Summer DIY projects to boost your backyard

The summer is heating up, and it’s high time for backyard barbecues, improvised front-yard waterslides, and some general fun in the sun. It’s also time to get some vitamin D while completing a nice outdoor project. If you’re looking for something to build to pass the weekends around the house this summer, check out some of the ideas we’ve listed below.

Build a storage shed. A small shed in your backyard can serve a number of purposes, from storing and locking away big tools and machinery to providing a convenient getaway from the noise of the house. This is a fairly sizeable project, but with the right tools and a little help from a friend, it’s nothing you can’t tackle. Take a look at this plan from The Family Handyman, which proposes some cost-cutting measures to help you build your shed on the cheap.

Make a barbecue grill out of a barrel. If you want to cook up some burgers, but don’t want to fork up the dough for an expensive grill, there’s no greater pleasure than cooking out of a grill you built yourself. The hardest part about this project is just getting your hands on the right kind of barrel (of which it is suggested that you obtain a food grade barrel, rather than an old oil or fuel drum). Once you have a barrel, the rest can easily be taken care of with a bit of lumber and some other odds and ends. Read the steps over at Instructables.

Wrap a bench around a tree. This project will turn some heads at your next patio party. If you’ve got a solid, mature tree in your backyard, you can turn it into an idyllic place for your family and guests to sit. Like the storage shed, this isn’t a small undertaking, but the pros at This Old House have directions to walk you through the whole process.

**Dig a fire pit. **Fire pits have become something of a fad over the last several years, but most people opt to build theirs above ground. The price of materials for the extra stone could be costly, so to save some cash, you can choose to build yours into the ground instead. It will look great and give your friends somewhere to gather as the summer nights get late. Here’s how you can build it.

We know builders can be a restless breed, so we hope that these projects will give you something to make good use of the beautiful summer weather. And if you want to make good use of your weekdays too, come talk to us at Wright Brothers and see if you’d be a good fit for our team!