Questions tagged [outdoor]
For questions generally relating to exterior spaces of property, including yard maintenance, pest and weed control, exterior home maintenance, etc. Questions which deal mainly with gardening and aesthetic landscaping will be migrated to the Gardening and Landscaping SE.
624
questions
30
votes
1
answer
12k
views
Metal spike with heavy metal cord found in front lawn
While raking my front lawn I came across this metal stake in the ground, wrapped in a thick metal wire/cord. I could not pull the stake up. I dug around and found the wire, pulling up on it and it ...
- 415
28
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Why does my shed door expand/shrink?
I built a shed door last summer and have had a few problems with it since.
Using pressure treated outdoor timber I made a fairly simple shed door. I wood glued the long planks together and then used ...
- 442
16
votes
5
answers
75k
views
Should I attach the fence post(s) where my fence meets my house? How do I do it?
I'm going to be building a 6 foot tall cedar privacy fence in the spring (with pressure-treated posts) and need to determine what to do with the two posts that meet the side of my house.
In order to ...
16
votes
2
answers
5k
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 ...
- 335
14
votes
5
answers
3k
views
What is the relative importance of cut-retardant safety gloves when using a chainsaw?
I am evaluating some cut-retardant gloves for use with a chainsaw. At first the idea of protecting my hands appealed to me, but later I couldn't really justify to myself why that purchase would make ...
- 205
14
votes
4
answers
4k
views
Why not use a plastic receptacle box for an outdoor outlet?
This answer says "... it should be possible to cut into the wall and install a metal box (don't use plastic, please) [for an outdoor outlet]."
What are the problems associated with using a ...
- 1,025
14
votes
4
answers
105k
views
How do I install an outdoor receptacle box on vinyl siding?
Any tips for adding an outdoor receptacle box onto a house with vinyl siding? Shouldn't the box be attached to a stud? How do I seal around it? J Channel? How can I accomplish this without tearing off ...
- 5,365
12
votes
9
answers
138k
views
Should I let pressure treated lumber dry before building with it?
I bought some treated 2x4's from Lowes, and it was fairly wet and heavy. I went ahead and built a firewood rack, but screwing into it releases a lot of water. It got me thinking, is it better to let ...
- 303
11
votes
3
answers
3k
views
How to modify a wooden fence to keep Nubian goats from extending their heads over and eating dwarf tree on the other side
We have a 4-ft (1.2 m) high fence (with a hog wire mesh) between our house yard and pasture.
I want to release Nubian goats into the pasture. But a Nubian will rear up, butt the front feet on the ...
- 233
11
votes
5
answers
23k
views
What type of ethernet cable do I need for outdoor use?
I want to run about 100 meters of Ethernet cable out my attic and down a drainpipe. The cable will be exposed to the elements, and attached to a gigabit switch (indoors) at both ends.
What kind of ...
- 1,079
10
votes
10
answers
4k
views
Rusted screws in outdoor outlet box
Summarize the problem
I need help removing rusted screws from an outdoor outlet box. A few notes:
The outlet box was used for an outdoor light that I removed
I turned off the breaker
I have access to ...
- 557
10
votes
1
answer
31k
views
How do you weatherproof a light switch?
I have a switch that I would like to put in a workshop in a potentially damp location. It's not going to be outside in the rain, but it's entirely possible that at some point water might get splashed ...
- 13.9k
9
votes
5
answers
87k
views
Why is it good practice to remove sheathing from NM wire when going through conduit? [duplicate]
I've been discussing specifics of an electrical job with a licensed electrician and he mentioned that in my area, it's acceptable/recommended to feed 12 gauge NM wire through an outdoor conduit but ...
- 7,991
9
votes
3
answers
2k
views
White stuff growing in an outside electrical outlet
What is this white, pasty stuff growing in my outside electrical outlet? It has shorted our the circuit
Michael Pekarski
9
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Replacing outdoor electrical box at end of conduit
Long-time lurker, first time poster. Reasonably competent DIYer, but not a licensed electrician.
I have a pair of two-outlet (1-gang) electrical boxes mounted at the top of a wooden post in my yard. ...
- 91
9
votes
3
answers
3k
views
What is this cable hanging against the outer wall?
We moved into our house within the past year. In the front of the house, underneath the staircase leading up to the front door, is a tied off cable that looks like this. Does anyone know what kind of ...
