If you're a homeowner with nothing special outside your back door, you've probably felt the pang of patio or deck envy. You go to a friend's house, and he has an incredible layout in his backyard.

Spacious patio with patio furniture placed on it. - Joanne Dale/Getty Images There are plenty of reasons why a homeowner might want to build a patio in their backyard or off the side of their home. It ...

Becca Lewis is home maintenance writer who aims to foster confidence in and inspire DIY enthusiasts at all skill levels. Becca attended Southern Connecticut State University, where she studied ...

Lauren is a writer and architectural designer living and working in Brooklyn, NY. In addition to being a writer at Forbes, she works as a freelance architectural designer specializing in residential ...

What is a deck? These highly sought-after home features can boost your resale—if properly maintained.

You’ve been thinking about it for some time and you’ve finally decided to take the plunge — you’re going to build a patio or deck this summer. But if you want to have a space to socialize and ...

Deck financing is borrowing money from a lender to pay for a new deck. Of course, paying with cash will enable you to avoid paying interest, but financing allows you to pay for the deck over time by ...

Adding a deck or patio to your home is an appealing, relatively low-cost way to create extra living space. But which is the best and most eco-friendly choice for you? The answer is: “It depends on ...

As we dig out from snowstorms, turn the heat up against the unrelenting cold, and throw another log onto the fire, I thought perhaps an article about summertime pursuits might be encouraging. As hard ...

For homeowners who want a meaningful upgrade without the disruption of a full remodel, a deck is often the best balance of impact and practicality.

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Houses are money pits. Between the taxes, the maintenance, and the repairs, it’s a wonder anyone can afford to own one. One way to ...