Search Results - rafter

Pergola Ideas for the Front of the House Make the Most of Limited Space

A pergola doesn’t have to be large, and can be the perfect solution to a small space that needs livening up. The front of my house used to be very plain. While I did a lot of work in the back, I let the front slide because I didn’t have a lot of room to work with. I kept it neat, of course, but it still wasn’t very eye catching. But a friend helped me realize that just because you don’t have a lot of space doesn’t mean you can’t have an attractive entryway. We decided adding a small pergola would...

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Raised Garden Bed Hardware: Choose the Right Type for a Long-Lasting, Attractive Bed

Powder coated ornamental hardware will keep your project sturdy and beautiful without leaching chemicals into the soil. I have an aunt who used to follow a yearly tradition. Every spring, she’d spend a few days planting an herb garden in her backyard. Then, over the weeks that followed, she’d watch every last one of those plants wither. That’s not an unusual occurrence for gardeners. There’s no guarantee that your backyard is going to have soil that’s good enough to nurture young plants. In fact, I’ve been hearing that in places like Brooklyn, the soil is actually contaminated with lead and...

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Gazebo Ideas for Hot Tubs: Add Privacy and Create a Spa-Like Space to Get Away

A gazebo or pergola over a hot tub can make it a private, relaxing place to spend time. Awhile back, I was floating around in a friend’s outdoor hot tub, and I saw that he and his wife had a problem. The wind was heavy, leaves kept falling into the water and they were worried the debris would wind up clogging their filter. It turns out they had been brainstorming gazebo ideas for hot tubs that would help solve this problem by giving their tub a bit more protection and them a bit more privacy. And I can understand this–hot tubs...

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Outdoor Pavilion Design Ideas That Incorporate a Pergola

While a pavilion creates a sturdy, practical structure, a pergola makes a stylish, versatile addition. If you’re thinking of building a pavilion, or are working with one you already have, why would you want to add a pergola as well? Good question. In my opinion, a pavilion and a pergola are the perfect partners. One creates a solid, sturdy, room-like structure that protects from rain and sun (and is pretty easy to run electricity to, if you want to add fans, lights, or a kitchen setup), and the other adds style, beauty, and versatility. A pergola, with its open rafters, can...

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How to Add a Pergola to a Deck: Tips and Considerations

If you choose to add a pergola to your deck you’ll want to keep a few things in mind before and during the project. This past spring, my wife and I made the decision to transform our backyard into a more welcoming, aesthetically-pleasing environment that we could both enjoy and use for entertaining. In fact, it has been part of a larger DIY home improvement project that I’ve mentioned in a few other articles on the topics such as choosing decorative metal brackets for wood beams and how to choose between a gazebo and a pergola. So in one portion of the...

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Pergola Ideas for Small Patios to Make Maximum Use of Space

The best pergolas for small patios are multi-purpose. When my parents sought a townhome in the city (as part of their quest to live in a more walkable area than the sprawling town they had been living in), they were thrilled to find that their top pick had a small patio and “micro yard.” It was this outdoor space that sealed the deal! But actually decorating and making use of that small space would prove to be quite challenging. My mom–who has a few courses in decorating under her belt–explained to my dad that the key to creating a beautiful outdoor space...

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Turn Your Deck Railing into a Bar by Retrofitting Your Wooden Top Rails

With beautiful, tough hardware, some wood, and a good wood stain, you can create the bar area of your dreams. I love reinventing spaces to transform an existing area into something new. The pavilion I built in the backyard recently was a fabulous project, but it lacked one key component: a bar. That’s when my wife had the idea to turn a section of the wooden deck railing into a bar top, complete with bar stools. Genius. Now we can enjoy an outdoor bar under my mini cooking pavilion. This bar top project was actually a bit more involved than I’d expected,...

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Clever Pergola Ideas for Shade: The Best Options to Create a Shady Refuge from the Sun

If your pergola is in a sunny area, adding a covering or something to provide shade can make it more pleasant. There is such a thing as too much of a good thing. That’s something I learned when I realized I’d put my pergola in the sunniest part of my yard. Those high noon rays left it near abandoned during the middle of the day, so I decided to look into options like covering it or adding an awning. That’s part of what I love about pergolas: their flexibility. Pergolas are a great option for a do-it-yourself shady spot because they provide...

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Find the Right Fence Replacement Parts: Identifying Your Fence and Gate Hardware

Our family recently moved into our new home, a lovely Victorian that most would classify as a “fixer-upper.” As a DIY weekend warrior, I classify it as a dream come true, as it’s given me lots of wonderful home improvement projects to delve into on nights and weekends. But the big obstacle for me is finding the right replacement parts and hardware items. What’s more, I have the added challenge of trying to find parts that match the style of my home. I felt especially out of my element when I went outdoors to fix up the fence and gate...

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The Best Pergola Decorating Ideas: Vines, Fabric, and Decorative Hardware Spruce Up a Bare Pergola

Decorative, powder-coated hardware can take your pergola to the next level, making it look more finished and elegant. I spent a couple weekends constructing my new pergola. I was really happy with the finished result, but when my wife emerged from the house to check out my creation, she said: “It’s nice….but it’s too bare. It needs some decoration!” At first, I was a bit insulted. After all, I’d spent the better part of two weekends working on this project; how could it be anything but fabulous? But if I’m honest with myself, my wife’s words echoed a thought that had already...

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