Outdoor Building Project Guides and DIY Advice

Building Projects

Building a pergola, a gazebo, a shed, or a picnic table outdoors can be tricky—use our guides to building codes and instructions to do it right.
beige outdoor shed
How to Build and Install Shed Doors
Propane fire pit in a backyard
How to Build a DIY Propane Fire Pit for Cozy Evenings
DIY Wood Sandbox
How to Build a Simple DIY Wooden Sandbox
Retaining Wall
How to Repair a Retaining Wall
Screened in porch
How Much Does a Screened-in Porch Cost?
Smokeless Fire Pit
How to Make a DIY Smokeless Fire Pit
Front view of a finished DIY wooden bike stand
How to Build a DIY Bike Stand
Outdoor kitchen countertops
10 Types of Outdoor Kitchen Countertops
Outdoor DIY Sectional
How to Make Your Own DIY Outdoor Sectional
Garden Shed
How to Move a Shed
Landscape Lighting
How to Install Landscape Lighting
Lawn Sprinkler
How to Make a DIY Sprinkler System
A DIY hammock stand
How to Build a DIY Hammock Stand That Holds 400 Pounds
Retaining Wall Stairs
How to Build Retaining Wall Stairs
wooden french cleat wall used as tool storage
How to Build a French Cleat Wall
Wooden gate
How to Build a Deck Gate
A person using a bull float to smooth a wet concrete slab.
How to Lay a Concrete Slab
Person measuring and marking on wood
How to Build Porch Steps
DIY Rain Barrel
How to Build a DIY Rain Barrel
white stock tank with stepping stones surrounding it
Guide to Making a Stock Tank Pool (in 9 Steps)
Bags of Concrete
How to Calculate How Much Concrete You Need
red barn converted into barndominium
What to Know Before Building a Barndominium
DIY tire swing hanging from a tree branch
How to Make a Tire Swing: DIY in 9 Easy Steps
Barndominium
How Much Does It Cost to Build a Barndominium?
Tree swing in urban park
How to Make a DIY Tree Swing
DIY Toddler Swing
11 Delightful Swing Ideas for Yards of All Shapes and Sizes
DIY bocce ball courts
How to Build a Bocce Ball Court for Hours of Fun in Your Own Backyard
Concrete pouring from cement mixer.
The Best Temperature to Pour Concrete
Outdoor kitchen with wood awning
How to Build a DIY Wood Awning
Installing Patio Pavers
How to Lay Patio Pavers
Outdoor String Lights
How to Hang Outdoor String Lights
Paint Pressure Treated Wood
How to Paint Pressure-Treated Wood in 7 Steps
House Street Number on the wall
35 Clever and Cute DIY House Numbers and House Number Signs
Planter made of pallet boxes mixed with different greens and flowers in backyard
How to Make a Pallet Planter and Prep It for Plants
Tall outdoor wooden trellis with planted pots hanging and surrounding fixture
How to Make a Basic DIY Obelisk Trellis
Hammock
13 DIY Hammock Ideas
A person holding a leven against a wall stud.
How to Frame a Wall
Blue and gray cornhole boards in a yard
10 DIY Cornhole Board Plans
Interior of she-shed with seating on top of purple patterned area rug
What Is a She Shed?
Slide at playground
How To Build a DIY Slide: Indoor & Outdoor Instructions
Playground in grassy yard
How to Build a DIY Backyard Playground
Outdoor wood table DIY plans
18 DIY Outdoor Table Plans
Stone retaining wall with creeping phlox growing on top of it.
How to Build a Stone Retaining Wall
raised garden bed with legs
How to Build a Raised Garden Bed With Legs
Outdoor pool wit lounge chair in between potted plants
Electrical Code Requirements for Swimming Pools & Spas
Block retaining wall.
How to Build a Retaining Wall
cat and wood retaining wall
How to Build a Solid Wood Retaining Wall
A man building a fence at the edge of his property
Can You Build on a Property or Utility Easement?
Laying brick foundation
Basic Masonry Tools and Materials
Garden shed with lounge chairs, a dining table, and lots of green shrubs.
How to Build a Sturdy Shed Foundation
A brown birdhouse mounted on a post.
How to Build a Birdhouse
Freestanding garden trellis covered in plants
How to Build a Freestanding Garden Trellis
Screened In Porch DIY
How to Screen in a Porch
Circular fire pit with gray stones surrounding flame and pea gravel covering area
How to Build a Fire Pit Without a Contractor's Help
A-frame log cabin
15 DIY Cabin Plans for Every Size and Style
gazebo
9 Free Gazebo Plans
Wood patio furniture with white cushions and patterned throw pillows surrounded by trees
23 DIY Patio Furniture Plans
A wooden firewood rack holding firewood
6 Free Firewood Rack Plans
Rippap Barrier on Lake Michigan Shoreline in Evanston
Costs and Installation Tips When Building a Riprap Barrier
Cement Block Wall
How to Build a Cinder Block Wall
Treehouse
27 Awesome Tree House Ideas for Kids

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