How to Build a Backyard Tiki Hut
A summer vacation on a sunny beach, complete with cool drinks and engaging conversation, is the perfect way to relax and relieve stress. Building a tiki hut allows you to have that pleasant tropical experience in your own backyard. Tiki huts are typically made with bamboo or wood and a thatch-covered roof. Once you construct your backyard tiki hut, add a personal touch to it with decorations such as seashells, candles and tropical plants. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Four 4-by-4, 12-foot-tall bamboo poles or wood posts
- Four large buckets
- Sand
- 10-foot-round satellite dish
- 5-inch bolts
- 4-foot ladder
- Drill
- 12-foot thatch roof cover
- Nylon zip ties
- Small table and chairs
- Tiki-style decorations
- Thick rope or tropical potted plants (optional)
Instructions
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Place one wood or bamboo post in each large bucket. Fill the four large buckets with sand. These sand-filled buckets help secure the bamboo or wood posts.
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Set each bucket about 6 feet apart on a flat surface, such as a deck or patio. Using a ladder, set the 10-foot satellite dish on top of the posts to form the roof.
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Stand on the ladder to see the top of the roof. Drill one 5-inch hole straight down through the roof and into each post. Bolt the roof to the posts for a semi-permanent tiki hut.
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Cover the roof with a 12-foot thatch sheet. Attach the thatch sheet to the roof with nylon zip ties if you think it will blow away.
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Place a small table and chairs in the tiki hut to create a gathering space for friends and family. Add decorations, such as light strands or tropical flowers, if desired. If you want to hide the buckets, wrap thick rope around them for a nautical look. Alternatively, set large tropical plants in front of each bucket to block them from view.
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Tips & Warnings
If you do not have a satellite dish, use a similar-shaped object, such as a large beach umbrella. Alternatively, build your own sloped roof by nailing wood boards together.
A thatch sheet, typically made from dried palm fronds, protects your tiki hut roof and gives it an exotic appearance. Buy thatch sheets online at building supply websites that specialize in tropical materials.
Do not use freshly cut bamboo poles to build the tiki hut. Bamboo shrinks as it dries, so wait for it to dry completely before use.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Brand X Pictures/Brand X Pictures/Getty Images
