I Built the Ultimate Open-Concept Patio for Entertaining

When summer arrives and the weather warms up, entertaining guests in the backyard is a dream come true. However, when you have an outdated layout and an old house like this, it's very difficult to do . So, in today's video, we're going to take this outdated 50-year-old house that's not at all attractive and is completely boarded up. We will open up its space: remove all those trees, tear down the walls, and build something special with the perfect layout for hosting guests. How did I come up with this? Oh, come on , guys. But first we need a clean slate. Today is dismantling day. They drove. I've been waiting for a project like this for a long time. Just work here like Paul Bunyan. Ideally, it's a fairly tall tree, or rather, five or maybe six. The guys usually climb up, cut off a part, drop it down, and then cut off another. Since these are evergreen trees, essentially giant bushes, we won't be able to do that. So we'll use the old rolling method. I need a rope. It is tilted too far towards the roof. I don't like it. I wonder if I can fit it in there. Things go badly if you have to climb onto the roof to cut down a tree. This wasn't in my plans for today. I tilted the chainsaw and the chain flew off. I should have done better. Well , what are you doing, Alex? I'm doing two things at the same time. I'm repairing a chainsaw and holding up a tree that was just knocked down by the wind. But everything will be fine. Trust me. Oh, man. Broke the chainsaw. I'm twisting and turning this thing like crazy . A terrible day for an evergreen tree . Kyle, you're crazy. The past is gone. Dude, I do it delicately. This is just madness. I'm doing pretty well with this. Well, so as not to cast a jinx. You know, with my " luck" the last tree will turn out to be terrible, but for now we're lucky. Guess who deserved a fish sandwich? This guy. I probably should have used a more appropriate saw for the job, but where's the fun in that? It's nonsense. I like how it all turns out. I like how much more spacious it has become here. However, this worries me. I need a nice open passage. As I thought, they are not connected to the rafters of my roof. It's just an extra canopy. I'm going to pull this out to make sure they only start here and go there, and then I'll be pretty sure that this 10 by 4 beam will be enough to support these five little attic rafters. Good news. The good news is that this is a cable that we cut from , well, I think there was an outdoor wall light here, but we cut it to fit under the beveled window. If you haven't seen that episode, watch it. I think you'll like it. But it makes me happy, because if we find it, Ken, I'm going to put my foot here and try to climb up like Spider-Man. Okay. OK. These are rafters, and these are false beams, just to continue this structure. Phenomenal. Then let's get rid of this middle ground. Here's a quick tip for you: if you want to know if something is load-bearing or not, it's not the most reliable method, but a good quick guide is to tap it lightly. How does that sound? If it sounds like it's not too tough, stop, it's okay. Another indicator might be whether the saw jams when you cut all the way through; If it clamps, it means it is load-bearing. So these little things help you come to a conclusion, but be sure to check the information . This is a good indicator that it is not load-bearing. If it's wobbling like this, watch as the whole structure collapses on me right after that lesson. I would like to see such a selection. It looks like a classic DIY paving job. Concrete work where someone simply poured concrete to make a walkway. I won't say I hate it, but I'm not thrilled about it either . A four with a minus for effort. That would be painful. OK. Was it an emergency landing or something? Shavtay-Bovtay— our next Avenger, ready to assemble, carrying a pile of road mix. This material will help compact everything so that we have a solid foundation so that the paving stones don't sink, and at the same time it will help with water drainage. Are we ready? Okay, a few more loads of road mix. Then we tamp everything down to make sure it is well compacted. Once everything is in place, we will pour in about an inch of sand. We'll use sand for paving, it will make everything even. This is for alignment. When everything is ready, we will use the old pavers we found in the corner there and widen our patio by 2 feet. We don't need much, but 2 feet around the perimeter—that would be much better. Not to mention that it will be possible to place pots, not pans, but flower pots, all kinds of ceramics and related things in which plant lovers can plant something. But it will be a circle. I hope I can come up with a cool pattern, but 2 feet is 2 feet, baby. It will be incredible and grand. So, boys and girls, it's been hot the last few days. Absolute hell, 102 degrees all week. We laid the paving stones here, and I'm just over the moon with happiness. And