Couple save £3,000 transforming wasteland garden into chic outdoor bar
With summer well underway many people are looking forward to spending time in their gardens.
But making your outdoor space look pretty as a picture isn't always cheap – especially with the cost of living rising.
Luckily one couple revealed how they built a bar on a budget, and you'd never believe how battered their outdoor space used to look before they gave it a DIY makeover.
READ MORE:Woman transforms rotting garden into pretty sitting area with £15 B&Q bargain
As the temperatures climb, all we want to do is head outside and relax in the sunshine.
One couple are able to do just this now thanks to a lot of hard work.
At first they thought the project would cost a bomb to pull off, but they found ways to save around £3,000.
Samantha, 41, and Richard Turner, 43, from Halifax, West Yorkshire, told LatestDeals.co.uk about their garden transformation.
Discussing how they designed the garden of their dreams, Samantha said: "Our garden had so much potential but it was looking neglected and had become a bit of a wasteland.
"We had a patio with some cracked slabs and a big grassy slope which was overgrown and discoloured.
"We knew we wanted to transform the space so we could spend time outside enjoying the summer evenings.
"I came up with the idea of creating a garden bar and started looking for ideas on Pinterest.
"Initially we shopped around for quotes but the average price we received was £4,000.
"Our budget was much smaller so we decided to go DIY.
"Once I had gathered enough ideas on Pinterest, we were ready to start shopping for supplies.
"We got everything from a local builder's merchant, Huws Gray Bradford (Parkside)."
The pair managed to get some ready mixed concrete for £60, and they picked up some timber to create a decking area.
They bagged 9”x2” timber for £60 and 7”x2” timber for £100, as well as a 6” timber post for £25 and 20 joist hangers for £32 .
Then they got a tub of Ronseal Wood Stain in the shade Country Oak for just £20.
For decoration the couple also bought a bar sign on eBay for just £15, and two faux ivy wall panels for £10 each at Home Bargains.
This helped to add a little decoration to the wood.
"We saved over £3,000 compared to the professional quote, which I am really happy about," she added.
"The first step was to use the mini digger to dig out the rubble and soil on the grassy slope until the entire floor in the garden was level.
"We were lucky enough to avoid paying a hire fee for the digger, as we borrowed it from someone we know.
"Once the floor was level, this gave us the base to start working on the retaining wall.
"We dug the footings three feet deep each, and poured concrete on top.
"The wall was built on top of the set concrete and we fastened the 8×1” timber cladding to it.
"We hung up lights, attached the TV to the retaining wall, and laid out some plants.
"We got faux wall ivy to hang along the wall and some large plants were laid out alongside the egg chair, hanging chair and our corner garden sofa with matching table blocks."
The project took around six months to complete, and the couple spent their evenings and weekends working on it.
They said the toughest part was digging out all the rubble and soil, which took nearly two weeks to complete.
It was challenging at times, but they said it was all worth it in the end.
Even though they had some "hard" days, the space now looks amazing.
Tom Church, Co-Founder of LatestDeals.co.uk, said: "Samatha and Richard's dedication and determination to transform their neglected garden into a stylish outdoor bar is truly inspiring.
"Their DIY approach not only saved them over £3,000, but also allowed them to create a personalised space where they can now enjoy the warm summer evenings.
"Their hard work and creativity have paid off, demonstrating that with a little bit of vision and a lot of effort – you can turn any wasteland into a beautiful oasis."
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