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Garden Club

Garden Club

Grow your gardening, lawn care & landscaping know-how.

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Decks & Fences

Decks & Fences

Guides, tools and more to help you create the ultimate deck and fence.

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Building an Alternate-Board Fence

Building an Alternate-Board Fence

Building an alternate-board fence.

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Skill: Intermediate

Time: 3 hours

Installing a Ledger on Siding

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.

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Skill: Intermediate

Time: 3 hours

Installing Ledger Boards on Masonry

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...

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Skill: Intermediate

Time: 3 hours

Make a Modern Trellis

Make a Modern Trellis

For a high-end, architectural look, opt for a horizontally oriented trellis. It's fresher than traditional styles, and making one from scratch is easier than you might think.

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Skill: Beginner

Time: 3 hours

Installing a Synthetic Railing System

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...

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Skill: Beginner

Time: 4 hours

Cleaning a Deck

Cleaning a Deck

Regular cleaning of your deck will keep its appearance in tip-top shape and will help minimize deterioration.

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Skill: Beginner

Time: 1 hour

Installing Solid-Board Fencing

Installing Solid-Board Fencing

A solid-board fence is made of posts and rails like any other fence. A few changes, however, make it both more durable and more attractive. Most important is the cap rail that runs across the top. The cap rail protects the tops of the posts, which absorb water more readily and...

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Skill: Intermediate

Time: 5 hours

Installing Ledger Boards on Stucco

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...

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Skill: Intermediate

Time: 3 hours

Aligning the Bolt and Strike Plate

Aligning the Bolt and Strike Plate

When a door fails to latch properly, it usually means the door is out of alignment. Often, the latch bolt is not dropping smoothly into the centre of the strike plate. If the latch bolt is too low or too high, the problem usually can be corrected by shimming a hinge to realign...

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Skill: Beginner

Time: 1 hour

Build an Umbrella Table

Build an Umbrella Table

Here's the perfect project for anyone who enjoys a cool drink under a shade umbrella on a hot summer day. The 26" x 26" table will accommodate an umbrella and stand, have enough surface space for drinks and snacks, and looks great in rich, weather-resistant cedar....

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Skill: Intermediate

Time: 4 hours

Making Stringers

Making Stringers

There are tow types of stringers:Open stringers, also called cut stringers, have notches for steps cut into them. The treads are attached to the notches. Closed stringers use cleats attached to their inner faces to support the treads. Open stringers take a little more time than...

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Skill: Beginner

Time: 2 hours

Repairing a Deck

Repairing a Deck

Repair and maintenance needs for a well-built deck less than 10-15 years old are few. They usually involve resetting some fasteners, replacing a few pieces of decking, cleaning the deck to remove dirt and mildew, or reapplying finish. An older deck, especially one included in...

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Skill: Beginner

Time: 1 hour