Questions tagged [backyard]
The backyard tag has no usage guidance.
86
questions
16
votes
2answers
4k views
What is this stake in my yard and can I remove it?
My child has been swinging in our front yard (NC, US) and worn away the grass, revealing this metallic stake (* See photo, note the acorn top for scale*):
I gently tried to pull it up, but it is ...
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Cleanup broken glass and debris
I had the back half acre of my lot cleared of brush and saplings. There was an old shed that the previous owners left to rot. It had fallen to the ground and there is now a lot of broken glass and ...
0
votes
1answer
22 views
Screen door track replacement
I need to replace the twin plastic tracks (see pic below) guiding the tops of two sliding mesh screen doors attached to the back entrance of my house. The tracks are plastic and come in one piece, but ...
0
votes
1answer
154 views
Landscape + drainage along fence line
I am on a corner lot and my backyard receives water runoff from my neighbor behind me and my neighbor beside me. I have a french drain installed where the backyards come together and didn't have much ...
1
vote
1answer
42 views
Glass materials for patio cover
I found this picture and interested in knowing what glass materials being used for the patio cover. Is it just fixed single pane glass (from local home improvement store)? And if so, how do I attach ...
0
votes
0answers
58 views
How to determine the severity or size of a hole in yard?
I found a hole in my yard. This area has three common features that could cause that, a sink hole from an underground stream, prairie dogs, which are everywhere in the neighborhood, or an abandoned ...
0
votes
3answers
114 views
Best way to fill gaps between lumber and masonry or rocks
We have built 4x4 retaining walls around existing rocks and concrete that we were unable to get rid of. The idea was - and is - use something fill the gaps between the lumber and the rocks / cements. ...
1
vote
0answers
46 views
5 Post Pergola Design - How big to make the beams and rafters?
I'm building a new deck and pergola in my backyard. The deck is pretty much done, and the pergola posts are in. I'm now I'm trying to decide how to finish up the pergola.
Deck is roughly 12 feet wide ...
1
vote
1answer
70 views
Curb water shut off access pipe too high
After removing a tree, the grade on the front of my property changed, exposing the water cut off access pipe (not sure what it's actually called). How should I go about cutting it down. Is it a DIY ...
1
vote
1answer
193 views
What is this 4-1/2 inch Vertical metal pipe doing in my garden?
This 4 1/2 inch vertical metal pipe is sticking up a foot out of my garden.
The previous owner of the property didn't know what it was for. It has 2 hose clamps on it and a cap with a square nipple.
...
0
votes
1answer
38 views
External sewage pipe damaged
I recently had some tree service done to my yard by a contractor, which required them to drive heavy machinery through the lawn. It was pointed out to me that they drove over and damaged an external &...
1
vote
1answer
49 views
Fire pit or chiminea or outdoor stove?
In an indoor setting, a wood burner is far, far more efficient than an open fire.
What about outdoors in a patio or courtyard? I have a large amount of low grade firewood and I'd like an outdoor fire ...
0
votes
2answers
702 views
ground level deck drainage suggestions?
I am Looking for ideas to keep water from pooling under a new ground-level deck.
The frame in the photo was dug 8-10inches below the ground. I'm using composite decking so I need minimum 6 inches ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
Easy platform for a small metal frame pool
Recently I have been thinking about purchasing a small metal frame pool, something simple that can be taken down during the fall/winter seasons. The issue I have is my entire backyard is on a slight ...
14
votes
8answers
12k views
How do I limit the water flowing through my neighbor's fence into my yard?
Our neighbors yard is elevated and they water their yard a lot. The water flows over into our vegetable garden and floods it. I would like to add a barrier. Some ideas have been slim pavers with a ...
2
votes
3answers
105 views
Would a vernal pond (as either a retention basin or a infiltration basin) be a viable solution for this drainage issue?
So my backyard is showing some heavy pooling issues. I am in Southern Maine, USA
The lowest point (picture 1) is, unfortunately pretty close to the garage pier foundation, and when the water pools it ...
1
vote
1answer
91 views
What are these things that appeared in my backyard and front lawn?
