OP
old_smokey
Well-known member
Hi all, it's been a couple months. Due for an update.
Over the past little while, I've been focusing on transforming the landscape around my shop from a giant mud hole into something a bit more enjoyable.
If you remember back when I started, I excavated around my slab footings an additional few feet so I could add insulation 'wings' which play a crucial role in minimizing frost heaving. After that was done, it was backfilled. I don't remember why I filled it with topsoil. It was a stupid decision. I was probably just a little overwhelmed with the project as a whole and didn't think it through very well.
That decision meant that the walkway to our driveway and the shop door were constantly muddy. As the soil settled, water would pool and liquefy it in the worst areas. It was bad! So it got moved up the priority list.
I considered building a paver patio myself, as I used to do that as a summer job 20-odd years ago. But while I was shopping around for materials, I came across a local supplier of granite flagstone. Wife and I loved the look, and the 'installed' price was pretty competitive with the cost of me doing traditional pavers myself. If I can avoid spending my summer digging mud, I'm gonna do so. So we signed a deal.
Sadly, the crew wasn't exactly the greatest at following directions. They didn't dig down nearly as far as I wanted, particularly where I had backfilled with topsoil a year back. I came home to find it was only half as deep as I requested, and noticeably soft when walked on. Definitely not a suitable base for a walkway. But the guys had already left for the weekend, and the material was being delivered on Monday morning. So I spent my birthday digging out a few yards of soil. So much for getting out of digging mud this year!
On Monday, the crew came back and spread 3/4 down to bring the grade close, compacting in lifts, and then switched to 1/4 down limestone for the last 2" or so.
The flagstone is quarried a couple of hours from here. I like having a natural, local material. I opted for a mix of colours, which really pop when they are wet. Each stone has an irregular bottom, so placing them is time-consuming. They get tapped into a soft bedding layer of 1/4" down limestone with a rubber deadblow. After a few are placed, everything gets watered, and the 1/4" down limestone settles and firms up.
The guys came and went sporadically, but eventually it got done. I'd say the flagstone itself is excellent, but the installation work isn't super great. There were two guys working. One of them clearly had much more experience than the other. I can tell who was working where based on the installation. Thankfully, I'm the only one who seems to notice, and it is all easily fixable.
The issues I'm having are that there are a few small low spots, and a handful of the flagstones have settled and rock a touch when you walk over them. I don't think I'll even bother asking the guys to come back to fix them, as I don't really trust them to do it. I did a few myself, and it took a couple of minutes per stone. I could have the whole patio rock solid and flat in an afternoon. So that's the game plan now.
On the plus side, it does look beautiful. Water drains where it needs to. My wife and neighbours love it. And most importantly, no more mud. I guess I'm just picky lol.
To finish it up, we went to a few garden centres and spent an insane amount of money on flowers. This past weekend I planted 17 tomato plants, pumpkins, sunflowers, corn, peppers, cucumbers, herbs, lettuces, carrots, dill, and at least two dozen varieties of flowers. Give it a month, and this will be quite the backyard oasis.
Next job is a fence and a gate. After building the shop doors, this should be easy. Then I'll return to my shop hoist project!
Over the past little while, I've been focusing on transforming the landscape around my shop from a giant mud hole into something a bit more enjoyable.
If you remember back when I started, I excavated around my slab footings an additional few feet so I could add insulation 'wings' which play a crucial role in minimizing frost heaving. After that was done, it was backfilled. I don't remember why I filled it with topsoil. It was a stupid decision. I was probably just a little overwhelmed with the project as a whole and didn't think it through very well.
That decision meant that the walkway to our driveway and the shop door were constantly muddy. As the soil settled, water would pool and liquefy it in the worst areas. It was bad! So it got moved up the priority list.
I considered building a paver patio myself, as I used to do that as a summer job 20-odd years ago. But while I was shopping around for materials, I came across a local supplier of granite flagstone. Wife and I loved the look, and the 'installed' price was pretty competitive with the cost of me doing traditional pavers myself. If I can avoid spending my summer digging mud, I'm gonna do so. So we signed a deal.
Sadly, the crew wasn't exactly the greatest at following directions. They didn't dig down nearly as far as I wanted, particularly where I had backfilled with topsoil a year back. I came home to find it was only half as deep as I requested, and noticeably soft when walked on. Definitely not a suitable base for a walkway. But the guys had already left for the weekend, and the material was being delivered on Monday morning. So I spent my birthday digging out a few yards of soil. So much for getting out of digging mud this year!
On Monday, the crew came back and spread 3/4 down to bring the grade close, compacting in lifts, and then switched to 1/4 down limestone for the last 2" or so.
The flagstone is quarried a couple of hours from here. I like having a natural, local material. I opted for a mix of colours, which really pop when they are wet. Each stone has an irregular bottom, so placing them is time-consuming. They get tapped into a soft bedding layer of 1/4" down limestone with a rubber deadblow. After a few are placed, everything gets watered, and the 1/4" down limestone settles and firms up.
The guys came and went sporadically, but eventually it got done. I'd say the flagstone itself is excellent, but the installation work isn't super great. There were two guys working. One of them clearly had much more experience than the other. I can tell who was working where based on the installation. Thankfully, I'm the only one who seems to notice, and it is all easily fixable.
The issues I'm having are that there are a few small low spots, and a handful of the flagstones have settled and rock a touch when you walk over them. I don't think I'll even bother asking the guys to come back to fix them, as I don't really trust them to do it. I did a few myself, and it took a couple of minutes per stone. I could have the whole patio rock solid and flat in an afternoon. So that's the game plan now.
On the plus side, it does look beautiful. Water drains where it needs to. My wife and neighbours love it. And most importantly, no more mud. I guess I'm just picky lol.
To finish it up, we went to a few garden centres and spent an insane amount of money on flowers. This past weekend I planted 17 tomato plants, pumpkins, sunflowers, corn, peppers, cucumbers, herbs, lettuces, carrots, dill, and at least two dozen varieties of flowers. Give it a month, and this will be quite the backyard oasis.
Next job is a fence and a gate. After building the shop doors, this should be easy. Then I'll return to my shop hoist project!
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