DIY Builds
Photo: Andrew Neel
The experts at Outdoor Barren suggest storing all firewood one to two feet off the ground on a store-bought or homemade rack, which will make it harder for snakes or rodents to move in and get comfortable.
Check local regulations. Before you get started, check in with your municipality to see what structure you are allowed to have in your yard and...
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Stairs: Runs/treads and landings both count in square footage totals. They are measured as a part of the floor “from which they descend,” so are...
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Even if you're lucky enough to have an attic, basement, and garage with plenty of storage space, there's still a good chance there are some items you keep outside the house. After all, a backyard shed can be a perfect place to stash your lawn mower and tools, just as out-of-the-way spots under your deck can make for convenient storage space for patio furniture in the off-season. But before you get too comfortable loading up your outdoor storage spaces, there is still one item that can be inviting snakes into your home if you're storing it too close to your abode. Read on to see what you shouldn't be keeping too close to your living quarters.
This is an optional application that asks the council to confirm in a legal document that the proposed works would be lawful (that they would...
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(Lifetime sheds are made of high-density polyethylene.) Resin sheds are the newest type of sheds on the market and are quickly becoming the most...
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Store all firewood a foot or two off the ground and cover it with a tarp to help keep pests out. Even though wood piles will inherently be attractive to snakes, there are still some simple ways to make it less likely they'll make themselves at home. The experts at Outdoor Barren suggest storing all firewood one to two feet off the ground on a store-bought or homemade rack, which will make it harder for snakes or rodents to move in and get comfortable. Covering your elevated woodpile with a tarp secured with bungee cords can offer even more protection, with the bonuses of keeping your fuel drier and making your yard look tidier overall. For more helpful home maintenance tips sent straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Only store as much wood as you need for one winter and try to burn it all before spring. Regardless of how often you like to light up your fireplace, it can still be challenging to estimate how much firewood you'll need at the start of each winter. But when it comes to stockpiling, experts say that it's always best to aim for only getting as much as you know you can completely burn by spring. By removing wood piles from your yard entirely, you're far less likely to play an unwitting host to rodents or reptiles as the weather warms back up. "We know food attracts snakes," Terry Vandeventer, a herpetologist with the Living Reptile Museum in Mississippi, told The Clarion Ledger in a 2019 interview. "Since snakes eat rodents, we want to get rid of them. Get rid of the shelter and get rid of the food, and they'll pass right by and go to your neighbor's ratty house." RELATED: Leaving This in Your Garage Is Bringing Snakes to Your Home, Experts Warn.
Wooden sheds come with many disadvantages, such as not being insect, fire, or weather-resistant. Wood is also not environmentally sustainable,...
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Put Landscaping Fabric or Plastic Down First This problem can get especially challenging with flower beds. Landscaping fabric or plastic serves as...
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It's simple – sheds don't typically need consents Typically, minor dwellings such as sheds are far less complex than a larger building and pose...
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Making sure that your shed is level is essential to its durability. Over time, all structures settle, and if your shed isn't level, it won't be...
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