Home-Improve

How to Build a Ground-Level Deck Imagine waking up before the rest of your family on a warm sum mer morning, and starting your day by sipping coffee on your brand-new deck. Building a deck can be beneficial whether you are looking to enjoy peacefu l outdoor moments or planning to entertain family and friends. DIY Deck Building Basics An easy way to expand your outdoor living space is by building a 120 x 93-inch square ground-level platform deck. Since it won’t be attached to your home, it can be built anywhere in your backyard. This simpler DIY route will still give you plenty of room for your grill, chairs and potted plants, without the added expense and planning of an attached deck . Supplies and Tools fo r (n) Building a Deck: Circular saw Miter saw Cordless drill Clamps Level (new) Hammer Spade Framing Square Speed square Shovel Safety glasses Landscape fabric Gravel (about 1 ton) 21 4x8x16-inch concrete blocks (without holes) 3 1/2-inch and 2 1/2-inch deck screws 7 pres...

Imagine waking up before the rest of your family on a warm sum mer morning, and starting your day by sipping coffee on your brand-new deck. Building a deck can be beneficial whether  you are looking to enjoy peacefu l outdoor moments or planning to entertain family and friends. DIY Deck Building Basics An easy way to expand your outdoor living space is by building  a 120 x 93-inch square ground-level platform deck. Since it won’t be attached to your home, it can be built anywhere  in your backyard. This simpler DIY  route will still give you plenty of room for your grill, chairs and potted plants, without the added expense and planning of an attached deck. Supplies and Tools for Building a Deck: Circular saw Miter saw Cordless drill Clamps Level (new) Hammer Spade Framing Square Speed square Shovel Safety glasses Landscape fabric How to Replace a Sidewalk You walk your dog on it, your children use it to walk to the school bus in the mornings and your neighbor jogs o...

Tips for Designing and Maintaining Your Yard If you have ever flipped through a copy of Better Homes & Gardens, or perused a few DIY blogs, then you’ve probably noticed that every pictured home has something in common – a ridiculously beautiful backyard. You know the ones I mean, incredibly lush lawns, sunny patios and beautiful flower arrangements that look like they ’ve been plucked from a garden show. If you feel a little yard-envy , it’s okay: we’ve all been there. But in truth, there’s no reason to be jealous of those manicured magazine cover-worthy yards. Attaining that level of backyard beauty is entirely possible for an amateur homeo wner with a passion for DIY home improvement. All it takes is a little blood, sweat and a few helpfu l landscaping tips. Landscaping Tip 1: Practice the Art of Lawn Maintenance A beautiful backyard begins with the lawn. Specifically, learning how to maintain a lawn and avoiding some of the most common issues that can crop up, such as weed...