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Building
side
by
side
Our wonderfully chaotic life through DIY home improvement, our favorite products, activities and recipes.
We're far from experts. We're a husband and wife working together, learning as we go and building things that matter.
Check out our first post!
My DIY Beginnings
Home improvement can often feel like a daunting task, not only for beginners, but especially for busy families juggling work, school, and daily life. However, with some courage, patience, and creativity, you can accomplish anything without overwhelming your schedule or other responsibilities. As you begin to browse some of the projects I've tackled over the years, you may wonder how my DIY journey began? I grew up pretty hands-on, helping with basic projects around the house
Aug 113 min read
Fresh
from Our Stories
First Time Pool Owner Lessons Learned from a Large Older Pool
I knew owning a pool would come with maintenance. I did not know it would come with a crash course in old construction methods, underwater caulk chemistry, hydrostatic pressure, Pebble Tec repair, and the humbling reality that “quick weekend project” is often a lie. We became first-time pool owners last July when we closed on our home. The pool was one of the features that made the house special, but it was also clearly going to need attention. It is not a small backyard plun
Sep 36 min read
Reviving My Childhood Playhouse
The old playhouse at my parents’ house looked smaller than I remembered, but somehow more important. It had been standing for about 30 years. I climbed on it as a kid, scraped my knees on it, hid underneath it, and probably tested every board harder than any safety inspector would recommend. Over time, the wood had softened, the decking had warped, and the railings had started to look more decorative than dependable. Still, the heart of it was there. The main structural beams
Aug 214 min read
From Pool Pump to Pergola: Bringing the Wood Ceiling Back to Life
One home project has a funny way of inviting five more to the party. That is exactly what happened after we moved into our new home in July 2025. The house came with a pool, which was exciting, but it also made us first-time pool owners overnight. I knew there would be a learning curve. Chemicals, skimming, filters, timers, plumbing, random noises from equipment I did not yet understand. All of it was new. The first big project on my mind was simple enough: replace the older
Aug 126 min read
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