The "project" as it came to be called is completed! It started out as a discussion as to what to do about the patio concrete that was cracking, moving, and starting to tilt toward the house. It was going to cause a problem with a heavy rainfall and something had to be done.
If we are going to do this project we should move the air conditioning unit away from the patio to reduce the noise. If we are going to move it we should really replace it for it is 27 years old. Then if we are going to replace the AC unit we find it is best to also replace the furnace. Then I decided to run power out to the barn. Then it was to remove the old concrete (26,500 lbs. of CONCRETE!) and then dig out the area to build a new patio. Then haul in crushed concrete, granite sand, black dirt, pavers, patio blocks, caps, etc. Level out the crushed concrete and granite sand build the walls, place the caps, run electrical wire under it all for the fountain -- oh my -- I think you get the idea. This kind of project ALWAYS gets bigger once one gets into it.
Building the outer edge of the patio before pavers go into place.
Ayden and Aubrey came to help
Well, it was a lot of work. Bill came and helped with the concrete removal and Stephen came to help me put down the pavers. Sarah came and helped Marion plant the garden. Emily has promised to come and help with the staining of the deck. This still has to be completed.
Stephen leveling out the sand and preparing to put the pavers in place.
Conner checked the projects progress out from another vantage point.
Piles of dirt, granite sand and crushed concrete.
Pavers are almost all in place!
The wall is built and the fountain in place!
Sarah's Green Thumb is put to work.
Like I said, it was a lot of hard work. But as you can see by the pictures the hard work was well worth it. This will be something we will enjoy for years to come.
