Landscaping upgrade-Part 5.(Monday and Tuesday of week 2)

The first few days this week is the concrete work; getting our new walks.  They arrived at 7 AM on Monday and right to work getting the forming done.  We have a lot of walkway when you consider what used to be all the limestone around the the front to the back of the house on the one side. They got all the forms in the front done and part way around the side.

They were back at 7 this morning to finish up the forming and put down rebar. There was no rebar in the previous walk way from the street.

The concrete truck arrived about 1 and the fun began!

 Once it was poured they waited about 15 to 20 minutes to start the stamping process

They are putting on the top layer for the pattern.

He is using a big metal broom head and dusting the base with the second color

Then the stamping begins. He used several sizes of rubber mats that were texturized

And then tamped it down to get the imprint

This is what it looks like now. But on Thursday they will wash and then seal the walkways

We decided to go with an all over texture pattern as opposed to a brick look or flagstone look that we had first considered. We thought this would look better with the brick on the house and the river rock.

They will be back early in the morning again to get the rebar down in the back and then the truck will be here with the last pour.

Landscaping upgrade-Part 4 (Thursday-June 8, 2017)

Thursday was another busy day. A load of river rock was dropped off in the street close to our drive by 7:30. the guys here shortly there after.

It started to dissappear by the wheelbarrow loads.

It wasn't long before it looked like this!

In the meantime a load of material arrived for the base of the concrete walks

I had an appointment so left for a few hours. When I was leaving people were here to pick up another load of blocks from our drive. Good thing we live on a cul de sac!

By the time I returned home the guys had returned for the third load of blocks and limestone slabs. 

Our workers had unloaded their trailer of dirt. And some where along the way the load of flagstone arrived for the back! By the end of the day (7:15 when they left) we had the flagstone laid out and some of it dug in.

Today the people were supposed to be here to work but they are behind so we get a break until Monday! Our girls will be very happy they have 3 days of being able to run in the yard!

And we have our driveway back!

Landscaping upgrade-Part 3 (Tuesday and Wednesday)

Our workers have been here by 8 the last 2 mornings and worked until 7. They take about an hour for lunch, a much needed break for them! They are hard workers. They started getting the chopped block laid out in the shape  for the new areas. They also got the areas prepped for either mulch or river rock.
They  got rid of a big chunk of limestone that has been in the front yard since me moved in. Always looked like a bare spot-it was right at the surface. They used the jack hammer and cut down about 8 inches. Now we can get grass to grow there.


                                             Prep work in the front on Tuesday

                                             Some of the work in the back

The new walk way in the back goes between two of the live oaks and then to the deck

By the end of today (Wednesday) most of the work in the front is done as far as the mulch area and river rock areas are definied by the chopped block and the ground smoothed out. You see where the walk will be.

View from the drive side-looking West

View from the street looking East-

The big area closer to the fence is pretty well finished. Different edging this time. This area will be all mulch. It now connects to the center bed. The bed against the house will be larger as well. 

  The walk through in the center back bed as be reconfigured.

Besides working on the beds they have been having to move sprinkler heads, capping off heads and dig through our heavy clay for the walkways!  Not sure but I think the cement guys will be sometime tomorrow to start that prep work.

Landscaping Upgrade-Part 2

On Monday our workers were here shortly after 8:30. We went over the plans again with Sean and his brother in law Josh.






                               The front walk was a challenge, at least right at the entryway

The contractor must have had left over concrete when he poured the walk. 

close to a foot of concrete they had to jack hammer out. Fortunately the rest of the walk was the more typical depth!

You can see where the old bed stopped.  

With the help of a few neighbors and friends the stack of old pavers and limestone slabs has been dwindling

Tiki thought the best place to be was on our bed! Just let me know when I can go out and chase squirrels!

By the end of day 1 all the demolition was done.

 The guys worked until shortly after 5, then we had a thunderstorm. Time to quit.