Looking for reno inspiration? Courtney Adamo's before and after shows how a multi-use space with super powers can transform your home.

Looking to upgrade your back yard? Well we've got 6 simple deck designs, but built in beautifully landscaped yards. These decks aren't just about functionality; they're about creating a vibe, a mood. Imagine stepping out to a space that blends seamlessly with the outdoors, where the boundaries between inside and outside blur. A place for morning coffees or to have dinner outdoors. These decks all use simple landscaping materials such as pavers, stone & rock to incorporate your deck into your yard by building pathways and garden beds around the deck itself. When using TuffBlock deck blocks, you can build the deck portion in a matter of hours when the deck itself is a simple rectangle. But when blended into the yard with some simple landscaping tricks, it elevates it to a whole new level. Hopefully these inspire you and get you thinking about how you could transform your own yard! This first deck shows how you can build out from your home to create a patio deck, and extend the living space in your house. This type of deck is perfect for an outdoor living area. Think about using stones around the deck to frame it. The symetrical plants at either corner of the deck along with the L shaped couch make this a perfect place to sit and enjoy the outdoors that leads perfect out to your garden. This type of deck is also perfect in winter where the stone and paved pathway allow you to stay out of the mud whilst still using the space. This deck is similar, but is floating in the yard as a stand alone platform. A floating deck platform is a great place to have dinner during warm summer nights. Adding pavers to your lawn is a great way to connect the deck to the house, and the gravel/stone around the deck is great for hiding the deck blocks under the deck. This deck is built into the garden bed at the end of the yard. The pathway connects is seamlessly to the house, and allows you to sit in your yard whilst enjoying the nature around you. A two toned deck is always a nice touch. A floating ground deck is perfect for a bbq and inviting friends over for a feast! Building on a slope yard? Well TuffBlock allows you to build using posts at various heights for a deck like this. Consider creating a bench as part of your floating deck for an extra place to sit. You can also build a firepit next to your deck to warm you up in the evenings! We hope these six stunning examples of floating decks have sparked your creativity and inspired you to embark on your own backyard transformation. Each deck, with its unique blend of simplicity and style, demonstrates how when using deck blocks, like TuffBlock, a single day's effort building a floating deck can result in a breathtaking outdoor sanctuary. Whether it's a cozy corner for your morning coffee or a spacious platform for social gatherings, the possibilities are endless. Now it's your turn to bring these ideas to life! Grab your tools, choose your design, and start building. Remember, the beauty of these decks lies not just in their construction, but in how they harmoniously integrate with the natural landscape of your yard. We can't wait to see the incredible spaces you create, transforming your outdoor areas into personal havens of relaxation and joy. Happy building!

After years of living in San Francisco, industrial designers Rachel Gant and Andrew Deming wanted a change of pace. They found it on the coast of Florida,

Box stair framing Our DIY staffers love it when we find one of our more... "creative" awardees stepping outside of their beloved comfort zones to pick up a few extra cents from the nice people at eHow.com. Today's is once such occasion, a day in which a repeat DotD with advanced degrees in "creative writing" and "math education" tries her hand at a carpentry primers. Please welcome to the nomination stand Stephanie Ellen (also known as S. Deviant), whom we found attempting to explain "How to Make Stairs Out of a Box," now residing at HomeSteady.com Ellen plugged the question into her favorite search engine and found out that there is something called "box stairs" and that there was a website with instructions. "Hooray!" she said, "My post is written!" And so Stephanie performed a classic copy-reword-paste job on that post which, the house carpenters allow, is of acceptable quality. As is so often the case with eHow's contributors, failure to understand what she was rewording led to some problems. First, though, Stephanie had to write an introduction explaining the task, an intro that included the following: "...Box stairs have the advantage of being easier to build. They are also sturdier than traditional steps. While traditional stairs use stair stringers as a basis for steps, box stairs use a series of pressure-treated wood boxes..." A couple of points, Steph: your reference doesn't say that box steps are "sturdier," because that's not necessarily true. It's especially unlikely to be true if the reader follows your instructions. Second, that "pressure-treated" specification? that's for decks. You wouldn't want to do that in your family room. So let's get to Ellen's instructions: Measure for the stairs. Build "boxes" of 2-by-6 stock (in which Steph forgets to allow for the 1½" thickness of a 2-by-6 when constructing her box). "Cut the 1 1/4-inch-by-6-inch boards to the width of your stairs." "Place the second box in position on top of the first box, then screw the boxes securely together up through the base of the second box. Complete Step 5 for the topmost box." We noticed that Stephanie changed the reference's "5/4x6 deck boards" to "1 1/4-inch-by-6-inch boards," clearly revealing her unfamiliarity with the terminology of carpentry and lumber. We also note that Steph failed to mention the blocking required inside the boxes to prevent flexing of the treads (probably didn't know what "blocking" means). She also neglected to mention any overhang on the treads, which is necessary to make the stairs look "finished." As for the the bit about securing the boxes together by "[screwing] up through the base of the second box," that''s not just ambiguous, it's also not what her reference said. The reference chosen by our Dumbass of the Day (and every other reference we've found) says to construct the box frames and strap them together (and to the deck) before adding the treads. But who are we to argue with someone with a degree in creative writing? copyright © 2020-2023 scmrak DDIY - STAIRS

DIY simple deck for a modern playhouse - Our deck is 3' high, which is tall enough for a slide but not so tall that it feels unsafe.

Learn all about porch lattice materials, designs, and the installation process in this guide.

