Step 52 - Constructing the Apartment
Patio and Steps
We bought Turkish marble pavers in
Miami.
Next we had the first load of gravel delivered. We had to remove so much top soil
using a pick axe and shovel...much more than we anticipated...over a
foot in some areas. We put down fabric and
then tamped gravel down. This is the pumproom landing.
Then we put down more fabric with
sand on top of it, screeded and leveled. We used the transit to
ensure a good slope.
Chip loves the tile saw, but isn't fond of the
curved cuts on the pavers
Chip sprayed the pavers and raked
sand into the joints. Irrigations lines had to
be run under the steps.
Constructing the steps was time-consuming.
Chip thought he was experiencing "groundhog day" because they went on
and on.
We had to installed electric and irrigation lines in multiple
locations. Everything was dug by hand.
Glenmore installed the wiring in the pumproom so we were watering with
drippers
Chip moved lots of
timbers.
Then the process is repeated...removing top soil and
filling in with gravel.
After watching Chip hand tamp the
gravel all day, Clada got the bright idea to rent a plate vibrator and
the gravel
prep step was completed in one day for both upper patios.
Clada is one happy
camper with that day's progress.
Chip shoveled, raked, and tamped lots of sand. We used the
leftover sand from last year's plastering job. Zuni loved this
phase of the project.
The stairway looks great from the upstairs patio.
Chip was really motivated to get this first large patio done...but you
can only work so long on your knees.
This project, including the lower landing and
stairway, took from March - June 09, and we still have 2 phases to go! This
website is for the personal
use of our friends and
family. If you don't want your name mentioned or picture
shown, please contact The Webmaster:
webmaster@chipandclada.com. Pictures are the sole property of our
friends and family.