Plan it right.
Build it once.
Decks, pergolas, patios, outdoor kitchens and raised beds, worked out before you buy a single board: sizes, costs per square foot, load limits and the code basics an inspector checks.
- Guide
- 22 Pergola Ideas for Every Backyard
- Stage
- Decide
- Read
- 8 min
What are you building?
12 guidesDecks
Railings, skirting, lighting and the load questions to settle before a deck goes near a hot tub or pool.
10 guidesPergolas
Freestanding or attached, on a deck or a patio: what a pergola costs, and how to fix one so it stays put.
10 guidesPatios
Pavers, flagstone or concrete: patterns, base layers and what each surface really costs per square foot.
7 guidesOutdoor Kitchens
Layouts, roofs and ventilation, from a cinder-block grill island to a covered kitchen with a pizza oven.
8 guidesRaised Beds
Depth, wood, soil and water: the numbers behind a raised bed that still grows well in year three.
8 guidesFences & Privacy
Wood, height and cost per foot: how to plan a privacy fence that clears the height rules and stays straight on a slope.
8 guidesHardscape & Paths
Retaining walls, gravel paths and edging: what each costs per square foot, how deep the base goes, and how water gets out from behind a wall.
3 guidesSheds
From gravel pad to roof rafters: what a storage shed costs and how to set it on a foundation that will not rot or heave.
3 guidesPorches
Screen it in, close it up or refresh a small front porch: cost per square foot, framing and the permit questions to ask first.
Five decisions, in order
Decide
Ideas and head-to-head comparisons, so you choose a design that fits the yard and the budget.
17 guides →Get the dimensions rightSize it
Footprints, depths, heights and clearances: the numbers to sketch before you shop.
8 guides →Know the real costPrice it
Cost ranges by size and material, and where DIY actually saves money.
9 guides →Load, fixings and codeMake it hold
Ledgers, footings, weight limits and the code basics inspectors check first.
13 guides →Materials and methodsBuild it
Which material, which base, which method, and the mistakes that cost a second weekend.
22 guides →Where most people start
22 Pergola Ideas for Every Backyard
Pergola ideas grouped by what you actually want: shade, privacy, dining, poolside or budget — plus styles, materials and the decisions to make before building.
Deck Railing Ideas: 14 Styles, Materials and Code Basics
Deck railing ideas by material and style — cable, glass, wood, composite and metal — plus the height and spacing rules every railing has to meet.
Raised Garden Bed Guide: Size, Wood, Soil & Cost
Plan a raised garden bed without the guesswork: the right size and depth, safe wood, what to fill it with, honest costs, and the mistakes that waste a season.
Pergola vs Gazebo: Which Should You Build?
Pergola vs gazebo in plain terms: shade, rain protection, cost, permits and placement — plus a five-question framework that settles it for your backyard.
Cost guides
What each project really costs, and which line items quotes leave out.
Pergola Cost: DIY vs Pro, by Size and Material
What a pergola costs by size, material and install route — plus the hidden line items (footings, permits, delivery) that decide the real number.
Concrete Patio Ideas on a Budget (Old Slab or New)
Budget concrete patio ideas for both cases — resurfacing a tired old slab with stain, paint or overlay, and pouring a new one for less without cutting corners.
Outdoor Kitchen Cost: What Drives the Price
What an outdoor kitchen cost depends on: four build tiers from grill station to full custom, the real cost drivers, and the hidden gas, water and roof lines.
Retaining Wall Cost per Sq Ft: Block, Stone, Wood, Concrete
Retaining wall cost runs $15–$65 per sq ft installed. See prices by material and height, plus drainage, geogrid, engineer, permit and removal costs.
Privacy Fence Cost per Foot by Material and Height
Privacy fence cost runs $17–$60 per linear foot for a 6 ft fence installed. See prices by material, 6 ft vs 8 ft, gates, removal, permits and DIY savings.
Paver Patio Cost Installed: Per Square Foot and by Size
Paver patio cost installed runs $8–$24 per sq ft: about $1,400–$2,500 for 12×12 and $3,200–$9,600 for 20×20. See prices by material, base, labor and DIY.
Deck Cost per Square Foot: Wood vs Composite, Labor Included
Deck cost per square foot runs $25–$50 installed for pressure-treated wood and $40–$80 for composite. See prices by size, type, railing, stairs and permits.
Screened In Porch Cost per Square Foot and by Size
Screened in porch cost: $5–$25 per sq ft to screen an existing porch, $30–$175 to build new. 12×16 totals, roof, foundation, permit and DIY numbers.
How Much Is a Storage Shed? Kit, Prefab or Custom Cost
How much is a storage shed? A 10×10 runs $1,000–$3,000 prefab installed or $2,500–$15,000 custom. Prices by size, material, pad, permit and DIY.
Numbers you can check yourself
Our standard: every number that matters (a beam span, a soil depth, a cost per square foot) comes from a published source such as a university extension service, a manufacturer specification or a building-code requirement. We are adding source lists to our older guides.
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