Author: Penny Swift and Karen Szymamowski
Publisher: Sterling, 1998
Soft Cover, 11.0″x8.5″, 96 pages

With masonry–bricks, blocks, concrete, stone, gravel, and sand–you can put together dozens of features and accessories that will complement your home’s design, cater to your outdoor needs, and reflect your lifestyle. Add pools and ponds; planters; furniture and barbecues; steps, pillars and arches; patios; paths and drives; and walls. Get off on the right foot with basic rules of construction, from planning to blueprints to materials. Estimate costs, measure accurately, and mix cement and concrete properly. Figure out sizing and the best siting. Lay foundations; reinforce pillars, give your paths a safe, non-skid surface; and build walls to aid drainage, create a boundary, or just add that decorative touch. Want dramatic effects? Try a lighted pool or fountain or build steps over an arch. Extend your living space with a paved patio, brick seat and table, and barbecue. Over twenty easy-to-make projects that even beginners can build and design successfully!