Questions tagged [backyard]
The backyard tag has no usage guidance.
93
questions
2
votes
1answer
189 views
Finished grade in my yard is pure clay. How much topsoil should I add?
Ever since we moved into our home, the backyard grading has needed work. It basically slopes right into the back of the house. I put in a small trench a few feet away from the foundation to divert ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Low-volume rotating water jet for dog play in yard
My friends have a large dog who endlessly enjoys chasing a water spray. They first discovered the dog’s proclivity when watering with a gardening hose and hand-held sprayer. They then innovated by ...
1
vote
0answers
22 views
water pooling in concrete slab
We recently had our concrete patio and driveway completed. We have direct the water flow to the grass but the water drains out really slow and is pooling in the area. how do we solve the issue?
The ...
1
vote
2answers
68 views
Use Korky Fill Valve to fill a tank in yard
I'm trying to create a system in my yard to automatically fill my pet tortoises dishes with water. My current plan is to have a bucket half submerged in the ground, and fill water up to surface level. ...
0
votes
0answers
26 views
Quarry block sunken firepit
I want to put limestone blocks 2x2x5’ for seats in a 10x12, 4’ deep fireplace area, I rented a digger and dig a good amount and plan to put 6” of bass or minus then the blocks around the pit.. will it ...
1
vote
1answer
52 views
How can I fix this fountain and prevent it from happening again?
I bought a fountain recently and since it's been below freezing I put it outside empty. Well, it fell over in the first high wind day. Now the statue part has cracked off the base, and part of the bit ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
Attaching Pergola posts to lumber on ground
I'm a new homeowner with DIY enthusiasm to improve the outdoor living space. Recently completed build my fence now planning to do a pergola first and then add deck to it so we can enjoy some outdoor ...
1
vote
3answers
65 views
What are our options for a base under a raised garden bed?
In the backyard we currently have a small patio and a lot of lawn. We also have a toolshed, which seems to be sinking into the earth because there's no real foundation underneath it. We want to invest ...
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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
40 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 ...
-1
votes
1answer
4k 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
103 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
61 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
444 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
136 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
410 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
941 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
45 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
votes
1answer
100 views
Fire pit or chiminea or outdoor stove? [closed]
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
3k 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
91 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
10answers
27k 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
124 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
95 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
105 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
248 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
50 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 ...
2
votes
2answers
148 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
89 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
165 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
86 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
50 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
11k 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
62 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
626 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
159 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
2k 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
375 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
70 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
80 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
9k 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
821 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
355 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
122 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
3k 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
44 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 ...
