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.

The homeowners wanted a garden structure that would echo the style of their home and offer cover for those wanting to get out of the sun.

I suggested they consider the Heritage Pavilion by Dalton Pavilions.  They chose a 14 X 18′ model, but with single columns on the corners.  The 3 column corners are pretty, but take up additional space.

These pavilions are beautifully made and extremely strong.  They are engineered to withstand a 110 mph wind and a snow load of 30 lbs./ square foot.

The strength of this structure begins with 24″ wide sonotube footings that go 42″ below grade.  There are 4 footings – one for each of the corner columns.  Beneath the pavilion will be a wet-laid bluestone patio built on a concrete slab.

How The Patio Integrates With The Footings

In the first picture you see 2 X 4 framing by each sonotube. This precisely forms the four corners of the pavilion’s concrete patio slab.  The slab is poured so it bridges over the footings.

The pavilion has 4 white columns.  These columns are decorative and actually slide over 5 X 5″ steel structural columns.  These steel columns are affixed to the concrete footings with threaded steel rod.  You’ll see this construction in upcoming posts on this project.

New Elevations Begin To Show

I can remember in the early planning stages setting up grade stakes with string lines to illustrate proposed elevations for the new hardscape.  The homeowner was amazed that these features would “sit up” at these indicated heights, and quite frankly, I double-checked my elevation measurements just to be sure.  Elevations can be tricky to “eye-up” at times and for this reason I’m a real fan of grade stakes, string lines and markers set with an instrument.

The main portion of the patio will be done in dry-set brick and will come right up to the wet-laid bluestone patio under the pavilion.  To give definition to the bluestone patio and an elegant segue to the brick, mason contractor Lester Szajna has installed a 12″ bluestone coping as a border.

Here’s the previous post on this project. And here’s the next.

Existing landscapes can offer information to help with a renovation plan.

Most of your creative thinking and design concepts stem from the “wish-list” of the homeowner.  That’s good.  Our solutions should be tailored to their requests.

But before you sit down with that wish-list and start drawing, spend some time on the property and get familiar with what’s already there.

In the formal process of design this is called site analysis.  This is where you’d literally have a check list of conditions on the site to make note of.

Without getting into the whole topic of site analysis, I just want to emphasize the importance of spending time on the property and letting simple observation help with your ideas.

For example, the existing landscape might show you what plants are struggling and which are doing well.  You may observe drainage patterns not only on your client’s property, but on neighboring properties that may have an affect on your project site.  Etc., etc.  The point is don’t ignore the wealth of helpful information that’s in the existing landscape

The Project

This before & after look of RB Project #3 offers yet another perspective of this home’s patio area transformation.

The existing R.R tie steps were used by the family everyday to get from the nearby detached garage to the back door. The homeowner asked during the design phase if the new steps and approach could be a bit more direct, but without imposing into the patio space.
The new stone steps were relocated slightly further up the drive towards the house.

The first few steps arrived at a bluestone landing, which connected to the backyard lawn. Alternatively you could go the final two steps to the patio. This gave a more direct path to the house without imposing or limiting the patio area.

As always, form should follow function. In this case it was paramount to first consider traffic flow and day to day use.

Here’s the previous post for this project.

Finding a location for the grill should not be rushed and certainly not put off during the design process as “something we’ll deal with later”.  Even if the outdoor barbecue grill is to be postponed, you’ll want to know where it’s going and possibly run a gas line (natural or propane) and an electrical line during the project construction phase.

Things to consider when locating the outdoor barbecue grill:

• Think about proximity to the house kitchen for convenience.
• Think about the heat and smoke from cooking as it might affect nearby things and people. Even the affect of a prevailing wind should be considered. Constant smoke in your guest’s face is not good, no matter how good it smells.
• Make sure the grilling area is out of the “traffic” flow.
• Design some additional space for a few people to socialize with the grill master.
• How about lighting?
• If it’s just the outdoor barbecue grill, is there enough room for a table or counter for staging food and supplies?

If available, know the dimensions of the grill so you can plot out the footprint and other related lines and dimensions.

The Project

If you have a ground level patio, you don’t have to take up valuable space on the patio to accommodate the barbecue. Here we used a 2X3′ piece of bluestone (1.5″ thick) adjacent to the patio as a platform.

We dug down approximately 6″ deep in the area where the barbecue would sit. The remaining earth was compacted with a tamper. 3/8″ crushed stone was then added and also compacted, and the bluestone piece was set level on top.

The area surrounding the bluestone platform was dug down 3″ and filled with decorative gravel to help keep the area and grill clean and dry.

We used bluestone pieces (set vertical) as edging to keep the gravel and mulch areas separated.

Notice the electrical outlet with the weatherproof cover right behind the outdoor barbecue grill – primarily for the rotisserie, you could also energize a small light for cooking after dark.