Outdoor Structures: Article Index

1. Laying the Groundwork

• Surveying Property with Speed and Precision
• Land Reshaped to Suit Your Needs
• Halting Erosion and Improving Drainage
• How to Terrace Slopes with Retaining Walls
• Designing and Building a Free-Form Garden Pool

2. Borders of Wood, Brick and Iron

• Intro and Setting Fence Posts Straight and Secure
• Wooden Fences: Variations on a Basic Theme
• Tall Fences for Privacy
• Building and Repairing Gates
• Blocks and Bricks for a Strong High Wall

3. Quick-and-Easy Backyard Building

• The A-Frame: Modern Tent Built with Plywood
• Post-and-Beam: An Old Method Resurrected; Installing Sloping Roofs
• Gazebos: A Bit of Nostalgia
• Tree Houses: Perches for Adventurers, Young and Old
• The Dome: A Sturdy Bubble of Wooden Triangles
• A Wide Choice of Coverings for Top and Sides

4. A Roomy All-purpose Structure

• A Special Slab Combining Floor and Foundation
• Sturdy Walls Nailed Flat and Tilted Up
• Ready-made Trusses to Support the Roof
• Sheathing with Plywood Panels