Landscaping & Outdoor Building

The garage is a prominent feature in the design of many suburban houses. While garages protect vehicles and provide extra storage space, this boxy room can be unappealing from the exterior....

There are many ways to build a stone patio fire pit. Many kinds of stone are available for the project. Placing a fire pit in the center or at the focal point of a patio will help bring the patio...

Rubble stone is the by-product of either natural geological occurrences or work in a quarry. While it is usually used as fill for mortared walls, it may also be used on its own to create...

The really hard work is done. You have cemeted the final stone into the side wall bordering your garden or patio. Now it is time to embellish. Dressing up a stone wall can be as easy or as...

Stone walls may seem impenetrable, but there are ways to destroy stone. Improper chemical application can damage stone irreversibly. Therefore, it is important to know just how to clean the stone...

Until recently, creating garden walls was a task meant only for a professional or a capable do-it-yourselfer. Messy concrete and deep trenches were necessary to hold bricks in place; considerable...

Building a deck on a house is a project undertaken by many homeowners. The addition of a deck adds outdoor living space and value to a home. When the deck meets an exterior wall at a 90 degree...

Cinder-block walls are useful for landscaping a back yard, preventing erosion, building a patio or creating more flat space in your garden. Building a wall out of inexpensive cinder (concrete)...

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...

Fiberglass provides a very durable and lightweight construction material useful for many different applications. Some common applications for fiberglass include pools, industrial pipe systems,...

Fiberglass is a very durable and lightweight construction material that is used for many different applications. Some common applications for fiberglass are pools, industrial pipe systems, tanks,...

The varied, textured surface of a stucco wall is a beautiful backdrop for a climbing rose. However, stucco finishes are vulnerable to water damage, which often occurs when cracks or other breaks...

Constructing a stone wall is a major project that requires extensive consideration and planning before starting. Because you must make sure that your project is both level and free-standing,...

Installing a brick wall on your own can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars in costly installation and labor costs. Whether it be to provide privacy from your neighbors or simply add to...

Whether you have a garage or not, a shed is great for storing lawn equipment and any other tools you can't find a place for. You can purchase a shed ready to assemble, but you can also build one...

In order for people to be able to find your house, there needs to be some indication of what the address is. Without notification, people may spend a long time driving up and down your street...

One of the most effective materials for building walls of all types is concrete block. This dynamic material is naturally strong, durable and can be reinforced for further strength and rigidity....

A brick wall can be an attractive addition to your yard or garden. It can be built as part of a patio or for an outdoor gathering space. While the walls can add dimension and style to your outdoor...

Building a deck can be straightforward when the wall it is attached to is straight. What do you do if you want to attach the deck a bay shaped wall? Here’s how to build a deck attached to a bay wall.

A concrete block retaining wall is probably one of the most friendly do-it-yourself solutions to the home landscaper. You can safely and effectively grade a sloping yard or add a decorative...

A shovel is one of the most popular garden tools for displacing dirt. There are 2 types of shovels: a long handle and a short handle. Because shovels spend most of their time in dirt and mud, they...

When it comes to general landscaping, retaining walls are invaluable in giving your yard a professional look, while allowing you to add interesting shapes and contours to the space. Professionally...

A rubber water stop is designed to do just that, stop water from penetrating your concrete wall. Placed in the center of the wall where two separate sections will eventually join, the water stop...

Get friends together for a manageable weekend building project of making your own backyard sauna. Just like home buying, your first consideration is building the sauna near water for the...

Garden walls add visual appeal to your landscaping space. They can also be used to build raised flower beds or divide sections of your garden. Since having a professional install a stone brick...

Retaining walls can be used for many reasons. You can divide a yard, divert water run off and halt erosion. Building a wall with landscape blocks is a good weekend project that will add beauty and...

Installing a stone wall is a major undertaking and something that should only be done after careful consideration and planning. It is very difficult to do without the help of a stone mason,...

A short garden wall can add visual interest to an otherwise dull yard and divide your outdoor living space. Bricks are a time-honored material for such a project because they look great, last...

During the coldest months, December through February, most small greenhouse owners empty their greenhouses. However, if you do not have the space to move your plants indoors and you may want to ...

The last thing that needs to be done before you order the concrete for your building foundation is to check the square of the forms. No matter if you carefully laid out survey stakes and string to...

Giving your pets access to your garage without opening your garage up to intruders or to the full force of weather is easily accomplished through a properly installed pet door. While the most...

This article goes over building a rockery in your backyard. This task is very physical and should be approached carefully. Always use your legs and keep your center of gravity even. It can be...

So you have decided to build a retaining wall. Follow these easy instructions and you will be on your way to having a beautiful wall to hold your yard.

Anchoring a wall to a concrete foundation or slab is essential to keeping the structure firmly secured. In most new construction, contractors will have placed a wall anchor at the proper location...

Since the 1960s, the majority of brick homes have been built using brick veneer rather than the traditional "double-walled" brick construction. A brick veneer wall is constructed over a wood or...

Stucco is a building material made from Portland cement, sand, lime and water. It has been used for centuries to finish exterior walls, and is fairly easy to apply. Stucco can be used on almost...

Above-ground pools provide huge cost savings over installing an in-ground pool, but they are often unsightly. While you can't technically "bury" your above-ground pool without hauling in loads of...

Stone walls add a nice rustic touch to every garden bed and fire pit and they are an attractive way to store excess soil from previous yard projects. Stone walls might even raise the value of your...

According to Bat Conservation International, all bats in the United States and Canada are insectivorous with the exception of three species of nectar-feeding bats that live along the Mexican...

Building a garden wall is a terrific way to add interest to your yard or garden, but it can get expensive. One of the best ways to reduce your cost is to eliminate the professional brick layer....

Gabions are wire structures, in essence large baskets, that are filled with rock or masonry material to form large blocks for structures such as retaining walls or channel linings. They have the...

A vinyl swimming pool liner can last in some pools for up to fifteen years; however, eventually they all need to be replaced. The solid blue color liner has branched out into a multitude of...

Outdoor decorating projects are the perfect way to spend quality time with family and friends. Choose a project based on your group's skill level and needs. Assign tasks for each person and before...

Add a decorative outdoor wall to a landscape by incorporating natural or engineered rock. Mix textures, create a gently curving barrier or add a touch of the natural world by using a technique...

Screened porches are a great way to enjoy the outdoors without the bother of flies or mosquitoes. The most difficult part of this project will be anchoring the walls to the porch. There are many...

A retaining wall is simple in principle. A series of rows, or "courses," is stepped back slightly from the base. A well-constructed wall not only looks good, it will prevent soil erosion and creep...

Stacked stone walls can be used as fences, borders, or as retaining walls. Stone walls created without mortar are called dry stacked walls, and they naturally flex with changes in the soil. Dry...

Wall cladding, or siding, is a building material used to cover the exterior walls of a home or business. It is available in a wide variety of materials that are chosen based on their appearance...

Concrete block is known for its sturdy, practical use in building projects. It is a cost- efficient material that is quite versatile in application. While most concrete block walls are simply...

As small rock wall is a great addition to any garden and exists as a structural piece that supports a sloping hill or simply as an aesthetic device for creating a unique planter for flowers and...