here's why. We took a small slab, about 8 by 12, and expanded it by two, almost two and a half feet on each side, and I'm thrilled. It looks elegant and clean. This creates a boundary and works as it should. Mission accomplished . Let's move on to the next part. In my vision, I try to make the most of the space. Let's call it " maximum space on a small patio." I want to make a seating area here because there is a window that would be perfect for a bar, especially if those windows open. Watch the Super Bowl, the World Cup, or whatever, and you can come and go as you please. Next I want a nice grilling area here , but to start planning...look at me, "planning". We need a wall here for privacy, and that's what we'll do next. You may have to trim this metal. I do n't know. Maybe if I keep screwing it in, it will clamp down and not bend. This might work. This might work. I took the wrong length of wood. How could I have thought of that? Well, man. You'll have to get everything new, my friend. I'm 4 inches short. How did that happen? And by four I mean about 10. Damn, I thought I did great. This is the worst part of the job. Oh, this thing pops out. Ah. Well , she's beautiful, Clark. I like her very much. She does exactly what I wanted. But we have a problem. Look at this. We have a span. How many are there? About 10 feet wide? Probably nine. These boards are just ordinary wood from a hardware store. Everything is fine. We know it's junk wood, fit for nothing more than bed frames or something similar. But this is another option. Street stuff just gets painted, I do n't even know. Blah- blah. But it has the property of bending. So here's what I need to do, and I've already started doing it— put in wedges. And then on the back side we'll put a small board and nail it from here. This way, everything will stay together, be coherent, and orderly , and everyone knows that order is cool. How do you like this back wall? Do you like it, Kyle? Pretty good. Looks better than I thought. I think so too. In my opinion, this is perfect solitude, but at the same time comfort. The ceiling is low, and ideally I would like it to be higher, but I like it low because the house tells me what it needs. That's why I'm so passionate about creating spaces , especially outdoor spaces. Home is essentially a place where we sleep. We spend most of our time at work. And when we are with loved ones, we create memories. And you know, family is sometimes even friends. So what you want to do with this one life we ​​have is have space, a dedicated space, inside or outside. Since we are here now , it is to sit and enjoy this wonderful weather, or even when it is raining, and share stories of travel or adventures with family and friends. But to be on this wave, or as young people say, in this " aura," you have to create a designated place for it, right? And I think by doing thoughtful things like this back wall for privacy from the neighbors, right? Removing distractions, having that outdoor kitchen, seating, lighting, and music —all of this will create a welcoming, open atmosphere where you'll want to sit down with friends and family and say, "Listen, I have a story." If a future homeowner happens to watch this video, and I sold the previous two homes, including the cottage, specifically to viewers of this channel, then I hope that whoever eventually owns this place will be truly satisfied . I will put my whole soul into this project just for you. And now for work. How is the search for employees progressing? Hmm, to be honest, not very good. Um, Ken is just incredible. I like it. He is a true giant when it comes to work. This guy, well, he's been in this business for a very long time. He knows his stuff, and I like that. It's kind of old school. Dude, this is contagious. And I'm looking for someone younger who could be influenced by that kind of atmosphere. It's hard work and just teaching them everything. Unfortunately, six people were supposed to come for the interview, but only one showed up. 18- year-old boy. A good guy, salt of the earth, but 18-year-olds are 18- year-olds, you know? You need to live a little to gain experience, and...this isn't right yet. So, if you have someone in the Boise area who is a real hard worker, needs guidance, and is a quick learner, I don't know. Send them to me. Send me an email. I wouldn't mind any help, especially with big projects, there's enough work for everyone. I'll probably get 50 letters from people who are willing to work for a living. If they don't start asking for photos of their feet, I'll send them a t-shirt. And to all of you who keep writing to me in direct and asking for photos of my legs or my sweaty shirts—this is weird, okay? I don't know if your father ever told you that he loved you. Well, I'm telling you: you are loved, friend. Just know that you are loved. Everything is fine. And if you really want a photo of your feet, join the Builder's Lodge. You won't get photos of my legs, but there will be