Special Outdoor Projects Videos

Badminton is a staple game at the American barbecue or cookout. Easy and fun to play, people of all ages can team up and bat the shuttlecock around. But if you want to kick it up a notch and get...

There are 3 basic types of water features for the backyard: waterfalls, ponds and fountains. These can be combined in various ways with landscaping to create a relaxing oasis. Deciding on a water...

One of the joys of home ownership is the backyard that goes with it. Here you are free to express your true self and create your own magical land full of flowers, waterfalls, painted rocks and...

Building a background pond is a wonderful addition to a yard. It brings in birds and frogs and it is a fabulous place to sit beside in the afternoon and enjoy a cool drink. It is really not that...

If you are looking to build a barn that complements your house, or looking for a structure that is fully functional without a lot of wasted space, designing your own pole barn is way to go.

Barn doors experience a lot of wear and tear. When it's time to replace them, you either can build new doors yourself or purchase ready-made. Each door mounting kit is slightly different, so be...

Whether you need a home for your horses, a place to store hay or a place for other livestock, you can build a barn to accommodate them all. A barn might seem like a big project to take on by...

On a leaky metal roof, water never travels in a straight line. Metal roofs are notorious for that. Water follows trusses, seeps down sidewalls or pools up waiting for a chance to escape. In order...

As a help to grandparents, friends and families, many parents keep an ongoing gift registry for their kids, such as a Pottery Barn Kids registry. Pottery Barn Kids registries are great for...

Old barns abandoned long ago dot the landscapes across America. The wood looks weathered and of little use, but people discover the hidden value. These barns, made from quality wood from old...

If you want your car out of the weather and out from under the birds, then build a carport. Fortunately it's not an unrealistic job to tackle. These instructions are for a carport that is 20 feet...

People have been enjoying the comfort of bonfires for thousands of years and with a little work you can too. Digging a fire pit to control your bonfire is essential, as this helps protect the fire...

Fountains are becoming more and more popular. They're pleasant to look at and the sound of running water is soothing. There are a multitude of styles of ready-made fountains to choose from....

There is nothing more attractive for an outdoor space than a well-crafted gazebo. A gazebo can be an open or enclosed structure with a variety of uses. Large or small, for parties or quiet...

You can beautify the grounds of your home by building a pond and reveling in the serenity it provides. Just follow these steps.

Trellises range from small, unobtrusive backdrops rising out of a container to elaborate structures that can fill the length of a fence. But ultimately, a trellis is nothing more than a...

A solar powered water fountain is one that runs without electricity from the standard mechanisms. Rather, it collects solar energy from the sun's rays and stores it in the cells of a solar panel....

An arbor bench is a lovely addition to your garden or any outdoor space. It provides a place to sit and relax and gives extra seating for outdoor parties and cook-outs. You don't have to be a...

If most of your outdoor grilling is done on your deck or patio, you will need to come up with a solution to protect their surface from the heat and drippings caused by the cooking. While this may...

You can easily build your own pergola that will provide you with a beautiful and functional addition to your backyard or other area of your choice. All that is required for this job is some...

A pole barn is one of the simplest structures to build. It usually has open sides and a dirt floor. These barns are great for housing farm animals or storing lawn equipment. You can even turn one...

Vases and urns make good reservoirs for outdoor water features. They can stand alone as bubbling fountains or you can combine the two to create an overflowing tiered water feature. Select colorful...

Cost estimators work in a number of different industries, but most work in construction and manufacturing. Their tasks vary based upon the industry they work for and their employer. It takes a...

A sawhorse set is a staple in most garages. Whether you need a place to cut a board or want to set up a temporary table, sawhorses can be very handy. There's no reason to break the bank making...

Nothing makes a group of kids happier than swinging on swings, jumping off towers and sliding down slides. The bad news is that often playground equipment is no longer safe or, worse, there is...

