Create a tropical feel in your backyard by building a tiki hut.
Since World War Two, when travel to tropical destinations denoted prestige and wealth, tiki bars have been popular staples at American restaurants, beaches and in backyards. Build one at home and escape to your own little paradise. Plus, mixing your own Mai Tai's under a do-it-yourself thatched roof is much friendlier on the wallet than going out to the bar. Or, if shade is all you seek, a tiki hut can provide that, too. You may need an assistant to help raise the roof on your homemade hut. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
1. Place one bamboo pole in each of the 5-gallon decorative containers. Fill the containers with gravel to secure the poles. Space two pairs of poles 5 feet apart with 3 feet between the two pairs.
2. Nail the tiki hut's roof frame together. Place the two longer 1-by-3s parallel and 3 feet apart. Place the two shorter 1-by-3s over each end, connecting the longer pieces. Hammer them together using two 1/2-inch nails at each joint. Your frame is now complete.
3. Cut four 1-yard pieces of twine and have them handy. Lift the frame over the four bamboo poles so the frame is flush with the top of the poles and each pole is situated in each of the four inside corners of the frame. Wrap one piece of twine tightly around a pole and crisscross it over the wooden frame and around the pole numerous times until secure and the twine has run out. Tie off the twine by looping the end back under itself and tying a knot. Repeat this step for the three remaining poles.
4. Stack large palm fronds on top of the frame creating a natural tiki hut roof. Once a thick roof is created, secure the layers of palm fronds by weaving twine around the outer edge of the frame and around portions of the palm fronds. Tie off the twine as in Step 3.
Tags: palm fronds, around pole, feet apart, frame around, tiki roof