A look back at some completed projects

Here's a look back at a few completed projects a year or two later.  First up is the back patio barbecue command center.

Looking north towards the front of the house:

Looking over the counter to the fireplace:

Looking south towards the chicken coop:

As I have done the projects, I have tried to maintain consistent, repeating elements in the hardscape design to create a sense of unity in the yard and gardens.  Both the front and rear patios incorporate the concrete pavers set in a diamond pattern and use concrete columns and baluster railings.  Both patios also use stone (for the counter in the back, and for the patio surround in the front).

On to the front patio!

Here you can see the walk to the front door.  The first concrete columns that I made form a small pergola that frames the garage doors.

Coming up the front walk is the pergola that frames the entry door.

Here is a look back across the front patio to the front walk.

Front Patio Update

So now that spring has arrived, I have been able to get some more work done on the front patio.  Here you can see the finished stone work on the east side and the opening for the storage area.  I hope to make a set of nice iron doors for this soon.

Here in the next few pics, the baluster railing is being installed...

The balusters were all cast first (15 of them).  They were cast with a rod of rebar projecting on both the top and bottom.  The bottom rail was framed with 2x6s and a piece of trim at the top corner to add detail.  While this concrete was still wet, the balusters were inserted and clamped into position.

The top rail was then formed in place using pieces of plastic rain gutter supported by 2x4s and a 'ladder' of 2x2s to support from beneath, in-between the baluster tops.

The finished baluster rail:

I think it turned out alright for something I cast myself!





Upper Patio Railing Completed!

I finally made some time to get the railing done on the upper portion of the front patio.  In the following picture, you can see the railing is coming together.

The posts at each end are poured first.  Then the bottom rail is poured, and while the concrete is still wet,  the balusters are set in place (they each have a rod of rebar running through the center to tie them to the upper and lower rails).  In the picture above you can see the tops of the rebar poking out of each baluster and the rebar that has been welded in place to tie all of the balusters together with the end posts and reinforce the top rail section.

I then form up the top rail section with pvc raingutter cut to fit around each baluster and pour concrete again.  Here is the finished result from the outside of the patio.