Backyard progress

So the summer has been extremely busy but very productive for us, when the spring rolled around we had a disaster for a backyard because of the new septic system and terrible storms that caused a very large tree next to our deck to split and deposit large limbs on and through the deck. After cutting the tree down and disposing of the massive amount of limbs and wood from the tree it was time to get to work on the deck.

The railing had to be completely torn off and rebuilt. We decided to take a little different approach to make the deck look and feel a little more "high end" by building custom railing that emulates something you might see on a much more expensive house than our humble little home. The key as it is with most of our projects is bang for our buck, we don't mind putting in the sweat equity especially when the results turn out like this.

First we started off by cutting some 2x4's to length for the bottom rail, then we used a paddle bit and drilled holes every six inches about an inch deep. Then we cut and painted black pieces of 1/2" electrical conduit and inserted them in the holes we drilled. For the top rail we just used a standard railing board from Lowes that had a nice basic profile, it got drilled to match bottom rail and secure the conduit between rails. The posts got caped with a matching black metal post cap.

The next task was replacing the lattice that the storms had tore down. That was pretty straight forward other than we wrapped it around the corner where the original steps had been giving it a more enclosed feeling on that side. Sara and I had discussed several uses for this corner but we decided an "outdoor living room" type of area would be the best use for this space. 

Construction projects are always more fun and go smoother when you have good help, Nate checked all my measurements and made sure I was making square cuts. I cant say enough about the amazing feeling I get when him and I work on something together. Just teaching him these skills feels like I am passing on something special that will stay with him forever. 

Since we wrapped the lattice around where the stairs had previously been we needed to build a new set in the center of the deck. Like everything I do I didn't want them to be boring standard stairs so this is what we came up with. They turned out nice especially for something that was designed on the fly and built without any written dimensions or instructions.

Fast forward through the boring staining process (which took way too long) and here is where it is today. I built an L shaped bench to fit in the corner padded with standard 48" outdoor patio cushions and loads of comfy pillows. A nice big outdoor rug feels good on naked toes or you can kick your feet up on the pallet wood coffee table that Nate and I had previously built. A couple of hanging ferns and two tea light lanterns finish off the feel of a separate space from the rest of the deck. This has already been a big hit while entertaining and an amazing place for our early morning coffee.

On the opposite side of the deck is the dining area, just a simple iron table with four chairs but combined with the black accented railing and the red cushions looks and feels much more expensive than it actually was to build. We have gotten so much use out of this great outdoor space all summer even while trying to complete the project. The only thing its missing now is an outdoor kitchen but hopefully that is coming soon!!! 

I guess I should also mention that we now have a level yard with beautiful green grass!! It was a lot of moving dirt, leveling and raking before my friend Blake came over with his high tech grass seeder and seeded the heck out of our yard!! While the seed was more expensive than I ever thought grass seed could be it was well worth it, it looks like a golf course (its golf course seed). Seriously the key to a yard like this is of course weather and soil conditions but quality seed makes the biggest difference, and I am told it is just going to get thicker and greener as time passes. 

It was a time consuming project but for the small amount of money we invested it made the biggest difference in the comfort and feel of the back of the house. We will let Nate and Sara relax and enjoy it for a bit while I get started on the next project!!