Sitting out in the backyard with the barbeque is one of the great joys of a lazy summer afternoon. However, many people don't have this luxury because of a restricted budget. One way to get around...

Concrete blocks are useful and affordable building tools; however, they have many other uses in the home and garden. You can leave the concrete blocks as they are, or they can be covered with...

If you want to cast a concrete sculpture at home but do not have the molds to do it, the solution may be as close as your kids' sandbox. You can easily make your own concrete molds from sand in...

Designing a walkway involves creating an inviting path that will withstand foot traffic and complement its surroundings. Concrete pavers are a good choice for walkways since you can position them...

Carp ponds have become very popular in garden landscape design. Carp are beautiful fish that are available in many different varieties and colors. A carp pond can add an element of serenity and...

Brown recluse spiders may infest your garage before other parts of your home. Garages, by virtue of being dark, sparingly used, and home to ignored clutter, appeal to brown recluse spiders. Make...

Pool skimmers help clear pools of floating debris before it sinks to the bottom. When pool skimmers break or aren't able to be used in the pool, there are some do-it-yourself ways to replace the...

Won't Fido and Muffin be surprised! This electronic fence is installed underground and will teach your pets the limits of your yard without physical barriers. The fence is ideal for those pets who...

Building a pond on your farm can be a satisfying project that leads to years of enjoyment for you and your family. But as with any worthwhile project, there are a few basics you should know before...

Coming up with a rock solid design for an outdoor fire pit requires a good understanding of how and where it will be used. Fire pits can be open or enclosed and fueled by natural gas, propane or...

Concrete pools can develop cracks due to downshifting of the earth below them, erosion of the concrete and hot and cold weather effecting the temperature of the water in the pool. There are basic...

When you look at your home from the street, think about security. What you plant in your yard and garden affects the safety of your family and home. Security landscaping means selecting plants and...

If you're in need of a mailbox temporarily (for instance, if you don't have the time to drag out your post-hole digger, or you have plans to move the driveway), then a simple large bucket may do...

If you're in need of a mailbox temporarily (for instance, if you don't have the time to drag out your post-hole digger, or you have plans to move the driveway), then a simple large bucket may do...

Lights add a whole new dimension to your landscape. In the past, people had to remember to turn off these lights. Of course, sometimes the lights would be left on all day or left off during the...

Lights add a whole new dimension to your landscape. In the past, people had to remember to turn off these lights. Of course, sometimes the lights would be left on all day or left off during the...

If you live in a mountainous area, you face special challenges from the high altitude. Dry air, a short growing season, poor soil and frigid winters provide just some of the problems gardeners...

Gardening enthusiasts and organizing gurus both love the durability and strength of a good metal storage shed. A steel or aluminum shed offers stability and sturdiness usually found in a permanent...

The old siding on your barn is most likely worth money, and so are the planks on the side of the old utility shed that's been sitting next to a rambling county home for decades. The key is getting...

If your backyard patio has become the gathering spot for family events and parties, consider installing an outdoor fireplace. Outdoor fireplaces not only provide physical warmth, but they provide...

Take advantage of your garden, deck or porch by building an outdoor wooden bench. Just one to four days, depending on the design you choose, will yield a comfortable place for meditating, bird...

An outdoor fire pit can be a great addition to your backyard. It will not only provide you with a new way to cook, but will also give you warmth on chilly nights. Read on to learn how to build a...

Outdoor fire pits are an ages old heating and cooking device that is making a comeback in modern patio-scapes. They've come a long way from the wood burning stone ring used by our roving...

Adding an outdoor room can enhance the usable square footage and raise the resale value of your home by as much as 30 percent. Whether you have an existing area such as a deck, patio or screened...

Outdoor signs may be decorative as well as functional. Cedar, redwood, teak or treated wood boards are good choices to build a wooden outdoor sign as they repel insects and resist mildew. Copper...

