<------design idea. The white items are patio furniture. The big table & chairs we already have. I want to get a bar set for the upper existing deck (great minds think alike, Breezy!). the orange circle is where the firepit would go. Mind you, my scale isn't exact here.
Fresh mozzarella and tomatoes with lots of italian & garlic flavored olive oil today.
I think we are biting the bullet & charging our summer project: the backyard patio. My pt job checks will all go towards paying it off. It's 0% interest for a year.
Now I must design the darn thing. *stress* I hate big landscaping projects because they are so permanent. I'll have to take a picture of our backyard & get your opinions. Right now we have a small (6x6' maybe?) deck off the back door. Our basement is partially exposed, so the deck is off the top level. I'm thinking of bringing the stairs off to a mid level landing & then stairs down onto a large ground level patio made of belgian pavers. The firepit will then be off of that.
The other option is to have a large ground level deck made of treated lumber (the fancy wood is too expensive). I think I'd like the look, however we can't build the firepit into that (since it's all wood) and would still need a seperate firepit area anyway (more moolah). Plus, I think the upkeep will be slightly easier and less expensive with the pavers...no deck staining.
Anyone with paver experience? Our soil is sandy, so it's the perfect surface for doing it. I just don't want them all to heave in a few years & have it look like crap. I know some heaving is inevitable, but I hope to keep it to a minimum.
23 comments:
We just finished building a cedar deck (treated wood where is doesn't show) and I just love it! The design phase is the most fun part for me. The hard part is explaining my design to Tom. I think left to right and he thinks right to left.
Do you reasearch before you lay the pavers! There are some good illustrated books out there. With flat and sandy soil you are already ahead of the game!
Me? I would go with the pavers and put the fire pit away from the house. Our fire pit is back by the back garage, and not expensive... didn't you already get a rim or somithing for the ring? That's all you really need. Unless you were going for fancy instead of rustic.
Not sure if you're also going to buy patio furniture. If you are then don't get the table and chair style, get the bar style. We love it!!!
I vote for #1 with the pavers. Decks are nice but more upkeep.
Wine and cheese on the paver patio laying on a hammock. That's living!
I know nothing about pavers but would like to come and sit by your fire pit.
You? are entirely too ambitious for me. I vote pavers and I also vote that when you're done, you can come design my dream backyard for me.
How about posting the before pic and we can all give you suggestions? Then we can see the after pic. What do you think?
I just posted my design idea (which isn't the easiest to decipher, I'm sure). I will post a pic of the backyard tomorrow.
So the idea is to keep the small exisitng upper deck, go down to a midpoint walkway (deck), which will then step down onto the large paver patio.
Our firepit won't be used for bonfires, just small "social" fires. We have a big burn pile area that can be used for the big stuff.
Then intead of pit, I would get those ummmmm crap what's the name.... big urn type thingy that you can have small fires in. Crap! My Mom has one, she has a fire in it almost every night. It's perfect for a small intimate social fire.
Moddorella!
Sorry I can't help you with the deck. My mouth is full.
Breezy:
Chiminea (spelling is probably wrong.)
What about poured concrete instead of pavers?
We thought about colored, textured concrete. It's still being considered, but I think pavers look more "natural." We were thinking of doing a Frank Lloyd Wright prairie style design with the concrete (doing a few different complementary colors). We'll still price both out, but I'm leaning towards pavers.
Oh, and Chris says our current deck is more like 10x10.
My uncle built a fire pit, relatively cheap, and its really nice.
He went to one of the rivers near his home and collected big flat river stone/rock...he did this for several months though. He dug out a pit, and layered the rock around it, then he used the remaining to make a bench around that. Really it is nice, inexpensive, and rustic looking.
Of course you would go with a prairie style design LOL.
If we don't sell our house in the next 4 months, then we are going to invest in creating a backyard. We have an existing upper deck like yours, only 10 x 20. DH then wants to create different levels down the hill. Won't that be fun (NOT!). I hate do-it-yourself projects. Especially outdoor ones.
I like the paver idea Kim. I think if they are put down properly in the first place, then it shouldn't be a problem.
Good luck! Are you doing it yourself with Chris? RUN woman! RUN!!!
Chiminea!!! Yes! Thanks Swami. Get one of those for a fire close to the house, and they are decorative.
Nookie, that sounds ambitious! But I love those kinds of multi-level decks.
My favorite part about this project is that I'm working this summer, so Chris said "This will give me something to do while you are busy working." Muwahahahaha!
There is something about the work Chiminea that reminds me of a Chia Pet.
Ahhhhhhhh, so Chris will do it while you are working? Even better!
all i know is that 0% interest for a year sounds like you are going to homo depot.
and that wallymart has a firepit thinger for like 300...
I love that kind of look, syren. I'm thinking about different flat rocks to use, as that really fits in with our decor theme/area of the state.
You have to be careful where you collect your river rocks from. Park Rangers get all pissy and call it "theft of minerals", or so I've been told.
Hey Kim, how far are you from Fond du Lac? That's where my wedding is this Saturday. Well, Oakfield really, but that's so small it's barely on the map.
Not much help here. My fire pit is in the middle of the lawn (actually half grass half sand) at the cottage. We need a new deck and I've got the plans all drawn up for it, unfortunately the water situation has pushed the deck project to next year.
I built our fire pit with firebricks that were in a pile in the bush when we bought the cottage. It's about 6 feet in diameter and I've had lots of compliments on it but, man it takes a lot of wood to feed that baby! A chimnea sounds good to me.
Just over a month to go Kim! Can't wait to hug you in person!
Swami, Fond du Lac is about 2.5 hrs from us, so quite a ways. If I didn't have to work on Saturday, I'd try to finagle something. :-(
*jumps up & down with Lights* We are gonna have so much fun!
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