- 239
9
votes
5
answers
42k
views
How do I remove moss from an outdoor brick walkway?
I've got a brick walkway that has parts that are in shade most of the day. Our winters are wet and cloudy and during these times it's not uncommon for the shady parts of the walkway to grow a fair ...
- 933
8
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Hang 20lb projector screen on Hardieplank
The siding on my house is Hardieplank cement fiber board.
I have a 20lb manual pull down projector screen that I would like to hang onto the side of my house to create an outdoor theater.
The studs ...
- 81
8
votes
3
answers
5k
views
Is there a reason NOT to use a garden hose to hook up two faucets?
I have a faucet below my deck that is connected to a faucet that is screwed into the railing. They are connected via a 1/2" copper pipe which burst this winter in multiple locations. The simplest fix ...
- 299
7
votes
3
answers
2k
views
How to cover old Red Dot outdoor outlet for constant use?
Here's the current outlet.
I need to leave a cable connected constantly.
Is there a snap-on cover for this type of thing?
(Can I gaff tape a quart baggie over it?)
tia...
- 103
7
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What do you mount an outdoor electric box to when it's not near your house?
We'll be laying out several new driveway slabs for our daughters to park on when commuting to college, and need a couple of NEMA 14-50 outlets near those slabs as they both want Nissan Leafs. We will ...
- 879
7
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Does the quality of fill dirt matter?
Does the quality of fill dirt matter?
For example, in my application, I need to fill an area where I'm planning to have a gravel patio. I picked up a yard of dirt from a local supply place and, upon ...
- 1,366
7
votes
5
answers
10k
views
How can I extract rusted/painted outdoor screws?
We have an outdoor lamppost that is controlled by a switch from inside. Originally the light was burnt out, so we replaced it, and it started working again, but it blew out the light again. So I'm ...
- 6,341
7
votes
4
answers
18k
views
Are there door knobs specifically meant for outdoors?
I recently moved to a new home and need to replace a door knob that will be exposed to the outdoors. Does it matter what kind of door knob I get if it will be exposed to the outdoors?
If it doesn't ...
- 173
7
votes
4
answers
27k
views
what is the best way to restore teak outdoor furniture?
What is the best way to restore outdoor teak furniture to the original or better looking color? Teak is so beautiful when it has not been weathered. But after a few years in the rain and sun, it ...
- 6,201
7
votes
2
answers
20k
views
What kind of paint should be used on an outdoor concrete walkway?
I have an outdoor walkway that was freshly painted just before I bought my house two years ago. Two winters have worn down the paint and now it needs another coat or the exposed concrete will crumble.
...
- 223
7
votes
1
answer
262
views
Selecting a sliding patio door
I live in the Boulder Colorado area where we have hot intense sunny summer days, and below zero freezing winter nights. We are planning to install a sliding patio door in a south facing full sun area. ...
- 71
6
votes
10
answers
46k
views
How do I open a padlock after it has frozen?
I do some maintenance on the neighborhood ice-skating rink. To control the lights, there is an outside electrical panel that is locked with a padlock.
This padlock always gets frozen. Every time I ...
- 163
6
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Low AWG in long outdoor run, but with GFCI protection
I'm running a circuit out to our shed/chicken coop. We live in New Hampshire. The electrical demand won't be high, so one 15 amp circuit will be sufficient. We currently have 3/4" schedule 40 buried ...
- 65
6
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Outdoor wiring - multiple GFCI and trips
I recently moved into a house that has multiple outdoor outlets eventually feeding an outdoor lighting transformer and a small waterfall pump. There is an outlet on the interior of the house first ...
- 171
6
votes
5
answers
5k
views
Ground-level electrical wiring to shed outdoors possible?
I was telling an uncle about the concern of digging a conduit trench in my heavily planted garden (trying not to disturb the plants) to run electricity from the house to the shed about 35 feet away.
...
- 61
6
votes
1
answer
9k
views
HPS lamp goes on and off all night long
We have a lamp post in front of our house, that uses a 50-watts HPS (high-pressure sodium) lamp, and opens by itself at night using a photo-cell.
For a while now, it's been acting out: when it opens ...
6
votes
2
answers
7k
views
What are the pros and cons of LED vs CFL vs incandescent bulbs for outdoor lighting?
I'm planning to install some light on my balcony and was just wondering what would be the best choice of lamp.
I live in a relatively cold climate, and the current temperature at night is around -10°C....