These things appeared all around my house. It was done while I was away. I live in The Woodlands, TX
1
vote
2answers
104 views
What can be done to mitigate risk to property from large trees other than removal?
There are 3 oak trees that need to be removed as they pose risks
to personal safety and property during windstorm. The last windstorm (dec. 2019, AK) produced 120 m/h gusts. The quote is $6k due to ...
0
votes
1answer
93 views
what size should gas grill burner flames be
i have a charbroil 'red' grill. it used to get very hot. now I hold my hand over cooking surface for 5 to 10 seconds. not good.
yes i tried to reset the regulator based on most internet suggestions
...
0
votes
1answer
42 views
How to weather protect plywood fence?
My handyman guy used the wrong lumber to make this fence gate. It just regular plywood used for subfloor:
It's too late now to take it down. But it looks OK so I want to see if there is a way to ...
0
votes
1answer
70 views
Max span between posts using double doug fir 2x10's
I built a tiny house on a trailer with no problem, but this freaks' me out.
I am building a 14'x 44' pergola on a 3-1/2" cement slab. It has a 10'x 44' foot footprint, with 2' overhangs. The beams ...
2
votes
2answers
130 views
Should I leave a treeline to mitigate flooding in my backyard?
I have a 1942 colonial near Hartford, CT. It is a corner lot, and one of the streets I am on recently experienced a flash flood. Our house stayed dry, but we saw water up to three feet in the street ...
-1
votes
1answer
35 views
Replacing a tennis net
How do you replace a tennis net? Is it simple enough that it's worth doing myself, or should someone else be paid to do it?
1
vote
2answers
68 views
Should an irrigation manifold/valve box be situated in the yard (centipede) or landscaping (pine straw)? [closed]
In fixing a broken irrigation system, the manifold and all valves have been disconnected and will be relocated in at least some way. The previous setup used round access portals and was neglected for ...
1
vote
2answers
140 views
How do I build a fence with zero experience?
I've never built a fence or have never done any outdoor construction. I'm pretty handy and do most of my interior maintenance. I have a total of 780 feet where I need to put up a fence. I'm still ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Protection from an asbestos wall
The trapezoid-shaped wall in the back of the picture is a wall that my neighbor built between his backyard and mine:
Apparently, it is made from asbestos, which might be unhealthy.
In order to ...
0
votes
1answer
47 views
How to manage water runoff on flat roof of accessory dwelling unit
I am planning to build a new accessory dwelling unit (granny flat) in my backyard. I really like this design from https://node.eco/
However how do I manage the flat roof water run off? Is it just ...
-1
votes
5answers
5k views
How to bind pebbles in-between pavers?
I have roughly 700 square feet of pebbles and pavers in my back yard, and the issue I'm having is that when I step on the pebbles, they move all over the place. I'd like to apply some kind of binding ...
-2
votes
2answers
115 views
Rat trouble please help me [closed]
I found Norway rats in basement first I sealed off them coming in for the dog food but I smell them I see holes in my yard they have I think killing my wild birds that are use to living by my porch on ...
1
vote
1answer
54 views
Drainage area for a French drain
I have a muddy backyard that has minimal slope toward the back property line, and I'm considering installing a French drain to improve the situation. Is there a general rule as to how much area a ...
0
votes
1answer
209 views
How to connect backyard cover to existing roof?
This is an image I found on the internet
My roof in the backyard is very similar where it sloping down toward the yard. I want to make the cover like the photo.
Few questions:
From the photo, look ...
1
vote
2answers
145 views
Small Concrete Pad with (cutoff) 1/4" x 6-in vertical steel pipes, What is this?
I've been in my home for 10 years and have finally decided to get rid of this mysterious eyesore in my backyard. It's a roughly 4' x 4' concrete pad, with two 1/4-inch x 6-in steel pipes installed ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
What are these two Sewer Pipes Coming up Out the Ground?
We recently had the old terracotta sewer line replaced that comes out of our house to the main sewer line
There are now two pipes in addition to the sewer clean along where the guys dug up
I planned ...
5
votes
4answers
2k views
What Kind of Wooden Beam is this
My wife and I recently purchased our first home. We'd like to make a flattened area in our backyard (which is somewhat sloped) for a firepit.
