pictures of my 90% done Paver Patio

KUIPORNG · 08-13-2008, 11:24 AM

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/kui****g/backyard%20patio/

any comments are welcome: good or bad....

I still haven't finished yet, but took some pictures this morning and share with you here...

I am quite happy with the result, not perfect... but good enough for me...

47_47 · 08-13-2008, 11:37 AM

Looks great to me.

The only thing I may have done differently was to make the top step near the door larger.

Ailuro · 08-13-2008, 03:38 PM

I think your patio looks Fantastic. I love the steps...we have a similar issue we will need to deal with. Can you tell me which pavers you used and how you did the steps??? Thanks!!!

KUIPORNG · 08-13-2008, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ailuro

I think your patio looks Fantastic. I love the steps...we have a similar issue we will need to deal with. Can you tell me which pavers you used and how you did the steps??? Thanks!!!

Thank you very much for the praise, this is part of the return for DIY...

anyhow... I used Allan Blocks EUROPA Antique Look Pavers and Allan Blocks Junior retain wall blocks, they looks great and good price... but the issues with them is they don't come with circular shapes, so a lot of cutting is required... If I have to do it again, I would choose a different vendor which provide circular shapes to their product line now that I know cutting is no easy matter...

doing the steps is not hard, this is my first time... you need to make a trench with generous digging, dig too deep has no issue, dig not enough does... the trench has to be long enough for your first row of step which does not necessary cover the complete shape, this is rather difficult to explain by wording, see the allanblock.com installation video, I learned it from there.... I think all retain wall systems work the same way...

rabih_00 · 08-13-2008, 03:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KUI****G

http://s201.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/kui****g/backyard%20patio/

any comments are welcome: good or bad....

I still haven't finished yet, but took some pictures this morning and share with you here...

I am quite happy with the result, not perfect... but good enough for me...

as I said before ..Great results.. I hope mine will look as good.
How long did it take you to finish it?

KUIPORNG · 08-13-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabih_00

as I said before ..Great results.. I hope mine will look as good.
How long did it take you to finish it?

after digging... it is 3 months work for me...

digging is like 1 to 2 months for me...

so total 5 months...

in my after hour time though. I still manage to have a 5 days cottage vacation though... and some church activities too...

the price to pay out for DIY when you consider your time.... is not really 100% worth it for DIY... for me , I can get away to deal with contractors worrying they don't do a good job... give me bad materials... bad design... play games... freedom of however way I want to do it change it redo it without worrying worker being upset..etc. etc.etc.. is really the most important reason...

concretemasonry · 08-13-2008, 05:13 PM

Looks great!!!

Did you do all the excavation with the plastic shovel in the first shot or did let your kids do it? (LOL)

The is a good product line and treatment for easier construction because of the modular sizes used.

When they developed the front lip on the Allan Block I had some questions but there are many advantages such as a definite horizontal accent to make things look wider. I especially liked the use of the lip on the filled wall to retain the potted plants on the curved wall using 8" long units.

Did you choose to saw a lot of the units because of the long cuts on the larger pavers? Usually, especially with tumbled/antiqued products a hand splitter works great unless you free-form cut after laying with a gas saw saw. Your layout cetainly was a cutting/splitting challenge.

Get that edge restraint on the curve in quickly before you vibrate.

Good Show!!!

Dick

retro · 08-13-2008, 07:44 PM

Looks nice. Are the steps all the same height or is that a camera angle thing? The first step looks really tall compared to the two others. Then the second step looks like it is slanted.

KUIPORNG · 08-13-2008, 10:05 PM

Hi Concretemasonry,

Thanks,

I would definitely go for splitter had I know HD rent them only $21/day.... this is due to lack of experience... sawing definitely not my favour... but did it anyway... may be for front yard/drive way

yes got edge restraint before vibrating...

Hi Retro,

You got a good eye, and you are right , the first step is a bit higher but then it is from a slope ground, some one side it is lower one side it is higher... but it is ok... and yes the second step is a bit lower... but walking over them is comfortable ... well... as I said... it is not perfect... my wife didn't complain about that .... that is good enough for me...

I personally more happy with the work of the ground than the platform... but the hat... overall I am please with the result...

yummy mummy · 08-13-2008, 10:22 PM

Kui****g, it looks absolutely FABULOUS!

What a great job you did.
It looks better than the one that I had professionally done last year.
I really like the stone that you used, and the different shapes.

Really looks nice!

We should start your own construction company. What do you think??????? lol

What is your next project?

I still haven't finished my first one yet.

ACobra289 · 08-14-2008, 01:15 AM

Wow! I'm not sure what I was expecting when I opened your pics, but that was certainly WAY more than I thought it was going to be. It's obvious you have put a lot of work into it. Amazing job!

Do you mind if I ask how you did the base for the pavers?

Thanks.

bofusmosby · 08-14-2008, 01:19 AM

Impressive,, very impressive!

Thank you for sharing this with us.

Bofus

KUIPORNG · 08-14-2008, 09:34 AM

Hi Yummy Mummy, nice to hear from you, anyhow, if we start a construction company, I think everyone in our families have to eat one meal every two day base on the rate we do things even I am a bit faster than you.... thanks for your comments. my next project will be the front yard if this consider be a separate project.. after that I would like to setup the wood structure on the patio (always forget that difficult term spelling somthing like 'per..g..l..')... and different projects probably go on until I am not able to hold a hammer...due to the "interests" in the blood.
Take your time to finish your basement and show us the master piece when done, I am sure it is going to be very impressive...

Hi Acobra289, the base material I used is somthing called "HPB" it is kind of crashed Limestones with 1/4" to 3/8" diameters,no dust. check my other thread search for "High Performance Bedding" which has a lot of info on this guy. Thanks.

Thanks for everyone. I am happy that the job is considered well done by you. Thank you.

yummy mummy · 08-14-2008, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KUI****G

Hi Yummy Mummy, nice to hear from you, anyhow, if we start a construction company, I think everyone in our families have to eat one meal every two day base on the rate we do things even I am a bit faster than you.... thanks for your comments. my next project will be the front yard if this consider be a separate project.. after that I would like to setup the wood structure on the patio (always forget that difficult term spelling somthing like 'per..g..l..')... and different projects probably go on until I am not able to hold a hammer...due to the "interests" in the blood.
Take your time to finish your basement and show us the master piece when done, I am sure it is going to be very impressive...

Hi Acobra289, the base material I used is somthing called "HPB" it is kind of crashed Limestones with 1/4" to 3/8" diameters,no dust. check my other thread search for "High Performance Bedding" which has a lot of info on this guy. Thanks.

Thanks for everyone. I am happy that the job is considered well done by you. Thank you.

.......you are correct......we will both stick to our day job........
lol

I have stopped my project for the summer. With kids home and vacation, I have little time, but I plan to pick it up once the kids go back to school.

I am almost finished all the taping.
Then I just have to put in the trim, paint, and lay the tiles.
I would really be happy if I can get it done by Christmas.

Keep up the great work, and keep posting your pics.