Home & Workshop Journal
Better information before you buy.

Outdoor Living

Get more from your outdoor spaces with product reviews, project ideas, and practical guidance.

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Guide showing where to insert a meat thermometer in steak, pork, chicken and turkey
OUTDOOR LIVING

How to Use a Meat Thermometer: Where to Insert It and When to Check

Where to place the probe in steak, pork chops, chicken and turkey, when to check, and the safe internal temperatures to verify.

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Meat thermometers for grilling and smoking beside barbecue
OUTDOOR LIVING

Best Meat Thermometers for Grilling and Smoking

ThermoWorks vs. MEATER, Typhur and ThermoPro: instant-read and wireless thermometers compared by the way you actually cook.

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Blackstone 22-inch tabletop griddle displayed at Costco for $149.99
OUTDOOR LIVING

Blackstone Griddle for $149.99: Is the 22-Inch Model a Good Deal?

A real-world look at the Costco 22-inch Blackstone bundle, what you get, and how it compares with 17-, 28- and 36-inch models.

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Outdoor fire table and fire features near a covered patio
OUTDOOR LIVING

Can You Put a Fire Table on a Covered Patio?

When gas fire tables may work under a patio roof, why wood fire pits are different, and the clearances and ventilation to check.

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Backyard fire pit placed away from a home
OUTDOOR LIVING

How Far Should a Fire Pit Be From the House?

Use 10 feet as a starting point, then check the manual, local rules, overhead clearance, wind and nearby combustibles.

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Fire pit, fire table and fire bowl comparison
OUTDOOR LIVING

Firepit, Fire Table or Fire Bowl?

Compare the three styles by fuel, heat, seating layout, maintenance, safety and current models.

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Outdoor patio with warm patio heaters at dusk
OUTDOOR LIVING

Patio Heaters: Gas, Electric, or Wood Pellets?

Compare propane, natural gas, electric infrared and wood-pellet patio heaters by heat, cost, convenience and atmosphere.

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Gutter screen with leaves and rainwater along a roof edge
OUTDOOR LIVING

Gutter Screens: Fact or Fiction?

Advertising claims, real installed cost, maintenance requirements, guard types, warranties and owner-review themes.

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Residential landscaping and landscaper hiring guide
OUTDOOR LIVING

What to Know Before Hiring a Landscaper

How to compare bids, verify credentials, understand contracts, irrigation, warranties, costs and red flags.

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Pellet smokers and grills on a backyard patio
OUTDOOR LIVING

Best Pellet Smokers: What to Look For Before You Buy

Temperature control, cooking area, hopper size, cleanup, smoke flavor, searing and representative models from leading brands.

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Entry-level pellet, electric, charcoal and propane smokers on a backyard patio
OUTDOOR LIVING

Best Entry-Level Smokers

Pellet, electric, charcoal, propane and offset smokers compared for beginners, with prices, reviews and buying advice.

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Cleaning pet odors from artificial grass with a hose and sprayer
OUTDOOR LIVING

Remove Pet Odors From Artificial Grass

Products, application methods, treatment life and maintenance for pet turf.

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