Garden Structures

Garden structures being those things which we can plan, think about and with the application of time, skill and effort end up with a result that enables us to brag to friends and family, or at least stand back and think "I did that".

	Cost	Time required	Skill needed +++++ max 5	Grunting needed +++++ max 5
Pergola arch / trellis screen	$100-$300 assuming 4-5 uprights, with inclusive trellis panels.	4-5 hours.	3+++ Cementing posts in place vertically, care in keeping timbers square.	3+++ Digging holes approx. 30cm square by 60 cm deep. Timbers heavy to carry.
Deck	$400 - $1 000 and way beyond. DIY cost for 3m x 3.6m ground level hardwood deck approx. $800	2-3 days plus	4++++ Lining up several posts cemented into ground. Squaring timbers and laying decking boards to give professional finish with fixings and sawn edges.	4++++ 8-9 holes +, 30cm square by 30-60cm deep. Timbers heavy to carry, manoeuvre and cut, even with power tools.
Patio	$400-£1 000 and way beyond DIY cost for 3m x 3m patio in mid-range quality slab approx. $800	2-3 days plus	4++++ Levelling large area within good tolerance. All slabs laid square and level with correct drainage slope. Edges smooth and slabs stable.	5+++++ Much heavy digging out and levelling of area. Moving of tonnes of soil, sand, hardcore and slabs. Larger slabs in particular difficult to handle
	Cost	Time	Skill +++++ max 5	Grunting+++++ max 5
Stepping stones in lawn	$2 - $10 each	15 - 30 mins each	2++ Levelling slab flush with grass on base of sand / mortar	3+++ Depends on number. dig out 7-10cm soil depth for each slab
Raised beds	$150-$300 for 16ft x 8ft bed using railway sleepers	1 day	1+	4++++ Railway sleepers are very heavy. Also tonnes of soil to be moved
Water feature (basic self-contained feature)	$50 upwards (this for cheapest self-contained feature placed close to house)	Half a day or less.	1+	2++ digging out of soil to keep feature at ground level
Planted gravel area	$250 for approx. 3m diameter circle including feature boulders.	Half to one day	1+ Care important rather than skill	2++ (4++++ if turf removed)