Patio install - Day Three

Our patio is nearly finished and it looks magnificent!  We're grateful to Umberto, Carlos, and Armando for their hard work and skill.

As I create this post, I'm listening to Umberto use the wet saw to shave thin slices off of pavers one-by-one so they fit like a jigsaw puzzle around a gentle curve of the path that leads to the back door and driveway.  The patio is that close to being done.  Have a look at the progress thus far...

Day Three - 6:45 a.m. start time.
Progress as of 8:00 a.m.

The path snakes toward the back door and driveway.

Standing on the retaining wall while capturing this image.  Lovely, isn't it?
You can see how the western edge of the path will gracefully meander to meet the driveway.

Umberto working his magic at the wet saw.

Like a jigsaw puzzle these pieces fit.

Return to the blog later this evening as I'll be adding additional photographs to this post once the contractors' work day is done.  Umberto feels confident that they will complete the job today, even though his boss believes they'll need to return for an hour or so tomorrow.  Our money is on Umberto and his crew.

Stay tuned!

OUR PATIO IS FINISHED!  It is a wonderful feeling to flesh out an idea and become a design, and for that design to be translated onto paper, which then becomes a reality.  Our patio now exists and it is beautiful.

The final steps were to brush polymeric sand into the spaces between the pavers and then spray a light mist of water over the pavers.  The water is meant to interact with the sand, which helps it bond together and form a grout-like substance.  This way, it won't simply blow away (or wash away) over time like ordinary sand would do.

My beloved and I watched as the last cut pavers were fit into place.  I also gleefully watched as the polymeric sand was brushed around the final area of the path and then as the patio was misted with water.  Ta-Daaaa!

Polymeric sand is being added to the back half of the patio.

The push broom and plate compactor doing double duty
to get the polymeric sand where it needs to be.

Nearly complete!

Just a few pavers left to add before the patio is completely in place.

We watched as the remaining three pavers (bottom-center of photo)
were cut and dropped into place.

Polymeric sand being added to the patio path.

Minutes away from being completely done!  JOY!

Blowing off excess sand that sits on the surface of the patio.

Misty.

VIOLA!

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER

Patio install - Day One and Day Two

Our vision for a backyard patio is finally becoming a reality.  The contractor crew arrived at 6:50 a.m. on Monday, July 22 and began the process of laying our patio.  I had a good idea of what is involved with such a job but, wow, the process is elaborate.  I'm glad I didn't make the mistake of thinking that, with the help of a friend or two, I could tackle the job myself.  Even with three seasoned contractors and the assistance of heavy moving equipment, the brunt of the day yesterday was spent clearing, leveling, and building a compact foundation for the area that is to be the patio.

6:30 a.m. Monday, July 22

BEFORE

The crew and their bad ass equipment arrive!

J&I checking out the situation.

The kitchen window is an ideal out-of-the-way peeking point.
There's a mini "Cat" in our backyard!

Gettin' down to business.

Area cleared.  Let the compacting begin.

Underground drain pipes have been attached to two of our
downspouts so that rain water won't flow over the patio.

Its gotta get messy before things get organized and beautiful.

Our retaining wall pavers have arrived!

Getting ready to employ the plate compactor.

I'll say it again - there's a mini "Cat" in our backyard!
So cool.

Retaining wall, which will also serve as seating, is well underway.

End of Day One.

End of Day One.

End of Day One.  Patio pavers are ready and waiting.

Today, Day Two, the retaining wall was completed, along with the compacted foundation base.  Screed rails were laid, sand poured, and a final surface leveling was done so that patio pavers can be laid.  We are really excited with the results we're seeing!

Two hours into Day Two.
Another 7:50 a.m. start time.

Screeding.

Another bad ass power tool that happens to be in our backyard.

Tamp, tamp, tamp... screeeed.

These three are a hard working bunch.
They're doing an outstanding job.

Retaining wall done.
Here comes the patio!

End of Day Two

Another angle at the end of Day Two

Sitting on the retaining wall with my feet on on our patio!
It looks gorgeous so far.

Did you know you can click on the individual pictures to see a larger version of them?  True story.

By the way, visit the Wright Garden Chronicles blog itself.  It's attractive, you can sign up to receive email or RSS feed updates each time a new post is made, and the blog also includes a tab with an abundance of useful gardening and "miscellaneous smartness" links.

Cheers!