My Garden Overhaul .... Why Did I Start This ..Picture heavy
Discussion
Vandenberg said:
According to the OP he is a bean counter, which makes his efforts even more impressive.
Impressive indeed 
In that case, another question for the OP.Have you been using pavingexpert as a guide or have you done something like this before? Have been meaning to get round to doing my patio and side path as its currently the generic rectangular concrete slabs and they are not so level any more.
KTF said:
Impressive indeed In that case, another question for the OP.
Have you been using pavingexpert as a guide or have you done something like this before? Have been meaning to get round to doing my patio and side path as its currently the generic rectangular concrete slabs and they are not so level any more.
Yes I am a glorified bean counter by day! In that case, another question for the OP.Have you been using pavingexpert as a guide or have you done something like this before? Have been meaning to get round to doing my patio and side path as its currently the generic rectangular concrete slabs and they are not so level any more.
I have been using paving expert for some, they seem to overly engineer things, which I like. Also used previous build threads etc. I also helped lay my patio at my previous house (with the guy that designed this garden), although that was a while ago, and I did very little.
Woodwork I enjoy, a few years ago I attended an evening course for a while and produced this:
IMG_1718 by joe L, on FlickrMy woodworking skills in the garden are not up to that quality I can assure you. But then I don't think it needs to be for a garden!
Edited by joestifff on Wednesday 12th April 16:21
joestifff said:
So what you see is the half semi circle layout of the decking for subframe, this will be in the opposite corner to the big patio of the same shape at the back of the garden. It will be framed by the block edging as per the rest of the patio/grass etc.
It is smaller at 3m x 3m on the two long edges, then obviously curved. The decking board, which WILL be composite (probably Trex stuff) is going to be laid like this:
But obviously only a quarter of it, that picture is a full circle!!! Which is why my braces are at 90 degrees to it in my design.
The braces/noggins, whatever the word is are 400mm centres they main beams and noggins are 6"x2" wood and posts are 4"x4" of which they are cicular in my diagram, but square in real life, there are 11 in total (is that overkill, or not enough) spaced at most 1.2m apart. What I am not sure is how far to cement them into my lovely clay soil! I was thinking 30cm should do it (one place i read said 70cm... that's just madness!!!!!!), the deck will only sit about 20cm above ground level!
All advice on this decking build much appreciated.
Cheers all.
If you're using 2x6 as your joists then the 2 long edges really only need 3 posts, 1 shared, 1 in the middle, 1 at the end.
I'd then do another long board that divides it into 2 triangles, so you're now up to 7 posts.
Connect the 3 long boards together closing the 2 triangles, have joists going across the triangles and then noggins connecting the joists.
Excuse the crudeness, but something like this
You could add two more posts in the centre of the boards that join the long timbers if you felt it was needed.
As for post depth, I went to more than 70cm.
chockymonster said:
Topdeck (where you've got the picture of the round deck have a book that has plans in, it's £5, I get the feeling that when you look at their plans it will be different to what you've drawn up. Personally I'd be designing it like it's a segment of an octagon, not a circle and then making it round by using a frame that's attached.
If you're using 2x6 as your joists then the 2 long edges really only need 3 posts, 1 shared, 1 in the middle, 1 at the end.
I'd then do another long board that divides it into 2 triangles, so you're now up to 7 posts.
Connect the 3 long boards together closing the 2 triangles, have joists going across the triangles and then noggins connecting the joists.
Excuse the crudeness, but something like this
You could add two more posts in the centre of the boards that join the long timbers if you felt it was needed.
As for post depth, I went to more than 70cm.
Cheers for this, like I said all help required here.If you're using 2x6 as your joists then the 2 long edges really only need 3 posts, 1 shared, 1 in the middle, 1 at the end.
I'd then do another long board that divides it into 2 triangles, so you're now up to 7 posts.
Connect the 3 long boards together closing the 2 triangles, have joists going across the triangles and then noggins connecting the joists.
Excuse the crudeness, but something like this
You could add two more posts in the centre of the boards that join the long timbers if you felt it was needed.
As for post depth, I went to more than 70cm.
I really like your segmented design, in my head this makes more sense than mine. I may look at this again and copy/steal your way.
I still feel 70cm is really deep for an almost self supporting structure, I await more responses on this.