Outdoor waters slides are usually inflatable, making them easy to store once summer has come to an end. They come in different lengths, colors and themes. To make summer more fun, beat the heat...

Outdoor wood furnaces keep a home's heating source far away while still efficiently providing warmth. If cared for correctly, outdoor wood furnaces are a safe and cost-efficient way to produce...

A steam pit allows you to leave camp while your food cooks. You can forage for other food, hike, or try to find help, instead of wasting valuable daytime hours cooking. Animals won't get it while...

A raised planter for your flower bed or garden can add a great deal of space and accessibility to your lawn. Raised flower boxes are useful for gardeners who have limited mobility but still want...

Pole barns are a great way to add space to a living area without the costly addition of a garage or home extension. Pole barns can be used for a variety of purposes, and can provide adequate and...

Ponds with out-of-control algae growth typically have green water that is hard to see through. Algae can be controlled and eliminated with an effective pond filter.

You want your koi to be as healthy as possible and keeping the pond they call home free from bacteria, mold spores and other things that cause illness is easily done by installing an ozonator. A...

Cleaning a fish pond is a dirty job, but it must be done if you want to keep your pond attractive and its residents healthy. Luckily, most fish ponds don't require a complete cleaning very often,...

There are many reasons to want to remove an old koi pond. Maybe you found your dream home, but you don't have energy to keep up with a koi pond, or perhaps you want to build a bigger pond in a...

An outdoor decorative pond is the ideal place for that peaceful meditative moment that reinvigorates you after a hard, hectic day. It is a project that you can achieve over a reasonable amount of...

A Koi pond adds elements of tranquility, nature and beauty to your yard. Koi fish, also known as Nishkigoi, were introduced 2,500 years ago in Eastern Asia and China. Originally, Koi were black,...

A liner is necessary to prevent the pond water from seeping into the surrounding soil. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) is a durable liner material that allows you to create a garden pond in any shape or...

Checking a few things in your pond each week will keep your pond and waterfall running well and the fish and plants happy and healthy. Doing a weekly check will keep disasters from happening at...

If your pond is more than 1,000 gallons in water volume, you'll need an external pond pump instead of a submersible pump made for smaller ponds, especially if your pond contains fish. External...

All koi ponds lose some water to natural causes such as evaporation and wind splash. However if your koi pond is losing water at a faster rate than you think it should, here are some tips you can...

Like all machinery and equipment, pressure washers suffer from wear and tear that can reduce their effectiveness over time and even compromise safety. However, with proper care and regular...

Just as a deep cleaning of the interior of your home can work wonders for its appearance, a pressure washing of the exterior of your home is a simple and relatively inexpensive way to maintain,...

Rain barrels, or rainwater tanks, are used to collect and store rainwater. Homeowners can use smaller-scale tanks to store the rainwater that runs off the roof or out of rain gutters. The...

Stamped concrete is a process where a pattern is stamped into the wet concrete, giving it the appearance of natural stone rather than plain old cement. The stamps are large, flat and made of...

A stock pond is a creation of beauty and a provider (to animals) of the needs dictated by nature. Almost anyone can create this much needed area for entertainment while also solving part of the...

A storage shed is a stand-alone structure typically used to keep yard tools, lawn supplies and outdoor furniture protected from the elements. Sheds at residential homes are usually smaller than a...

Barn dances were once the staple of country entertainment. Farm families would gather together to celebrate the end of the harvest season. Today, people seeking some old-fashioned fun can organize...

If you are the type of person who likes to be different, a radical yet practical idea that is becoming more and more popular is to build an underground house. Despite the allure of the uniqueness...

Saving water in rain barrels lets you catch extra rainwater runoff from your roof and store it for later use in your garden or to water your lawn. Saving water in rain barrels also helps takes the...

Decorative (faux) wood beams can add a rustic look to a cathedral ceiling. The lightweight beams are easy to install and don't add any structural load to the ceiling. Most are made of...