HowStuffWorks Newsletter
Outdoor living includes swimming pools, solar yard lights, bug zappers and more. Learn all about outdoor living and how to enjoy your backyard.
More Home & Garden Topics to Explore:
There's not too much you can do about what Mother Nature throws at your deck, but there's a whole lot that you can do -- that you need to do -- to protect it.
Getting the most out of your deck means keeping it covered at least some of the time. And thankfully, you've got lots of options to choose from.
It's time to increase your living space, but you've run out of room in your home. So, head to the great outdoors. Your outdoor space can provide a lot of usable square footage.
By Sara Elliott
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As more and more people are utilizing their outdoor spaces, many are starting to look the same. Do something unique to your outdoor space to really wow your friends and family.
Your deck can begin to deteriorate after just one season, but there are ways to protect your outdoor space for years to come.
By Sara Elliott
A swimming pool cover pump removes unwanted rainwater from the pool cover quickly and effectively. Learn more about the purpose of a swimming pool cover pump from this article.
Gas and electric pool heaters are both used to warm swimming water. Learn the difference between gas and electric swimming pool heaters in this article.
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Plaster pumps help you plaster a large area, such as a swimming pool, eliminating the messy cleanup afterward. Learn more about swimming pool plaster pumps from this article.
You're wondering how to recognize a chigger bite. This article will tell you how to recognize chigger bites.
Swimming pools are often the venue for accidents involving small children, so safety measures are very important. Learn about different types of swimming pool safety covers in this article.
You bought an outdoor wood-burning furnace and would like to install it yourself. Learn how to install an outdoor furnace in this article.
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You can make raccoon repellant with ammonia, potent spices or naphthalene. Learn how to make homemade raccoon repellant in this article.
You love watching butterflies in your garden and you wish you knew how to make a butterfly feeder. This article will tell you how to make a butterfly feeder.
Ensure that your home and property are free of wasps by learning to get rid of wasp nests. Learn about how to get rid of wasp nests in this article.
You wish you knew how to build a backyard bird sanctuary, but don't know where to find information. Learn about how to build a backyard bird sanctuary in this article.
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You have a lot of crows in your yard, which you'd like to get rid of. Learn some tips here as to how to get rid of the crows.
You have snakes in your yard would like to know how to get rid of snakes in your yard. Learn how to get rid of snakes in your yard in this article.
When you know how to design a patio area you can create an outdoor living area. Learn about how to design a patio area in this article.
If you know how to design a patio with a fire pit, you'll increase the number of nights you sit outdoors on your patio. Learn about how to design a patio with a fire pit in this article.
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When you design a patio with an awning, you add color and shade to your garden patio. Learn about how to design a patio with an awning in this article.
You want to design patio furniture around a fire pit, but you're not sure how to do it. Learn about how to design patio furniture around a fire pit in this article.
Pools are expensive enough -- you don't want to pay someone to drain your pool for you if you can do it yourself. Learn about how to drain a pool with a garden hose in this article.
Spiders are useful for controlling insect populations outdoors, but that doesn’t mean you want them in your house. Learn how to get rid of spiders in this article.
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You've been seeing roaches on the kitchen counter and want to get rid of them without using those horrible-smelling sprays. Learn about how to get rid of roaches with boric acid in this article.
You can get rid of ground hornets with soap and water, insecticide, traps or by removing their nests. Learn about how to get rid of ground hornets in this article.