How to Build a brick workshop

If you are like me, you really care about your car and you want to keep it clean and shiny. However, my friends, this is hard and almost impossible considering the rain, the dust, the birds, the leaves, and so on.. But, I have the answer for you: a garage with an automated door, so you can save time.

This type of garage, built on a concrete foundation with rebar beams, is not going anywhere. The brick walls are very strong, and the cement render on the inside makes them smooth and extra strong.

The garage has polystyrene insulation on the exterior, so it keeps the heat during the cold days, and it stays chilly in the summer. Since this is a garage / workshop combo, the construction has 2 large windows on each side of the garage. In addition, there is a 36" man door to the front, for an easy access inside.

You should also check this video, because it show you how to demolish a building and clear the site for the future garage. You need heavy machinery for this job, such as a back how digger and a tipper truck.

Overall, I hope you enjoy this little project that took us 3 months to make from start to finish. I can report this is way better than I have expected. This garage is roomy and it is a perfect fit for my SUV. In addition, the workshop area is amazing for storing my tools and equipment. Really nice and a big improvement for me, at least.

How to Build Concrete Walkways

If you have a new or old house and you want a quick but essential upgrade, building walkways is The Project. You can build the walkways with concrete or pavers, and thus protect the house foundation from the elements.

You can build the walkways by yourself because the process is relatively easy. However, an extra pair of hands will help and speed up the process. You will need to mix concrete and then pour it around the house.

You can see the step by step process with lots of tips and tricks, by checking out my video.  The video covers everything starting with removing the vegetation layer up to the formwork, pouring the concrete layer and then installing the pavers.

You can also see a full tutorial with written instructions and images HERE. If the ground around the house has a slope, you need to make steps. No need to worry, my friend, because they have you covered with everything!

Make a simple garden path with stone

If you are like me, you will be continuously searching for new projects that will make your garden stand out. Being a constant struggle I have been always searching for the best projects to tackle. Recently I have developed an obsession on stone projects and I love everything that is related to it. Stone is such a nice material and it will add tons of value to your property.

You can choose from tons of stone colors and textures and everything that is built with it will last for hundreds of years. Below you will find a project that shows you all the steps needed build a super simple path with stone.

Building a garden stone path will help you make your property stand out. I can assure you will not be disappointed with this project because it is very durable and it makes a huge difference on your garden design.

Building a concrete driveway

If you want to build a nice driveway for your property, you can follow this video and save tons of money by making it by yourself. The most important thing about this project is to have a really nice and sturdy support for the driveway. Therefore, remove the top layer of soil and then compact it properly.

When you pour the concrete form you need to make a nice formwork and level it thoroughly. Screed the concrete along the form slats and let it dry out for a few days.

Install the concrete borders along the concrete driveway and level them with a spirit level. Next lay a 1" thick layer of sand and screed it. Compact the sand. As a tip, you need to make sure the sand is moist, otherwise you can't compact it thoroughly.

Install the pavers using a mallet. Work in small portions and check the rows are properly installed. After you install all the paver blocks you need to fill the gaps between them with fine sand. The fine sand will lock all the pavers together tightly.

How to build a simple brick wall - DIY Tips

If you want to build a brick house or fence, the masonry techniques will help you save time and get a quality project. Using large blocks to make the wall needs some basic skills that you can develop by following my tips.

First of all, you need a strong foundation for the brick wall. Therefore, use an engineer to determine the depth of the foundation and the rebar configuration. In addition, I recommend you to make strong forms for the foundations, so the elevation is plumb and durable.

Secondly, you need to sink the blocks in water before installing them because they will bond together better. Mix mortar in a wheelbarrow and then use a trowel to apply it to the foundation. Start laying bricks at both ends of the row and then use a guiding string so you can lay the rest of the bricks straight.

Use a spirit level to check if the wall is plumb.

Remove the excess mortar so you can save money and get a professional result.

Form the columns and then pour concrete so you strengthen the structure. Let it dry out for a few days and then make sure you remove the forms.

Last but not least, you can finish the brick wall as you desire. You can install natural stone or you can render it and apply decorative paint.

How to Build a Brick House

Building a brick house has numerous advantages over a light wooden structure. First of all, a brick house is built on a super durable and strong concrete structure that is reinforced with rebars. Therefore, a brick house, if properly maintained, will last for hundreds of years. In addition, a brick house is more resistant to the elements and to potential fires.

On the other hand, a brick house construction is a time consuming process that takes 1-2 years, because there are steps that you cannot skip over. Being a heavy construction, you need proper foundations that are expensive and take a few months to make. In addition, building a brick house is more expensive than a wooden house, because it requires tons of rebars and tons of concrete for the ceilings, foundations and pillars.

The video above shows you what it takes to build a brick house from the ground up. Starting with the foundation, up the to first floor walls, the concrete ceiling, the second floor walls, the second ceiling and the roof, this video covers all steps, so you can really build the brick home of your dreams.

DIY Chicken Coop - Videos!

Today is a great day because... we have chicken coop! I have spent the whole days gathering together a super nice collection of chicken coop videos. If you are like me, videos are 10x better than written articles, because you can actually see how everything comes together and how it looks like when assembled.

I cannot even tell you how cool is to raise your own chickens and have fresh eggs every single day! It is not self sustaining yet, but it is a small step towards that direction. In addition, if you have small kids, they will be more than impressed with the acquaintance. The chickens are lively, colorful and very loud! That sums up what kids enjoy!

Some of the following coops come with a run, which is handy, because you don't want the chickens running all over the place and destroying your flowers and plants. In addition, some coops are elevated while others look more like a shed.

This is by any means a super complete list, but it is a very nice step in that direction. You can find here many types of chicken coops and several sizes. However, most of these coops are relatively small... just great for a family.

Make sure you check out everything before you start building, because each video has its own approach on building the chicken coop. This is an eclectic collection so be prepared to be carried through a large array of designs, sizes and structures.