I love Pinterest, seriously I really do. I know to not always believe what is written, especially if it says something like “Build a Paver Patio in Just One Day”. What I think they meant was, you can sign the check that pays the Pro to install a very tiny paver patio for you in one day.
What to do about the area between the wood shed, the pathway and the new back door has had us stumped for sometime.
- Another path? Just weird.
- Big concrete pad? Ugly, expensive and doesn’t go with the house.
- Grass? Won’t grow right, more to mow and problem with snow removal.
We finally agree and decide on a used brick patio between the two buildings.
Day 1
We take out the old path and remove the first layer of dirt.
Day 3
We drive to Walla Walla to pick up about 900 used bricks ($400) at what really is a great price.
We take the ‘path less traveled’ on the way home driving thorough beautiful wheat fields being harvested and I nap. How to unload the bricks in one day? Call in for young, strong back up.
Day 4
The bricks are stacked and organized by kind and quality. I go back to removing dirt.
Day 6, 7, 8
The area is 12 1/2 X 19 feet and My Loving Spouse calculates we need to remove 7 1/2 inches over the entire area. The dirt needs to remain as compact as possible, so we do not use the rototiller. I dig out a lot of dirt.
Day 9, 10
Dig straight sides and figure out how to keep everything level. Buy plastic brick borders.
Day 11
Dirt removed I lay weed screen and feel that progress is beginning to be made. We start filling the area with the 2 inch layer of gravel prior to the 2 inch layer of sand.
Day 12
The gravel is sourced from our driveway. Wait! What? Actually, contrary to common belief, we do know what we are doing. The top coat of our driveway is the wrong kind of rock, which is another story, so we are re-purposing it.
My Loving Spouse comes home from Yard Sales with a gravel rake, it is just the tool we needed.
Day 13
We go buy paver sand for the base. We figure we need 15 bags. They say we need 90 at $5.39 a bag. They advise we use less sand and more gravel. We return home with 20 bags and begin removing more driveway and raking more gravel.
More gravel spreading….Bad British Word.
Day 14
Sooooo hot and humid, patio work comes to a halt. I try my hand at making some fun t-shirts for THE Granddaughter who loves her chickens.
Day 15
Yippee and Yee-haw, I begin laying brick.
Except….my small area of bricks use up one complete bag of sand over the gravel (nicely raked if I do say so myself). This cannot be right, this uses too much sand. I consult My Loving Spouse and it is determined that ‘Someone’ (see Day 7) calculated incorrectly and we/I have dug out an inch deeper than needed. (A moment of silence would be appropriate here).
Oh, bloody hell, there is only one thing to do…more gravel, less driveway more raking. Discuss when we will be ordering the correct gravel for the driveway.
Day 16
The brick laying now begins and I am the bricklayer, as I have the body parts for the job. No, not boobs, sheesh, bendable knees!
Day 17 begins by harvesting sand from nearby sandstone cliffs.
My Loving Spouse shovels loose sand into a bucket.
I cross the road with the bucket and dump it through the screen and into the tote and repeat about 20 times. The sand blowing into my face just adds to the fun.
Proper supervision….
Day 18
I start each of these days in lazy fashion, drinking coffee and reading my book. (Some might say this is nothing new). Then we harvest more sand and I am back on my knees. For each ‘line’ I try to use some of the broken bricks as I don’t want to end up at the end of the patio with only broken bricks left to finish the job.
My neighbors and My Loving Spouse keep me encouraged as the patio takes shape. Each evening I am sweaty and sandy. I take a shower, then enjoy a vodka grapefruit juice, because grapefruit is good for you….and some Advil.
Day 19
Day 20
We go harvest more sand. Each sand trip saves us about $100 a trip, plus we’re helping to keep sand off of the road. I always wear gloves.
What’s wrong with this picture?
My Loving Spouse keeps telling me it looks good and he’s proud of me, believe me this (and a dash of stubbornness) keeps me going.
Day 21
I am more than a tad excited that the rest of the job can be done standing up.
This Polymeric sand is key. It is suppose to bind together when damped and keep weeds and insects out of the cracks. Trust me, I do not want to be weeding a patio.
This job just blows….my mind.
It is not completely level or straight, but it has ‘old world charm’…and we love it.
Cute string lights are ordered.
My Loving Spouse has plans for a table and
we are blessed…..
and proud
and a teeny bit tired.
Love looking up these beautiful pictures as inspiration – how is it faring 4 years later? Quick question – did you use plastic edging all the way along the edging bricks? Does it hold it sufficiently well?
The plastic did go all the way around. It held up great, with the exception of two bricks that sort of disseminated. I pulled out those and replaced them.
Ellen, you look fabulous. Your new brick patio looks fabulous. I must tell you . . . you always make me laugh so hard and I look forward to your messages. Thanks for adding laughter to my life.
Hugs, -bev
Oh, Bev, so delightful to hear from you. Thank you for your uplifting words. Appreciate them so very much, blessings,
Ellen
I understand the tired part! Just reading this made me tired. So glad you have knees that bend. The things that you and your Loving Spouse are able to do continue to amaze me. You two are the Queen and King DIYers. You need your own show! That patio is perfect for Glory Farm!
Sweet Diane,
Thank you so very much. Some times I feel like we are racing the clock for when we might not be able to ‘do it all’. It just takes longer and a bigger wine budget for recovery evenings…
It looks great to me. I love reading your blogs.
I am amazed at all of the changes you have accomplished since the first time I visited your farm. So proud of both of you.
Oh, Jim, that is the sweetest comment and fills my heart. Thank you. Very grateful that you are on our journey with us….I was just thinking of you the other day and Sallee and meeting your new bride. Blessings to you both.
Outstanding as usual!!!
Thanks my friend!
Looks wonderful. A really nice finishing touch for the kitchen addition.
Thank you, Dear John, it ties it all together so well, we are very pleased.
I love this story!! Final result is awesome….great work E!
So nice to hear from you, thank you so much Katie!
Awesome job! We do this many times a year for customers but I think yours looks, well, awesome! The polymeric sand is the perfect product to finish it off.
Thank you so much Debbie, as you know, the used brick just has a character of its own.
I have a pair of leather work gloves like your’s too!! Your projects are enthusing me. I’m undertaking a 1/2 acre landscaping project in October, stay tuned . . . . my sister might come down from Maryland to help me. Looking forward to your party lights and the table 🙂
Thank you Terri, Those glove pairs just keep showing up! Wondering what you are up too….
Lovely patio! I applaud you!
Thank you, Mims. My knees are almost recovered.
Love this Ellen. I can see a table there and maybe a patio chair swing? Nice little gathering place for dinner or friends.
Indeed, thanks so much Dawn!