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A black slate fire pit and a mahogany-stained bamboo cabana transform this
backyard into the ultimate bachelor pad � complete with Vegas-like glamour. Or Click Here!
This backyard is transformed into the ultimate bachelor
pad complete with all the glitz and glamour of a Vegas retreat, including a
mahogany-stained bamboo cabana. A black slate fire pit provides a social
gathering space and is topped off with bright blue fireplace glass to really put
it over the top. A soothing water feature with a bamboo fountain completes the
look of this backyard oasis and gives the feel of poolside Vegas luxury.
Project No. 1: Vegas-Style Cabana. People pay big bucks to relax in
the cabanas at Vegas resorts so why not bring Vegas home? The materials and
design really set this cabana apart from others. It's a unique project sure to
impress as it adds a level of casual sophistication to the landscape.
Materials
(4) 6" x 6" rough redwood
(7) 2"
x 10" rough redwood (one will be extra)
(8) 2' x 4" rough redwood
(4) 6" x
6" post caps
4" heavy-duty wood screws
3" heavy-duty wood screws
(8)
60lb. bags of concrete
2" finishing nails
tie wire
bamboo flexible
fencing in 8' and 3' lengths
(10) bamboo caps, also known as half rounds
Dig post holes. To ensure that your cabana stands up to the wind and
lasts, it's important to properly set your posts. Determine your size and mark
spots for four posts. Dig holes 14 inches wide and two feet deep.
Set the posts. Pour some dry quick-setting concrete in the bottom of
each hole and set a 6" x 6" rough redwood post inside. Attach a level to the
post and check it as you pour dry concrete around it. Expect to use about two
60-lb. bags of concrete in each posthole. All of the posts should line up with
those to the side and behind or in front, creating a perfect square or rectangle
(figure A). Once they are in the right place, add water to the concrete.
Tamp down to get rid of any air bubbles and check your level again.
Add crossbeams. Using 4" heavy-duty wood screws, attach 2" x 10"
rough redwood crossbeams on the outside of the posts to box this structure in
(figure B). Adjust this height according to your preference, making sure
you have enough room to walk under it, leaving a foot or two of the posts
sticking up from the crossbeams. (The posts may not be even, but you'll cut them
down later.) Double up by adding 2x10 crossbeams on the inside as well on the
front and back of the cabana.
Add roof planks. Using 3" heavy-duty wood screws, attach 2" x 4"
redwood planks across the top of the cabana, securing them to the inner
crossbeams. Space them approximately 12 inches apart. This will provide a sturdy
roof frame for the bamboo.
Trim posts. Cut down the top of the posts so they all reach 12 inches
above the crossbeams, or to your desired height. Top these with decorative
posts. We used copper pyramid-style toppers.
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Figure C | |
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Figure D | |
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Figure E
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Attach bamboo to roof and back wall. The exterior for this cabana is
made of bamboo fencing. For an upscale look we used a bamboo with a mahogany
stain (figure C). You can buy this stained or stain it yourself. Bamboo
fencing comes in different lengths and is held together with one or more metal
wires that run the length of the fence panel. Depending on the length of your
cabana, you'll need one or two pieces of fencing to cover the back wall. If you
need two panels, attach them at the last bamboo poles with a thick metal wire.
To attach the bamboo to the redwood, drill pilot holes through the bamboo and
use finishing nails to secure it to the posts on the back wall and the planks
for the roof.
Attach bamboo to sides and front. To attach the bamboo fencing to the
crossbeams on the front and sides of the cabana (figure D), you'll have
to make some cuts. A circular saw with a fine blade will cut through the bamboo
without causing it to splinter. Cut around the wire that holds the fence
together so it will stay in one piece. Once you've cut your pieces, drill pilot
holes where you will attach them to the redwood. To keep the bamboo pieces from
twirling around when you mount them, lay them on a 2" x 10" board and push this
right up to the crossbeam. Slide the 2x10 aside as you attach the bamboo with
finishing nails the whole length of the crossbeam. Repeat this for the other two
sides.
