My Garden Overhaul .... Why Did I Start This ..Picture heavy
Discussion
Seeing this thread pop back up reminded me I had a question for the op:
I was wondering how much time each day you were putting into this project?
Was it mainly weekends and using holiday, or were you also putting a few hours in after work each day?
Though I appreciate just because the updates all came quite quickly doesn't necessarily mean the work was done that quickly.
Ian
I was wondering how much time each day you were putting into this project?
Was it mainly weekends and using holiday, or were you also putting a few hours in after work each day?
Though I appreciate just because the updates all came quite quickly doesn't necessarily mean the work was done that quickly.
Ian
Ian Geary said:
Seeing this thread pop back up reminded me I had a question for the op:
I was wondering how much time each day you were putting into this project?
Was it mainly weekends and using holiday, or were you also putting a few hours in after work each day?
Though I appreciate just because the updates all came quite quickly doesn't necessarily mean the work was done that quickly.
Ian
This is one thing I wish I had tracked, the pure man hours were obscene!I was wondering how much time each day you were putting into this project?
Was it mainly weekends and using holiday, or were you also putting a few hours in after work each day?
Though I appreciate just because the updates all came quite quickly doesn't necessarily mean the work was done that quickly.
Ian
I started initially in late April 2016. I laid the turf late October 2016. That is 6 months, pretty much every weekend, bar a month when my daughter was born, so about 44 solid days at a good 10 hours a day.
I also did at least 2 or 3 nights a week over that 5 month period. so say 2.5 days over 22 weeks with 3-4 hours a night. Roughly another 200 hours.
I would say a rough guess would be 600-700 hours.
Obviously I went over and above, deeper foundations, more hardcore, mortise and tenon joints on the pergola etc etc. I also spent a good amount of time cleaning up at the end of the day, a nightmare if you've fired the cement mixer up for only 2 hours, to then spend 1 hour cleaning up!!!
I genuinely enjoyed it. I love the garden, can't wait to actually make use of it this year.
I have a "few" jobs to finish, that should be a weekends work each max:
-clean and seal all the stone
-build the swing for daughter coming off the pergola (also removable for when/if we sell/grows out of a swing)
-build subframe for decking and lay decking boards (only 3mx3m area so should be easy and quick(ish)
There are a few things I would change after doing it all:
-Make more a gulley/drainage channel between fence and main patio.
-seal straight away.
-not go as bonkers with foundations for patios/paths/raised bed.
-insisted to the neighbour that I straighten the fence up (I could still do this now)
gf15 said:
Followed this from the start. Adds real interest and a little individualism to the back of the house.
I could only have dreamed of somewhere like yours at 30. Superb job, well done!
I am exceptionally lucky for my wife and I to have such a place, in a not to shabby area. Obviously this is "up North" so house prices aren't London mental. We have both worked hard at our careers though to help achieve this.I could only have dreamed of somewhere like yours at 30. Superb job, well done!
Many thanks for the compliment, genuinely means a lot.
If a job's worth doing, it's worth doing well. You've done that mate.
We laid Indian stone last year and it is lovely, especially when sealed. Just a word of warning - make sure you find a dry spell and follow the instructions on the sealant to the letter. I didn't agitate mine enough and ended up having to go over certain areas and it rained towards the end of my application leaving some patchy areas. A job for me rectify this summer.
We also undertook this with a new born but I didn't do it myself. Mucked in, but nowhere near as a big a project as yours.
Here's a finished photo and one showing the dodgy sealant. I can't turn them around.
We laid Indian stone last year and it is lovely, especially when sealed. Just a word of warning - make sure you find a dry spell and follow the instructions on the sealant to the letter. I didn't agitate mine enough and ended up having to go over certain areas and it rained towards the end of my application leaving some patchy areas. A job for me rectify this summer.
We also undertook this with a new born but I didn't do it myself. Mucked in, but nowhere near as a big a project as yours.
Here's a finished photo and one showing the dodgy sealant. I can't turn them around.
CharlesdeGaulle said:
OP - got any pics of your snowdrops peeping through?
Unfortunately not!"Some" did come through, about 30, they have now died back and have cut the grass since. Was disappointed to only see 30 out of the 300 bulbs. I am hoping next year that more come through. Maybe it was due to the late planting!
