An outdoor shower is ideal for a nice, quick wash down with fresh water after a day at the beach, dip in the pool or swim in the lake. While you’ve probably seen custom-built outdoor showers that look like they’re an indoor bathroom with hot and cold running water, we’re talking about a more modest…
Build a Swing Set
Before you look at play equipment, like a swing set for your backyard, look at public parks or schools where the systems should be thoroughly tested, safe and well designed. Notice what they are made of, the features they include and how they’re installed. When you go shopping for one, you’ll see many are made…
Build a Raised Garden Bed
Gardening has reached new heights as a favorite pastime, and more gardeners are discovering that raised beds make it easier. What’s not to like about bringing plants to a higher level so you don’t have to bend down and work on your knees? You can grow flowers, herbs and vegetables and work the soil while…
Taking the Leap Into DIY
In this column I want to inspire you as dark financial storm clouds form on the horizon. Over the past few months, we’ve all been alarmed at the steep rise in the prices of food, gas and, well, everything. That, of course, includes building materials and the prices contractors charge — if you can even…
Build a stone wall
You can’t add a more enduring landscape feature to a home than a stone wall, which you’ll see dotting the countryside of many homes in rural areas. A rugged stone wall creates a natural material surrounding property that’s appealing whether it’s a modest cottage or a handsome country estate, often becoming the focal point of…
Redwood Is a Good, Insect-Resistant Material for Decks
Dear James: My kids are getting older, and a backyard deck would be great. I am on a limited budget and want to build it myself but have no idea where to start. Any tips? — Maria S. Dear Maria: The addition of a deck, usually adjacent to a sliding glass door, is one of…
Tune up a Lawn Tractor
A riding lawn tractor is the ultimate way to cut, trim and manicure a large lawn; and to keep it working safely and at peak performance it requires regular maintenance. If you’re a grease monkey and enjoy working on engines and machinery, you can keep a lawn tractor in good running order. If not, get…
Install a Whole House Fan
To lower the use and expense of air conditioning a home in the dog days of summer, consider installing a whole house fan to cool it down. The fan, usually installed on the second floor in the ceiling, is designed to pull air through open windows and doors and exhaust it out through the attic…
Add a Marble Threshold
To conceal the gap between different and unlike floor surfaces, a wood threshold has long been the tradition; but a threshold made of marble can be a nice touch of class. Because of its long-lasting quality, marble is an excellent choice to create safe footing in a passageway, particularly where ceramic, stone or marble tiles…
Replace a Shower Stall Door
Sure, you can replace an old shower curtain with a new one, but a more impressive upgrade is installing a hinged shower door. A door instead of a curtain is an attractive improvement that makes it a permanent enclosure that won’t go unnoticed. When we made the switch in a small bathroom, it gave the…
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