Tag: flagstones

Progress in the sunken garden

The weather has hampered our efforts this week, but even so we are making progress.  After 2 days of laying flagstones, Paddy and Jonny reckon that that have laid about 20 sq yards (this is out of a total of about 160 sq  yards, so there is still a way to go!).  We reckon that it will take most of the coming week (weather permitting) to get all of the flagstones laid just on the lower terrace.  However, you can see from the flags that have been laid so far that it is going to look amazing when it is finished.

Jo and I have started on the wall that is between the two sets of steps that divides the upper and lower terraces.  This wall needs to be brought up to about 300mm to allow Paddy and Jonny to lay the flags up to it.  The rest of the wall can be finished off at a later date, but the bottom few courses need to be in place for them early next week.  I am glad to say that by the end of the day we had succeeded in building up the wall for them.  It is deceptive, but there is a pickup full of reclaimed stone just in the short little wall (it might be short, but it is quite long!).

The blue pipes allow any water that builds up behind the retaining wall to escape.  This blue pipes will be cut short and plastic weep holes built into the wall at the front to allow the water to escape should it build up.

End of day 2 laying flagstones and we reckon that about 20 sq yards has been laid.  A rough calculation would seem to indicate that it will take most of the coming week to get all of the flagstones laid on the lower part of the sunken garden.

End of day 2 laying flagstones and we reckon that about 20 sq yards has been laid. A rough calculation would seem to indicate that it will take most of the coming week to get all of the flagstones laid on the lower part of the sunken garden.

Two days in and Paddy and Jonny have laid about 20 sq yards of flagstones.  By the end of the coming week, the lower terrace should be finished (in terms of laying the flagstones).

Two days in and Paddy and Jonny have laid about 20 sq yards of flagstones. By the end of the coming week, the lower terrace should be finished (in terms of laying the flagstones).

This is before we started building the wall at the front of the retaining wall.  The blue pipes allow any water that builds up to drain through the front wall.  The wiring has been installed for the two lights that will be at the front and the drain has been installed to allow the water to run off the flagstones once they are laid.

This is before we started building the wall at the front of the retaining wall. The blue pipes allow any water that builds up to drain through the front wall. The wiring has been installed for the two lights that will be at the front and the drain has been installed to allow the water to run off the flagstones once they are laid.

We need to get this part of the reclaimed wall built so that the flagstones can be laid throughout the lower terrace of the sunken garden.  This took about half a day to get to this level and this is high enough to allow Paddy and Jonny to finishing flagging this area.  We will be able to finish off this wall after the flags have been laid.  The blue pipes will be cut shorter and will feed into plastic weep holes built into this wall.

We need to get this part of the reclaimed wall built so that the flagstones can be laid throughout the lower terrace of the sunken garden. This took about half a day to get to this level and this is high enough to allow Paddy and Jonny to finishing flagging this area. We will be able to finish off this wall after the flags have been laid. The blue pipes will be cut shorter and will feed into plastic weep holes built into this wall.

There are two sets of stone steps to be installed at each end of this lower wall.  We have formed the steps in blockwork and the large pieces of ashlar will be bedded onto the concrete blockwork.  Unfortunately, the stone is not due to arrive for another 4 or 5 weeks.  In the meantime, we are going to have to get on with the rest of the work.

There are two sets of stone steps to be installed at each end of this lower wall. We have formed the steps in blockwork and the large pieces of ashlar will be bedded onto the concrete blockwork. Unfortunately, the stone is not due to arrive for another 4 or 5 weeks. In the meantime, we are going to have to get on with the rest of the work.

The wall between the two sets of stone steps is being built in the same way as the other walls in the sunken garden.  The stone has been reclaimed from other parts of the property - the majority of this stone came from a wall that we knocked down in one of the old cottages.  Most of this stone went into the wall in the kitchen, but this stone was left over.

The wall between the two sets of stone steps is being built in the same way as the other walls in the sunken garden. The stone has been reclaimed from other parts of the property – the majority of this stone came from a wall that we knocked down in one of the old cottages. Most of this stone went into the wall in the kitchen, but this stone was left over.

 

First of the flagstones being installed

While we were away for a couple of days this week, the first of the flagstones has been installed in the sunken garden.  It is going to take quite some time to get all of these laid.  Still, it will look great once it is done.

The first of the flagstones are starting to be laid in the lower terrace of the sunken garden.  We are using a random pattern rather than laying the flagstones in courses. The flags are of varying thicknesses and we are coping with this by using a thick bed of sand and cement underneath the flags.

The first of the flagstones are starting to be laid in the lower terrace of the sunken garden. We are using a random pattern rather than laying the flagstones in courses. The flags are of varying thicknesses and we are coping with this by using a thick bed of sand and cement underneath the flags.

The thicker of the flagstones are probably on the weight limit for two men to carry - you certainly don't want to have to move them far.  Fortunately, we have managed to move the pallets into the sunken garden using the telehandler.