some photos . Come here, little one. Look at this guy. What is this? Kyle, you're an insect lover...what are they called? Yes, they are deadly dangerous. Class. Maybe eat it? Just kidding. Now do you see what it will look like? We have a countertop on both sides. The universal grill can be inserted inside. I did a little research here. I literally went to the Home Depot website and listed all the brands of barbecue grills they sell. I chose 4-5 burner models, their sizes range from about 49-plus to 51-plus inches. So to please everyone in the world, we'll make 52. That way, they can install any grill they want. Plus, since they won't be anchored in the ground, they still have room to move them back and forth depending on what they need. I know what you're thinking. Dude, that's pretty smart— anticipating other people's needs. Yes, I know. This is what we do. We anticipate needs and take care of them. So , let's cover this with cement board, because then we can put stone, plaster, or whatever else we want. Unity. The burgers are ready. I think that's great. I need to make another one . Hurray, even more fun. Okay, we're back. I finished the second office. It was a wonderful weekend. My voice is a little hoarse now . You probably noticed. Your boyfriend is not going through puberty again. It's just from having a great time with the kids at the Utah amusement park, Lagoon. It was so much fun. It's worth the 5- hour trip. However, some unfortunate events occurred. Uh , I had a great time with the kids, but the first day we arrived, I was so hot and dehydrated and exhausted. We were standing in line for a ride, and suddenly my knees went weak. I sat on the floor and it didn't go away. And the next thing I remember, I'm lying on my back on the ground, people walking past on rides, and my scared children standing over me. I knew I would be okay because I understood it was heat stroke or something like that. He was bleeding a little because he hit his head on the ground. Maybe Kyle's recommendation to wear a helmet finally became relevant. But , you know, I came to my senses, but my strength hadn't returned yet, so I had to move around on my buttocks because my legs could n't hold me up. Finally, my oldest son Jack ran like lightning and somehow found a bottle of ice water. I drank it, and the color returned to my face. I felt a coolness envelop me. It finally got better, but I scared my kids. This is the most important thing, and it made me look at some things differently, I will share it with you. I hope this helps. I don't know. As a father, uh, it was such a small thing, right ? Heat stroke, I'm fine. When you are young and healthy, not much bad can happen. But it made me realize how quickly and unexpectedly this can happen, right? One day you're enjoying memories with your kids, and the next, something you didn't plan for happens. Heart attack, stroke, whatever. Honestly, it was a kind of gift for me. Although it's scary, it was the moment when I realized that you shouldn't take everything for granted. If something worse had happened, I might have ended up in the hospital and ruined the kids' entire trip by traumatizing them. Or something serious would have happened, a real stroke or heart attack, and I wouldn't have survived. This made me think: what would my family's life be like next? And I decided to just look back and say, " You know what? I'm going to spoil them as much as I can. Whatever they want to do within reason, of course, I'll just let them." So every weekend after that , if the kids wanted to stay up later, I'd say, "Yeah, let's go." If they wanted ice cream before bed, I thought, " You know what? Dad's here, you're healthy, I'm healthy now, you're going to get that ice cream." For some, it's a trifle or even stupidity, but for me it's a gift. Today is Monday, and that's how I approach every day now: "Don't take yourself too seriously and be a parent who says 'yes' more than anything else." That's my little speech. I hope it helps you. This is from the bottom of my heart. In the meantime, let's get ready for work. I need to apply the square brackets, apply some primer, and I'll show you the tool I'm going to use for the first time—it'll be a real science experiment. So, this is a means...Oh, not a very good start. Well, this is the tool we settled on. I've always used Venetian plaster from Mirror Locks, I think, and another company I ordered from, and it turned out great. The buckets are ready, the mixture is mixed, just apply it—and that's it, it's already the right color. But it's taking a week, and I need to finish this project because the to-do list in this house is endless. So, this is the plaster they use. This is not Venetian plaster. It's not colored, but they said we could paint it. So I'll throw this in a bucket and mix it up. It says not to mix more than can be applied in 30 minutes. So we'll do it in parts, then choose a color, paint it, and hope it doesn't crack in 5 years. But there's only one way