Cheers for going to the trouble of drawing it out, really is appreciated.
joestifff said:
Cheers for this, like I said all help required here.
I really like your segmented design, in my head this makes more sense than mine. I may look at this again and copy/steal your way.
I still feel 70cm is really deep for an almost self supporting structure, I await more responses on this.
Cheers for going to the trouble of drawing it out, really is appreciated.
50cm should be more than enough I would suggest from my experience. I really like your segmented design, in my head this makes more sense than mine. I may look at this again and copy/steal your way.
I still feel 70cm is really deep for an almost self supporting structure, I await more responses on this.
Cheers for going to the trouble of drawing it out, really is appreciated.
Love the work you've done, really top class. Great attention to detail and finish.
joestifff said:
Cheers for this, like I said all help required here.
I really like your segmented design, in my head this makes more sense than mine. I may look at this again and copy/steal your way.
I still feel 70cm is really deep for an almost self supporting structure, I await more responses on this.
Cheers for going to the trouble of drawing it out, really is appreciated.
Doing the segment makes sense, it's easier to attach the boards too and if you use the right composite deckboard then it gets easier! Millboard make a flexible fascia that would complete the edging quite nicely. I really like your segmented design, in my head this makes more sense than mine. I may look at this again and copy/steal your way.
I still feel 70cm is really deep for an almost self supporting structure, I await more responses on this.
Cheers for going to the trouble of drawing it out, really is appreciated.
Frost is the killer, the reason you dig down is to make sure you're under any frost layers, otherwise when the frost causes expansion it never settles back so you end up with uneven posts.
You're only looking at 4x4 posts, going down 70cm for a post that size will honestly not take long. I did 17 posts to over a metre depth with a 70cm square hole. A post hole digger will get you done quite quickly. My substructure and footings have taken a third of my budget and a shed load of time and I'll hardly see the bloody things and I'm still worried I've done it wrong!
So have a new born certainly slows things down, the weather here isn't helping either.
Got a little bit more done:
Completed the path which connects to the drive:
Garden by joe L, on Flickr
Garden by joe L, on Flickr
Garden by joe L, on Flickr
Garden by joe L, on Flickr
Did some pre cuts for the final corner of patio to join to the path:
Garden by joe L, on Flickr
The laid them properly:
Garden by joe L, on Flickr
and joined the path:
BAFF9905-5C72-4803-9C81-609EE6ADF356_zpso2x95k53 by joe L, on Flickr
Started last night the final bit of curve which surrounds the grass and edges the path:
Garden by joe L, on Flickr
Garden by joe L, on Flickr
Going for big push in September, my mate is coming to help with the block paved paths and pointing, should have that done quickly with his help!!
I have had another change of idea for the decking. With a little one I think she needs an area to play, the decking area seems ideal to me, so I can still put the block paving frame work around the edge of were the patio was/is/will eventually be going, but back fill the hole left with wood chippings for a Wendy house etc next year. What are peoples thoughts on this? Are bark chippings the best idea for this? When she is older I can then dig up the chippings and put decking down. The area is 3m x 3m (curved edge/triangle shape)
This weekend I want to finish the inner curve that is slow close to being done as you can see in the last photo, and cut the final lot of sleepers for the final raised bed at the bottom of the garden. May even get them in situ and cement them in over next week.
Also still need to finish the b
d pergola, you can see in the pictures I have done 2 of the 6 beams on the top, fit in nice and snug, three beams resting in their uncut position, and one I got mad with is at the other side of the garden!!!!!
edited 12/04/2017 - Pistonheads is ste, all moved to Flickr
Got a little bit more done:
Completed the path which connects to the drive:
Garden by joe L, on FlickrGarden by joe L, on FlickrGarden by joe L, on FlickrGarden by joe L, on FlickrDid some pre cuts for the final corner of patio to join to the path:
Garden by joe L, on FlickrThe laid them properly:
Garden by joe L, on Flickrand joined the path:
BAFF9905-5C72-4803-9C81-609EE6ADF356_zpso2x95k53 by joe L, on FlickrStarted last night the final bit of curve which surrounds the grass and edges the path:
Garden by joe L, on FlickrGarden by joe L, on FlickrGoing for big push in September, my mate is coming to help with the block paved paths and pointing, should have that done quickly with his help!!
