New patio project

[steveinmo]

Some of you may remember my new house thread a couple of years ago. Well, the thought was to let the ground settle around the house before putting in a patio off the back porch area. Two years sounded like long enough to me, so we got out the garden hose and started laying out a rough design. I don't know what I was thinking that day......seemed so easy laying out all of those beautiful curves. There were several times during the project that I cussed that day and longed for a nice rectangular design.

Anyway what things looked like after we layed it out and laid some paint lines down and the obligatory tractor pic.

 

[steveinmo]

Seemed a shame to dig up all that grass I worked so hard to get planted and looking nice, but.........let the excavation begin!

 

[steveinmo]

Once the grass was all removed it was time to start on the retaining wall to level out the area. We had a really hot and dry summer and it was brutal in the sun. The EZup canopy offered a little relief.

Here I've started the lowest coarse of wall stones. Don't pay any attention to elevations in any of these pic's - there are so may curves going on that things look distorted.

 

[steveinmo]

It's starting to take shape now. I'm leaving an opening in the wall on the right hand (east) side for tractor access to bring in fill and crushed stone later.

 

[steveinmo]

The wall is pretty much done here except for the open access end, and I've leveled out the existing dirt using my landscape rake. Here's some shots from different angles of the semi-finished wall. I'm using Keystone Country Manor wall stones which is a relatively new product. I chose it because it's finished on both sides. The wall on the left hand side will go up another three courses to provide a small seating wall.

 

[steveinmo]

Next came about 15 yards of crushed stone compacted in 2" lifts.

 

[RayCo]

It's looking great, steveinmo. I'm currently working on a walkway with curves and things and am getting pretty close to the end of the project. Where the walkway meets front door, there's an 8'x8' patio area. Getting the compacted stone among that whole area was very, very challenging and time-consuming. We stayed in the parameters of "no more than 3/8" variance" which was quite frustrating, frankly.

Come next summer, we'll be putting in a patio probably somewhat similar to what you're doing. I cringe at the thought of trying to get that large of an area that perfectly level! How did you do it? It appears that your ground is pretty level to start with, whereas ours is on a hill, but either way, I'm sure your ground isn't all level within 3/8".

 

[steveinmo]

Thanks Ray!

It's not as level as it looks in the pic's. From the edge of the house out to the edge of the patio there is about a 2'-0" drop. It's not easy getting it level that's for sure. I say level but flat would be a better word. There is actually about 4" of slope away from the house on the left (west) side.

This slope (for drainage) was somewhat of a problem as there is a door off the screened in porch and also a sliding door out of the kitchen area at ninety degrees to each other. I didn't want as much slope as the surface transitioned past the porch steps.

I basically just used a bunch of strings to get the surface of the compacted stone where I wanted it. It was a pain in the "you know what" stringing all of the lines at the finished elevation, then measuring down from the strings and marking (with spray paint) how much shy it was in each spot, then taking the strings down so I could wheelbarrow in more stone. Whew! I was shooting for no more than 3/8" variation and I think I came pretty close.

In this shot you can see the seating area I mentioned earlier on the left hand side. Also, all of the wall caps are on and I'm ready to start laying pavers.

 

[hunterridgefarm]

Steve its like watching HGTV or DIY network , looking good.

I will be paying close attention to your thread since I will be doing the same thing in a few months. It just depends on how much fill they do around our new house as to how long I will wait.

David

 

[steveinmo]

Starting to make some progress around the steps. Maybe this will give you an idea of what I meant earlier about the slope around/between the steps. I'm starting at the steps because it's about the only "straight" area of the whole thing and at ninety degrees I wanted to make sure it started right.

I'm using 3/4" EMT conduit as my screed rails.

 

[steveinmo]

Moving along down the side of the house. Had to get another tractor shot in here. The pavers I'm using are Belgard Mega Bergerac. They're 3 1/8" thick. That translates to HEAVY!

 

[steveinmo]

Here's where the fun started. Remember that curves area with the seating wall? Well, the plan was to put a free standing fire pit of some sort in that corner. Sounds like a good spot for some circle pavers!

This was really tricky since you have to start at the center of the circle. Getting the outside to meet the curved wall was not easy. We finally laid out the whole circle in a different location to see what we had. The literature said the outside diameter was supposed to be 8'-8". It actually ended up about 8'-10" so I had to adjust a little. I turned out pretty well.

 

[steveinmo]

Now there is another of those curved areas at the other end. Sounds like a good place to have some kind of fountain at some point. So, the wife says "that would be a good place for another circle".

Turned out a little better since I was older, wiser and more experienced at this point.

 

[steveinmo]

OK, we're in the home stretch now. Time to start cutting in all of the pavers around the outside. This was a much, much bigger job than I had anticipated. As I mentioned earlier, the pavers are 3 1/8" thick. I used a 7" diamond blade in my circular saw to make an initial cut, then broke them with a hammer and chisel. I cleaned up the rough edges by dragging the diamond blade across the joint. Worked pretty well.

These pavers are the "tumbled" variety which means the edges have all been knocked off to look "old"......kind of like old cobble stones. Well, the saw made a nice sharp edge so each paver had to be hammered after it was cut to give it that tumbled look. Lots of work!

 

[steveinmo]

There was a threat of much needed rain that night. This could have been a disaster if it washed out my bedding sand! So out came the tarps.

 

[steveinmo]

The last step in the process is to add the sand between all of the joints. We used poly sand which will set up relatively hard and deter ants weeds and the washing you get with regular sand.

We spread the sand then broomed it into all of the joints then compacted. The level of the sand went down about half with the all the vibrating, so it was more sand and more brooming. Then another round of compacting and a final coat of sand before watering.

You have to make sure to get all of this poly sand off the pavers before misting it. If not, the sand will adhere to the top of the pavers - not good!

 

[steveinmo]

Here's a few pic's of the finished product after soaking all of the joints to activate the polymere in the sand. I've still got landscaping to do and finish some wall work over on the left hand side. Overall I'm happy with the way it turned out.

 

[AlanB]

EXTREMELY nice work.

That sand is nice, we use one called Pavelock, I was chuckling after seeing the tumbled pavers then seeing all the saw cutting you were about to do. That is one of the tasks that while I am doing it, I am always envisioning how to do it easier the next time.

Your rounds came out really excellent, and thier application was great.

Looks like one of those projects that you will be pleased with and proud of for years to come.

 

[Tororider]

Steveinmo,
That is a beautiful patio, although I think you are going to have to upgrade your patio furniture from the first picture in your last post.

That is a ton of work, I have done some similar, but much smaller projects, so I can appreciate all the work you have done.

The good news is you saved thousands of dollars over having someone do it yourself.

I think I may cop out when I do one for myself and go with stamped concrete, hehe.

 

[coolhl7]

that turned out great...you gotta be proud....
you really needed that patio considering your view!