My thinking was to dig out a shallow area and fill it with ...
0
votes
2answers
251 views
Bucket pulley/hoist for kids climbing frame
Firstly sorry if this is the wrong place.
I've just finished assembling a climbing frame for my son (with great difficulty!) which had a sand pit underneath it. What I'd like to do is add in a very ...
0
votes
3answers
67 views
How can I make use of bricks, rock and miscellaneous fill left in my yard?
I bought a house last fall and now that spring is here i am cleaning up the yard. I have been finding alot of bricks, brick sized rocks and brick sized miscellaneous fill (peices asphalt, rock ...
0
votes
0answers
73 views
What can cause bubbling mud?
https://vimeo.com/326120553
I have a bubbling puddle of mud near my house. It's not my water or sewage lines, I already had the water company come check it out. It doesn't smell like natural gas. ...
2
votes
4answers
6k views
How to keep buried deck posts from rotting
This is related to a question I asked earlier regarding my deck footings.
I had a pool deck built last fall. The footings are 4' deep and 12" diameter. There are metal post brackets attached to the ...
1
vote
1answer
549 views
Regrading under deck to protect footings from water
I had an above ground pool installed and a deck built around it early last fall. The way the builder built the deck footings was to pour 4' of concrete 12" in diameter, then attach metal post brackets ...
1
vote
3answers
183 views
Fencing backyard on the lower side of a retaining wall
Trying to fence my backyard, so that the dog has some room to play and burn some energy, as well as joining us outside during gatherings.
My backyard sits on the low side of a retaining wall, which ...
0
votes
1answer
104 views
How to properly level / build a fence for in my back yard?
I'm building a fence in my backyard it's about 300ft of fence and this is my first time doing a project like this.
I wasn't 100% sure the best method for leveling, my yard is mostly flat no big ...
1
vote
1answer
2k views
Manufacturer pairs 6 ft tall vinyl fence with 8 ft posts - should I find 9 ft posts?
My research has shown that fence posts should be dug to a depth of at least 1/3 of the height of the post—for a six foot fence, the post depth would be 3 feet.
I purchased a 6 foot vinyl privacy ...
1
vote
1answer
43 views
Craftsman 917 Riding Lawnmower Not Starting
I have a Craftsman 917 series riding mower that I purchased last year. It ran fine for the first month or so but after that it was intermittently having issues starting. I noticed the connections on ...
0
votes
1answer
405 views
Three shade sails attached to one post?
Had the math sorted previously but now I'm hoping to simplify. I'm hanging three sails -- a 12 x 12 square, then a 12x equilateral triangle, then another 12 x 12 square. The far ends will be attached ...
1
vote
1answer
3k views
What are my options for replacing a rotted fence post that is slanted in a large concrete slab?
My fence line sits on a slab of concrete that separates my house from the neighbor's house. So far, I was able to complete two posts via extracting the post rot and replacing the post in the 4x4 slots ...
29
votes
5answers
11k views
What is this vertical metal pipe in my backyard? old well? septic?
Purchased this house last week and the previous owners also did not know what it was. The pipe is heavy duty and set in concrete. There's water about halfway up the length of the pipe, but I haven't ...
2
votes
3answers
5k views
Preventing swing set legs from sinking
I'm putting together a swing set in my backyard mostly following this Youtube video. I'd like to make sure that the legs of the A-frames don't sink into the ground over time when it rains, etc. What ...
1
vote
3answers
112 views
How can I hide or dress up a large wall of debris?
We have a large "debris wall," made up of stumps, tree trunks, and other leftovers from when our lot was cleared, to one side of our driveway. We considered having it removed, but it provides a ...
0
votes
3answers
1k views
How to Cover Giant Sewer Vent [closed]
Does anyone have a creative/safe way to hide this hideous sewer vent and manhole?
Thanks in advance!
1
vote
2answers
261 views
How to safely block French doors to nowhere
I am going to tear down an existing deck (which is rotting out) and want to block off usage of existing French doors that currently lead to the deck. I’ll attach photos below.
I am going to build a ...
