It’s February and we are full-swing into the winter months. This time of year always places me in a reflective state of mind; perhaps because my birthday is on the 28th and I become aware of the fact that another year has gone by. It also could be the winter blues and I am feeling restless and antsy from all the time spent indoors against the cold. I want to be outside enjoying the sunshine and spending time in the backyard with my family and friends!

With spring just around the corner, now is the perfect time to start planning your backyard makeover. Will it be a plan to tidy up the yard and deck or perform a major overhaul?

Sprucing up your outdoor space, whether it is a yard or deck, can be the most rewarding work. In our fourth season of While You Were Out, oddly enough February of last year, we worked on a young newly married couple’s outdoor space. They lived just outside Miami so the weather was beautiful and I was able to catch a tan (which is always a good time!). Nadia Geller was the designer for the segment, and she wanted to create a brand-new 20’ by 18’ deck in the couple’s enormous—yet empty—backyard. Indeed, the project was a ton of work but not a terrible task when given a normal amount of work time. However, under the conditions of While You Were Out we were given two days. After raiding the local hardware store, we left with all the necessary pressure-treated lumber, cement for the postings, railings, mulch, potting soil, plants and more. Would you believe it took six of us (and two more trips back to the hardware store) about three hours to unload everything? Since the yard was a blank slate we had to get clearance from the utility companies to find out where the gas lines and the septic tank were located (always a good idea, especially when digging large and deep holes). We created a beautiful deck that the couple went on to enjoy with their family and friends.

What I love best about my job is the influence it has on the homeowner’s lives. We give them the ability to enjoy their home and, in this case, a huge deck! When you complete an outdoor project you have such a sense of pride and accomplishment. So start imagining those long warm-weather days and your backyard space filled with family, friends, the smell of the grill and the sounds of laughter. Spring is only weeks away, so start dreaming!