PVC Conduit

The rigid, Sch. 40 PVC pipe shown in this picture is most often used for electrical wire -  like  THHN conductor wire that cannot be buried directly in the ground.  However, there’s no reason you can’t run other types of wire (and things) through this conduit too.

Rigid PVC conduit like this comes in various diameters along with numerous types of “fittings” and connectors to accommodate most any situation.  With a combination of these fittings and special PVC glue you can create a sealed environment to protect the wires and splices inside.

Earlier I mentioned the use of poly pipe as a conduit.  I’m referring to the black poly pipe used in underground sprinkler work.

Poly Sprinkler Pipe As A Conduit

Poly Pipe – Handy, Cheap and Effective

If your a landscape contractor, odds are good you have this kind of pipe on-hand anyway.  Perhaps you do sprinkler systems as part of your service offering.  At the very least you should have it on hand for:

• Repairs -  You’d have to call yourself supernatural if you’ve never broken a sprinkler line during a dig-operation.
• Sprinkler Modification -  It’s inevitable that an existing sprinkler head has to be moved because of a new plant or hardscape install.  Or how about an underground poly pipe running right where “something new” has to go.  You’ll need to piece-in an additional section to go around the new feature.
• Conduits -  Poly pipe provides a cheap and effective conduit for many situations.

In the picture above we’re using poly (sprinkler) pipe as a conduit for our low voltage lighting wire.

We installed these poly pipe “runs” early on in the project at a particular time when other utility trenches were open and final grades were not yet established.  We utilized the other open trenches and easily dug to other locations without “tip-toeing” around finished or semi-finished areas.

To do this it’s important you have a detailed landscape plan that illustrates:

• light fixture and tranformer locations
• specific, calculated cable runs
• locations of all other proposed features and elements

With this information you can safely locate your conduit without fear of running into it later on.

Multiple Conduit Runs

Notice how pipe ends are bent over to insure dirt does not enter.

The colored marking tape tells the story as to which pipe goes where and what it’s for.  Write down the “color-key legend” on your plan.  When the time comes to pull wire through these conduits, you’ll know exactly which conduits do what.

These simple conduit runs can save you headaches, work and your client money if you think creatively and strategically, especially in the early stages of your project.

We actually installed additional conduit runs for speaker wire that would be pulled through in the future for rock speakers.

How have you used conduit in different ways?  Feel free to comment below.

The materials you use play an equal role to the workmanship in terms of how long something will last.  Or, to be blunt, cut corners anywhere and you’ll live to regret it.

You can see the integrity of the structural framework in the previous Project #8 post.  Every component in this pavilion’s construction is top-notch.  Anthony Power Beams span & connect to the steel columns.  The decorative round columns are fiber-reinforced composite and all the architectural trim is engineered resin & polyurethane materials by Azek.

The roof rafters arrived as preassembled sections that fit together nicely.  I also liked the way the upper construction tied into the steel columns.

The town building dept. required the plans be certified by a licensed structural engineer, which was not a problem albeit the added expense.  (Towns are becoming more & more stringent so triple-check what they require.)  I was there for the inspections during construction and could see the inspector was impressed with “the build”.

Coordinating Inspections

It’s always a challenge to schedule the various inspections so that the project can move along smoothly.  This pavilion had its own unique inspection issues with the upper framing and electric for the paddle fan/light.  Normally, both the building inspector and electrical inspector want to see framing and wiring before the walls and ceilings cover things up.  The problem was the crew wanted to complete the pavilion in 1 day. They traveled from out-of-state and planned on just the one day to finish.

This is where good relations with town offices can help.  If all your previous dealings have been upfront and inline with codes & ordinances, then there’s a good chance they’ll work with you.  After explaining the “1 day build” situation to the construction office, they were willing to make the extra inspections during the day.  The crew was then able to install the cedar ceiling, finish up the soffits and add the trim.