Need to update this with pictures of it all growing. Going to tackle the swing this weekend and decking in coming weeks.
This is fantastic and an inspiration. I'm also a desk based accountant but will be starting on my garden soon, building a patio first with raised sleeper beds around it.
Couple of questions, what did you use to cut the slabs and the sleepers? With those tools, and the compactor, did you rent or buy?
Couple of questions, what did you use to cut the slabs and the sleepers? With those tools, and the compactor, did you rent or buy?
JackReacher said:
This is fantastic and an inspiration. I'm also a desk based accountant but will be starting on my garden soon, building a patio first with raised sleeper beds around it.
Couple of questions, what did you use to cut the slabs and the sleepers? With those tools, and the compactor, did you rent or buy?
To cut the slabs I used an angle grinder, mainly used the big 9" one. Bought a twin Makita pack.Couple of questions, what did you use to cut the slabs and the sleepers? With those tools, and the compactor, did you rent or buy?
To cut the sleepers I used a circular saw, you have to cut on one side, rotate the sleeper and cut the other side, as my circular saw would not cut through 120mm in one go.
We have a "communal" mixer and wacker plate that we all use as and when and store at a mates farm when not in use. Wacker would be best to hire I guess, but you can buy them very cheap. Mixer I would buy and sell at end, I had mine in the garden for 6 months, so wouldn't want to pay the rental on that, I would of bought it 10 times over!
All other tools I bought, I mostly had them though, I bought a bigger spirit level, a 6 foot one to go with my others.
Bit of an update on this. Things are growing in the garden and the grass is looking fairly green. Needs a cut in these photos, but was wet so am waiting a bit. I have done two cuts this year already.
Grass is growing well, these clematis are growing as well:
Did some pots for the vast expanse of patio. You can see I have not yet done the decking( top left of picture), going for wood for this next weekend, then speaking to a fellow PHer about Ecodek:
Roses coming along well:
Daffs all looking well:
Grass looking well pre swing:
Then you can see the swing I built for the daughter (and wife and myself):
In the picture below, I can assure you the cross bar is level, looks completely off, think its all to do with angles:
Grass in need of a cut!!!:
The swing makes the garden look smaller (obviously) but my daughter will love it. It is completely detachable from the pergola so can be stowed away once she is bored rigid of it!
Grass is growing well, these clematis are growing as well:
Did some pots for the vast expanse of patio. You can see I have not yet done the decking( top left of picture), going for wood for this next weekend, then speaking to a fellow PHer about Ecodek:
Roses coming along well:
Daffs all looking well:
Grass looking well pre swing:
Then you can see the swing I built for the daughter (and wife and myself):
In the picture below, I can assure you the cross bar is level, looks completely off, think its all to do with angles:
Grass in need of a cut!!!:
The swing makes the garden look smaller (obviously) but my daughter will love it. It is completely detachable from the pergola so can be stowed away once she is bored rigid of it!
Edited by joestifff on Wednesday 12th April 10:46
Chris Type R said:
joestifff said:
The swing makes the garden look smaller (obviously) but my daughter will love it. It is completely detachable from the pergola so can be stowed away once she is bored rigid of it!
Wait until you have to find space for a trampoline. Hey OP
Your pictures aren't showing up and I'm interested in showing the girlfriend some of your garden for inspiration, would you be able to update the links at all fella?
Cracking garden from what I can remember and I love the pergola you have built, it's something that I'm tempted to try and build myself also!
Thanks
Ross
Your pictures aren't showing up and I'm interested in showing the girlfriend some of your garden for inspiration, would you be able to update the links at all fella?
Cracking garden from what I can remember and I love the pergola you have built, it's something that I'm tempted to try and build myself also!
Thanks
Ross
Binns87 said:
Hey OP
Your pictures aren't showing up and I'm interested in showing the girlfriend some of your garden for inspiration, would you be able to update the links at all fella?
Cracking garden from what I can remember and I love the pergola you have built, it's something that I'm tempted to try and build myself also!
Thanks
Ross
RossYour pictures aren't showing up and I'm interested in showing the girlfriend some of your garden for inspiration, would you be able to update the links at all fella?
Cracking garden from what I can remember and I love the pergola you have built, it's something that I'm tempted to try and build myself also!
Thanks
Ross
looks like Pistonheads and photobucket have fallen out...great. I shall fix this, but may take some time.....
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