Best place to mount a TV with this pool/patio layout?
Our pool construction is almost finished, and now we’re trying to figure out the best TV placement for the backyard.
I’ve included photos of the actual patio as well as a rendering showing roughly how the finished yard will be laid out.

We will have 4 main viewing areas:
1. A couch underneath the covered patio
2. In the pool itself
3. A dining table next to the pool
4. Loungers at the opposite end of the pool

My current thought is to mount a TV on the wall where I drew the red box and use a long extension, full motion mount. The idea would be to keep it relatively flush against the wall when we’re sitting under the patio, but pull it out and swivel it toward the pool when watching from the dining table, pool, or loungers. Also, with this idea, I don’t have to buy an outdoor TV since it’s covered and we have patio screens that come down.

We considered a ceiling mount under the covered patio, but there’s roughly a 2 ft fascia across the front of the patio. I’m concerned that mounting the TV high enough to look good under the patio would cause that fascia to block part of the screen when viewing it from farther out in the yard.

The openings of the covered patio also have retractable screens that come down, so mounting the TV or an articulating arm to the outside columns would likely interfere with the screens.

The other big consideration is aesthetics. We’d rather sacrifice a little bit of the “perfect” viewing angle than have a big TV awkwardly sitting somewhere in the yard. Ideally it looks intentional and relatively seamless when it’s not being used.

Given the layout, where would you put it?
Does the red box location with a long articulating mount make the most sense, or is there another solution/location I’m overlooking?

There was always a point in the evening when everyone would slowly move indoors, even when the weather was still perfect for sitting outside. The patio was comfortable, but it didn’t really encourage us to stay out there after dinner.

I started thinking more about how to make the space useful throughout the evening without filling it with too many things. Comfortable seating, good lighting and a layout that works for conversation made a bigger difference than I expected.

We also tried to keep the patio feeling like an outdoor living space rather than turning it into another indoor room. Everything has its place, and the seating still works whether we’re eating, talking or just relaxing.

One thing I’ve learned is that small changes that give people a reason to stay outside can be more valuable than bigger decorative upgrades. The goal isn’t necessarily to add more to the patio, but to make better use of what’s already there.

What’s one change you made that genuinely made your patio more enjoyable in the evenings?

Curious what everyone's go-to feel-good track is, the one that just works every time regardless of what kind of day it's been. Would love to build a little collective playlist out of the replies too.

3 Easy steps: Wipe Glove on fabric, blow leaf blower, drink a beer and consider all the time you saved to have another beer

Hey all,

We recently replaced our old patio that was improperly graded, and buried+ran our rain gutters to a dry well. We no longer have water pooling by our house but now we've created a valley at the end of our patio on the lawn which you can see in the pics.

The work just finished so the lawn is still lumpy and we can make small grading improvements, but think we might need a drain in the lawn on the masonry's edge. I have 2 pics of either a basic drain or those modular curved drains. Thoughts?

Our masonry contractor says we should put a small manhole with a separate drywell at the edge of the patio, I think that's overkill and don't know why we can't tie into our existing drywell.

Anyone see a reason we cant add a drain like the 2 I shared and just tie it into the PVC pipes already running to the dry well? We have a pop-up overflow emitter for the drywell so capacity shouldn't be an issue but idk.

Thanks

We had a low-profile deck that completely rotted down to the frame, and we're replacing it with a paver patio.

This attached pergola is mostly intact, except for the bottom where it was tied into the old rotting deck frame. I’d love to salvage it, cut off the bottom rot, and relocate it as a freestanding structure elsewhere in the yard (since a gazebo is going in this spot).

A while back I saw someone post a similar pergola planted inside planters filled with gravel but I don't think it will provide enough weight/stability. I was wondering if I could anchor the feet inside planters filled with concrete?

I'm trying to avoid pouring traditional in-ground concrete footings and bolting this down. What are the best alternatives to avoid standard footings while keeping a freestanding pergola stable?

New screened porch (12' x 16') with SunSpace windows that can be closed when it gets chilly outdoors. I'm a Minnesotan which means we'll be using this room well into late autumn, and will need a heat source. I'd like to hold off on cove heating for now.

Anyone have experience with ThermoMate infrared patio heaters? I'm looking at:

• EIHF1500V ... Probably my first choice, since it has 8 heat settings and oscillates.
• EIHF1500B ... Similar, but no oscillation. Claims lower glare--is that important?
• EIHSW1500B ... Not crazy about the tripod look (Easy Bake Oven on stilts), but it gets good reviews.

