Thursday, February 20, 2014

Patio, Rain or Shine


As the rain came down in buckets I watched two large trucks arrive from the safety of the open
garage. One truck and trailer parked on the far side of the street in front of two of my neighbors houses and the crew offloaded a tractor which rumbled into the driveway and stopped in front of me.
Sorry neighbors
 
workers load broken concrete into a wheel barrow
 
 Crew members pulled tools out of the scoop and set about loading the scoop full of broken concrete that was part of a retaining wall that was cleared away from the area that the new patio is going.
After clearing debris the tractor was removed and the second truck drove into the drive.




Despite the miserable weather everything went like clock work. A tripod thingy was set up next and turns out it is a laser level that chirped like a bird as it scanned the terrain, if it was silent they said either the area being scanned was not level yet or I was standing in the way.......oh pardon me I'll just go stand over there.

After leveling the ground they spread a sheet of weed barrier over the soil.


 Next.... load after load of crushed rock
 
In my day we filled them by hand, now the trucks have a trap door, when opened the rock fills the barrow in two jiffs and off they go. No cardio work out for today's crew.


The last load of rock spread with a rake, the chirping tripod was conferred with....all was level.
This power tamper made sure the ground was nice and firm ready for the pavers.
 
 
 
 From this..........
 


.......to this.

And now if the weather will dry out for just a bit I will finish the pathways and the landscape.

18 comments:

  1. Ah, yes, watching people work. But, there's some left for you.
    The trap door in the gravel truck is the real deal. Although, they still dump the entire load in our drive and leave; my grandson gets to barrow it around.

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  2. Wow, what a transformation, I love the pattern of the brick pavers.
    They worked like busy bees.
    Now your turn :)
    ~Jo

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  3. It looks lovely, it will be nice to have a drink there once the weather perks up.

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  4. Job well done - how satisfying! Okay, I know that there's more toiling to come, but doesn't the circle of pavers look good!

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    1. Yes we are quite pleased with the outcome.

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  5. I love this!! I had no idea the process they went through to make a patio these days--Leave it to the experts really does apply here!! :-) I hope it stops raining soon, so you can start enjoying it and making those memories!!

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    1. We call it “Miss Betty’s Landscape and since we are on a very short time frame I am looking forward to its quick completion, so rain or shine I will be out there working.

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  6. That does look good and great to be able to just stand and watch the work being done.

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  7. I think your area is often wet, isn't it? Still, I hope you get enough dry weather, because I know you will turn your yard into a beautiful paradise.
    Have a good weekend, Doc. ♥

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  8. I can just picture the Gins and Tonics being sipped. Nice job!

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    Replies
    1. After the crew left I stood under a large golf umbrella and sipped a glass of scotch

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  9. They seem like a good company of works and well organised, roll on summer so that you may enjoy the fruits of their labours.

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    Replies
    1. Thanks Rob, yes they are very organized making no mistakes.

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