John and Mara test the layout of the patio.
June 22 - David gets ready to break ground.
June 24 we have the site clear of sod and are starting to realize that we need more dirt to lay it out the right place. We eventually bring in two dumptrucks plus two large wagonloads of topsoil.
It's hot, well over 95 degrees in the sun, and John and Daddy are working hard.
June 25 - the walkway is finally laid out with landscape cloth and ready for gravel.
June 25, our first delivery of nearly 10 tons of hardpack gravel.
June 25 - the hardpack gravel is dumped by bobcat into the walkway.
June 27 - we have finished compacting the first layer of hardpack gravel.
August 6th: Pam lays out the plastic edging along the walkway.
August 6th: we lay more landscape cloth on the gravel, then dump sand on that.
After cloth, gravel, cloth, and sand, we finally get to lay out some pavers.
August 8, the state of the walkway.
August 13, we got a saw so we could cut pavers, then were able to turn the corner on the walkway.
August 8, the whole of the main patio!
John demonstrates how the patio works!
August 17, John wants me to show off the patio. At this point we had spread fine sand ("play sand") on top and compacted it several times to settle all the pavers into place.
August 13, the other side of the wall after compacting sand and base material.
August 13, We begin to work on the retaining walls to be built near the house. This means digging trenches! Note the white pipe in the lower left, which is connected to the downspout for the roof and eventually empties far out in the yard.
August 13, for the record, the roof drain comes down from the gutters, under the steps, and is visible here in the white drainage pipe -- now buried under the wall.
Mara shows that we finished most of the north wall section.
Mara shows that we finished most of the south wall section. We line with landscape cloth to keep sand and dirt from leaking through the wall.
August 17, I note where the electric lines for the generator pass through the bottom layer of the wall... note the missing block.
August 17, we line the inside of the wall to prevent sand and dirt from leaking, after laying a bit of sand along the bottom of the wall.
August 20, the south wall is done and backfilled; Pam starts to lay the landscape cloth on top.
August 20. The wall is finished after gluing the cap blocks into place, and now we start the backfill using another truckload of topsoil. The north wall has some scraps of pavers and wall blocks under all the soil, as fill.
August 20, we start to add more dirt to the low area between the patio and garage; and along edges of the patio.
August 20, we remove excess sand from the main patio; Andy used his little truck and Pam used the wheelbarrow. The wagon holds a load of dirt for backfill.
August 20, the north wall is done and backfilled.
August 21, a belated picture of the final section of the patio, which was finished the weekend before. Pam did some fancy cutting and fitting to merge the walkway into the patio. The sand is wet so it looks a bit messy.
August 21, the walkway and south wall are all done, complete with mulch!
August 21, we've finished the dirt fill in this area and laid as much cloth and mulch as we have available.
August 21, the north wall is done and mulched.
September 4, mulch and edging are nearly complete, and a few of the new plants are ready for planting.
September 4, the mulch is nearly complete.
With the last of the mulch, the patio is done! Andy demonstrates.
