Extreme How-To‘s Summer digital issue is now live! This time we focus on outdoor living with articles on decks and patios. Apply the cantilever concept to your next deck design. Build a patio with decorative stamped concrete. Or, cover an existing concrete patio with ceramic tile. Plus, check out these handy articles: Gutters and Downspouts […]
Outdoor Living
Patio Gridlock with AZEK Composite Pavers
For a recent Extreme How-To project we used the new AZEK composite pavers to create a beautiful new patio. The AZEK pavers fit quickly and neatly on a grid. Available in permeable and non-permeable versions, the pavers are made from up to a 95-percent composite blend of post-consumer recycled automobile tires and plastic containers. The […]
Pallet Furniture
I had to pick up a new mattress at a local furniture warehouse. While waiting for the workers to load my truck, I noticed the warehouse crew had gotten creative with some leftover shipping pallets. Check out the parking lot “lounge” they built: Pretty cool, right? Check more fun with shipping pallets here: Hillbilly […]
Why You Should Take Great Care When Building a Deck
When you build a deck, build it right. Below I’ve linked a pretty dramatic video of a deck collapse. Notably, it’s not the ledger board that fails on this deck, which is a common culprit, but appears to be the connection between the rim joist and ends of the floor joists that fails. What do […]
CORE Power Lok Lawn Equipment — Muscle without the Mess
Lightweight, powerful and eco-friendly, CORE’s Power Lok 40-volt cordless lawn equipment offers a split boom for various attachments including a string trimmer, hedge trimmer and blower. Unlike other split-boom products, the Power Lok utilizes CORE’s proprietary motor that eliminates the need for gas by combining a multi-layered circuit board with a state-of-the-art power cell. The result is […]
Deck Stain Update
I recently spruced up a pressure-treated deck with the new Transformation Deck & Fence Stain from Sashco. This particular deck has very little shade during the day and takes a lot of abuse from the sun. The 2×6 boards were beginning to check even though I had re-stained the decking about 18 months ago. It […]
Bug Off—A Simple Screen Solution
Our house has a rear door that leads to a backyard deck. Both my two-year-old son and our cocker spaniel go in and out of that door several hundred times a day. That might be slightly overstated, but the door seems to be open constantly, and all sorts of flying insects invite themselves into the […]
Set a Temporary Post (for Halloween and more)
From yard signs to birdhouses to holiday decorations and more, homeowners may find all sorts of reasons to set a temporary post. To do this, you’ll need a post anchor, which is a sturdy metal stake that retains the end of a 4×4 post. You can find post anchors sold at hardware stores, home-improvement […]
Blade Runners: Lawn Edger Basics
It’s time to give your lawn its back-to-school haircut. Be sure to keep the edges neat when you do. A powered lawn edger provides a dramatic step up in cutting power from a string trimmer, utilizing a rigid steel […]
Husqvarna Fast Tractor
By: Hal Jones A few years ago I was testing a GTH 26 Garden Tractor by Husqvarna. One of the biggest surprises was its speed and I don’t know whether I was the first to write of the Husqy tractor’s speed,but it fulfilled my need for speed. Well it seems the Husqvarna Fast Tractor has […]