41 How-Tos From Yard Crashers

1. 1. How to Create a Chessboard Patio

   

   16 Thumbs

   This attractive patio adds a modern look to the landscape and doubles as a game board.

   Time:

   Weekend

   Cost:

   $500 to $1000

   Difficulty:

   Moderate

2. 2. Laying a Pebble Patio

   

   95 Thumbs

   Give an old concrete patio a complete facelift with an overlay of pebbles mixed with epoxy. The result is a patio that looks like a san...

   Time:

   Day

   Cost:

   $100 to $250

   Difficulty:

   Easy to Moderate

3. 3. How to Create a Mosaic Patio

   

   33 Thumbs

   Using stone, pebbles, decomposed granite and dry mortar, you can build a patio surface that's uniquely yours.

   Time:

   Day

   Cost:

   $1000 to $2500

   Difficulty:

   Easy to Moderate

4. 4. How to Make a Concrete Fire Feature

   

   77 Thumbs

   Instead of throwing out an old fire pit, reuse the metal bowl. By creating a square concrete frame and filling it with gravel, you can ...

   Time:

   Day

   Cost:

   $250 to $500

   Difficulty:

   Easy to Moderate

5. 5. How to Make Over a Flower Bed

   

   18 Thumbs

   Uproot messy plants and replace them with a fun variety of plants boxed in by a formal mini-hedge.

   Time:

   Under Half Day

   Cost:

   $100 to $250

   Difficulty:

   Easy to Moderate

6. 6. How to Create an Outdoor Entertainment Center

   

   6 Thumbs

   A custom outdoor entertainment center is perfect for showing movies. It's like having your own private drive-in without having to get i...

   Time:

   Two Days

   Cost:

   $2500 to $5000

   Difficulty:

   Moderate to Hard

7. 7. How To Create a Stained Concrete Patio

   

   21 Thumbs

   Learn how to make a custom concrete patio with a rock-salt finish.

   Time:

   Several Weekends

   Cost:

   $5000 to $10000

   Difficulty:

   Moderate to Hard

8. 8. How To Create a Play Area

   

   7 Thumbs

   This new play area is padded with rubber mulch and outlined with plants. Edging keeps the rubber mulch out of the new sod.

   Time:

   Weekend

   Cost:

   $250 to $500

   Difficulty:

   Easy

9. 9. How To Make a Decorative Fabric Fence

   

   43 Thumbs

   Learn how to build custom fabric screens to boost privacy and add style to a new patio.

   Time:

   Day

   Cost:

   $100 to $250

   Difficulty:

   Easy to Moderate

10. 10. How to Accessorize a Patio

    

    10 Thumbs

    A few extra touches can take a new patio to another level.

    Cost:

    $0 to $0