Outdoor Living

An outdoor concrete bench adds style and decor to your garden. In addition, concrete garden benches create extra seating when entertaining guests. However, concrete benches are constantly exposed to…

Designing and constructing a custom copper lawn sprinkler is a moderately challenging project. The addition of a simple copper flower-shaped sprinkler, such as a poppy, complements the style of a…

A loafing shed is sort of a small barn, usually set in a pasture or grazing area to give horses and sometimes cattle a shelter. A loafing shed has only three sides covered with one side open for easy…

A high shear mixer is a piece of scientific laboratory equipment that may appear in the home workshops or studios of artists or do-it-yourself enthusiasts. When you set up a high shear mixer in a home…

Whether you are spending extended time at a campsite or love spending summers by the lakeshore, an outdoor shower and toilet can come in handy. They allow you to skip the long journey back to…

Perhaps you'd like to use your metal shed for potting and light garden maintenance and don't want to install an electrical light, or you want to add a decorative detail to its exterior. Installing a…

If the metal roof on your storage shed has begun to show serious signs of rust, it's time to replace it. Fortunately, since metal roofs are built out of large panels rather than much smaller shingles,…

It takes a while to build your own firewood oven, but the rewards speak for themselves. With an outdoor oven, you can make bread, pizza, barbecue and more. Work in cool, non-humid weather when no rain…

Natural stone, whether purchased from a dealer or gathered little by little from nature, adds texture, warmth and an aura of strength to any outdoor project. Once you have enough stones and a detailed…

Metal sheds have roofs similar to houses, with eaves that overhang the shed itself. Soffit boards cover the eaves of your shed, and fascia boards cover the roof’s trusses to give the shed a…

Wood may be one of the most readily accessible and affordable building materials in use around the world, but it is also one of the least durable. It is subject to wear and tear at a greater rate than…

A shed is a convenient place for storing everything from a gleaming new lawn tractor, to sacks of manure, piles of clay pots and pool toys. You can add a light fixture with a solar kit, but if you…

Building a golf cart storage shed does require carpentry skills and a plan. The shed must include a foundation, a floor, walls, a roof, a door and a ramp. A good size is 12-by-12 feet, large enough…

Bench grinders have been a mainstay tool in the repertoire of many do-it-yourselfer for years. Attached to a bench, they normally have a grinder stone attached to one side and a wire brush or…

Picnic tables make convenient places to dine for kids and adults alike. Picnic tables come in various shapes and sizes and in different materials, including wood or plastic, suitable for any deck or…

Since outdoor glider swings are essentially rocking benches mounted on a fixed base, dirt and grime can build up over time. Glider swings are typically made of wood, metal or a combination of the two,…

There are many different types of hammocks, including rope hammocks that are woven using twine or lightweight cording, and Nicaraguan hammocks that are constructed using a woven piece of fabric.…

The simple board and batten door guards suburban sheds and rural chicken coops. Also called a ledger or Z-bar door, it may be a rustic collection of boards and clinched nails or a finely built tongue…

Adding a 10-by-10-foot wood shed to your backyard or garden adds value to your property. Knowing the weight of the shed comes in handy when attempting to move one, or if you want to order a kit and…

This DIY project will take about a day. Given the cost of raw materials, this hammock stand probably won't be much cheaper than a pre-made hammock stand you could purchase at a store. If you choose to…

Refractory cement is a fireclay mixture that can resist high temperatures. It is commonly used in outdoor ovens and as a mortar for fireplaces and brick ovens. Refractory cement becomes concrete when…

Imagine a compact, glossy-leaved evergreen tree ornamented with fragrant white flowers in spring, and orange-red, delicious fruits from November to May. Grow a clementine tangerine tree as a potted…

Even in houses with lots of storage, the trick is locating storage exactly where you want items stored: a container for hats and mittens by the back door; someplace to sit down and change shoes for…

Concealed hinges, also known as “invisible hinges” or “piano hinges,” provide one of the most secure methods of hanging storage shed doors. From the outside of the shed door,…

