Patio Project 2009 – or “You had me at Mini-Bobcat”
A little photo essay on what DS1 did on his last summer home. The foreman of the project was DJ, the former custodian at church.
The project started in June and finished on July 31 — just before the Graduation party deadline. In fact, the tables and chairs had to be placed on slabs of plywood over the distributed piles of dirt.
Bobcat Gothic
Step 1: Make a big mess.
Not actually supposed to look like a moto-cross track
Another place they decided to pile dirt.
First course level
The old electricity from the house to the garage
The trench full of new electricity!
The top level-even with the landing pad near the house
Finished steps and HL’s feet!
Beautiful new steps!
The new steps from the house
The beginning of the first course of retaining blocks
the hole at sunset
steps and wall
bottom layer= 2.5 inch trap rock
Calculated amount of trap rock not actually enough once compacted
A couple inches low all around
Toward the steps
With additional rock added and compacted
Mid-level rock= 1.5 granite (after a light rain)
the calculated amount of mid-level wasn’t enough either.
Top level of rock =3/8″ granite – should be level with top of retaining wall
Low on this side too
After two additional pick-up loads (1 yard each)
Hand compacting the final “extra” level
Circle complete
Read for permeable install
Circle kit finished; non-permeable part done and bricks waiting to be installed
Foreman DJ
DS1 using the wet mortar saw
DS1 using the wet mortar saw
the foreman, DJ supevising the final pieces. DS2 watches
What the permeable part will look like with the cracks filled with 3/8″ granite
At the “Let’s Pretend it’s Done” party before I left for Atlanta (note the cigars)
DS1 takes a break on the circle
DS1 takes a break on the circle
Doh! Missed one cut.
The permeable part toward those dandy steps (nice weeds, huh?)
Finished! Well, except for trimming the landscape fabric and the grass seed.
Welcome to the new (and hopefully permanent) home of This Journey. It's good to have people walking along, especially during the bumpy parts.
I can be contacted at not.fainthearted at gmail dot com.
Or leave a comment!
September 1st, 2009 at 9:09 am
DS1 does good work. The patio looks great.
September 2nd, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Wow, now THAT’s a project.