Paver driveways?

[Conrad283]

I had a 700 sq foot paver patio put in on the side of my house. Definitely a lot of work. Yours looks great. I'm so much happier with the pavers than concrete.

Putting down pavers are like planting a plant. You put a $3 plant in a $10 hole. It's the same way. These companies make their money in the base.

 

[JimVonBaden]

I had a 700 sq foot paver patio put in on the side of my house. Definitely a lot of work. Yours looks great. I'm so much happier with the pavers than concrete.

Putting down pavers are like planting a plant. You put a $3 plant in a $10 hole. It's the same way. These companies make their money in the base.

Yeah, the prep is a lot of work, but without it the plant (pavers) are never any good.

Finished for the day:

Not bad. They need to cut a few small blocks to fill the holes (this is part of the "random pattern), and a few small filler cuts, then sweep in the sand and they are basically done.

I think it looks good.

In the future, the driveway itself will come out and more pavers go in.

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

It's looking good.

 

[PDM]

I know it's a different route to take, but someone also posted up grass paving stones. I used these plastic grid panels to fill in a front grass area that I chewed up badly while moving my race trailer and truck in and out this spring, and could not pave over the front lawn (city property) and needed the stealth of grass.

http://www.terrafirmenterprises.com/

Fairly inexpensive grid system that you can easily do without equipment. Just some base material and time and you can custom build driveways strong enough for heavy traffic, much cooler temperatures and a more "eco-friendly" solution to paving or stones.

PDM

 

[jhelrey]

Incrimental.

Jim

If you lay the pavers correctly in a "random" pattern, you don't get those tiny squares where a twinky has to be cut in half.

 

[JimVonBaden]

If you lay the pavers correctly in a "random" pattern, you don't get those tiny squares where a twinky has to be cut in half.

Actually, in this set of pavers, you do.

http://www.hanoverpavers.com/pdfs/0008-Random.pdf

Back at it this morning, finishing up the front and starting on the back.

Jim

 

[jhelrey]

I stand corrected

 

[JimVonBaden]

They are sweeping in the front, and it will be done.

Meanwhile, the rear patio is beginning to take shape:

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

The front is done, minus landscaping.

The back is getting close.

More next week!

Jim

 

[jhelrey]

No snap edging but a concrete edge?!?!

Word of advice... Push some sand around on it but don't clean it completely off. We always leave a dusting of sand on pavers after we installed them. We tell the home owner to wait a rain or two before they broom it clean. That way, when the sand settles and cracks form, the sand on top of the pavers will wash into place.

 

[JimVonBaden]

No snap edging but a concrete edge?!?!

Word of advice... Push some sand around on it but don't clean it completely off. We always leave a dusting of sand on pavers after we installed them. We tell the home owner to wait a rain or two before they broom it clean. That way, when the sand settles and cracks form, the sand on top of the pavers will wash into place.

That was the intent, but the sand had a mix of cement in it, so it had to come off lest it stain the brick. We have more sand for it next week.

Yeah, cement instead, since it will be burried under soil and grass.

Oh, and glamor shot.

Jim

 

[jhelrey]

You can't park on pavers for at least 72 hours after final sweep...


















































JK!

 

[JimVonBaden]

You really got me!

Jim

 

[aar0s]

Looks real nice.

 

[PassnThru]

That's classy.

That's my ultimate compliment BTW.

It rolls all the other compliments into one neat package

 

[JimVonBaden]

That's classy.

That's my ultimate compliment BTW.

It rolls all the other compliments into one neat package

Thanks! My wife and I are very pleased!

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

Back at it!

Hopefully to finish today! Labor is expensive, even at BIL prices!

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

Looks freaking awesome !

 

[JimVonBaden]

Thanks, almost done.

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

Um, ran a few short, so we improvised!

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

OK, so a final set of photos for the project, minus ladscaping.

Before:

After:

And just so you remember the front:

Before:

After:

Next, this weekend, we do some simple landscaping to clean it up, then we are done.

Overall cost, about $5400 materials, $3800 labor, and $2100 rock, sand, and machine rental.

Not bad for about 1350 square feet of coverage, and a retaining wall, plus drains.

Jim

 

[PittsS1]

Wow Jim, what an improvement! I'd say you got a great deal, and it looks great overall. Thanks for sharing all the pics of it.

 

[JimVonBaden]

We did a little landscaping on Saturday. Built an end wall for the retaining wall so it would look cleaner, added some plants.

Still needs more rock fill, and we are getting sod for on top next weekend!

Before:

After:

Jim

 

[jhelrey]

You need some more lava rock!!!

 

[JimVonBaden]

You need some more lava rock!!!

Ya think?

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

I see they had bags of portland cement and you talked about not letting it sit on the pavers when it rained. What is the mixture they used ?

 

[JimVonBaden]

It ran about two 98 pound bags per ton of sand. I ended up needing another 4 bags. That **** is heavy!

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

It ran about two 98 pound bags per ton of sand. I ended up needing another 4 bags. That **** is heavy!

Jim

Looks like about a 10:1 ratio, thank you.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Looks like about a 10:1 ratio, thank you.

Right, cheaper that way then Polymeric sand. My BIL uses it for industrial and commercial applications, so I figured it is fine.

One word of advice though, make sure you get it all off before it get's wet then dries.

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

Big storm on Friday, dropped a tree on our new canopy, and messed up the yeard. The tree was the neighbors.

Total loss, plus power out for two days with 100° heat. Yuck!

Got power back today, so in 97° heat we decided to add 20 more bags of rock, and some sod to finish up the front.

Some grss seed and another 10 bags of rock and we will have the front done. We added a few plants as well.

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

Jim, luckily you weren't under the canopy when the tree came down. Hopefully you have good neighbors and they (insurance) will take care of it.

 

[JimVonBaden]

Jim, luckily you weren't under the canopy when the tree came down. Hopefully you have good neighbors and they (insurance) will take care of it.

We will see. Fortunately the only real damage is the canopy and frame. No one hurt, and lite damage to the fence.

Thanks,

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

Back yard cleaned up and seeded by me and my wife in 95° heat!

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

Back yard cleaned up and seeded by me and my wife in 95° heat!

Jim

You getting any rain for that to grow ?

 

[JimVonBaden]

You getting any rain for that to grow ?

Not yet, just lots and lots of heat. I am watering it after dark though.

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

Small update:

Added this very cool wrought iron fence above the retaining wall. Craig'sList find at 18 pieces for $80. I have more than half left.

I cut 1/3rd off the last piece, and welded on a stake to hold it in place, then bolted the sections together.

My wife loves it. I am OK with it.

Jim

 

[NUTTSGT]

I think it's a nice touch. The problem I can forsee, it's going to give the birds a place to sit and **** on your retaining wall.

 

[jhelrey]

Just run an edger down your sidewalk on the left side and everything will look very nice

 

[JimVonBaden]

I think it's a nice touch. The problem I can forsee, it's going to give the birds a place to sit and **** on your retaining wall.

Thanks! I'll keep an eye out for the birds! LOL

Jim

 

[JimVonBaden]

Just run an edger down your sidewalk on the left side and everything will look very nice

I don't own an edger, yet, and technically that strip of grass belongs to the city, which is why I have my retaining wall 3'8" from the sidewalk. That red rock space technically belongs to the city too. I'll clean it up though, it does look pretty bad.

Note the three telephone poles there.

The original got hit and broke, the temp repair also got hit, and they put in a new one, but have not had time to hook it up after the big storm.

Once they finish with it, I will landscape the strip and clean it up right.

Jim