Add bamboo caps. Bamboo caps are pieces of bamboo that have been
split in two lengthwise (figure E). We used a speckled bamboo for this.
Place these over the tops and bottoms of the cut bamboo pieces that are attached
to the crossbeams. Drill pilot holes and attach with finishing nails. Double up
the bamboo caps along the bottom, one underneath the crossbeam and one across
the front, if you want to completely cover the redwood. Cut small lengths of the
bamboo caps to attach to the corners for a completed look.
Add accessories. This structure just isn't complete without a few
luxurious accessories. A double chaise lounge, an outdoor television and a
couple of outdoor speakers bring Vegas home. Top it off by stringing some
misters around the inside of the roof and it will feel like you're poolside!
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Project No. 2: Ultimate Fire Pit
This project started with an existing gas fire pit, set on the ground. We
raised it up by stacking a black slate and filled it with color in the form of
fireplace glass to really make it pop in the landscape!
Materials
mortar
concrete
black
mariposite slate
fire ring
lava rock
3/8" crushed lava rock
fireplace glass (Aquatic Glasel)
Excavate. Determine the size of your new fire pit and excavate the
entire inner area.
Build "doughnut" form. The stone border of the fire pit will sit on
top of concrete but in order to set this concrete, you need to build a circular
form, or "doughnut." Cut two lengths of bender board, one for an outer circle
and one for an inner circle. The bender board piece for the outer circle should
be the length of the perimeter. The piece for the inner circle should be small
enough so the gap between the two pieces is about five inches. Nail the ends of
the bender board pieces together to form the two circles.
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Figure F | |
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Figure G | |
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Figure H
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| Pour concrete base. Mix dry concrete with water and pour this in
between the two circles (figure F). Smooth out the concrete with a
trowel, adding pressure to force out any air bubbles. Let this dry overnight.
Build the stone border. We used a black mariposite slate for this
border but you can use any stone you prefer, as long as the pieces are one to
two inches thick. Place one layer of stones on top of the concrete base before
adding mortar. Choose pieces that fit together like a puzzle without jutting out
much beyond the concrete base. To lay the stone, mix mortar with water until it
becomes a medium consistency, like a thick brownie mix. Lift one of the stones,
and use a trowel to apply the mortar to the concrete. Set the stone back on top
and settle it into place. Don't worry about the mortar that squeezes out from
underneath the stone; you'll use a sponge later to clean it up. Repeat this for
all of the stones in the first layer. For each additional layer, offset the
stones to cover the seams of the layer below it (figure G).
Clean up excess mortar. Take your trowel around the outside of the
fire pit, scraping off the excess mortar that has accumulated. You can do the
same to the inside but you won't end up seeing the inside. Once you've scraped
most of it off, go back around with a wet sponge and a bucket of water to remove
any excess mortar from the stones.
Fill it up. First, add lava rock to cover the very bottom of the fire
pit in one layer only (figure H). Second, attach the fire ring to the gas
line. Third, pour in 3/8" crushed lava rock up to the point where it covers the
fire ring (figure I). Last, add fireplace glass to completely cover the
lava rock. Fireplace glass is a tempered, decorative glass that won't pop in the
heat of the fire. It comes in a few different shapes and many different colors
from www.moderustic.com (figure J).
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Project No. 3: Water Feature
Materials
fill sand
rubber pond liner
small to medium
stones
boulders
plants
bamboo fountain with pump
A water feature can be whatever you want it to be, and in this case it
started out as a big heap of assorted rocks and pebbles. Using some of the
existing material we transformed this into a shallow pond, incorporating larger
boulders, plants and a bamboo fountain.
Excavate. First, remove any existing plants, rocks and debris from
the area. Then dig out the shape of your new pond. We chose a rounded shape that
dipped down to a depth of about two feet at one point, creating the pool end.
This isn't deep enough for fish.