For this project we built a DIY covered pergola attached to the house to our existing deck, & covered the DIY pergola with clear corrugated plastic roofing.

Adding a beautiful deck railing could be inexpensive and easy to do if you follow these amazing DIY deck railing ideas and tutorials.

A deck is an extension of your home and should reflect your unique style. If you're looking for a way to make your deck stand out from the crowd, two-tone staining is the answer! This

Are you planning to build a deck railing soon? If you haven’t built any yet, chances are you are looking for some ideas. Well, no need to worry. Here we have deck railing ideas you can use to transform your deck.

Choosing your home exterior material is a BIG deal! Learn the differences (and pros/cons) of 8 top exterior siding options in this post!

This project has been two years in the making, and it’s finally completed. I stained/sealed/finished/protected the deck! I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t a little intimidated to take on this massive project of staining a full 545 square feet of deck, railing, 102 spindles, and two sets of stairs, but I knew the…

Colorbond Shale Grey is a simple silver tone that works beautifully as an exterior colour for roofs, gutters, fascias and garage doors.

Nya bilder på Pettersson Horvath under våra pågående projekt.

DIY inexpensive how to deck rails out of steel conduit to look like steel wire deck railings, tutorial on how we did the railings on our deck! DIY inexpensive how to deck rails out of steel conduit to look like steel wire deck railings, tutorial on how we did the railings on our deck!

An update of a classic seaside architectural style, our Rhode Island Beach House is built for easy living, with a flexible layout that can welcome multiple generations. Read on for more information about the house and links to photo galleries

Are you considering a deck makeover? These deck skirting ideas will give you plenty of options to beautifully remodel your deck.

For this project we built a DIY covered pergola attached to the house to our existing deck, & covered the DIY pergola with clear corrugated plastic roofing.

For this project we built a DIY covered pergola attached to the house to our existing deck, & covered the DIY pergola with clear corrugated plastic roofing.

Can you smell summer coming! 🙂 Here’s a client project we’re working on…a modern Spanish-style backyard here in southern California. (We’ll also show you some finalized client design pics at the end!) PS: If you aren’t quite ready to consult us re: your backyard (we get SO many clients wanting help with their outdoor spaces […]

Avoid the same mistakes we made with these 9 lessons learned and tips for restoring an old deck. Save yourself time and frustration!

How to restain a deck. Beginners guide and helpful. Oil based stain vs. water based and pressure washing tips to preserve your boards.

Let's check out the 15 Inexpensive deck skirting ideas for your outdoor space. Below we will discuss the common materials that give an appealing look.

Need some design inspiration for your brick exterior? Looking for the best paint colors to go with brick? Sounds like you’re ready to breathe some new life into the outside of your brick home - good news, you’re in the right place for some very specific advice & paint suggestions. There

After years of building composite decks, I have become aware of some pros and cons of composite decking. Combined with many hours researching composite decking, advantages and disadvantages. Researching all the major composite decking brands like Trex, Fiberon, TimberTech Azek and Deckorators, just to name a few. Therefore I collect a list of the pros

Plant these shrubs in front of your house for curb appeal, privacy, or the simple joy that their foliage and flowers bring to your yard.

My easy and budget friendly DIY floating deck that cost less than $500 and was put together during naptime. my frugal lifestyle got me a 12'x22' deck In 48h

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva's method for constructing a handsome on-grade deck.

Adding a deck to the backyard giving a level platform to set up a few chairs to enjoy the sun and maybe grill some burgers seems like a good idea. But what type of deck? Should you dig frost footings, or is a floating deck a good idea? When is it better to build a

The latest building codes require decks supported by a house to be built with a “positive attachment” to resist lateral loads

It's time to improve the look of your old deck. Find out how to remove peeling paint from a deck in this guide.

If you follow us on Instagram, you may have seen that this past weekend I tackled my last big outdoor project of the year: staining our new deck! As you’ll recall, we had a new deck built this past spring on top of our old brick patio (and we hired a pro to do it rather than doing it ourselves, as we wanted to spend the

This DIY deck makeover is amazing! See how they transformed their deck and see the deck color they choose in this beautiful deck renovation.

Do you have a favorite outdoor space? If yes, could it be your backyard? Or maybe it is your deck. Here are some DIY deck railing ideas you can use to create a wonderful deck space for your enjoyment.

Elegant, site-built, rot-resistant railings don’t have to break the bank.

Wie baue ich eine Holzterrasse? Bauanleitung für eine Holzterrasse aus Terrassendielen - von der Planung bis zum Verlegen und Pflegen der Holzdielen.

This project has been two years in the making, and it’s finally completed. I stained/sealed/finished/protected the deck! I won’t lie and say that I wasn’t a little intimidated to take on this massive project of staining a full 545 square feet of deck, railing, 102 spindles, and two sets of stairs, but I knew the…

La tendance est à la maison en bois ! Découvrez notre sélection de 30 sublimes maisons en bois qui vont certainement vous faire craquer !

I have built many decks over the years. Ranging from a couple of hundred bucks to over thirty thousand. I have even seen decks that would compete with your house budget to build. But if you are looking for an economical deck. Something to enhance the backyard, to set a few chairs on without breaking

For this project we built a DIY covered pergola attached to the house to our existing deck, & covered the DIY pergola with clear corrugated plastic roofing.

* This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my affiliate disclosure. * Do you ever sit and look at a problem area of your house and get hit by one of those lightbulb mom…