I have had another change of idea for the decking. With a little one I think she needs an area to play, the decking area seems ideal to me, so I can still put the block paving frame work around the edge of were the patio was/is/will eventually be going, but back fill the hole left with wood chippings for a Wendy house etc next year. What are peoples thoughts on this? Are bark chippings the best idea for this? When she is older I can then dig up the chippings and put decking down. The area is 3m x 3m (curved edge/triangle shape)
This weekend I want to finish the inner curve that is slow close to being done as you can see in the last photo, and cut the final lot of sleepers for the final raised bed at the bottom of the garden. May even get them in situ and cement them in over next week.
Also still need to finish the b
d pergola, you can see in the pictures I have done 2 of the 6 beams on the top, fit in nice and snug, three beams resting in their uncut position, and one I got mad with is at the other side of the garden!!!!!edited 12/04/2017 - Pistonheads is s
te, all moved to FlickrEdited by joestifff on Wednesday 12th April 16:27
joestifff said:
I have had another change of idea for the decking. With a little one I think she needs an area to play, the decking area seems ideal to me, so I can still put the block paving frame work around the edge of were the patio was/is/will eventually be going, but back fill the hole left with wood chippings for a Wendy house etc next year. What are peoples thoughts on this? Are bark chippings the best idea for this? When she is older I can then dig up the chippings and put decking down. The area is 3m x 3m (curved edge/triangle shape)
How about some decking that lifts up to reveal a sandpit underneath 
So this weekend consisted of trying to get a bit more done on the garden.
I had a really good tidy up, getting rid of old bricks, crap, sorting down the side of the house.
Also had 5 tonnes of top soil delivered, that is harder to move than I thought, managed 4 tonnes with some help from the family. Built the final raised bed. All ready for path laying and pointing, the next fun jobs. should get done in a couple of weeks!!
Onto the pictures (changed to imageshack as photobucket is awful!):
The start of the final raised bed, notice the jenga style sleepers waiting to be put into place!
Clamps and more clamps hold them in place until cement goes off then I also Timberlok screw them together:
Don't worry, I put a back onto the raised bed, like the rest of them, don't want it to rot the fence!!
Starting to tidy up, notice all the sawdust from cutting the sleepers, sawdust smells like a good used whiskey cask:
Still not finished the bd pergola! You will notice the tannin is leaching out of the oak giving it a black stain, this will be cleaned up with oxalic acid wash.
We have some topsoil:
Raised beds being filled:
Last raised bed done, just need to finish putting the lining inside once cement has gone off:
More top soil done. I had ordered 5 tonnes thinking that will just do the beds, it went further than thought, that's after 1 day of sinking and topped up. Still have a tonne on the drive for the bed at the back!! So glad I didn't order 10 tonne:
Final shot of the day, a panoramic shot, which makes the curved edge of the patio I am stood on very stratight.... strange:
Can't wait for the path and pointing to be done.. Dare I say the end is in sight!
I had a really good tidy up, getting rid of old bricks, crap, sorting down the side of the house.
Also had 5 tonnes of top soil delivered, that is harder to move than I thought, managed 4 tonnes with some help from the family. Built the final raised bed. All ready for path laying and pointing, the next fun jobs. should get done in a couple of weeks!!
Onto the pictures (changed to imageshack as photobucket is awful!):
The start of the final raised bed, notice the jenga style sleepers waiting to be put into place!
Clamps and more clamps hold them in place until cement goes off then I also Timberlok screw them together:
Don't worry, I put a back onto the raised bed, like the rest of them, don't want it to rot the fence!!
Starting to tidy up, notice all the sawdust from cutting the sleepers, sawdust smells like a good used whiskey cask:
Still not finished the b
d pergola! You will notice the tannin is leaching out of the oak giving it a black stain, this will be cleaned up with oxalic acid wash.We have some topsoil:
Raised beds being filled:
Last raised bed done, just need to finish putting the lining inside once cement has gone off:
More top soil done. I had ordered 5 tonnes thinking that will just do the beds, it went further than thought, that's after 1 day of sinking and topped up. Still have a tonne on the drive for the bed at the back!! So glad I didn't order 10 tonne:
Final shot of the day, a panoramic shot, which makes the curved edge of the patio I am stood on very stratight.... strange:
Can't wait for the path and pointing to be done.. Dare I say the end is in sight!
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