Special Outdoor Projects

Greenhouses are specially constructed outdoor buildings designed to retain heat from the sun's rays. The heat retaining quality is why greenhouses are often also called hot houses. This warm...

While it's widely seen as an agricultural building, a pole barn can be attractive as well as functional in any setting. If zoning ordinances allow you to build a pole barn on your property, this...

If you've built a storage shed, one of the key elements in protecting it is making sure it has a solid and weathertight roof. Roofing your shed properly will make the difference between a dry,...

Gazebos add a stylish landscape element to backyards or public areas. Traditional gazebos have a romantic air but are functional as well. They provide built-in seating options and protect the...

A metal corn crib is a round, wire structure used to hold ears of feed corn. Unlike a silo, which has solid sides, the corn crib is made of woven metal mesh to allow air to flow through the cobs....

When building a picnic shelter, there are many different things to consider, such as types of materials, strength of materials, ability of materials to protect you from the weather, type of...

Building a dog house is a great way to provide security and warmth for your pet. If the dog house is going to be a visible fixture in your yard, it is important for it to look good too. Adding...

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...

Thatched palm roofs can last over ten years before needing repairs when properly maintained. Durable, "green" and waterproof, they provide a tropical feel to any outdoor building. They are widely...

When building a dog house, make sure there is enough room for the dog to be comfortable. The dog house should be big enough for the dog to turn, lay down, and stretch. If you build to big, the...

Cedar sheds can be used for a variety of purposes, such as storage, shelter or as a garden shed. They are normally framed from treated or yellow pine lumber and covered, inside and outside, with...

Metal roofing has grown to be one of the most popular roofing materials. This is most likely due to its low cost compared with other roofing materials, and its wide range of colors and styles....

The focal point of any yard or garden is not the flowers. Usually the focal point becomes anything additional such as a retaining wall, pond, walkway or gazebo. Gazebos serve a dual role when...

Clean moss from a roof with a brush by gentling brushing the moss from the apex of the roof to the base. Organic matter that falls on the roof can decompose, creating a rich, compost-like soil for...

A shed (sometimes called an outbuilding) is a usually a small one-story structure used for the storage of lawn equipment, garden tools or bicycles. A shed can also be used for potting plants,...

A lean-to is a simple three-sided structure with a sloping roof. Often the front---the largest side---faces away from the prevailing wind and weather, and the roof reaches completely to the...

Backyard tiki huts or bars bring a bit of the islands to your summer parties. The structure is simple, and there are many ways you can accessorize your tiki hut depending on your style. Before you...

Adding a roof to your porch provides you and your porch with much-needed protection from the sun, wind, rain, snow and ice. In addition, your new porch roof can boost your home's curb appeal....

A square shed makes a great place to store lawn equipment, seasonal supplies or workshop materials. Although sheds can be purchased pre-built, creating one from scratch is a straightforward...

When some people think of a shed, they envision a rundown building out in the corner of the yard with all the lawn tools inside. Sheds do not have to be restricted to this function, however. They...

In colonial times in the U.S., many families had a weather vane on their house or barn, which often indicated the family's name as well as the type of work they were involved in on their farm....

Storage sheds are wonderful outdoor buildings that can provide extra space for your home items that need to be stowed away. If you are planning a storage shed project, then you should know about...

One of the keys to enjoying a warm fire thoughout the winter is to protect your store of firewood from the elements. An outdoor firewood storage box is a simple do-it-yourself project you can make...

Before you can build your back yard barn, it is best to do some assessing of your needs. If you know ahead of time what you plan to do with the barn, it will make it easier to plan and build. For...

Owls are a valuable part of nature, especially as rodent control for vineyards and farms. These birds of prey catch and eat small rodents like mice, rats and rabbits and can keep down populations...

A playhouse is a great weekend project. The options vary with your budget, skills and the time you can invest. The possibilities in themes, designs and color schemes of your playhouse can be as...

Cattle are hardy outdoor animals, but a good cattle shed will provide your livestock with a safe place--protected from rain and snow--to seek shelter from a storm and to get hay, oats and water at...

If you are planning on building your own pole barn, you should know about the tools, materials and techniques available before you begin your project. Pole barns are cheap and easy to build, and...

Horses don't have to have enclosed barns to live in. Most would rather be outdoors, even in the rain and cold. However, horses like to have a place to get out of the sun in hot weather. A lean-to...

A child's playhouse can consist of a simple structure built in one afternoon or a more elaborate miniature house which requires a significant amount of time and skill to create. Regardless of the...

Every homeowner needs a place to store outdoor tools and equipment. A garden shed is an excellent place to keep these things. It also makes a good place to store outdoor toys, firewood, seasonal...

A greenhouse is a building that is made exclusively to grow plants. The structure is usually made with either glass or plastic ceilings and walls, which allow solar heat to enter the building...

A carefully constructed birdhouse is a joy for both the occupant and the builder. Once your bird family has moved in, you can enjoy watching their habits, observing their physical traits and...

Sometimes the standard shed you buy at Lowes or Home Depot won't fit the space you have available. Building a custom shed really isn't that hard, you just have to take some time to plan it out.

A tiki bar is a popular outdoor structure on many decks and patios. For the proper ambience, you will want to build a tiki roof from traditional palm fronds or straw thatch. If you are building...

When it comes to burning wood to heat or supplement the heat of your home, whether to save on energy costs or just because you like wood heat, the biggest single factor in getting the most heat...

Cabins come in many forms and sizes. Depending on how much room you have and how much time you are willing to invest, you can construct a cabin that best suits your needs and limitations. Even if...

A child's playhouse can be a much-needed getaway for any little boy or girl, but sometimes four wooden walls and a cut out window just won't suffice. Here are a few creative ideas for a backyard...

The gazebo is a traditional garden structure dating back as early as 1400 B.C., in Egypt. Ancient Rome and Pompeii had summer houses not unlike gazebos. Persian gardens were legendary; their...

A shed can prove invaluable to store all those tools and equipment that you just don't have room for in your house or garage. You can build a shed yourself, but it will take time. David Stiles,...

Roofs often become streaked and discolored from an algae called Gloeocapsa magma. It travels through airborne spores and collects on roofs, mainly in humid parts of the country, where the...

This is a beautiful wishing well. A great asset to any garden. A great weekend project. My husband says it is moderate, I say difficult (only because I know nothing about working with wood).

You have an old shed in your back yard that's outlived its usefulness. Before you can erect a new building, you'll need to tear down the existing structure. You can choose a sunny day, arm...

While dismantling a shed is easier than it looks, is important to follow the proper procedure. Simply take the project one step at a time and always dismantle from the top down. Starting at the...

A gazebo is a freestanding outdoor shade structure on a platform, usually 6- or 8-sided, with low walls around the base, large, open sides and a pointed, conical roof. Gazebos provide shade and...

When designing a garden, shade is an important element for the summertime. Here is a natural looking way to build a shade structure in a tropical themed garden.

A metal shed is an affordable way to add additional space to your home. Metal shed kits are easy to put up. You can easily erect one in a day's time---and you can usually do most of the work by...

Garden storage sheds serve many purposes. Besides storage for gardening tools and lawn-care equipment, they can also be a convenient all-weather place to use for re-potting plants or for spending...

If you would like to improve your front porch, adding a gable roof over it is a good idea. The roof will allow you to enjoy the porch in inclement weather. It will also provide shade on those hot...

A tree fort roof can be built in a couple of ways; it all depends on how much protection and privacy you want, as well as how much work and materials you want to put into it. You can secure the...