| Author |
Message |
    
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 49
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Monday, January 23, 2006 - 11:25 pm: | 
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I realize that we are not through the thick of winter yet, but my mind has started to turn to this year's projects. One of the projects I have planned is to build a brick patio out the back of the house.
We'd like to attempt this project by ourselves - has anyone else in this forum done this? If so, were there any surprises? What type of base did you build the patio on, and what did you use as your edging?
Of course, I will be contacting the local township to ensure that all applicable codes/permit requirements are met, as well as calling NJ's one call to mark out any utilities.
Thanks,
Jason |
oots
Citizen
Username: Oots
Post Number: 354
Registered: 6-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 9:52 am: |
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Let your fingers do the walking.....
Not too handy here-we used Lesvos Contractors-out of Livingston-ask for Nick.
oots |
Meandtheboys
Citizen
Username: Meandtheboys
Post Number: 2744
Registered: 12-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 11:48 am: |
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We did one ourselves some years ago. It took an entire day with help from brothers-in-law and fathers etc., but it wasn't really that hard. I can't imagine you'd go deep enough to need to call public utilities. We used something called "road dust" (I think) as a base and then laid the brick in a herring-bone pattern with topsoil in between. We used "used" brick because I was going for an aged look, sort of english garden-ey, and I wanted moss to grow between the bricks. I wanted the patio to look as though it has been here as long as the house. Apparently I was successful because everyone is always surprised to hear the patiio is relatively new.
I'm sure you can find any number of DIY books or websites that could give you the basic step-by-step instructions for doing one of your own. |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 220
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 2:52 pm: |
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As I understood it, Wood Decks need approval from town, patios do not. |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 50
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 2:57 pm: |
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Smarty - I'm actually up in West Orange - do you know if it is the same situation here?
Jason |
Smarty Jones
Citizen
Username: Birdstone
Post Number: 222
Registered: 10-2005
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 4:14 pm: |
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no info...it's town specific. |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6620
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Tuesday, January 24, 2006 - 4:51 pm: |
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We did our own interlocking paver patio 8 years ago, which is more of a PIA than bricks. I have to say we didn't do a half-bad job. It was in decent shape when we (landscaper - but I wrote the check!) tore it up and moved it last year.
Get a good book and make sure you get the 3-4-5 triangle right & it is pretty easy. If you want it to truly last, rent a tiller or something to dig, go down 8-12 inches (call PSEG to mark gas/electrical lines in your back yard - it's free). You put down several layers of rock at varying sizes - big, little, sand. Lay the stones. Sweep sand in. Done.
The reason for digging deep and the different sizes of stone is that you want to get the base below the frost line and stable so that the patio will last long term.
The mistakes we made were not renting power tools to dig, and not laying the bricks the same day we did the sand. The final layer of sand must be perfectly level for everything to fit right. We put the patio in in April over the course of a few weekends. We ended up redoing a lot of the sand because it would rain and wash away or become unlevel. Once the sand goes down, get the bricks down before it rains. We also did a sunken 2x4 frame to keep the pavers stable because we didn't actually did deep enough for the pavers to be level with the ground. It was raised a couple inches. |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 52
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:11 pm: |
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Thanks for all the responses!
Greenetree - it sounds like renting a power tiller and a tamper/compacter will definitely ease the process of excavation and laying the base. Thanks for the heads-up.
Did you have any drainage issues that you needed to deal with? I picked up a Patio book the other day, which, amongst other things, went into detail about the gradient necessary to have proper drainage.
Jason |
greenetree
Supporter
Username: Greenetree
Post Number: 6630
Registered: 5-2001
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:15 pm: |
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We built ours in the part of the yard that didn't flood at the time. You definitely want to slant it away from the house. Do you have flooding issues now? It's not unusual for us around here. |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 53
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Wednesday, January 25, 2006 - 12:20 pm: |
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The area that I have planned for the patio doesn't suffer from flooding, but, after a heavy rainstorm, I do get some minor flooding in other parts of the back yard.
