When Tim Terich
heard about Ron's upcoming visit to Portland, Oregon he thought
that this was just what he needed to get the ball rolling
on his rather extensive list of home improvement projects.
Tim hoped Ron could help him build a small sand and brick
patio in the back garden area. Ron had some great ideas for
this simple project. Not only would this provide Tim with
a great place to barbecue, but it would also cut back considerably
on the amount of grass he had to mow! Now that's a win-win.
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a full video of this segment.
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For a list of what you will need in order to complete
this project.
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Tim's backyard had a sidewalk that cut a diagonal through the back lawn. Ron suggested that they use this sidewalk as the defining edge for one side of the small patio. Tim agreed and the two of them got to work.
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1. Select materials:
- Ron recommended that they use interlocking pavers for the patio. These key-shaped stones fit easily together like puzzle pieces. They were attractive, easy to install and would allow Tim to expand the patio if he ever needed to in the future.
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2. Lay out the patio site
- This project involved a considerable amount of digging, but before they got started, Ron pointed out a potential problem. There was an electrical line that ran from the side of the house and cut all the way across the yard to the detached garage. Ron wanted to make sure that they didn't dig into that line, so he asked Tim to take a garden hose and lay it out right across the yard on top of the electrical line. They designed their patio location to be clear of this hazard.
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- They decided to make the patio 6 x 8 feet. This would be large enough for Tim's barbecue but not too large to complete in one day. Tim began by hammering in the first corner stake. They measured along the outside edge and drove in the remaining stakes. They strung a mason's line around the stakes outlining the patio boundaries.
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- Once the area was marked off, the checked to make sure the area was square by measuring the two diagonals. If the two measurements are equal, then the area should is square.
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- They used shovels to cut away the sod about two inches outside the line. This would allow enough space for them to insert a retaining strip after the patio has been laid out.
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- Ron showed Tim how to use a backward and forward rocking motion with the shovel to cut away the grass.
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- Once they had their outline they pulled up the string and stakes and began cutting the sod into a checkerboard pattern. The small squares were easier to move and Tim could reuse them later in another part of the yard.
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3. Digging:
- It was necessary to dig the entire area of the patio down to a depth of seven inches. This would allow for 3 ½" of drainage gravel, one inch of sand and then the 2 ½" thick paver stones.
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- It was simple to measure along the edge of the hole to see how deep they had dug, but measuring the center of the hole was more complicated.
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- Ron showed Tim a simple way to figure out what the depth was in the center. They laid a board across the hole and then measured from the edge of the board down to the bottom. They used this method, by moving the board, to check the depth throughout the hole.
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4. Sand, gravel and leveling:
- Ron and Tim unrolled several lengths of landscape fabric to cover the bottom of the hole. This would help keep the weeds from growing up between the pavers while still allowing the water to flow through providing adequate drainage.
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- After the landscape fabric was in place they dumped the gravel, which would provide drainage as well as prevent water from pooling under the pavers.
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- The patio could only be as level and even as the gravel. Ron and Tim first smoothed the rocks out using a 2 x 4.
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- then compacted the base with a tamper to prevent it from settling.
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