EL SEGUNDO HERALD July 25, 2019 Page 15
Backyard Projects To Get The Family Outside
The Hoffman Group
NEW LISTING
13075 Pacific Promenade, #111, Playa Vista
Price: $889,000 | Beds/Baths: 2 / 2.5 | Sq Ft: 1200
NEW LEASE COMING SOON!
319 West Oak Avenue, El Segundo
3 BD + Den | 2.5 BA | 1850 SF | 2 Car Attached Garage Deck with
Views of the High School | New floors, paint, water heater, newly
landscaped | private back yard and recently fumigated.
Call or Email for details
Quote for the Week: “Sometimes later becomes
never. Do it now.” -anonymous
gina hoffman
310. 864. 5347
ginahoffmanrealtor@gmail.com
BRE No. 01905428
(BPT) - Want to get the kids away from
screens and outside for some fresh air? Many
outdoor projects will not only lure your whole
family outdoors once the jobs are completed,
but the family may actually want to help you.
Here are five ideas for outdoor
projects everyone will love.
1. Make a backyard movie theater
Who wouldn’t love watching movies
under the stars? You’ll need a DVD
projector and a large screen. You can
use a large drop cloth or blackout cloth
stretched over a PVC frame or between
two trees for a screen, if you’ve got
them. Stretch it taut and secure so it
doesn’t move with every breeze midmovie.
Provide plenty of blankets or
rugs and pillows so everyone can relax
during the movie, and pop up some
popcorn! You can rent a projector,
collapsible screen and popcorn machine.
Visit RentalHQ.com to find rental
companies near you.
2. Build wooden benches
For kids - and grownups - who aren’t
keen on lying on the grass to relax, offer
outdoor seating options in shady spots.
Sturdy wooden benches are not hard
to build, and there are plenty of templates
online for different approaches. One creative
method is to build a bench around the trunk
of a favorite large tree. Get kids involved
in helping with construction and painting.
Supply cushions for a comfy, shady spot for
kids to read, talk and daydream.
3. Get out the s’mores
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Fire pits are all the rage, and for good
reason. They’re easy to make, and people love
gathering around a fire to roast marshmallows
and enjoy a summer evening. You’ll need to
check local ordinances regarding fires before
you begin. Pick a spot well away from bushes
or foliage, with no overhanging branches or
structures. You should also call 811 to check
that there are no underground utility cables
where you’re building. Fire pits can be dug
into the ground, at ground level or raised
slightly above ground level. Materials vary,
but include stone, brick or metal, and you
can make it any shape - round, square or
rectangular. Using heavy stones and bricks
is an easier task if you have - or rent - a
wheelbarrow or cart for transporting materials.
4. Create a playhouse or gazebo
To attract everyone in the family, create
a little outdoor space for kids to play in or
for adults to enjoy a beverage and relax.
Depending on the size and design of your
project, this can be a straightforward build
or a more complicated structure. Online
templates can give you ideas for different
design options, so you can choose what
works best for your space and skill level.
If you can, build a screened-in structure to
keep the bugs out for maximum comfort.
You will need to purchase lumber for your
posts, floor, joists and beams, but again,
you can keep the design to a simple
rectangle or square to make the job
easier. Tools you will need include a
miter saw, jigsaw and power drill. If
you don’t have all these power tools,
you can rent the equipment you need
for construction.
5. Put up a tree swing
If you’ve got an older but sturdy,
healthy tree with a good-sized horizontal
branch, this could be a great spot for
a tree swing. Make sure the branch is
long enough to occasionally relocate
the swing, to prevent damage to the
tree. You can make either a simple
disk-shaped swing with a single rope,
or a traditional rectangular swing with
2-4 ropes. There are plenty of home
improvement websites offering rope
swing designs. You’ll want to use
strong rope, such as a 3/4-inch twisted
polypropylene rope. Tools you may
need include a handsaw or miter saw, a
sander, a power screwdriver and power drill.
The entire family will find renewed interest
in spending time together outdoors with your
creative additions to the yard. Now is a great
time to start a fun new project - before the
summer flies by. Visit RentalHQ.com to locate
all the tools you need, so you don’t have to
buy items you may rarely use. *