Add a layer of fill sand. Cover all of the soil with a layer of fill
sand, one to two inches thick. This will act as a cushion for the pond liner you
will lay down next and keep it from ripping if it's in contact with any small
rocks or hard chunks in the soil. Around the edge of the pond, build up the sand
a little higher and taper it off around the sides.
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Cover with pond liner. Pond liner will basically keep your pond clean
by separating soil and sand from the water. The thicker the liner is, the less
likely it is to tear but it should still be flexible enough to mold into the
shape of the pond (figure K). If you need to use more than one piece,
overlap the two pieces by a foot or more so you don't have leaks. Lay down the
liner so that it completely covers the pond with excess on all sides. It should
fit up and over the border you created with sand. Use rocks to pin the liner in
place all around and cut it to the right size.
Set the stones. Use a hose to wash all of the stones before placing
them in the pond. Completely cover the pond liner with small to medium sized
stones. Around the edges, incorporate larger boulders to create a contrast. We
used Haystack and Siskiyou boulders that are tan in color. Roll them into place
rather than lifting them when you can. When deciding on placement for the
boulders, look at the shape of them and choose the best side to showcase. This
may take some trial and error to create the best look.
Add plants. Plants around the edges of the pond will bring in color
and soften the look of the stone. Choose plants that do well in your area and
use a range of colors and sizes. Add drip irrigation to keep the plants watered.
Add water and the fountain. We used a store-bought bamboo fountain to
create movement and serenity in this pond (figure L). They are easy to
hook up and require very little assembly. Once your fountain is in place, fill
the pond with water and plug it in. Keep an eye on the water level in the hot
months, adding to it when necessary.
Project materials -
fireplace glass - Moderustic Inc www.moderustic.com
double chaise
lounge - Ewins
outdoor television - Sunbrite TV
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The fire pit below will be aired in early of 2008. The fire pit was filmed by Yard Crashers (www.IdeaFactory.tv
) in Sacramento, California. A subsidiary of HGTV and Pie Town
Productions. We will post air times as soon as we have them. But for
now here are a few shots from the filming. Yard Crashers is a new
program from HGTV who do complete makeovers in your back yard. Please
contact www.IdeaFactory.tv for details on how you can get involved!
 
 
 
RESOURCES :
project materials
Moderustic, Inc.
www.moderustic.com
project materials
SunBrite TV
Website: www.sunbritetv.com
project materials
Ewins
Website: www.ewins.com
GUESTS :
Jacob
Moss
Landscape Designer and Contractor
Moss Landscape and Design Co.
www.alandscapedesigner.com
other show times: YARD CRASHERS
Backyard Cabana - Episode DYCR-101
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| AIR TIMES |
April 07, 2008
9:00 PM Eastern |
April 08, 2008
1:00 AM Eastern |
April 08, 2008
9:30 AM Eastern |
April 12, 2008
3:30 PM Eastern |
April 14, 2008
6:30 PM Eastern |
April 17, 2008
10:30 PM Eastern |
April 18, 2008
2:30 AM Eastern |
April 20, 2008
3:30 PM Eastern |
April 25, 2008
6:30 PM Eastern |
May 25, 2008
1:00 PM Eastern |
May 26, 2008
11:00 AM Eastern | | | This
backyard is transformed into the ultimate bachelor pad complete with all the
glitz and glamour of a Vegas retreat, including a mahogany-stained bamboo
cabana. A black slate fire pit provides a social gathering space and is topped
off with bright blue fireplace glass to really put it over the top. A soothing
water feature with a bamboo fountain completes the look of this backyard oasis
and gives the feel of poolside Vegas luxury.
|
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![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2008/03/10/dycr101_cabana_bamboo_e.jpg",350,450))
![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2008/03/10/DYCR101_cabana_bamboo-side_e.jpg",350,450))
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![PHOTO](javascript:popup("http://img.diynetwork.com/DIY/2008/03/10/dycr101_pond_after_e.jpg",350,450))
