When you shop for a new patio set you will quickly realize it isn’t cheap. Quality outdoor furniture is costly, so you will want to get as many years out of it as time allows. If you live somewhere with harsh winters then you know the cold winter months can wreak havoc on some outdoor furniture, while others are unfazed when spring emerges.

Ivy is a type of plant that grows best for ground cover or climbing up structures such as buildings or trees. They are a fast-growing plant that grows great in both indoor and outdoor settings. You can plant your ivy to grow up structures or cover arbors in your garden. To use as an indoor houseplant, you can place it in a decorative basket and add it to a beautiful shelving unit as a piece of decor.

Your trusted and reliable Briggs and Stratton engine is showing signs of trouble.  You have noticed gas leaking around the air filter.  You begin to wonder if it is time to replace that old engine with a new one.

It is a great practice to regularly shock your pool, and timing is a big part of that. You always want your pool to be safe and clean, and it takes strong chemicals like shock to do that. It can be tempting to jump in the clean water, but how after shocking a pool can you swim?

Any above-ground pool can become uneven over time, due to faulty installation or because the ground under it shifts or settles. Even a slight loss of balance can result in wasted water and damage to the pool’s structure. In extreme cases, the walls may collapse, resulting in serious injury or death. This is why it’s important to level your pool.

If you’ve ever splashed around in an outdoor pool, you already know how different the air can feel once you swam. It’s not unusual for people to worry about it being too cold to swim. The area’s air temperature will affect your swimming pool’s temperature and your health. Ever wonder when it is too cold to swim?

Whether you’re trying to hide an ugly fence line or want to add beauty to your landscape, there are a ton of good things to plant along your fence. Planting the right things along your fence line requires planning and forethought. Simply throwing some trees or plants into the ground isn’t going to be enough.

Endless pools or swim spas have gained quite some popularities in recent years. Naturally, homeowners begin to ask the question about pricing. How much does an endless pool cost?

There are many parts of the world that consider lotus flowers to be sacred. They are known for both their exceptional beauty and religious significance – particularly in Hinduism, Buddhism, and various Eastern cultures. Often referred to as the Flower of Life, the lotus is commonly associated with the cycle of life, death, and rebirth.

Because you drive your John Deere lawnmower on rough surfaces, its tires can take a lot of wear and abuse. Over time, they may become flat for various reasons, which means you will have to  fix them.

When it comes to finishing and waterproofing the inside of your new or remodeled swimming pool, you have a number of different options to choose from. While standard plaster – which consists of cement, sand, and additives – is the most popular, Pebble Technology International (PTI) offers several distinct textures of pool finishes.

One of the best ways to transform your yard into a comfortable and attractive hangout space is to install a new deck. The size and shape of your deck will depend on your specific yard, but one thing remains true… You’re going to need a lot of wood.

When considering buying a home, there are different things to take into consideration: neighborhood, infrastructure, highway accessibilities and of course — the size of your home.

If there is one cleaner that is old-fashioned and incredibly popular, it’s borax. Borax has been a staple in laundry, tiling, and even carpet cleaning. Nowadays, people are starting to pour it into pools. Believe it or not, adding a little borax to your pool water might be a smart idea. The question you need to know, though, is what it can offer a pool owner.

Adding a palapa to your patio or backyard setup is a fantastic and often affordable way to add tropical ambiance to your space. Palapas originated in Mexico, but you can now find them at nearly every tiki bar, resort pool, and beach bar all over the globe. Building a palapa yourself is certainly possible, and the materials are relatively affordable. But when you build one, you should follow several steps to ensure you build a palapa that will last a long time.

Plain dirt is the perfect opportunity to infuse charm and character into your backyard. The possibilities are endless and there is no reason that you have to spend thousands of dollars. So, what is the cheapest way to cover dirt in a backyard?

When I first started writing for Upgraded Home, one of my first articles was about “she sheds.” She sheds are sheds that are made to be a woman’s lounge area in the garden. When you are making your own little shed hideaway, you need to make sure to use the right materials. This includes choosing the right kind of plywood for your shed floor. But, what should you use for flooring?

Garage door openers typically don’t get much thought until they quit working.  When the garage door won’t go up or come down, things can get frustrating.  The frustration grows when you discover the garage door opener is history.

Nothing says summertime like a cookout. And at the center of any good cookout is the grill, on which numerous foods are cooked to the enjoyment of the grill master and their guests. But there are a variety of grills out there, and some are ideal for specific occasions while others are ideal for different occasions.

Pollinator gardens have risen in popularity over the last several years. Homeowners, gardeners, and conservationists alike have realized how important it is to nurture an ecosystem with pollinators. Understandably, many homeowners struggle with what to put in a pollinator garden.