to find out. So, the water was turned on. Does this mean that all plumbing is complete and everything is fine? Yes, the plumbing inspections were successful. There is water in the system, so we can do things like that. So far, everything looks great. Actually, we already have flooring, but I prepared something for the living room that will also be useful for the patio, just look at this. We created a beautiful backdrop here, a big TV. Think about it. You throw the Super Bowl, parties, movie nights, or whatever. And this is where the light comes in. This light is too bright, right? And there will be glare on the TV . Well, I have a solution for this room. Here, look. Introducing Smart Wings blackout curtains. What I like most about them is that they completely block out light. This is the best part. I chose a nice linen color so that it would match the entire room. They do a great job of delaying and blocking out excess light. They are extremely light and silent. The way they open and close looks really nice. They have a nice decorative ribbon. And another thing that made me fall in love with this product—you can power them with batteries or plug them directly into an outlet so you never have to worry about charging. Or there is another option: attach a small solar panel that connects via USB-C right there and hides conveniently. So you will have constant power to operate these curtains. You won't have to replace batteries in your curtains or deal with cables running to an outlet outside the window. And one of the coolest things about it is that you don't have to be a genius to install it. In fact, Ken, who is simply phenomenal , easily installed everything without any problems or mishaps. Smart Wings is an incredible product. I can't wait to add them to different rooms in this house, like the office or even the bedroom. I can't wait to install this in my own home. I highly recommend you check them out. I'll leave a link to them in the description below. I guarantee you will like them. Now let's go back to our patio. So, I applied adhesion primer and it's great. The sales representative and I studied this product to see if it met our needs. They say it's for indoor and outdoor use. However, I don't feel the same way about the Venetian plaster I ordered, because that material is grainy. He's almost like a piece of plaster. And this one feels like drywall putty. But it has to harden. I understand that. I think there is limestone there. And in that Venetian plaster — a chtozna . This is as much a science experiment as it is a DIY project. And when it's all over, we'll report our results. So, you're essentially Marc Robert. I'm the home improvement version of Marc Robert , except I don't have the answers to all the " whys." I just have a bunch of questions. The cool thing is that it applies very smoothly and easily. And I have a feeling we're going to have to sand it all down, which, again , you can't do with Venetian plaster . Sometimes you just have to wait, you know? OK. While the plaster dries , I'm getting ahead of the game and working on the countertops. If you're a longtime fan of the channel, you might remember this. If you remember when I was building my dream office, a kind of luxurious tech office, these were countertops that were sitting on cabinets there before, because before that it was a sewing room. Oh my God. My relatives built this house 10-11 years ago. Since my father- in-law does granite countertops here in Boise, he just cut all these countertops to size and installed them on the cabinets to make himself a really cool sewing room. And you're like, "Seriously, a sewing room?" Yes, some people have a sewing room. The previous residents of this house loved to sew. So instead of throwing it away or giving it away, why would anyone throw it away? I decided to wait a bit until the perfect project came along. And guess what, the perfect project just turned up. So, we'll download this and crop it to the right size. And we do it at my father-in-law's granite countertop shop in Boise, Idaho. It's just incredible to have access to someone like that who can help you cut everything down. So let's load everything up, see how quickly we can trim it, and head home. Okay, let's look at the dimensions. This is Perfect. One cut. That's all we need for each of them. 27 and a half, probably. The best thing is that it's 22 and a half here. This is a very good match, but quite standard for cabinets. The only cut we need is the width of the entire product, it's perfect. Wait, depth...yes, width. You understand. It's too early for that. One side is polished, the other side is polished, there is no polishing here. Mhm. This is the second closet on the right. And it's polished here, and polished here. Ideally. And we cut here. Ideally. Perfectly. Oh, by the way, this is my...I mean, this is what I mean . My younger brother- in-law. Why do I say younger brother-in-law, because you are old enough to be my brother. This is true. But…