How to Build a Round Patio with a Fire Pit

This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook builds beautiful circular patio that features a chill-chasing fire pit

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Deck Safety Checklist

7 signs that it's time to repair or replace your deck

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How to Attach Window Boxes to Brick Siding

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shows how to securely fasten outdoor containers to masonry

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All About Built-in Barbecue Pits

Nothing beats the summery pleasure of a juicy burger seared to perfection over an old school charcoal fire

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Create a Patriotic Porch

Red accents and classic wicker make this outdoor room a real conversation starter

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Green Building Expert's 1931 Colonial Revival Redo

Energy-smart upgrades turn a starter house into a home for the long haul

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How to Build Custom Concrete Countertops

This Old House host Kevin O'Connor learns how to create concrete kitchen counters

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DIY Spray Painted Planter

Brighten your deck or patio with these spray painted planters in a new, summertime color by Rust-Oleum Stops Rust—Gloss Tuscan Sun. With the help of a few coats of spray paint, we mixed and matched different sizes and shapes of planters to turn them into one vibrant look.

To show you just how easy it is to create, here’s how we transformed one of our planters—a wooden box planter—to get this summer-ready deck.

Materials

• Wooden Planter Box & Other Various Planters
• Medium Grit Sanding Sponge
• Zinsser Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus Primer Spray
• Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Gloss Protective Enamel – Gloss Tuscan Sun
• Rust-Oleum Comfort Grip Spray Accessory
• Drop Cloth
• Latex Gloves
• Respirator Mask
• Rust-Oleum Stops Rust Textured Metallic Spray – Silver (Optional)

Before You Start
Always work in a well-ventilated area, and wear gloves and a mask while spray painting, especially if you’re spraying in a confined space like a garage.

Step 1 – Lay Out a Drop Cloth

Before you start to paint, spread out a drop cloth to protect from paint spray. We recommend working on a table for this project. If you’re spraying multiple planters, space them out on the drop cloth to avoid overspray.

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Step 2 – Sand the Wooden Planter Box

Sand the wooden box thoroughly with a medium grit sanding sponge. Be sure to sand in the same direction as the wood grain, and don’t forget about the box’s edges and corners.

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Step 3 – Wipe the Box with a Tack Cloth

Once you’ve finished sanding, wipe down the crate with a tack cloth.

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Step 4 – Prime the Box for Spray Painting

Because we’re spray painting wood, we used Bulls Eye 1-2-3 Plus for maximum coverage.

To apply the primer, shake the can for one minute after the mixing ball starts to rattle. Then, spray the primer onto the box in a steady, sweeping motion.

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Step 5 – Paint the Planter Box

Next, shake your can of Stops Rust Protective Enamel in Gloss Tuscan Sun for one minute after the mixing ball starts to rattle. Hold the can 10-16 in. away from the surface of the box and spray using the same technique you used to prime. Apply two or more light coats a few minutes apart.

To complement your yellow planter, try spraying another planter with Stops Rust Textured Metallic spray in Silver.

Tip: If you’re spraying multiple planters, consider using the Comfort Grip. This easy-to-use trigger grip will keep your finger from getting tired during continuous spraying.

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Step 6 – Let the Paint Dry

Set the planter aside to dry completely for 24 hours. Once it’s dry, add flowers to the planter and place on your deck to enjoy!

And that’s your spray painted planter box.

To get this complete look, spray paint multiple planters, varying between Stops Rust Gloss Tuscan Sun and Stops Rust Textured Metallic Silver. We also used Stops Rust Textured Metallic in Silver to refinish a watering can and updated this deck with Restore 2X One Coat Solid Stain in Cape Cod Gray.

The post DIY Spray Painted Planter appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

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What Is It? | Black Plastic Handles

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook shows off a cleverly designed wheelbarrow accessory

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A Seabee Designs a Long-Distance Backyard Remodel

While deployed 7,500 miles from home, this reader designed his dream backyard on paper, then spent months building it

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Choosing the Right Gray Paint for Your Home’s Exterior

Gray is a popular color choice for home exteriors, however, selecting the right shade of gray paint for your home can be overwhelming. Here are some easy selection steps that will help you find just the right shade for your home. Though we’re focusing on shades of gray paint, you can apply this process to making the choice from among any shade of paint.

