Outdoor Living
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Building Benches
Deck benches can be either freestanding or built in. The advantage of freestanding benches is that you can move them anywhere you need additional seating. Built-in benches are fastened to joists and they make a nice addition at the perimeter for a low-level deck that doesn't require a railing.
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Create an Outdoor Privacy Screen
This hinged screen can conceal a multitude of outdoor eyesores, from your central-air unit to your composter, garbage bins and recycling boxes — even your lawn mower and collection of yard tools. Made from FSC wood and painted in the colour of your choice, it's simple...
Skill: Intermediate
Time: 5 hours
Create a Vine-Covered Privacy Screen With Ready-Made Materials
It's easy to make your backyard a lush, private retreat. Start with ready-made trellises, add quick-growing annual vines and before long you'll be relaxing in a cozy garden nook.
Skill: Intermediate
Time: 2 hours
Painting Jambs, Casings and Trim
Painting the trim around exterior doors requires special care so you don't get paint on the door itself or on nearby trim. Remember, this is the entrance to your house–you'll want it to look especially nice. As with all exterior trim, select a top quality exterior...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 3 hours
Installing a Ledger on Siding
Installing a ledger on the house is the first step in laying out an attached deck. The ledger, which is actually a header for the joist, establishes the height of the deck and transfers the weight of the deck to the foundation of the house.
Skill: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours
Installing Ledger Boards on Masonry
Like other ledger installations, a ledger mounted on concrete block or a concrete wall requires flashing. You can install the flashing in a kerf cut into the wall or insert it between the ledger and the wall and bend it to cover the top of the ledger. Masonry bolts or lag shields...
Skill: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours
Building Your Own Fence Sections
The most popular fence types are picket, alternate board, solid board, louver, and basket weave. Building any of these fences is a three-step process: install the posts, install the rails, and screw on the fencing. Intervals of 4,6, and 8 feet between posts are typical. Choose...
Skill: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours
Installing Railings
Building codes vary, but most require a railing on decks more than 30 inches above the ground. A railing height requirement of 36 inches is common. Railing posts can be attached to the outer face of the perimeter joists, or can be through posts supported by the footings. You ...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 3 hours
Installing Ledger Boards on Stucco
Installing a ledger on stucco does not require removal of the stucco surface, but it does call for installation of flashing. The upper flange on the flashing is bent to fit into a shallow cut made in the stucco surface. You'll make the cut and slip in the flashing after you've...
Skill: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours
Installing Wood Fencing
A standard post-and-rail skeleton supports many styles of fencing. Most styles have posts that are mounted at intervals of 4, 6, or 8 feet, and the space between boards is usually uniform. Choose a fence style and picket, then cut rails to multiple of the picket width. Factor...
Skill: Intermediate
Time: 3 hours
Installing a Synthetic Railing System
Almost every manufacturer of synthetic decking materials makes a corresponding synthetic railing system-some in more than one style. The components consist of the pieces normally associated with railings-all the parts needed to complete your deck in a consistent style. Some come...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 4 hours
Digging Footings
Digging footing holes with a clamshell digger is quick and inexpensive, but makes sense only if you need only a few shallow holes in loamy soil. For most every other installation, rent a machine to make the work easier. You have two choices-either a one-person or two -person ...
Skill: Beginner
Time: 2 hours
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