Landscaping & Outdoor Building

A good snow thrower puts an end to straining your back with a shovel. The machine also significantly cuts the amount of time needed to remove snow from your driveway and sidewalks. The best snow...

Vinyl fencing is a more expensive alternative to traditional wood fencing, however it requires almost no maintenance and lasts much longer. Installation requires two people and multiple days to...

Putting a fence around your pool keeps children from getting into the pool area without supervision and keeps out unwanted visitors. In most areas, you are required by law to put a fence around...

Both old and new constructions install French drains to help prevent water from leaking into the crawlspace under a home. French drains are simply long plastic tubing with holes poked throughout...

Vinyl fences are durable and maintenance-free fences made from non-toxic, fully recyclable plastic. Unfortunately they're also fairly expensive, and the cost of professional installation only adds...

The United States Post Office delivered over 203 billion pieces of mail in 2008. With over 32,741 Post Offices nationwide and 1.2 billion miles driven by letter carriers and professional truck...

There are many things to consider before building a chicken house. The health, safety and productivity of your flock will be determined by their new home. They'll eat here, sleep here, lay eggs...

During bitter cold winter days and nights and especially during blizzards, winter birds need a helping hand. Putting out birdseed is always a good thing to do, but offering them shelter is often...

To build a priacy fence you need a ariety of tools. It will not save you money if you have to go out and buy everything, but if you have or can get from friends or family you can save money.

Throughout the eastern side of North America, barred owls are common. They make their homes in crevices and old nests that have been abandoned by other birds. They will also make their homes in...

The tufted titmouse lives year-round in forests and backyards of the eastern United States. Tufted titmice are characterized by their large black eyes that dominate their small faces, the puffy...

Building a cinder block wall on the exterior of your home provides your property with an added sense of security and privacy, and at the same time it does not cost a fortune. By installing a...

Having the right tool for the job is half the battle. Finding good, convenient storage to make the tool easily available for use is the other half. Garden and yard tools are seasonal and have a...

Adding railings to a porch or deck creates both a decorative and safe deck or porch, and addition of railings is actually required by building code in many locales. Building a railing from scratch...

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...

Chain link fencing is an effective barrier that comes at a lower cost than other fence types, and is one of the most commonly used materials. Like most other fence types, the actual fence panel...

Public ramps built to assist people in wheelchairs or with other mobility difficulties must meet the accessibility guidelines set by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Though not...

A fence around your porch is a good way to preserve your porch and keep unwanted animals or people out. However, without a gate, a fence is inconvenient and unusable. Installing a simple porch...

Solar ovens have been typically made using crafty methods, with materials ranging from pizza boxes and tin foil to tanning reflectors that sit on the ground. These can be effective for cooking,...

Curb appeal is something that many homeowners talk about having a strong desire for. Some custom-made window planter boxes with an array of flowers can give your home a stunning look and help set...

There are special safety rules and regulations for the fence around your pool to reduce the risk of accidents or drowning. You should refer to your local township or government for specific rules...

A sand base is an appropriate foundation for several popular patio surfaces, including brick and concrete pavers and flagstone. In a typical application, you bed the patio materials into the sand...

Concrete curbs are generally basic structures that can add a small barrier to a driveway or walkway. The process of estimating concrete begins with calculating the total volume of the curb to be...

Installing a birdhouse in a yard can offer a season of baby birds for the bird watcher hobbyist. Finches are great-looking birds that many people enjoy. They will normally nest in trees, but will...

According to the Sierra Club Green Home, Americans send nearly 30 million tons of food waste to landfills each year. If this were composted, it would offset the production of methane in the...

A brick patio creates an inviting space for entertaining friends and family, and lends a sophisticated look to your outdoor space. Build a weed-free patio without concrete. The loose-laid approach...

Red cedar can be used successfully as fence posts. According to the Oregon State University of Forestry, the general lifespan of a red cedar post is up to 24 years. All red cedar contains a white...

Brick patios have a lot of advantages--they're attractive and long-wearing, and they add value to your home and property. Properly maintained, a brick patio will provide years of trouble-free use....

A mailbox footing is as important as the mailbox itself. Failure to install an adequate footing for your mailbox will result in structural failure of the mailbox. If done correctly, your mailbox...

If you are adding a porch to the front of your house, you will need stairs that run from the ground up to it. Wood is a nice, rustic material for building stairs. Wooden stairs are durable and...

Finding the right amount of concrete for any project is important. Too little concrete, and it will crack or even break. Too much concrete is a waste of money and may cause unexpected sinking....

Concrete landscaping blocks can help you shape the backyard of your dreams. Better yet, because they are easy to make, you can shape them in any way you desire so you don't have to compromise any...

You can make your own worm bin from wood, using one of the many plans available in worm care books and online. This particular plan offers a simple, flatter profile than many others and can be...

If you are an avid gardener or just beginning the hobby, a great way to add your own style to your garden is to create a garden planter. A sturdy and moderately easy planter can be made from...

Pavers are used to create patios, driveways, walkways and other outdoor elements. They are made from concrete or stone, and can be installed by most DIY homeowners. Before installing pavers in...

Like a lot of us, you have always wanted an impressive masonry mailbox, but for years, you have been stuck with that boring "breadbox on a post" because you assumed the mailbox of your dreams...

You just moved into a new house and you need to put up a mailbox. How and where you place the box may not be as simple as randomly picking a likely-looking spot. Before you grab a shovel and start...

Who says size matters? Our U.S. Postal Service does, for one. If you are thinking about building your own mailbox or considering a purchase of something more eye catching than the basic...

The U.S. Postal Service requires that curbside mailboxes meet certain minimum standards. If you want to install a custom mailbox, you need to contact your local postmaster for approval first. As...

Granite is a natural stone material known for its exceptional strength and durability. It is often made into thick tiles, or pavers, that are used in a variety of outdoor landscaping applications....

The function of the swimming pool fence is safety and decreased liability to the property owner. The pool fence is not to keep people in the pool area. Rather, you want to ensure that you keep...

Great for family gatherings, decks are a versatile way to expand living space. Building corner benches on existing posts of your raised deck is a quick and inexpensive way to add seating that is...

Even the most veteran of weekend warriors may blanch at the thought of an oval deck, with all its mysterious mitered angles and odd-sized pieces. Well, fear no more. As with most things...

Fire is a comfort to most people. Regardless of season, a fire can be a gathering place for everyone to enjoy. If the wood being burned smokes like dry ice because it's been stored improperly,...

If you love honey, there's a chance you'll want to harvest your own. This means building and maintaining a beehive. Carpenter bees are known for their habit of excavating and "building" their...

There are many options for installing a flower bed as part of your landscape. For ease of maintenance and less strain on your back a raised flower bed works best. There are complete kits available...

Wooden fences add to the appearance of your home by providing a backdrop for shrubs and other landscaping. They also improve security, deaden noise, mark property boundaries and increase the...

Decks are wonderful outdoor living spaces. Building one around your home can make spending time with your family more enjoyable and increase your property value. When building a deck, preparation...

The uses of a small concrete pad are many. From entryways to platforms for hot tubs, grills and garden sheds, installing a small concrete pad in the ground is essentially the same process as...

Woodpeckers live throughout the world, with 216 different breeds populating different areas. They can grow up to 17 inches tall, with black, red, white and even yellow stripes and crest. These...