An electric fence is an effective way to deter animals and people from crossing a boundary. But just as with any electrical item, it’s possible to run into issues with your electric fence. So if your electric fence isn’t working, how can you figure out what went wrong?

Over the years, technology has consistently advanced and made life more convenient in many ways. One such technological advancement is the Clicker universal wireless garage door entry system. With this keyless entry device, you and your family can have convenient, secure access to your home and garage.

If you are familiar with pop up emitters, you have probably heard horror stories about them freezing. This freezing can potentially cause backup issues in your downspout, which might damage them. So how can you prevent your pop up emitter from freezing?

As a child, waking up to a snow day is a pleasant surprise. You get to stay home from school, play around in the snow, and maybe sip on some hot chocolate. As adults, the snow is not as fun since it often just stops you from getting on with your day faster.

Your backyard is undoubtedly so much more than a fenced-in area behind your house. For you, it might serve as an extension of your living space, complete with cozy, plush lounge seating. Or perhaps you host dinner parties and BBQs with friends and family or enjoy frequent picnics. But when uninvited guests, like mosquitoes, show up, it can take a big bite out of your fun.

RVing is an excellent way to get out and see the world. If you plan on staying in one place for a while, you may be interested in hooking up an external propane tank to your RV. Doing so will ensure you never run out of propane in your current location.

Gardening is fun and tranquil, albeit physically exhausting in some cases. No matter how much time you spend in the garden, you will likely get sweaty and dirty. Because of that, many homeowners struggle with what to wear when gardening.

A crack in any concrete surface can be concerning, especially if the cracks seem to appear overnight. Many homeowners, particularly those in a newly constructed house, will start to notice cracks appearing in the garage floor after about a year. While these cracks are concerning, usually, there is no need to be worried.

Fences are wonderful features in our yards that help to give you security, privacy, and protection. A fence can be decorative or utilitarian, giving kids and pets a safe place to play. Installing a new fence is hard work, and sometimes homeowners are left with additional fencing parts. Further, replacing a fence panel with a fresh installation can leave you with extra and unwanted parts. Finding a use for an old fence panel will allow you to put your creative skills to good use.

To extend your shed’s lifetime, following an involved maintenance routine that includes preventive measures is the best route. One of the preventive maintenance tasks you should do is put some material around the bottom of the shed’s exterior. This is referred to as shed skirting, and there are many material options to choose from.

Automatic garage doors get rid of an annoying chore that many of us often have to deal with. They have helped streamline the morning routine for so many of us. Garage doors rely on numerous components to work as expected and those include their sensors.

Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, and with that comes the need for convenient and accessible charging options. Installing a home electric car charger is a great solution for many EV owners.

A wooden fence adds much-needed security and privacy to your property. It’s also an aesthetic addition that can increase your home’s value. Installing your own wooden fence is a move that makes a lot of sense.

The other night, the area around my town had a major storm. It was a thunderbanger, with more lightning and thunder than I knew what to do with. Right across my street is a large power line. I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen if lightning decided to strike it. After a while, I decided to research what happens when lightning hits our power sources.

A deck is a fun escape and a way to add value to your backyard, especially if you add other luxuries. It is natural to picture yourself living a life of leisure in a hot tub on your deck. Countless homeowners have asked themselves the question; can I add a hot tub to my deck?

When I was younger, I quickly realized that I don’t want to have a front lawn simply because I didn’t want to mow the lawn. When I heard about artificial grass, I was pretty thrilled.

If you have ever gone out to mow the lawn and suddenly realized that your lawnmower wouldn’t start, then you know the pain of this situation all too well. Whether it is due to a dirty carburetor, you have a malfunctioning spark plug, not enough gas to the engine, or simply a clogged air filter, there are many reasons why this could be happening.

Few homeowners rejoice at the sight of snakes in and around their house. Snakes are scary and potentially dangerous, depending on where you live, the type of snakes, and whether you have pets. You are in luck if you are struggling with how to keep snakes away from your house.

Garage doors are tough and durable parts of your home. They need to be because they are routinely subjected to the elements while keeping a part of your home safe. Still, they aren’t completely immune to getting damaged.

Growing a bonsai tree is an ancient art that requires some skill and patience. While this process takes time, many find the art of bonsai a relaxing and even mediation task. Its reward is in the work and in the beautiful miniature giant that this work slowly shapes. If you are interested in creating your own bonsai tree, one of the first questions you are likely to ask yourself is “how long does it take to grow a bonsai tree?” 