Outdoor kitchens help extend your entertaining space to the outdoors. In addition to an outdoor oven to help heat your food, a stove is necessary to cook a variety of foods while outdoors. Depending…

A gas fire pit offers a natural focal point for outdoor entertaining and activities. A fire pit can extend outdoor time by warming up cool summer evenings and chilly autumn days. Though some fire pits…

Outdoor concession booth construction should be simple. It is something that you can erect, take apart and store easily. Most concession booth construction, such as you might find at a country fair,…

Building a counter around your barbecue gives you the structure of a kitchen, giving you a food preparation space right next to the cooking grill. The exact dimensions of your counter’s cabinet…

A tandoori oven is a clay oven that cooks food inside over coals. The clay absorbs the heat and radiates it back out onto the food. Tandoori ovens originated in India and are today found in…

Outdoor kitchens offer a place to prepare food before barbecuing, but you need a durable counter and base that can withstand the elements. Laminate counters will not hold up in the outdoors, but tile…

Storage sheds are usually purchased or custom-built without significant insulation. Yet when temperature-sensitive items are stored within the shed, it becomes useful to insulate it to protect the…

Hammocks are designed for long hours spent reading, sleeping or just watching the clouds roll by. But a relaxing afternoon in a hammock can only come after you have installed the hammock properly. You…

Whether you use a fireplace or wood stove as the primary source of heat or as supplemental heat in cold weather, your firewood must be dry for optimum heating. Unseasoned or green wood is full of…

Cement yard art comes in all types. There are fountains, animals, angels, statuettes and gnomes, many of which come prepainted or are DIY painting projects. However, extreme weather conditions and the…

If you enjoy your porch but worry about the safety of your small children or animals, a swinging porch gate provides the peace of mind you need. Save money by making a secure and attractive gate for…

Tent camping is a good way to relax and unwind, but after a day or two in the great outdoors, a shower is needed. Create a portable camping shower with just a few items from your home. This round…

An outdoor bar can allow you to quickly serve beverages to your guests at a backyard barbecue, family gathering or other outdoor event. By stocking your outdoor bar before a party or gathering, you…

Keep your children safe while playing on a swing set in your backyard by installing ground anchors as recommended by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Installing concrete footers gives a…

A hammock provides the ideal napping spot for an island vacation or a quiet moment in your own backyard. Creating a hammock requires skill, patience and no small amount of sturdy rope. The…

A 12-by-12-foot wood shed provides a valuable storage area that will make a tremendous difference in the organization and space in your home's interior or garage. The shed provides a safe area to…

Partitions on bar tops are practical installations that can help segregate an area of the bar for waitresses to deliver drink orders, keep customers in specific areas or simply break up the visual of…

A well-maintained top hive is paramount for the success of the hive and, in turn, the success of the honey yield from the colony. Top hives -- long horizontal boxes used as an alternative to vertical…

Bedrooms often have less space for walking and maneuvering, and as a result, bars built into bedrooms usually are thinner and protrude less into the room. The bar frame can be screwed into the floor…

A well-built masonry fireplace, oven or similar structure can provide lasting service and enjoyment. One aspect of construction is selecting and using mortar to hold firebricks in place. In addition…

Fire bricks are special heat-resistant bricks used in outdoor ovens, kilns, fireplaces and other high-temperature devices. They keep heat inside the firebox, reducing waste and preventing a fire or a…

Reupholstering is a good way to give old outdoor furniture a new lease on life. By learning a few basic sewing skills, you can reupholster cushions and give your outdoor living space an entirely new…

Hundreds of years ago, Native Americans fired clay pots in open fire pits dug into the ground. These artists created stunning pieces without the use of ovens, and many of these works survive today.…

Corian is a man-made plastic designed to resemble and perform like marble. Successfully using Corian as a surround for a built-in grill depends largely upon where the grill will be located, and how…

Visit craft fairs or art galleries and you will find various types of yard art, including pieces made from metal, glass or wood. For the home crafter, yard art made from wood is usually the simplest.…

When people hear the word hammock, they often think of a hammock tied between two trees on a tropical island. If you're installing a hammock in your back yard, chances are that you don't have two…