Guides
Inside porch restoration: what happens at each stage
From assessment and shoring to decking, columns, rails and finish. What each stage of a porch restoration involves and where hidden damage usually appears.
Desk
Surfaces Desk
Materials, bases and drainage, and what survives a winter.
Maintenance
A maintenance plan for patio projects after year one
What a patio needs in year two: joint sand, edge checks, sealing decisions, winter prep and the seasonal lighting habits that cause avoidable fires.
Guides
Before starting patio projects: a planning guide
Survey the site, settle where water goes, call for utility locates and set the base depth. The decisions that fail later are all made before excavation.
Costs
Budgeting for patio renovation without fuzzy numbers
Renovating an existing patio is priced by what has to come out. Demolition, disposal, resurface-or-replace decisions and the reserve for what is underneath.
Reviews
Covered patio components worth testing before you specify
Panels, seals, fasteners, gutters, screens and fans: what to sample, how to test each one on site, and the ember and smoke questions a roof introduces.
Industry
Five lessons that repeat on covered patio projects
Ledger details, footings, loose objects, the appliance rule and the daylight nobody accounted for: five patterns that decide how a patio cover performs.
Industry
Five lessons that repeat on almost every patio project
Five patterns that show up on patio jobs again and again, from base depth and buried conduit to storm stand-downs and the punch list nobody finishes.
Features
How climate changes the choices for covered patio systems
Snow load, wind uplift, hail, sun and wildfire embers each rule out different patio covers. How to match the system to what your region actually does.
Features
How climate changes the choices for patio projects
Freeze-thaw, expansive clay, monsoon rain and coastal salt all change the right patio detail. How to read local climate data instead of national advice.
Rules
How permits and local codes affect small patio designs
Setbacks, impervious coverage, structures and open burning rules all differ by town. What triggers a permit on a small patio and who to ask about each one.
Costs
How to set a realistic budget for covered patio systems
Footings, framing, panels, electrical and permits drive the price of a patio cover. The line items buyers forget, and the safety costs worth keeping in.
Costs
How to set a realistic budget for patio projects
Build a patio budget from quantities and unit costs, not a national average. Where allowances hide, what to reserve, and how to compare two bids fairly.
Rules
How to vet a contractor for outdoor living in 2027
Verify the license and insurance yourself, put permits and clearances in the scope, and settle allowances, subcontractors and closeout before you sign.
Rules
How to vet a contractor on price for a patio renovation
Compare renovation bids on demolition, disposal and discovery terms, not headline totals. The clauses to read, the questions to ask, and the answers to avoid.
Reviews
Patio project products worth testing before you commit
Test jointing, sealers, edge restraint and outdoor lighting on a small area first. What to trial, how to judge it, and the battery risks worth knowing.
Reviews
Small patio materials compared for cost and upkeep
Concrete, pavers, stone, gravel, porcelain and decking on a tight site: what each costs in upkeep, how each handles water, and where each one disappoints.
Maintenance
Small patio designs: problems and fixes for beginners
Ponding, wobbling furniture, hot surfaces, umbrellas in a gust and joint washout. The common small-patio faults, what causes them, and the honest repair.
Features
Small-space options for outdoor living that work
Balconies, stoops and side yards can be real rooms. What fits in eight by ten feet, where grills belong, and how to clear out fast when thunder starts.
Features
Small-space patio renovations that stay within budget
On a small patio, the cheap renovations often outperform the expensive ones. Where to spend, what to defer, and which low-cost fixes actually change use.
Maintenance
What homeowners regret about outdoor living
The regrets that repeat: no shade, no outlets, a fire pit too close to the house, and a patio sized for a party instead of a Tuesday evening.
Maintenance
What homeowners regret about patio renovation costs
The spending regrets that repeat after a patio renovation: the skipped test hole, the vague allowance, the deferred drainage and the finish bought too early.
Rules
What to ask before hiring help with small patio designs
Twelve questions for a designer or installer working on a tight site, covering access, spoil removal, drainage, clearances and who owns the finished drawing.
Reviews
Which covered patio systems make sense for buyers in 2027
Solid roofs, louvered covers, pergolas, awnings and shade sails compared by what each one actually delivers, plus the ventilation rule every roof imposes.
Reviews
Which outdoor living upgrades add everyday value
Ranked by cost per hour of use: shade, air movement, task lighting, drainage and storage beat outdoor kitchens for most households. Here is the math.
Reviews
Which patio renovation spending adds everyday value
Where renovation money earns its keep: drainage, shade, light and shoulder-season comfort, plus the heater and power questions that come with cold evenings.