Julian Cassell's DIY Blog

If you are erecting a fence on concrete, you can dig out holes and sink the posts in place, but it is much easier to use bolt-down brackets. These brackets are simply fixed to the concrete surface, and the fence posts are inserted and secured into the bracket socket. The technique shown here deals with a panel fence, but you can adjust the method according to your particular fence design. It is also worth you reading my guide – ‘Erecting a fence on soft ground’, read more »

There are many different types of fence, but in this section I’m showing one of the most common designs, often called a panel fence. Even if your chosen design is not like this, most (if not all designs!) require posts, and you can adapt the technique shown here to suit your requirements. The technique you use is first determined by whether you are on soft or hard (concrete) ground. read more »

In terms of creating a simple path, it doesn’t come much easier than laying some stepping stones. They can be made from slabs as shown here or you may wish to use some purpose-made decorative varieties. read more »

Take your time at the planning stage, if you have decided to lay a patio. After all, it’s a permanent feature and everything from choosing your slabs to ensuring good drainage needs close consideration before you begin work. On this latter point, it is important to maintain a gentle gradient away from your house and ideally towards groundwater drains. For small patios you only need a spirit level to judge gradients – for larger ones, laying out a sloping string line across the site provides an accurate guide to follow. read more »

In terms of keeping it simple, laying a gravel path is about as easy as garden construction gets. However, if you want it to look good, and be easy to maintain, there are a few necessary precautions to take in its design. read more »