How to Choose the Right Shade of Gray Paint

Look in the right place for grays

Head to your nearest Home Depot store and browse the paint chips. In general, gray tones will be grouped together with other neutrals.

Pick out paint colors you think you might like. You don’t have to be terribly choosy at this point. You’ll narrow down the choices in the next steps.

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Take your time to consider options – DO NOT RUSH!

Take home the specialty gray collateral and color chips. Hold them up against your home’s exterior and view in natural light.

Some experts suggest not spending more than a few minutes considering the colors in one sitting. When you spend too much time staring a several shades of the same color, they can start to look the same! You might want to look at the colors for a few minutes, put them away for a few minutes, and then return to them with “fresh eyes.”

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Narrow down your grays

Narrow down your color selection to three choices— a warm gray (gray with a brown, red or yellow undertone), a cool gray (a gray with a blue, purple or green undertone) and a neutral gray (middle of the road grays with no undertones).

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Buy and tint color samples to roll out

Testing the paint colors on your exterior wall is the most important step you can take before moving forward with a color selection.

Paint samples are inexpensive, and viewing the color over a large surface in natural lighting throughout the day will enable you to select the right color.

You’ll follow the basic steps of painting your house, but in a small area.

Prior to painting, spray down the wall with water to remove dirt. Allow it to dry. Place a drop cloth below your work area before you begin painting.

And since you’ll only be painting a small area, we suggest you use an inexpensive touch up kit.

As neutrals, gray paint colors can have undertone nuances— color influences that give them a particular color cast such as brown, blue or purple. These undertones can be difficult to discern when viewing small brochure chips.

To get a good read on what color your gray really is, roll it out in a 3 ft. x 3 ft. section. Roll out accents next to your main color to see how they harmonize.

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View your colors at different times of the day

Morning Light

Midday Light

Afternoon light

Evening light

Viewing the color in different light throughout the day will reveal the color nuances. At this point, you can reassess your choices and move forward, or fine tune your color selection for a better fit. Though it takes extra time and effort to do this, it will ensure that your new home color is perfect.

(Don’t rely on these photos to judge the look of the paint colors! These images are merely to illustrate generally how paint colors can change under different lighting conditions. Our camera and your display screen effect the color you see.)

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Paint your house

At this point you should be confident that you’ve chosen a shade of gray paint that will best show off your home.

Colors used: Body: Elephant Skin PPU18-16, Garage: Downtown Gray PPU24-10, Trim: Silky White PPU7-12, Accent: Opera Glasses MQ5-2

Find everything you need for your next painting project, including paint samples, at The Home Depot’s Paint Department. Follow our All About Paint board on Pinterest for more painting tips and ideas.

The post Choosing the Right Gray Paint for Your Home’s Exterior appeared first on The Home Depot Blog.

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How to Zone a Forced-Air Furnace and Air Conditioner

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey shows how to divide a home's heating and air-conditioning system into different zones

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Read This Before You Organize Your Garage

Our clutter-busting guide to help get yours shipshape for National Clean Out Garage Day

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10 Uses for Zip Ties

Use spare ties around your house and on the go

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Dog-Friendly Flooring Rules

Dog-friendly flooring needs to be durable, easy to clean, and attractive too. Here's what you need to know if you have four on the floor

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How to Build an Outdoor Bar Cart

Offer guests cocktails and brews by wheeling out this dedicated serving station

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This Old House Saved!

Three families moved heaven and earth for the chance to make the fantasy of saving a house from This Old House magazine's back-page column a reality

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How to Repair a Squealing Shower

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey helps a homeowner silence a shrieking shower

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How to Plant a Privacy Screen

Ask This Old House landscape contractor Roger Cook helps a homeowner plant a living privacy screen

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How to Pick The Right Mulch

Use this guide to navigate the options for the best topdressing around your plant bed

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How to Use a Speed Square

Ask This Old House general contractor Tom Silva demonstrates the amazing versatility of the humble rafter square

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11 Ways to Update Your Floors With Paint

Lively and budget-friendly paint ideas for the surfaces beneath your feet

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DIY Outdoor Water Fountain Made with Terra Cotta Pots

Adding an outdoor fountain is a great way to make your backyard or deck more relaxing. The sound of the trickling water will melt away stress and mask the sound of traffic or other intrusive noises. This terra cotta pot fountain will also add a lovely visual point in your outdoor space.