- 225
6
votes
3
answers
25k
views
How can I install a frost-free outdoor faucet with very little space?
On one side of my house, the previous owner frequently forgot to shut off the outdoor water during the winter. Given that my house is in Minnesota, it gets cold during the winter, and he had to ...
- 235
6
votes
2
answers
622
views
How do I reattach this light fixture?
The following light was removed from my outside front porch because the bulb had burned out. Only problem is I didn't remove it and now I need to put the thing back up, but I'm not sure how the ...
- 257
5
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Is this hinged collapsible clothesline design stable enough?
I need help validating my clothesline design. It'll be on our deck for convenience (I don't want to lug a heavy basket of wet laundry down to the backyard). I want it to be collapsible so we can hide ...
- 153
5
votes
3
answers
14k
views
Feasibility of using corn seed as a sandbox
For an outdoor sandbox, how feasible is it to use corn seed instead of sand?
I rather enjoy how corn seed feels compared to sand, but I have a couple of concerns:
Rot: How long would it last? How ...
- 313
5
votes
2
answers
815
views
Need advice on how to install 240V outlet for greenhouse heater
Update
Based on many inputs a much better solution is the heat pump. Big thanks to Harper and manassehkatz for the help, both answers are great and very helpful.
Original Post
Long story short, my dad ...
5
votes
3
answers
17k
views
What happens when using a GFCI Tester on a non-GFCI outlet?
I have an outdoor power outlet of which I'm not sure if it's GFCI or not (House was built in 1978). The outlet does not have Test/Reset buttons, but I don't know if outdoor outlets even have them. ...
- 153
5
votes
4
answers
912
views
How much can the topmost segment of a stair stringer be reduced without compromising strength?
Let me try this a different way.
My question is about the 2x12 stringer and if there are certain dimensions I need to keep in mind to not undermine the structural integrity of the wood.
Using the ...
- 786
5
votes
4
answers
11k
views
How to turn an outdoors tree stump into a table?
A large tree at our summer house became dangerous and had to be cut down last week. This left us with a sizable (about 1m in diameter) stump, still rooted to the ground. My idea (and wife tends to ...
- 876
5
votes
5
answers
2k
views
What is this cable popping out of my lawn?
There's a black cable cutting diagonally across one side of my front lawn (askew to my house, not going towards it, also not going towards the local electric transformer or my neighbor's house). The ...
- 372
5
votes
2
answers
20k
views
What is this fixture on my external water faucet and how can I remove it?
I have this device on my outdoor water faucet. It is leaking water in all directions and by leaking, I mean pouring water everywhere.
What is the purpose of this device and how can I remove it so I ...
5
votes
4
answers
10k
views
Do GFCI protected devices need to be labeled as such, if they are protected from another location?
I'm doing a fairly substantial rewire of about half my house. In many places, like kitchen, bath, and outside/garage, I've replaced circuit breakers in my box with GFCI or dual function breakers. ...
- 305
5
votes
4
answers
45k
views
Do deck coatings work as claimed?
Home improvement stores have been stocking products in the paint section that appear to put a thick coating on the deck boards, giving them the appearance of synthetic decking. They claim to offer ...
- 555
5
votes
5
answers
23k
views
How to set stepping stones in steep, loose hillside
My lot is carved out of a steep hillside. Behind the house there is a very steep slope (30-45 degrees). The soil (at least for a large part of it) was entirely removed and replaced during the ...
- 484
5
votes
2
answers
6k
views
What conduit and wire for an outdoor outlet directly to outdoor breaker panel?
I would like to add an outdoor receptacle directly to my outdoor breaker panel for some simple string lights. The idea would be to install new breaker, run flexible conduit from knockout on bottom of ...
- 53
5
votes
1
answer
408
views
Should I apply termite preventative products to pressure treated wood?
There are pressure treated (4"x4") fence posts (set in concrete) nearby to a house. In that area there were previously termites (professionally treated in-ground). This is in a humid region, along the ...
- 165
5
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Build a trail cart
I want to build a cart for carrying camping equipment and supplies as a potential alternative to a backpack. Pulling a cart with the backpack in it should be easier than carrying it on my back, at ...
- 153
4
votes
6
answers
1k
views
Clothesline sagging even though it was properly tightened
I'm new to this forum. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be asking questions about clothesline here, but I didn't find any forum in StackExchange that was something like 'DIY'. So, I suppose it's okay.
...
- 151