Patio/Outdoor Kitchen Project

[polo1665]

This all started about a year and a half ago with the simple idea of building a flagstone patio around our outdoor fire pit. As I went it grew into something much more, and I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into when I decided to take on this project myself. I had never done anything like this before so naturally I was a little apprehensive.
I studied up on things bought some (several tons) of materials and got started.

Without further ado.............A picture of the tractor with the first of many loads of dirt that were removed to create the patio area.

I figured in sticking with the forum rules I had better start with a tractor pic.

 

[polo1665]

The first part of the project (flagstone patio) isn't terribly well documented, so be patient with me.

Here is the patio area laid out. Yes, those are the septic tank lids that you see. This was one of the little dilemmas I had to deal with.

 

[RadarTech]

Great to see the start... Keep em coming!

 

[polo1665]

The first order of business (after removing 6+" of dirt) was to build a retaining wall against the hill. In the photo you will see this completed. It really only seems that easy:laughing:.
One of the things that I wasn't prepared for was the amount of dirt I had to get rid of While digging this out.
I used to have fleeting thoughts of digging a pond until I did this.

 

[polo1665]

Great to see the start... Keep em coming!

Boy, you really stay on top of things buddy.
:laughing::laughing:

 

[polo1665]

Can't be a complete description without a pic of the 6 ( yep, I said 6) tons of PA Lilac flagstone. My back has started hurting again thinking about it.

 

[RadarTech]

Boy, you really stay on top of things buddy.
:laughing::laughing:

You have no idea.. :laughing:

 

[polo1665]

Unfortunately this is where the poor documentation begins. The next pics of the patio you will see will be of the completed patio.
I can briefly describe the steps, but there will be no pics to accompany them.

After digging out the 6" of ground to allow for the flagstone's base, I had to provide some drainage. This is a very wet area and during the process we had quite a bit of rain.
After the drainage was complete I laid 2" of gravel in the patio area. The gravel was tamped (by hand) and leveled. On top of the gravel I placed 2" of coarse sand and leveled it as well.
This is when the fun started. The flagstone pieces were brought down one a time by hand truck and put in place.
Here's a quick pic of the completed patio (with fire pit)

 

[Craig Clayton]

I see that you found the septic tanks. I also built a interlocking patio over my tank and a pair of interlocking block steps to my deck over the tank. It dates back to the guy who that built the house ( me ). I framed with double 2x10" PT lumber a 3 compartment frame on the top of the tank. I laid in 2x6" cross pieces so I had a ( 2) 30"x 30" sub boxes. I back filled and laid the stones over the top. Call it a golf tee between the cracks of the stones marks the center of the access hatch.
Craig Clayton

 

[Jimmy Joe]

Looks very nice, you sure you never did this before? Thanks for the pictures, I already have ideas floating around in my head.