Whether you’re considering installing an above ground pool or inground pool, it’s important that you know about the various types of liners you have to choose from. When it comes to inground pools, the liner simply refers to the material that the pool is constructed out of – whether it be fiberglass, concrete, or vinyl.

After several hot summers and significant changes in water levels in many areas, water usage has become a critical consideration for many homeowners. This is especially true for those who have gardens and lawns in drought-prone areas. There is not a whole lot one individual can do to increase the water levels in an entire region. There are, however, a lot of different ways you can create a stunning and thriving garden with very little water.

The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons reports that over 500,000 people receive treatment for ladder-related injuries per year. 97% of these injuries occur at a private residence and around 300 of them are fatal.

Building a fence is a great way to add some added privacy to your home. If you live in a rural area, you can also use a fence to create a pasture for all your pets. It’s essential to know how to build a fence properly to ensure it’s durability. 

I’ll be honest. There are so many different terms that you can learn when it comes to pool talk, it kind of shocks me. (See what I did there?) When I first heard about swim spas, I assumed that they were the same things as pools. Believe it or not, they aren’t. Swim spas and pools are different, and if you’re looking into getting one, it’s good to know what you should expect.

Asphalt is an affordable material that is used for driveways, roads, and parking lots. It is a durable material that requires relatively low maintenance. When it’s time to install a new asphalt driveway for your home, you need to know how much weight the material can hold.

Planning a landscaping project or just want to liven up your house with a few potted plants? Home Depot offers a wide variety of flowers, trees, shrubs, and plants to help you find what you’re looking for. But what happens if you change your mind after your purchase? Can you return plants to Home Depot?

You may begin to notice moisture building up on your garage floor. This process is known as “sweating” and it can be a real nuisance that can make your flooring a slipping hazard and even leave the other portions of the structure damp.

Whether your driveway is getting worn out or you just want to spruce it up, you have plenty of options. While some may want to tear up the asphalt and start new, others are wondering if there’s an easier option. 

There are numerous sorts of drainage solutions available today. Each performs best under specific situations, making drainage choices crucial. So, what about french and trench drains? What’s the difference?

When you start getting into the world of home improvement, you gain a massive vocabulary. You start talking about things like drill bits, thermocouples, and other things that sound all sciencey. When you’re learning about plumbing, you’ll hear terms like “silcock” and “hose bib.” What are these things, and are they the same thing?

There are very few things more relaxing than lounging in your own private hot tub, whether you’re enjoying a romantic evening or soothing your aching muscles. Despite the host of benefits that come with owning a hot tub, the perceived costs often prevent many homeowners from buying one in the first place. If you’re considering installing a hot tub in your outdoor space, you’re likely asking yourself: Are hot tubs expensive to run?

Lawn mowers are considered by many as simple machines, but that does not mean they are always easy to fix. If you have a lawn mower that runs for a minute then stops, you are probably wondering why that is happening and how you can solve the problem.

Between their appearance and dietary habits, carnivorous plants are endlessly fascinating. Mostly known as vicious bug predators in tropical areas, carnivorous plants have proven they can grow in many environments, inside or outside. So, what are the best carnivorous plants for indoors?

Loud and unruly noises when shutting down your lawn mower engine is not normal. Bangs or pops as your engine quits running are an indication that something is amiss with the engine. The cause can be a mechanical problem or incorrect operating procedure. It is important to learn and remedy the cause of your lawnmower engine backfires.

Before you learn how to help keep your flower bouquet alive longer, it’s good to know how long a bouquet lasts on average. Generally, a bouquet of fresh flowers will last five to seven days in any type of vase at home. Hearty tropical flowers tend to last a bit longer, around seven to 10 days.

The average cost to fence half an acre is $9,000 for materials, installation, and labor. Homeowners spend an average of $23 per linear foot to install a fence. You can expect to spend $18,000 to fence 1 acre of land, and composite fences cost $35 per linear foot.  

Pool pumps are a necessary part of swimming pool health, and they help sanitize the water. However, they can run into trouble and fail to operate properly if the capacitor is outdated or damaged. So, how can you tell if a pool pump capacitor is bad?

Depending on where you live, your area may be highly susceptible to massive snowstorms that bury your home and leave you with no way of getting out of your driveway. Digging yourself out with a shovel is tedious, cold, and takes a considerable amount of time and effort. Snow blowers, on the other hand, make snow removal easy and quick – but only if they are properly fueled and maintained.

No longer just for parking vehicles, garages have become workspaces and storage areas that we use on a daily basis. It is where many homeowners have their laundry rooms, sporting equipment, and more. Because your HVAC system doesn’t extend into the garage, it gets very warm, and a ceiling fan helps.