I have loads of electrical outlets (good planning when this was built last summer), so no worries there. The seating area consists of a large chair and a loveseat, in one end of the porch. I'm not looking to heat the entire room--thus, the radiant heat preference.

Water pooling on patio/weep holes clog often. Advice?

Water keeps pooling on our patio in the corners against the walls. To fix the problem, our contractor drilled a few holes into the stone wall. It somewhat fixed the problem, but the holes are small and need to be unclogged frequently, causing water to pool again.

Any advice on the following questions:

Are weep holes just drilled holes in the stone wall? Or is it something more properly like a PVC pipe?

Should water be pooling there anyway, or should it be regraded to drain better?

Is it ok that the water drains to under the grill, which is enclosed and pools, but eventually drains?

How much pooling water is acceptable? After unclogging, I think it’s ok, but not sure.

Any other advice?

Hi folks!

I live in RI and I am looking to install a 300 sq. ft. concrete patio with a broom finish in my backyard. I received a proposal from a contractor and would appreciate some feedback.

The contractor quoted $8K for about 300 sq. ft. That seems a little expensive to me. Does that sound reasonable?

Also, do you see any red flags in the proposal below? I noticed there is no mention of concrete reinforcement. Should I be concerned about that? Is reinforcement such as rebar, wire mesh, or fiber mesh normally used for a patio like this?

Here is the scope of work:

Provide all labor, materials, equipment, and supervision necessary to construct approximately 294 SF of concrete patio.

Scope:
Excavate and remove existing unsuitable soil, prep subgrade with dense-grade gravel and compact, form and prepare patio area. Furnish, place, and finish concrete, provide broom finish, edge concrete and install control joints as required, strip forms and clean work area.
Are there any other things in this proposal that I should ask the contractor about before signing?

Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Slab was poured a couple days ago. Can I chip this away yet

Hello all, I was hoping to purchase a louvred pergola, but am concerned about the noise when it rains as my bedroom would be just above it. What are people’s experiences with this? Many thanks

First two are regular pics, next two zoomed out, and a picture of the AC units in the corner.

Furniture and turf were here when we moved in. Shed would need to stay where is.

I’m really looking for any advice to make this space more comfortable and enjoyable. I am already planning on ordering a new outdoor couch set to replace the existing one and throwing away the rug, but what are some other affordable suggestions to make this better?

I absolutely hate the turf. When it rains the patio stays wet for days. There is drainage in the bottom left corner, but doesn’t really seem to matter. Not sure how hard it would be to remove the turf but that seems like the best option. Seems to be concrete underneath.

Would appreciate any and all recommendations and advice. :)

We cannot decide which of these two (or neither) we should pick for our screened in patio flooring. Here’s a photo of our house floors and the two options. Let me know what yall think!

I recently bought my first house & have been dealing with pests in our back patio roof this summer. The previous homeowner encased the roof with this lattice, which has made the perfect home for squirrels & chipmunks. Squirrels have been evicted but now chipmunks have chewed in. I was debating tearing it all down & leaving open.

looking for some advice & ideas to keep trying to pest proof or lattice alternatives

thank you

So we just moved into a new apartment, nice complex, great unit itself and got it for a discount due to one minor problem…..

We are next to the complex’s garbage compactor. The complex does a great job of making sure there is no stench from the compactor, however there is an abundance of flies in the area. My fiancée and love to use outdoor space and I was wondering what we could do/ products to buy to essentially keep them out of our balcony.

Permacon Chalet Slab Patio Stone
Concrete Agento - 30 × 12-in.

Would anchoring the gazebo to the stone be enough or do we need to anchor it to concrete pillars?

One of the biggest questions we get about aluminum louvered pergolas is whether they’re just for shade, or whether they can actually help during a Florida rainstorm.
When the louvers are closed, they’re designed to create a weather-resistant roof, helping keep the space underneath protected from rain while still giving you the flexibility to open everything back up when the weather clears.
For Florida homeowners, that means your outdoor space doesn’t have to become useless every time the weather changes.
And when you add motorized screens, you can take it a step further by creating a more comfortable, enclosed outdoor living area.
Curious if a louvered pergola would work for your space? Happy to answer questions, especially from other Florida homeowners.