OT - What I did on my summer Vacation

[Len J]

My wife and I had an old wooden deck that was not built correctly in our back yard. Plans started with re-decking it.....they got off the track somewhere along the line and she and I ended up building this.

http://len-j.smugmug.com/Other/Patio/i-RvRwx37/0/M/Patio-15-M.jpg (http://len-j.smugmug.com/Other/Patio/18634672_trjs6Q#1446730284_RvRwx37-A-LB)

Lots of work, but we saved a lot doing most of it ourselves.

Very satisfying.

Len

PS...more pics of before, during and after here
http://len-j.smugmug.com/Other/Patio/18634672_trjs6Q#1446730284_RvRwx37

[brockd15]

Wow, looks great. There was a lot of progress from picture 5 to 6. Have you done something similar before?

[Len J]

Wow, looks great. There was a lot of progress from picture 5 to 6. Have you done something similar before?


Nope........We had someone design it an then do the foundation for us to get that right......we did the rest. Just read a lot and took our time.

I have done a lot of home repair in my life though so I'm not afraid to try things.

Thanks

Len

[eddief]

was it mellow or did you argue a lot? who cares, nice, nice job.

is there any wet mortar in that whole thing, or all placed and sanded?

[Len J]

was it mellow or did you argue a lot? who cares, nice, nice job.

is there any wet mortar in that whole thing, or all placed and sanded?


No wet mortar. The foundation wall and the bullnose is glued.

Wife and I actually did good together. split the work up, paced ourselves.....she is pretty handy herself.

Thanks

len

[firerescuefin]

Len...your my hero. I get cold sweats thinking about taking on a project like that....LOOKS GREAT!

[whforrest]

great job! how much do you charge?

no seriously the curves came out great,bill

[fmbp]

that does look great. Excellent job, man!

[SpeedyChix]

Very nice! Great work and patience too.

[BumbleBeeDave]

Have you got the furniture out on it yet? We'll all be right over! :beer:

BBD

PS . . . However, I am slightly disappointed not to see an integrated locking bike rack. :rolleyes:

[Frankwurst]

This is how little things turn into big things.....kinda like putting a bike together. Looks great. I thought we did good replacing some bad wood and staining our deck. Sure glad Mrs. Wurst doesn't spend time here. :beer:

[Ken Robb]

the house and yard are lovely.

[NRRider]

Very very nice!
(I thought you were going to say you went downtown to look for a job, and then to the drug store to hang out.)

[Climb01742]

ya'll should be awfully proud of yourselves. well and beautifully done. enjoy it for years.

[rustychisel]

nice work. My current paving job involves moving cubic *****loads of earth and about 120m sq of basalt cobblestones, each of which weighs 40 ~ 50lb. :crap:

[Len J]

Thanks for all the kind comments.

My work is more long term oriented so projects like this that have relatively immediate gratification are a Gretchen balance.

Len

[zmudshark]

Love the brick border. It's what make's it, IMO.

[Karin Kirk]

Beautiful work! Bonus points for doing it as a happy team. :)
I love stuff like that. Stacking or arranging rocks has a strange addictive power. The finished result (which is especially beautiful in your case) is a wonderful and long-lasting reward for your hard work.

[Dave Wages]

Beautiful work! Bonus points for doing it as a happy team. :)
I love stuff like that. Stacking or arranging rocks has a strange addictive power. The finished result (which is especially beautiful in your case) is a wonderful and long-lasting reward for your hard work.

You talk as if you know something about stacking rocks? ;)

[Louis]

You talk as if you know something about stacking rocks? ;)

Better to have spent time stacking rocks, than breaking rocks...

Nice work Len. Enjoy using it.

[Karin Kirk]

You talk as if you know something about stacking rocks? ;)

Ha! IIRC you helped me out with the wall in the front yard, didn't you?

[sc53]

Len, what a work of art! I love rocks and stones and collect them from my travels then put them in a bowl and look at them in my house. (?! I know) I love the design which is not completely random but not a fixed pattern either. How did you do it? Was there a plan for vertical/horizontal or did you and your wife just ad lib once the foundation and perimeter were in place?

[Len J]

Len, what a work of art! I love rocks and stones and collect them from my travels then put them in a bowl and look at them in my house. (?! I know) I love the design which is not completely random but not a fixed pattern either. How did you do it? Was there a plan for vertical/horizontal or did you and your wife just ad lib once the foundation and perimeter were in place?


We were using Unilock Pavers. On their website they give you pattern ideas along with material mix. http://www.unilock.com/default/installation/resources/laying-patterns/?p=brusselsblock

The patio designer suggested the following to us.

-Brussels Block Sierra for all pieces (excluding accent pieces)
-Bullnose around the outside.
-8X6 block along the house and sun-room vertically.
-2X8 brick-like red accent paver lengthwise inside all the way around
-Brussels bloc pattern AF on the inside.

We liked it so we went along. Glad we did.

The manufacturers really make it easy.

Len

[Fixed]

Summer grasses
All that remains
of warriors dreams
~~Basho