When I put together reports or write articles about DIY projects, I always have people sending me messages asking how hard it is to do. Quite frankly, that’s up to you. But, I strongly believe that anyone can do anything they make up their mind to do.
Of course, in this economy there is a greater need for us to do our own work. We want the finer things in life. But, we may not always be able to afford them. Well, you can when you buy the supplies and do it yourself.
So, let’s walk through a few skills you might need to learn. I can help you find the materials you will need. Although the internet is a great resource and anyone who knows how to use a search engine will be able to find just about anything they want.
The first thing you might want to learn how to do is to build a brick wall. It’s a great deal of fun when you let it. You’ll only have to build a small brick surface. So, the work isn’t as hard as building a brick house. Just relax and enjoy. You can buy yourself a book at the local hardware store that will give you all of the ins and outs of stacking bricks. But in my experience, I have had friends who have built their own brick structures. They were happy even though it wasn’t perfect. Actually, their brick patio fireplace looked great to me.
A little carpentry never hurt anyone. Learn to build a solid wood structure with 2x4s and plywood. Once that is done, find the right faux texture that suits your taste. You can literally have a structure that looks like marble or stone and it will look just as good as if you actually had marble or stone. These new textures are looking more real. Some of them actually are real. Stones that are cut in thin layers are real stone, but cost less than using entire stones.
With the ventless gel fireplace accessories, learning a little about drywall doesn’t hurt either. Mainly you’ll need to know how to cut drywall and apply drywall compound. When you are covering the area with a faux texture, you really don’t have to be that great at finishing drywall anyway. Just cut your drywall to the right dimensions. Nail it in place and apply drywall compound. Smooth and sand. Then, cover with a faux texture. That’s as easy as a new fireplace installation gets.
You might want to learn these skills to improve your patio and build a grill. Yes, a grill. If you know how to build a brick structure that stands about three feet high, then I see no reason why you can’t build your own grill that can double as a fireplace when the barbecue is on the table and the sun is setting in the West. Learn to have fun building and you’ll have the most beautiful home in the neighborhood.
