Ozco Builders Blog - Page 7 of 7 - OZCO Building Products

01JunJune 1, 2017

Pergola vs Gazebo: Building a DIY Pergola or Gazebo in Your Yard for Entertaining

Both pergolas and gazebos make great areas for entertaining and relaxing, although DIYers should know that pergolas are a simpler project. It took a bit of searching, but you finally found the perfect house. There’s just one problem: the yard isn’t exactly inviting and you love to entertain! A fabulous backyard is an absolute must-have for your new home, but you have to work with what you have. To spruce it up, you’ve narrowed it down to just two possibilities: pergola vs. gazebo. But choosing isn’t easy and the right choice will vary depending upon your individual preferences.

25MayMay 25, 2017

How to Easily Install a Fence Post Near or Next to Your House With a Post Hole Digger Tool

A post anchor provides an easy way to install fence posts without leaving piles of dirt or requiring a lot of space. You finally gave in and brought home that puppy your kids have been talking about for months—but now that little ball of fur needs room to run…outside of the house. That backyard fence you’ve been meaning to install is suddenly a priority this summer. The great news is that it’s a fairly straightforward process even for a beginner weekend DIYer, with one exception: that tricky spot where the fence meets the house. Whether you’re installing a backyard fence to...

18MayMay 18, 2017

How to Build a Raised Wooden Planter Box: Easy DIY Flower Bed Ideas

A raised wooden planter box keeps your deck dry and your plants happy, and it isn’t hard to build. Delving into a new DIY project can be exciting, but if you lack experience, you may be left wondering just where to begin. The key to a smooth and successful backyard DIY project is understanding what materials you’ll need to gather before you can tackle the project. It also helps to explore all your options: There are few things worse than finishing a project only to see a photo on Pinterest that leaves you saying, “I wish I’d thought of that!” If...

11MayMay 11, 2017

Choosing Decorative Metal Brackets for Wood Beams: Weather Resistant Pergola Hardware Ideas

Decorative metal brackets can take your pergola from plain to stylish. The pergola is the crowning feature of many backyard gardens. It gives your yard presence and a naturally beautiful area to relax and socialize in. On a summer day, it may even be your favorite thing about your home. Recently, while at a regular client’s house doing some deck work, I noticed that the connectors and ties on his pergola were stainless steel. The hardware looked unsightly, standing out like a sore thumb compared to his wood deck accented in black iron. He had been worried about using weak decorative...

01MayMay 1, 2017

DIY Outdoor Privacy Screen Ideas: Functional Deck Decorations to Cozy up Your Backyard Living Space

Privacy screens can shade your backyard from sun and prying eyes and take your outdoor living area to a whole new level. Decks are an extension of our homes’ living spaces—a spot to dine, to read, or to sit back and soak in the sun. But, while they may feel like an outdoor living room, they often lack the privacy offered by the overstuffed sofa in our family room. Last summer, after staining and sealing a raised deck for a client, she mentioned that as excited as she was to decorate her new outdoor living space, she wasn’t thrilled about the...

27AprApril 27, 2017

How to Easily Install a Fence Post Without Cement Using Wood Post Anchors, Gravel, or a Hydraulic Driver

Wood post anchors are some of the easiest ways to install a fence post, and offer other benefits, like protection from water and weed eaters. Last week I met up with a nice couple who were looking to have a fence installed. Their home was part of a new subdivision just outside of town that boasted beautiful houses with immaculate yards. Their main request was that I didn’t use cement plugs for the posts because they wanted to be able to easily remove the fence if they decided to go with a different style in the future. Thankfully, there are...

18AprApril 18, 2017

Decorative Hardware for Wood Gates to Add Durable Curb Appeal to Your Home

Adding decorative hardware to your gate is an easy way to spruce up your yard. The other day I got home from the store in a rush to get dinner started. I wanted to surprise my wife with her favorite meal but, in a mad flurry, I ended up slamming the gate behind me a bit too hard. After a deep breath and a few choice words, I turned around to find that the hinges had completely detached from the fence. Needless to say, my wife wasn’t very happy, but we finally agreed it was probably time for a gate...

14AprApril 14, 2017

Using Wood Post Anchors, Gravel, and Copper Naphthenate to Keep Your Fence Posts from Rotting

Fence post anchors are an easy way to protect your fence posts from water that might rot them. Remember that beautiful fence you installed a few years ago? It took a whole weekend, but every time you look at it, you’re filled with a sense of pride and accomplishment. So, when you notice that the carefully-installed wooden posts are starting to show signs of rotting, you can’t help but be upset. There are few things more frustrating than spending time and energy on a project only to see it disintegrate, especially if you could have prevented it. Fortunately, there are several...

10AprApril 10, 2017

Selecting the Right Fastener for Your ACQ Pressure Treated Lumber Project

Pressure-treated lumber can be corrosive to metals, so you’ll want to choose specially-designed fasteners. It is starting to warm up outside and you’ve finally decided to get to work on some yard projects, maybe replacing that gate that was damaged last year, or building some raised beds in your garden. But when you’re loading up your lumber you notice the tag “Pressure Treated” or “ACQ”. What exactly does that mean? Pressure-treated lumber undergoes a chemical process that may cause the accelerated corrosion of metals that come in contact with the wood (like screws and other fasteners). Once the fasteners have corroded,...

04MarMarch 4, 2017

Choosing Hardware That Won’t Rust for Hurricane-Prone Areas

When you live in a hurricane-prone area, make sure you use hardware that won’t rust such as powder-coated, hot-dipped galvanized or stainless steel fasteners for your building projects. You’ve been hunkered down for the last two days while the wind and rain ripped past your house, but it’s time to head outside to view the damage. A few shutters are swinging, part of your fence came down, and your mailbox went AWOL. It’s nothing that can’t be fixed in a weekend, right? Then you find the pergola you worked so hard to build a few years ago. It’s still upright,...