The thicker of the flagstones are probably on the weight limit for two men to carry – you certainly don’t want to have to move them far. Fortunately, we have managed to move the pallets into the sunken garden using the telehandler.

The flags are of varying quality, but this all adds to the rustic feel of this space.  The worst of the flagstones we are putting to one side and will return the reclamation yard for them to be replaced - they are so rough, they are a "trip hazard"!

The flags are of varying quality, but this all adds to the rustic feel of this space. The worst of the flagstones we are putting to one side and will return the reclamation yard for them to be replaced – they are so rough, they are a “trip hazard”!

Sunken garden and the weather

The bad weather, which has been forecast for a while now, hit us today.  By 2pm, it was too wet to carry on, but Paddy and Jonny did their best.  They switched their attentions to the step by the back door and this has now be laid.  There is no point in trying to point it in this weather, but at least the flagstones are down.  Their is a step to go in underneath the porch and this is being earmarked for another “wet day activity”.  We can’t really do them both at the same time otherwise you wouldn’t be able to get in the house!

Before the really bad weather hit, we had time to use the wacker plate to pack down the crushed stone in the sunken garden.  Now the stone has been packed down, we need to put some more crushed stone to bring the levels back up to where they should be.

Before the really bad weather hit, we had time to use the wacker plate to pack down the crushed stone in the sunken garden. Now the stone has been packed down, we need to put some more crushed stone to bring the levels back up to where they should be.

The upper terrace still has to be levelled, but we are taking the opportunity to get rid of some of the waste stone behind the retaining wall.

The upper terrace still has to be levelled, but we are taking the opportunity to get rid of some of the waste stone behind the retaining wall.

The temporary concrete blocks and flagstone have been removed to make way for some concrete and some new (or rather old) flagstones to be installed.

The temporary concrete blocks and flagstone have been removed to make way for some concrete and some new (or rather old) flagstones to be installed.

These still need to be pointed, but it makes a huge difference to the appearance of this area.  The shoe on the bottom of the rainwater pipe also needs a coat of black paint!

These still need to be pointed, but it makes a huge difference to the appearance of this area. The shoe on the bottom of the rainwater pipe also needs a coat of black paint!

This area is starting to look a little more finished.  It is amazing how you can get used to things looking half finished!!  I have spent the last 2 years doing so!

This area is starting to look a little more finished. It is amazing how you can get used to things looking half finished!! I have spent the last 2 years doing so!

 

The front wall finished

The front wall and the flagstones were finished on Saturday morning.  All of the materials used (except the sand and cement) had been salvaged from elsewhere on site.  Most of the flagstones were from the kitchen in number 10.  It is good to see them being reused and not one bit out of place.

We have already laid the conduit and a set of cables for the lights that will light up the front of the house at night.  We should get around to this later this week, depending on the weather.

There are two steps up to a set of flagstones.  All of the flagstones were had salvaged when renovating the property.

There are two steps up to a set of flagstones. All of the flagstones were had salvaged when renovating the property.

We had to remove the shoe off the bottom of the drain pipe to accommodate the new flagstones.  We will cut the drainpipe and refit the shoe now that the flagstones are in place.

We had to remove the shoe off the bottom of the drain pipe to accommodate the new flagstones. We will cut the drainpipe and refit the shoe now that the flagstones are in place.

This old stone drain (and cast iron grate) was still in use when we bought the property.  It was however elsewhere and we have relocated into the new flagstones in the front of the property.

This old stone drain (and cast iron grate) was still in use when we bought the property. It was however elsewhere and we have relocated into the new flagstones in the front of the property.

Front wall

The front wall outside the property is now complete and we are focussing on getting the flagstones down behind it.  All of the flagstones used here were recovered when we renovated the old part of the property.  Some were on the kitchen floor, some were in the barn.

We have laid cables underneath the flagstones so that we can install some external uplighters into the flagstones.  We have marked where they need to be installed and will cut holes in the flagstones once the mortar has set.

About half of the flagstones have been laid at the front of the property.  The white conduit carries the cables for the external lights.  The black corrugated plastic pipe is poking up through the original stone drain that we found when we demolished the barn.  We are reusing it together with the cast iron grate that fits it.

About half of the flagstones have been laid at the front of the property. The white conduit carries the cables for the external lights. The black corrugated plastic pipe is poking up through the original stone drain that we found when we demolished the barn. We are reusing it together with the cast iron grate that fits it.

The flagstones have only just be laid and no one should be standing on them.  However, this doesn't apply to Lurchers (apparently!).  The tarpaulins are to protect the wet mortar from the impeding rain.  It arrived about 30 mins after this photo was taken.

The flagstones have only just be laid and no one should be standing on them. However, this doesn’t apply to Lurchers (apparently!). The tarpaulins are to protect the wet mortar from the impeding rain. It arrived about 30 mins after this photo was taken.

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