One of the biggest expenses of backyard upgrades are the hardscape materials: the wood, stone, brick and concrete used for patios, walkways, retaining walls and more. There are a number of high-impact, minimal material projects that can give your yard the “wow” factor for less money. With savvy hacks and shopping strategies, these ideas and projects can be as affordable as they are doable.
A slatted versus solid fence—with the boards spaced a bit wider than normal—helps to reduce wood costs. Big concrete pavers can take the place of poured concrete or pricey stone for a patio. Look for the lumber scrap section at the Home Depot, Lowe’s and other big-box home improvement stores. As the Krazy Coupon Lady notes in her blog, you can score some useful pieces for up to 80 percent off. The scraps can be used to fashion a wood strip walkway, plant stand display or personalized sign.
While it’s true you can find a lot of bargains in August when it comes to outdoor items, many brick-and-mortar stores and online outlets have “start-of-season” sales in Spring as well. These include the big-box home improvement stores like Home Depot, Lowe’s and Ace and online sites like Wayfair and Overstock.com. Another great place to check are the discount home stores like HomeGoods and the new “home décor superstore” At Home, which just opened its first Southern California store in Orange County’s Foothill Ranch.
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