Repair & Improve

Outdoor Improvements

Ideas and innovations from America’s popular home improvement radio team

Tom Kraeutler & Leslie Segrete

From House Beautiful Home Remodeling & Decorating

Tom Kraeutler and Leslie Segrete host The Money Pit, a nationally syndicated radio show that fields hundreds of calls each week from listeners seeking home improvement advice. In this issue, Tom & Leslie respond to some of the most common questions they receive in the summer season.

Q: We just bought our first house and it has a small yard, but hooray it is our own!  We love to entertain and need some tips on how to most effectively furnish our small outdoor space.

A:  Leslie - Before you run out and buy furniture, think about how you are going to use the yard.  Is it is going to be for outdoor dining, hanging out with friends, relaxing, or all of the above?  Since your space is small you need to prioritize based on how your family will use it.  For example, decide if a table for dining is important or if you might prefer a seating area with a smaller table for gathering and having less formal meals. 

Next, it is really important to distinguish this area in your yard.  Do you want to be in the shade or can you get by with sunnier spot masked by an umbrella.  You can set up shop on the grass or create an area with beautiful natural stone as your flooring.  If you decide to go with stone, remove the grass and level the area with sand.  Then add a weed barrier under the stone so weeds do not grow.  If a country path is more your idea, loosely place slate tiles and plant moss or other step-able plants in the “grout” lines to give it that aged look. 

As for furniture, weather resistance is key.  One option is Smith and Hawken (see www.smithandhawken.com).  They carry an amazing selection of weather proof products from Teak to a synthetic reed which is woven like wicker that is moisture proof.  Both products will stand up to the elements.  When choosing cushions for seating remember that the fabric as well as the stuffing should be weather proof to avoid mildew growth.

Q:  We have a brand new home and are debating on whether to install a patio or a deck.  The home came with a deck that is barely large enough for me and my dog, let alone another human being.  What are the most important considerations when expanding our outdoor space this way?

A:  Tom - The tiny decks builders install are basically there to meet code requirements and not creature comforts.  Builders can’t leave you with a 3 foot drop off the back door so they often build the cheapest landing and step combination possible, then offer you a real deck or patio at major upgrade costs.  While builders are entitled to a profit, this is one improvement that can be done far more inexpensively after you move in.

Deciding whether a deck or patio makes the most sense is part structural and part personal choice.  If your back door is close to the ground (within a foot or two), we would definitely recommend going with a patio.  Decks require more vertical space for the posts, beams and joists to be built and it makes no sense whatsoever to build those below grade.  If a patio is your pick, you can build a super nice one with concrete pavers.  These are modular bricks and fit together like puzzle pieces.  The most important part of the installation is the preparation of the base.  You’ll need to clear and flatten the land, then lay down 8-10 inches of crushed gravel and tamp it until it is almost as solid as concrete.  If the base isn’t prepared correctly, you’ll end up with a patio that looks more like rolling hills punctuated by weeds.

If you have more vertical height off the backdoor or if your yard slopes off so much that a patio wouldn’t be practical, building a deck is a terrific option.  When designing your deck, first decide whether you want one level or more.  Remember that while multiple levels can be very attractive, each one reduces the amount of useable space since furniture can’t be placed near step-downs.  If a deck is for you, there are many material options.  Natural wood choices include pressure treated lumber, cedar, redwood or Ipe, a beautiful and resilient hardwood.  Composites, made of plastic and lumber combinations, are also becoming extremely popular.  Trex, for example (see www.trex.com), is available in many colors and includes modular railing options that will give you virtually a maintenance free deck. 

Q:  The side of our garage has shingles that run all the way to the ground and are beginning to warp and fall off.  What can we do to fix this?  Also, is there a way to hide this big blank wall?

A:   Tom - Actually, this sound’s like you have two problems!  The first is structural.  When wood shingles are in direct contact with the ground, they get attacked by moisture from rain and snow, not to mention invite an army of house-munching termites into your walls.   Depending on how high up the damage goes, you can correct this by removing the first, second, and maybe even the third row of shingles.  Then, apply a layer of metal flashing beginning at the lowest part of the wall by the ground.  This provides a non porous layer by the moist area and prevents that moisture from traveling up to the shingles.  You’ll want the flashing to come up to at least 12” above the finished grade and then you can cover it with a piece of concrete siding painted to match your foundation.  Once the base is in place, you can reapply the shingles and you’ll have a wall that is far less likely to be damaged by the elements or the insects.

LESLIE:  With that problem solved, consider adding a metal trellis or wrought iron screen to make the wall more attractive.  Frontgate (see www.frontgate.com) offers some beautiful metal forms that are free standing and can be placed in front of the garage wall.  Some have holders to place potted plants and others offer a great area for climbing plants to grow onto and camouflage the wall behind it.  It isn’t a quick fix but in time you will be very happy with the beautiful and natural results.

Q: We have a great outdoor seating area, but the cushions are never as stylish and durable as I wish they could be.  Do you have recommendations for fabric so I could make my own?

A:  LESLIE:  Absolutely.  While you want your outdoor space to scream out your style, often the choices are so limited there isn’t much that screams originality.  For fabrics that are strictly made for the outdoors, check out Sunbrella Fabric (see  www.outdoorfabrics.com)  Sunbrella fabrics are made of tough acrylic fibers that resist stains and mildew and never fade or change color due to the sun or the elements.  Prices start at $15 a yard and go up from there.  They offer so many solids, textures, stripes, and patterns.  If you don’t feel like sewing your own cushion, the website also offers a great selection of ready made pillow and fabric in a variety of their fabric offerings.

Q:  Our backyard is a soggy mess after a heavy rainfall.  The water seems to hang right in the middle and the grass doesn’t grow well making it really hard to use that space.  Is there any way we can dry this out without doing a major regrade of the entire property?

A:  TOM – In a perfect world, your yard would be graded so that all the run-off from rain diverts around your home and off into never-never land where it will never bother you again.  Unfortunately, this is a real fairytale for some home owners that get stuck with a built-in swimming pool they never counted on. 

If there is an area of your yard that is lower that the soggy bottomed backyard, then the solution can be to install what is known as a “curtain drain.”  This is simply a trench that is dug from the wettest area of your yard to a lower spot.  It doesn’t have to be deep (12” – 18” deep is perfect) but it does have to slope downward to that lower area.  Once it is dug, you would add 2 or three inches of gravel stone into the bottom and then lay a perforated pipe on top.  PVC is the best material to use for this as it doesn’t crush like the flexible black plastic pipe that landscapers like to use.  Once you have the pipe in place, cover it with more gravel until it is completely buried.  Then add a layer of weed barrier (a burlap like cloth that will stop the soil from clogging the pipe) and fill the hole back in with soil.  Finally, you can seed or sod the surface.  Once complete, the curtain drain will be completely invisible.  Rain will flow to the low spot, then fall into the trench, and be redirected to the lower yard where it can drain out to the surface or seep back into the soil.

Editors Note:  Have your own home improvement question?  Tom & Leslie can be reached 24/7 by emailing helpme@moneypit.com or by calling 1-888-MONEY PIT.  To find a radio station in your area that carries the program, please visit the show’s web site at www.moneypit.com.

Print Version

Search Related Topics: Decks & Porches, Lawn & Garden, Outdoor Structures, Patio...