The paddle fan was re-purposed from a porch on the house which was being renovated.  It is rated for a wet location and outdoor use.  We did, however, discover the mounting stem was too short and had to order a longer one from the manufacturer “Fanimation“. The fan actually fits very nicely and the family likes it better in the pavilion than they did in the porch.

All of the electronics in the home including on the outside are tied into a central control. Modules located throughout the home allow you to control everything.  Using a handheld remote the homeowner was able to activate all the outside lights and audio.  A nice, convenient feature.

Sometimes Prefab Is The Way To Go

Although we could have had an architect design a similar structure and then contract to have it built, using Dalton Pavilion and their turn-key approach proved the better way to go.  The architectural detail, quality of materials and workmanship are incomparable.  The fact that this pavilion and Dalton’s similar outdoor garden structures are their area of expertise helped assure us of a professional outcome.  Also, because these structures are prefabricated, it makes them very cost effective.

Have you used prefabricated structures on your property?  If so let us know your experience (good or bad) by commenting below.

Here’s the next post for this project.

In the last post for this project we saw the sonotube footings beneath the four corners of the concrete slab.  When the decorative stone & brickwork is complete, each footing will secure and support a pavilion column.

Within the 12″ wide bluestone border is a row of brick to visually tie-in the surrounding brick patio. The remaining area is finished with “pattern” bluestone.

The 2 X 4″ you see sticking up next to the the stairway marks where a 4″ PVC sleeve is located (see photo left). It should be routine that sleeves are installed whenever hardscape construction causes a barrier from getting future wires and utilities from one side to the next.  Make sure you indicate on the landscape plan where these sleeves are located.  I guarantee sometime in the future you’ll need to find them.  Another little trick is to grind a small mark in the stone where the sleeve is – a mark that will be there forever.

With the patio areas complete it was time for the pavilion construction to begin. Dalton Pavilions, located in PA, sent a crew along with the pavilion components.

Their first task was to locate and square the 4 corners of the pavilion. If the mason contractor did his job well, those 4 points should be directly over the sonotube footings.

To the right you’ll see the electrical conduit and wire to power the paddle fan and light for the pavilion.  This feature was planned from the beginning and was specified in the construction drawings.  The mason had to locate the conduit precisely in the footing to accomodate a predrilled hole in the flange of the steel column.

These 5 X 5″ square steel columns are the essence of the pergola’s strength.  They are responsible for supporting the balance of the structure above them, and to secure the entire structure to the ground.

For each steel column four holes were drilled through the patio and into the sonotube footings.  Threaded steel rods could then be anchored into the holes using Hilti Epoxy.  In a short time the epoxy is hardened enough that the steel columns are set and bolted down securely. With the decorative white columns slid over the steel the true strength of the pavilion is beautifully concealed.

In the next project post we’ll see the pavilion come together as a key focal point and shelter in this landscape.

Here’s the next post for this project.

Eeny Meeny Miny Mo

I think we’d all agree it’s difficult to select a good contractor from the Yellow Pages. You can look at their ads, call a few and have them come by to look at the work you need done. And then keep your fingers crossed.

How the company representative presents him or herself and, of course, their level of knowledge are certainly good indicators – or are they?

Let’s face it, there’s no better way to select any professional person or service than by referral and reputation. That usually reveals what quality work they do and what quality company they are.

As far as references go, I don’t have a lot of faith in them. Obviously the references you’re given will be select ones. Certainly they’re worth checking out.  Sometimes a conversation with a reference can be revealing in that one customer’s standards of workmanship may be vastly different than yours.

If you are working with someone who you’re just not sure of, watch for obvious signs of their skill, preparedness and neatness. This also works if a contractor is working in the neighborhood or at a friend’s house. How organized and methodical a contractor works speaks volumes of their professionalism.

Dependable

This is more of a character trait rather than a skill, but it is still a major attribute of a good contractor. It simply comes down to “does the contractor do what he or she says they’re going to do”?  This is another trait that speaks volumes.

Sometimes a smooth talking salesperson with an embroidered logo on their shirt doesn’t necessarily mean the best job.