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A new asphalt driveway usually costs $7 to $15 per square foot installed, or about $3,100 to $7,400 for a typical job. Gravel costs less, concrete a bit more, and pavers the most.
September 20, 2026
A hose-fed portable outdoor shower costs about $50 to $300, while a plumbed shower with hot water, an enclosure and drainage can run into the thousands. The cheapest spot is usually an exterior wall behind a kitchen or bathroom.
September 19, 2026
A smart sprinkler controller adjusts watering to the weather or soil moisture. It usually pays off if your lawn gets more water than it needs, especially with a utility rebate, but saves little if you already water carefully.
September 17, 2026
'Green Giant' arborvitae and Leyland cypress can add about 3 feet a year when young, but the best privacy tree depends on your climate, space and deer. Here are fast picks by region, spacing and what a hedge costs.
September 16, 2026
A stamped concrete patio usually costs about $8 to $25 per square foot installed, so a 20 x 20 ft patio often runs $4,000 to $8,000. It looks like stone or brick for less than pavers, but it can crack and needs resealing every 2 to 3 years.
September 15, 2026
Screening in an existing covered porch usually costs about $2,000 to $4,000. Building a new screened porch with a roof runs about $25 to $120 per sq ft, and custom builds can cost far more.
September 14, 2026
Professionally installed landscape lighting usually costs $3,000–$6,000, or about $90–$150 per installed low-voltage fixture. Most homes use low-voltage LED lights for paths, trees, walls and patios.
September 11, 2026
A backflow test checks that the device keeping sprinkler water out of your drinking water still works. Many utilities require one every year by a certified tester; a typical test costs about $70–$90, plus any local filing fee.
September 10, 2026
Multiply your bed's square footage by the depth in inches, then divide by 324 to get cubic yards. At a typical 2 to 3 inches, 1 cubic yard covers about 108 to 162 square feet, or about 13.5 bags of 2 cubic feet each.
September 8, 2026
Sealing pavers is optional. It resists stains, salt and fading and can deepen color, but pros charge roughly $1.25–$2 per square foot and most sealers need redoing every 2–5 years. If you seal new pavers, wait at least 60 days and until any white efflorescence is gone.
September 7, 2026
On flat ground, a patio is usually cheaper than a raised deck and outlasts a wood deck. For 16x20, HomeAdvisor puts pavers at about $2,600–$8,000, a ground-level deck at $3,200–$6,400 and its size-table deck at $12,800–$19,200. Decks suit slopes.
September 6, 2026
Stump grinding usually costs $131–$438 per job, with national averages around $200–$272. Many pros charge $2–$5 per inch of stump diameter with a minimum of about $100, and extra stumps cost less each.
September 4, 2026
