While you may love the idea of updating your patio to embrace your outdoor living space, it’s clear that the backyard needs a bit more work than outdoor furniture can fix.
Spending on home improvement has increased by as much as 17% in the last year, according to the 2019 HomeAdvisor State of Home Spending report. Costs are generally rising for both labor and materials, but if your budget doesn’t allow for spending even more on home improvement, you may want to look at which do-it-yourself projects fit with your skill set and schedule.
“In terms of the overall cost of anything, the labor is still overwhelmingly the most expensive part,” says Mischa Fisher, chief economist for ANGI Homeservices, a digital marketplace for homeowners to connect with home service professionals, of which HomeAdvisor is a subsidiary.
An outdoor DIY project may seem easier than trying to remodel a room inside, but don’t forget that you should always use materials that won’t deteriorate when they’re exposed to the elements. While a DIY project may save you from having to pay for professional labor, renovating your backyard is not the time to scrimp on the right wood, hardware or plastics.
“Don’t look at DIY as something that’s going to be a minimal project with minimal materials cost,” says Chip Wade, a master carpenter best known for his roles on HGTV shows like “Ellen’s Design Challenge” and “Curb Appeal: The Block,” and a consultant for Liberty Mutual Insurance.
Even when cutting out labor costs, completing home improvement projects is becoming more expensive. Especially if you’re hoping to renovate your backyard in a way that will increase its appeal to future buyers, expect to spend more than you may have planned.
Here is one DIY project that can revamp your backyard – Build a Private Patio
If you’ve been trying to spruce up your patio area for a while but can’t achieve the look you want with decor, consider adding a partial wall that can help distinguish one sitting space from another, as well as provide some additional shade for part of the day.
Wood pallets can be bought or even salvaged, and you’ll want to find a couple that measure at least a few feet on each side to be able to build a wall with enough height and depth for privacy. You’ll also need additional pieces of wood – measuring the full height of the planned wall to secure the pallets, plus some shorter pieces to serve as feet and add stability.
How much will it cost? You could get wood pallets for free from a store or company that uses them for shipping, or even online through Craig’s List or a local flea market, though they’re popular and you may find them hard to come by. Uline sells pallets in various sizes and groupings, including a minimum of five 48-by-48-inch pallets, at $30 per pallet for a total of $150.
—
Photo Credit: sweasy / Shutterstock.com