A Patio for Entertaining

Thanks to a few working weekends and a helping hand from their neighbors, this once-bland backyard is now a welcoming retreat with plenty of room for guests.

Before and After

 

To-Do List

Phase 1:

  • Clear the space for a new patio, and extend the patio slab

  • Call Lowe’s for delivery of pavers and plants

  • Ask the Bickslers to help install the pavers and new lighting

Phase 2:

  • Build the retaining wall around the patio

  • Ask for help from the Bickslers with painting the arbor and planters, installing the window box, and planting shrubs and herbs

  • Call Lowe’s to deliver the grill

 

 

Pave The Way

Square pavers fit together easily to give a cobblestone look. To install, the team first excavated and leveled the area. Then they added paver base, tamped, and leveled. After laying the stones, they filled the joints with jointing sand by sweeping some back and forth over the stones. When the sand is dampened with a water mist, it hardens and locks the pavers into place.

To watch a how-to video for installing pavers, go to LowesCreativeIdeas.com/Patio.

 

 

 

Make It: Paint Cans Project

Step 1: Cut a 1 x 4 x 6 board to 38 inches long using a handsaw, or ask a Lowe’s employee in the lumber department to cut the wood for you.


Step 2: Use a flathead screwdriver and a hammer to puncture four drainage holes into the bottom of each paint can.


Step 3: Prime each paint can and the board. Allow to dry. Spray-paint each can with a basecoat (we used white in a satin finish). Using leftover
accent paint and a small brush, create the stripes. Paint the board in a coordinating color.


Step 4: From the end of the board, measure and mark at 9 1∕3 inches, 18 inches, and 27 1∕3 inches. Attach the robe hooks at these marks using
the included hardware.


Step 5: Attach the completed board to the fence using screws. Add plants of your choice, and hang the paint cans on the robe hooks.


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Helping Hands

Bickslers' Kitchen Makeover


Project Details
Lowe’s List
Skill level: Advanced
Rough cost estimate $4,265*
Pavers and wall blocks $2,065
Outdoor lighting $70
Outdoor furniture $755
Accessories $1,055
Painted planters $90
Paint cans project $35
Landscaping $130
Exterior paint $65
Rough time estimate: 5 days**
Pavers and Wall Blocks
  • patio pavers (Four Cobble, tan/charcoal, #287003)
  • wall blocks (Countryside, tan/brown, #588)
  • jointing sand (PowerLoc, #278095)
  • paver base (#100166)
  • landscape block adhesive (#153974)
Outdoor Lighting
  • outdoor wall fixture (1-light, #190827)
  • flood lights (6-pack, #82539, #144940)
Outdoor Furniture
  • round dining table (48-inch, Hanover, #206253)
  • dining chairs (Hanover, #204932)
  • market umbrella (9-foot, Sunbrella, Macaw, Model L203690A, Special Order)
  • mid-back chair cushions (Sunbrella; Aruba; Macaw; Special Order)
  • wicker chairs (white, #78828; blue, #78455)
Accessories
  • gas grill (Char-Broil, Commercial Series, Quantum, #296458)
  • wooden arbor (#171296)
  • wooden window box (#25665)
  • outdoor pillows (Sunbrella; Seville Seaside; Macaw; Aruba; Special Order)
  • standard planters (10-inch)
  • ice bucket (#67479)
Painted Planters
  • 4 planters (131∕2-inch, #281192)
  • hobby brush set (#105657)
  • clean-release painter’s tape (#40998)
Paint Can Project
  • 1 pressure-treated board, 1 x 4 x 6***
  • spray paint (Valspar, white, #282277)
  • 3 robe hooks (#71296, #168979)
  • 3 paint cans (1-gallon, #60689)
  • spray primer (Valspar, #282324)
  • metal spray primer (#99059)
  • 1 package of (11∕4-inch) exterior wood screws
Landscaping
  • top soil (#92432)
  • cow manure compost (#92433)
  • pine mulch (#92118)
  • organic soil conditioner (#97675)
  • potting mix (Miracle-Gro, #80642)
Exterior Paint
  • arbor (Valspar Ultra Premium, Homestead Resort Antique Lace 7003-18, eggshell)
  • accents (Valspar Ultra Premium; Cactus Shadow 5008-4B; Tranquil Bay 5004-5B; Belle Grove Spruce 5003-6A; satin)

*Does not include labor costs or applicable taxes, which vary by market, or the cost of plants and tools.
**Does not include lead time for Special Order materials.
***Availability varies by market.

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