John Biesel at Earth First and almost 4 tons of Creekstone ... that have to be taken into the backyard
with a wheelbarrow!
FIRST STEPS: Outline the walkways in the yard. Then, with the help of neighbors and family (Mark & Brian!) the sod
must be removed... down to 6" !! It took 2 long days, and we loaded down the pickup truck (F150 long bed) 11 times.
Next comes the base: coarse concrete sand ... 7 loads! Another 2-3 days of pure torture!!!
The area has already been 'dug out' down to 6 inches and concrete sand installed.
With the sandstone steppers, we'll make a walkway out to the center of the yard
to where the round picnic table will be located.
The 3' walkway will continue over to a large area where the swing will be located, then over to the
doors going into the shed. The walkway will continue past the Heating/AC until to
the side yard.
Here's what we hope it will look like when finished, with the sandstone steppers
on the walkway and the low creekstone wall surrounding the garden beds.
ANother view of the walkway going over to the shed and continuing around to the side yard.
For the three garden areas out in the yard, creekstone is laid into the ground
to provide separation between the grass and the bed.
SAND SAND SAND!!!!! argh!!!!
The sand is leveled and compacted (yellow tamper) to 2" below the level of the grass.
(since the sandstone is approx 2" thick)
A 2 x 4 attached to the end of a rake helps with the leveling.
Some of the creekstone wall is done, .... so more tamping and leveling.
After everthing is level, ... bring in the sandstone steppers and
begin putting them in place..... It's a BIG Jigsaw puzzle!!!!
Make sure each stone is level, ... and even with the surface of the grass.
Then get out a bag or two of Polymeric (fancy word for expandable, flexible, sandy, concrete grout)
Manually spread into all the joints - and press into place. THen lightly sweep the sandstone
so that no grout is left on top of the stones.
Then the area must be lightly "Misted" 3 times (15 minute intervals)
You do not want to put so much water on to cause the grout to flow away from the
joints.... just mist lightly, three times.
MAN, I'm getting tired! (notice the homemade knee pads :)
Wait at least 24 hours before walking on the stones.
YEP - It's Miller Time!!!!
The creekstone is starting to look great as well.
Next up is the area for the swing and the rest of the walkway.
More creekstone and sandstone waiting to be carried into the backyard!
I HATE WHEELBARROWS!!!!!!
It don't get no better than this! ..... yeah right!
Put each piece down, ... and level it!
Ether checking for level, ... or just plain tired! :)
The next section is in, ... now to put the Polymeric into the cracks, and mist with the hose.
Now we just wait for a day until it dries!
All done ..... well, at least until tomorrow! :)
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