That said, I do see issues in our neighborhood - Last summer our neighbours had their backyard dug up, and a bunch of drainage pipes laid down in gravel. |
cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 48
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 1:08 pm: |
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Hi, I checked out all the responses to make sure I wasn't being redundant about my own experience. Last spring, my husband and I built a patio (17 x 22). I'm usually good at stuff like this and had been wanting to try it for a long time. The supplies cost us about $1500 total. We had the additional challenges of 1) our backyard had a steep slope so we actually had to ADD dirt in order to level the land enough to start digging it out again and 2) My husband and I TOTALLY suck at math.
The project took about a week and a half (we did this after work in the evenings and all day on the weekends with our children either whining or strapped into a highchair nearby while we poured sweat for hours on end!) The measurements were never right. Slope? Well we did the best we could and it definitely is angeled away from the house.
Ultimately, the project was MUCH MORE WORK THAN WE HAD ANTICIPATED but take in to consideration that we only had 2 ppl (just me and my husband) and we did this AFTER work and with 2 young children. Don't even ask what possessed us.
The end result is that there is FINALLY a flat peice of land in our large backyard that we can use to put an octogonal smoked glass patio set with 8 chairs, a med sized bbq grill, 2 adirondak chairs and the kids wooden picnic table. Not only do we now have a pretty large space for entertaining, but we get compliments even from contractors, and when we got our house appraised the patio actually ADDED square footage to our "living space" which made the house appraise for more.
In the end, I"m glad we didn't know how hard it would be or we may have been too intimidated to try. But in the summer when the family sits outside to eat and the tiki torches are lit and plants are in full bloom. . .it was worth every black fingernail, every ache and pain and all the sweat and tears! |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 54
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 1:28 pm: |
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Cwalk - yes - I definitely have the feeling that it is a not a trivial project, but it sounds like the result of your efforts was very much worth the hard work!
I have a few questions, if you don't mind:
1. Where did you get your supplies from - did it cost much to get them delivered?
2. Did you have any drainage issues to deal with?
3. Did you use brick or concrete pavers?
Right now we have a raised deck at the back of our house, with steps down to the yard level - we are planning on putting a patio down there so that we have a second seating area, as well as somewhere to huddle around a chiminea when it gets a little bit chilly!
Jason |
Cynicalgirl
Citizen
Username: Cynicalgirl
Post Number: 2267
Registered: 9-2003
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 1:29 pm: |
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http://www.cswayne.com/patio/
You might find this a propos...it's blue stone not brick, but some lessons apply...! |
Jason
Citizen
Username: Jason
Post Number: 55
Registered: 3-2004
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 1:46 pm: |
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Cynicalgirl - that's a great website! Thanks! |
darrensager
Citizen
Username: Darrensager
Post Number: 259
Registered: 11-2001
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 4:26 pm: |
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I agree, great site. |
Politicalmon
Citizen
Username: Politicalmon
Post Number: 83
Registered: 9-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, January 26, 2006 - 10:13 pm: |
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Jason;
I completed a project last year. I built a 17' x 26' patio using 2" Bluestone. It wasn't very difficult and probably cost me close to $1850 over 2 weekends. I bought all the material at Morristown Brick - they also delevered for a small fee. The results were good - your welcome to inspect it if you desire - I'm plannig on doing a 2nd project in a couple months - I intend to change the process to make it more efficient. |
cwalk
Citizen
Username: Cwalk
Post Number: 52
Registered: 8-2005
| | Posted on Monday, January 30, 2006 - 5:31 pm: |
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we used plain brick (with a aged patina to it). and we got it everythign from home depot. I don't remember how much deliver was or whether there was a charge at all (I guess there must have been)
as for drainage issues, we used to check the patio every time it rained but so far no puddles. we really did our best to simulate a slope away from the house (even if it was mathematically dictated) and we were sure not to disturb the drainpipe from the gutters above.
I guess time will tell. You can't be afraid to try these things. I had so many ppl try to discourage us when we decided to do this.
Read up on as much as you can, ask questions, but in the end you have to go for it! |
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