Decks & outdoor living3 min read
A Pool Gate Must Close and Latch Reliably
Watch the gate through its full movement.
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Decks & outdoor living3 min read
A Small Garden Retaining Wall Is Leaning
Some segmental walls are designed to step back into the slope, so an inclined face is not automatically failure.
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A Wooden Gate Sags and the Latch Misses
Close the gate slowly and note whether the latch hits low, sideways or both.
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Before Building the Gate, Measure the Equipment
Measure bins at their widest point, the mower with its normal handles attached and any trailer or garden cart you use.
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Can You Replace One Fence Panel Without Rebuilding the Fence?
You can replace one fence panel when the posts and rail connections that support it are sound. Inspect the bay on each side first. Fresh boards between a loose post and a rotten rail end will look repaired until the next strong wind.
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Decks & outdoor living3 min read
Choosing Wood for a Raised Garden Bed
A vegetable bed keeps its sides in regular contact with damp soil, quite unlike a fence board drying in the breeze.
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Cracks at the Ends of Outdoor Boards: Which Ones Matter?
A small end check in an outdoor board is not the same observation as a split through the screw that holds it. Look at the crack in relation to the connection, the remaining wood and any movement before choosing filler, a replacement board or a structural repair.
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Decks & outdoor living3 min read
Does a Wood Fence Need Stain on Both Sides?
A lightly pigmented stain, a solid-colour coating and leaving cedar to weather are different maintenance commitments.
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Does a Wooden Planter Need a Liner?
An open-bottom garden bed, an elevated wooden box and a decorative sleeve around a removable pot are different arrangements.
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Double Gates Need a Plan for the Ground Bolts
A double gate needs a firm place for the inactive leaf to stop and lock. If the ground bolt drops into loose soil or a rocking paver, the two leaves can move even when the latch is closed. Start with the closed gate position and the finished ground, then choose the receiver detail.
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Fence Height on a Sloping Yard: Where Do You Measure?
A catalogue panel height is only one part of the calculation.
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Grey Cedar or Rotting Fence Boards? Check the Bottom Edge
Distinguish normal cedar weathering from wet, damaged board ends. Check soil, mulch, irrigation and connections before staining or cutting the fence.
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