placement of a compost bin is important in many aspects; you may want the compost bin...

A shed will be much more durable if it is built on a concrete slab foundation instead of just dirt. The slab will protect the shed from rot and provide a better seal against insects and vermin....

Whether you're doing a total remodel, want to expand your garden or just looking to have some clear space, that old concrete porch just might need to go. And if you thought the job was only for...

A red brick barbecue grill is the perfect addition to any barbecue lover's back yard. It can be built to accommodate large amounts of food, which is great when you have a crowd over for 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...

Many dog owners are reluctant to allow their dog to stay inside when they are away because some breeds of dogs can become destructive when left unsupervised. Allowing dogs to run free outside is...

Swing sets are a great recreation accessory for backyards or playgrounds. They help children build coordination, stamina, and physical strength. Many swing sets designed to be set up by...

Concrete tilt up construction is fast becoming the method of choice for commercial builders. Tilt up construction is a method of forming, and pouring walls in sections while they are flat on the...

You have many outdoor landscaping projects on your plate. From patching your concrete driveway to finishing the rock garden, the outdoor projects keep coming. One project that you want to complete...

Buying commercially cured meats can be a very expensive proposition these days. One alternative is building your own smoke house to dry and cure your own meats. An added advantage is that you can...

Ever wonder how they build those fake rock formations in zoos and theme parks? Would you like to build a waterfall or rock wall in your backyard? It's time consuming and takes some practice, but...

When you set a lamp post with anchor bolts into concrete, it is a two stage process. First you must set the anchor bolts and then pour the concrete around them, and then you will set your post...

A backyard storage shed can provide space to store gardening tools and equipment, holiday decorations, empty boxes, bicycle and helmet. Not only will you use wasted space by creating a small shed...

Acrylic concrete stains are made to decorate smooth concrete surfaces. They are especially designed to soak into the permeable concrete and act as a dye that leaves a slightly transparent coloring...

Now it's time to form up the storm shelter walls and pour those with concrete. Keep reading to learn how to complete this phase of the project.

The materials required to make a flagpole differ depending on the application. In-ground flagpoles are designed to withstand wind and direct exposure to the elements, whereas house-mounted...

Installing concrete requires more than forming and pouring. After the concrete has been poured, you must finish the concrete, which is the most critical part of the job. A poorly finished concrete...

A yard is a nice way to entertain guests and relax in the outdoors. One of the most important things you need for an outdoor area is shade to protect your guests from the sun. The most convenient...

Concrete lawn ornaments can bring beauty and character to your garden or front yard. These ornaments are often purchased unpainted which allows you to decorate them to suit your own personal color...

Storage sheds that are build to keep various garden tools and other items can be built on a platform or a concrete slab. Once the structure has been built it should be anchored to the ground to...

Installing a light post requires seven days to complete because you have to allow the concrete footer to set before the post can be mounted correctly on top of it. Note that the conduit is...

Treillage, the art of training climbing plants onto frames, has been a garden pastime since the 12th century. The key to a trellis is geometric regularity. Take advantage of trellises to force a...

Personalize the walkway to your front door or backyard garden with a homemade stepping stone. Stepping stone kits cost around $20. Purchasing your own supplies separately saves money, especially...

Flagpoles more than 10 feet high must be installed correctly, or you run the risk of the pole coming down and injuring a person or property. On windy days, poles not buried deep enough or secured...

A concrete bollard may be necessary to prevent drivers from hitting your garage, or running off your driveway. Or you may want a series of bollards in which to run a decorative fence. Whatever the...