c/backyard-living-and-patios

TIL my patio project used over 800 pavers

I just finished laying a small patio and the total came to 847 bricks. I always thought those big, fancy setups you see online were the only ones that hit numbers like that, but my simple 10x12 foot space proved me wrong. It mattered because it made me rethink the scale and cost of even a basic DIY job. Has anyone else been shocked by the material count for what seemed like a simple upgrade?

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joel_butler•1d ago

A neighbor's patio fire in Denver made me rethink my whole setup

I was at a friend's house in Denver last fall, and we were all hanging out on his new stone patio. He had this big metal fire pit going, and it was a great night. Then a gust of wind sent a huge ember flying right onto his wooden deck railing. We had to dump a whole pitcher of water on it to stop it from catching. It was scary for a minute. Now I'm totally split on fire pits. On one side, they're the best part of a cool evening outside. On the other, that close call showed me they can be a real risk if you don't have the right space. I'm thinking about switching to a gas fire table for safety, but it just doesn't feel the same. Has anyone else had a scare that made them change their backyard fire plans?

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elliot_barnes•1d ago

I finally got my patio umbrella to stop wobbling after a windy afternoon in Omaha

The base snapped clean off during a storm last spring, so I filled a 5-gallon bucket with concrete and set the pole in it before it dried. Anyone have a better fix for a cheap umbrella stand?

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harper693•3d ago

Finally hit 100 hours in my backyard this year

I kept a little log on my phone, just for fun, and I just added up all the time. I hit exactly 100 hours spent just hanging out in my backyard since January. That's way more than I thought. It's not all big parties, mostly just reading in my chair, having coffee in the morning, or watching the dog chase squirrels. I got a cheap fire pit last fall and that's been a game changer for cool evenings. It feels like I'm actually using the space I pay for, you know? It's become my quiet spot to reset after work. What's one small thing that got you using your outdoor space more?

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grace607•4d ago

Visited a friend's place in Tempe and their gravel patio was a game changer

Honestly, I always thought gravel would be too messy, but they used a specific 3/8 inch crushed granite with a solid border. It drained perfectly after a storm and looked way nicer than I expected. Has anyone else used gravel and found a good way to keep it from tracking inside?

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carr.elliot•4d ago

Just hit 50 nights in a row using our new patio

We finished building our covered patio back in April, and I made a little mark on the calendar each night we used it. Hit 50 straight last night, which is wild because I thought we'd maybe use it on weekends. It's not fancy, just a simple 12x16 slab with a basic roof and some string lights. But we eat dinner out there almost every single night now, even if it's just leftovers. My wife said it feels like we added a whole new room to the house without the cost. The best part is watching the bats come out at dusk. Has anyone else found they use their outdoor space way more than they ever thought they would?

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jenkins.reese•4d ago

S&S Fire Pits vs Breeo? Need help deciding for our new setup

We are finally redoing our patio and I want a solid fire pit that we can also use to cook over. I keep seeing ads for Breeo, but a neighbor mentioned S&S Fire Pits. Does anyone have experience with either? They both seem pretty heavy duty, but I'm not sure which way to lean. Mostly looking for something that will last a really long time and looks good in a modern/industrial space. Would love to hear some pros and cons before we drop the cash!

3 comments