To build your own DIY outdoor water fountain, follow these step-by-step instructions.

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How to Build the Outdoor Fountain

Tools

• Drill with ceramic bit
• Utility Knife 
• Work Gloves
• Safety Glasses
• Grinding Point Tree
• Level
• Hand Saw
• Paint Marker

Materials

• (1) 18 in. Terra Cotta Planter
• (1) 14 in. Terra Cotta Planter 
• (2) 10 in. Terra Cotta Planters
• (1) 8 in. Terra Cotta Planter
• (1) 12 in. Terra Cotta Saucer 
• (1) 8 in. Terra Cotta Saucer 
• Construction Adhesive
• Epoxy Putty
• Pond Pump
• ½ in. Flexible Tube
• Large Beach Stones 

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Step 1: Fill Large Planter Hole with Epoxy

Begin by sealing any holes in your largest planter with the epoxy putty. The bottom planter needs to be completely water tight for the proper operation of the fountain.

Place the pump in the base of the large planter. Connect the flexible tube leaving yourself plenty of excess tubing for the moment.

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Step 2: Glue Support Pot and Drill Lip Notch

Center the 10 in. support pot on the 12 in. saucer, center it and glue it into place using the construction adhesive. Once the adhesive has set, use the saw to cut a small notch into the lip of the pot. The notch should be big enough to allow the power cord of the pump to pass through.

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Step 3: Drill Holes for Tubing

Next, flip the support pot and saucer assembly upside down, and drill a hole in the center of the saucer just large enough to allow the flexible tube to pass through.

Repeat Steps 2 and 3 for the next support pot and saucer. Drill through or increase the diameter of the center holes of the middle and top tier planters.

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Step 5: Insert Support Assembly

Route the flexible tube through the first support assembly. Place the support assembly into the large base planter taking care to make sure the power cord passes through the notch and drapes over the lip of the large planter.

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Step 6: Complete Fountain Assembly

Thread the flexible tube through the middle tier planter and slide it into place.

If the tube fits snugly through the hole you drilled, then there’s no need to seal around it. If the pass-through is loose, then seal around it with construction adhesive.

Thread the second support assembly, finishing with the top tier planter.

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Step 7: Move the Fountain Outside and Check for Square

Move the fountain to your garden, deck or wherever you choose for its final home. To make sure the water cascades evenly out of the planters use a level to check for square, and adjust as necessary.

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Step 9: Install Flow Control

Fill the bottom two planters with stones, then cut the flexible tube just short of the lip of the top planter. Install the flow control onto the tube. Make sure the flow control is turned to its lowest setting as it will be adjusted in a later step.

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Step 8: Fill the Outdoor Fountain Completely with Stones

Cover the lower and middle saucers with the beach stones. For the best look, make sure the stones reache the lips of the terra cotta pots. Fill the top planter with stones till it stops just below the flow control.

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Step 9: Fill the Fountain with Water and Enjoy

Fill the bottom planter completely full of water and plug in the pump. As the pump sends the water up, adjust the flow control knob to your preferred rate of flow. When that is complete, fill the remainder of the top planter with stones keeping the hose as centered as possible.

Add water as needed to make sure that the levels of each planter stay consistent.

Now kick back, relax and enjoy your outdoor fountain.

Take a look at more DIY projects here on The Home Depot blog and follow our Outdoor Living board on Pinterest for more inspiration. This project can be made with a wide variety of materials, so browse The Home Depot’s wide selection of pots and planters online to find the right style for your DIY water fountain.If you have questions about this or any other home improvement project, check out The Home Depot Community for quick answers and solutions. And check out a slightly different take on how to build a terra cotta pot fountain at homedepot.com.

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