About a month ago I was asked by the kids' school to make some seating that could also double as desk space to use as an outdoor classroom. This was all part of a bigger project to build a pavilion in memory of a parent from a family in the school that passed away a short time ago. I found these convertible bench plans from Ana White, but modified them slightly to fit the purposes for our school. Instead of four feet long, I made these benches 6 feet long, added some extra bracing, and some ... continue reading...
Blog
How to make cornhole bags
Do you want to learn how to make your own cornhole bags? A few weeks ago Tony made some amazing cornhole boards, and my contribution to this DIY project was to make the cornhole bags. If you're not familiar with cornhole, this is a great backyard game that you can easily play with one hand, while your other hand is holding a cold delicious bevy. All you have to do is throw a bean bag at a board and get it in the hole, and keep track of your points. Easy right? Today I'm going to show you how to ... continue reading...
How to build a tree fort
Are you thinking of building a tree fort for your kids? Do you want it to be waterproof and bugproof, but not spend too much money? I made this tree fort using mostly materials I already had. The most money I spent was on the paint, but that is totally not necessary. I didn't take too many pictures of the progress shots, because I never intended to write about this. This tree fort was one of my "special projects", as Tony likes to call it. I was able to get out of the house, build something with ... continue reading...
How to build a deck
Do you want to learn how to build a deck, start to finish? Find out how we doubled our outdoor living space and how you can do the same. Originally Tony and I hadn't planned on building an extension to our deck this year. But since a lot of our summer plans were cancelled, we decided it would actually be a great time to start a big project, and especially one that would increase our outdoor living space. We started building our deck Easter weekend, and it took us about ... continue reading...
How to build a DIY outdoor sectional couch
A main part of our deck building project was to increase our outdoor living space, and a great way to do that is with a DIY outdoor sectional. We wanted comfy seating outside where we could sit in the shade and watch the kids play in the pool. A place to enjoy our morning coffee, or maybe to have an afternoon nap. Catch up on our deck building project: 1: How to design a deck 2: How to install deck footings and sonotubes 3: How to install deck posts, beams and joists 4: ... continue reading...
How to build deck railings and deck stairs
Last time in our deck building project I shared some tips for installing deck boards, plus a list of all the tools to use. This week I'm writing about how to build deck railings and deck stairs. Week 1: How to design a deck Week 2: How to install deck footings and sonotubes Week 3: How to install deck posts, beams and joists Week 4: How to install deck boards We decided to go with a pretty simple pressured treated railing, consisting of the posts, rails, spindles, and top. ... continue reading...
How to install deck boards
Over the last few weeks Tony and I have been working on our backyard deck build. To recap: Week 1: How to design a deck Week 2: How to install deck footings and sonotubes Week 3: How to install deck posts, beams and joists This week I'll give you some tips for how to install deck boards, plus a list of tools you will need for your own deck project. This is probably the simplest step in building a deck, and also very satisfying. Size of deck boards Deck boards are usually 6 ... continue reading...
How to frame a deck – posts, beams and joists
Do you want to find out how to frame a deck? Over the last few weeks Tony and I have been building a deck in our backyard. We started with a plan to extend the top deck to almost double it's original size. The plan also included a lower deck that would be at the same height as our above ground pool. Last week I shared how we dug the holes and poured the concrete for the footings and sonotubes. This week I'll show you how to frame a deck, including the deck posts, beams, and ... continue reading...
