Transform Concrete Blocks Into A Charming Backyard Bridge

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Are there areas of your yard you just don't spend that much time in? Maybe the ground is too muddy and you don't want to walk through it, or there's a small creek or stream that cuts through your backyard. If that's the case, make like TikToker thebuchaus and build a bridge to help you get from one part of your yard to another. The DIYer took several concrete blocks, wood boards, and gravel, and constructed a short bridge over a creek that separates his yard from 200 acres of forest.

Of course, you don't need a creek or an exceptionally muddy backyard to have an excuse for building a bridge. The bridge can simply be a decorative touch in your yard or garden, such as a garden path or walkway, rather than something that crosses a body of water. While the creator painted his a rust orange, to give it what he calls "modern coastal flair," you can paint your bridge any color, or multiple colors, you like. The bridge's size is also up to you — if you're not building something to cross a stream, you can make it as short as you like.

To build your own bridge, dig a foundation a few inches deep and wide enough to accommodate four rows of four concrete or cinder blocks. Tamp down and compact the soil, then fill with gravel before placing the blocks on top. Add four more blocks, placing them on top of the second row. Apply a layer of construction adhesive, like SikaBond Construction Adhesive available at Home Depot for around $10 for 10 ounces, to the blocks to secure them in place. Repeat the process on the opposite side.

Now build the frame for the wooden part of the bridge, using two 2-by-6-inch boards on the perimeter and a single 2-by-6-inch board down the center. While the creator doesn't add horizontal support across the frame, you may want to add another board or two across the width of the frame for additional support, as a commenter noted. Similarly, while this DIY uses screws to attach the boards together, a commenter recommends nails, which will flex and bend under people's weight. After you've built the wood frame, set 2-by-6-inch boards across it horizontally to create the bridge's surface and nail into place. Position the wood frame between the two block ends, so that the elevated rows of blocks sandwich it in place.

Dress up the bridge however you like. The video shows Matthew planting elephant ears (Colocasia), but those can be invasive in some areas, so you may prefer to choose the best native plants for your state instead. Alternatively, set potted plants on wooden part of the bridge and use it as a base for a container garden.