Chuckstyle

Summer is Here

2009-06-21T14:16:00.000-07:00

Now that Spring has sprung I guess it is time to update the images of my yard. As you can see, everything is coming in nicely. I have a new table and chair set for dining and I have (finally) finished the fountain. Enjoy.

A Door and a View

2008-10-13T18:27:00.000-07:00

So here is my new set of french doors - I can't tell you how much they open up my guest room. It is a great feel when the doors are open. But here's the clincher, as soon as you step out through the french doors you get a great view of the mountains. I have seen the view many times, but now that it is framed on the top by the pergola, it seems much more spectacular. A great trick of the eye.

Anatomy of a Pergola Part 3

2008-10-13T18:15:00.000-07:00

AT LAST! My pergola is finished. Now don't get too excited, I still have some painting to do and a few touch up tasks... but after that my yard is a wrap. At least for the time being. Here are some photos of the completed pergola - enjoy.

Anatomy of a Pergola Part 2

2008-10-02T17:52:00.001-07:00

Okay, it takes a little time, but this pergola is really starting to take shape. All of the posts and the main beams are now in place. Check out the fancy saddle joint my carpenter made on the long 6"X12" run. Nice work. The final step is to add the smaller cross beams on the very top. Soon the job is done.

Anatomy of a Pergola Part 1

2008-09-29T17:19:00.000-07:00

Okay, I'm not slowing down with just a door... here comes the long lost pergola. I am using redwood and we are using a cool end detail for the overhang portions of the pergola. Right now it's just a few sticks, before you know it we will have a complete pergola.

Anatomy of a Door

2008-09-29T17:11:00.000-07:00

Alrighty then, we are back at it. Here comes the french door installation. How do you do it? Knock a hole in the wall and then plug it with a set of doors. Isn't that easy?

Almost there

2008-08-17T23:04:00.000-07:00

Well, we are close. My landscape contractor's work is just about complete... my electrician is hooking up the wires and the spa is up and running. As a matter of fact, I just took my first soak in the spa - damn gang, am I relaxed right now. Most of the plants are in the earth and I'll be fine tuning the irrigation to make sure everything grows. Right now the hard scape is a bit overwhelming, but it will soften as more of the plants take shape. Here are some photos for your viewing entertainment.

There's an end in sight

2008-08-11T20:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, things aren't moving as smoothly as I would hope... but the end is in sight. I have decided to cut bait on my the pergola for right now. It has been too difficult to get the wood on site and I think it is something I can come right back and do soon. For now I'd like to wrap up my work with my contractor and get my yard back for myself - I could use a dose of backyard privacy now. I have most of my plants on site and am starting to put them in the earth. The fishtail palm is my pride and it took 7 men to get it in the ground. It really made the project "instant landscape" when it made it into the planter. We should wrap the decomposed granite tomorrow and finish getting the plants in the earth over the next day or two. The spa comes on Thursday and hopefully we can button up this sucker by the weekend.

Alright, alright, here's an update

2008-07-26T11:33:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it has been a while since I have posted an update. If it feels like a long time for you, put yourself in my shoes (they're covered in dirt). The progress got a little slow on my project - I even engaged in a motivational talk to get things moving along. We saw some progress this week and I can really feel the end in sight. The finish coat of stucco has been applied to all of the walls, the stair caps from one level to the next are in place, and the tile in the fountain is about complete. Next is the finish coat of stucco in the fountain (dark interior) and then the decomposed granite will be put in place. The irrigation lines and the low voltage lighting wires are now nearly all in place. Rumor has it that the lumber for the pergola will be delivered on Tuesday morning. I can't wait.

We have concrete

2008-07-12T19:59:00.001-07:00

Sorry for the delay in posting... I haven't had a good chance to get out and take pictures. You can see that the patio concrete has been poured - it is looking pretty big. Also you can see the firepit is really taking shape. Notice the trench beneath it for the gas line - you have to go pretty deep when you run the gas line. There is also a shot of the water feature. While the bottom of the "pond" isn't poured, you can see the shape. We are just installing the tile edging at the planned water's edge. It will make more sense and take better shape as it moves forward from here. Next up, the smooth coat on the stucco and the pergola.

Tomorrow we have concrete

2008-07-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Well, the crew has been working on getting the patio ready for the concrete pour. The rebar is in place and the formwork is set up to level the patio. You can also see the fire pit under construction.

Moving Along

2008-06-26T20:47:00.000-07:00

Hey, before you know it we'll be pouring concrete. The crew is setting the form work for the patio and is applying sand in prep for the concrete. It is definitely starting to take shape. The holes you see in the right foreground are for the footings where the pergola posts will be set.

We've Got Walls

2008-06-23T17:57:00.000-07:00

Alrighty then, it looks like the walls have finally taken shape. The finish you see in these photos is the scratch coat. The smooth coat will be applied to the walls at the end of the job. The next step is pouring the concrete portion of the patio and then we move on to the pergola.

We're Taking Shape

2008-06-11T18:04:00.000-07:00

Well, the walls are coming along nicely. The first scratch coat of stucco is on most of the walls and the soil level in the elevated area is almost at the final level. Before you know it we will start to see plants... but don't let me get ahead of myself.

And So It Goes

2008-06-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

The wall for the elevated area is coming right along. We are also trenching for the footings for the remaining retaining walls along the back part of the yard and the Area for the spa. Slowly but surely the space is starting to show itself. This next week we should complete the walls and start applying stucco.

Anatomy of a Wall

2008-06-05T17:17:00.001-07:00

Here we go. The walls around my elevated area and water feature have started. For a while I have been staring at the trenches (where they pour the foundation) - trying to figure out how the finished area will look. Well the crew has poured the foundation and now has placed the first course of blocks. Suddenly I feel like I can imagine how it will look. They have also excavated a bit more of the yard - it really feels big right now.

Oh yeah I almost forgot

2008-06-01T20:22:00.000-07:00

Okay, so the whole project got under way officially on Monday, May 19th. As is almost always the case, we hit a snag one minute number one. It turns out that the main water line for our neighborhood runs down the street about 4 feet in front of my house. Well that sucker sprung not one, but two leaks. So when my crew showed up to start my house, they were met with three city trucks and a bulldozer tearing up the street right in front of my house... exactly where the crew needed to park and access my yard. In true fashion, it took a week to dig up the line, find the leaks and patch the road. In the end, the project started on the 27th (the 26th was Memorial Day). Hopefully we got the bad luck out of the way early. Anyone with me on that thought?

Demo is under way

2008-05-31T18:10:00.000-07:00

Well there is no going back now. In about two days time, the landscape crew removed all of the old plants, boxed up the ones I intend to re-use and have started the soil removal. If you haven't experienced it before, demo always goes really fast. It is odd how jarring it is when you first encounter the scene - it is so different.

While you're at it

2008-05-31T18:05:00.000-07:00

Okay, so as we started the work on my back yard, I took advantage of the crew to help me give the front a face lift as well. As you can see, the front of my house was adorned by a hybiscus and a couple of privets. You might not be able to tell from the photos, but they were well over 30 years old. The trunks on the privets were about 12-14" wide - not a good thing to be so close to my house foundation. The hybiscus was attractive, but the wood was also ancient and it was showing the signs of being kept as a hedge for too long. I'm not quite sure about the future plan for the front, but I am leaning towards day lilies - simple and colorful.

The Apricot

2008-05-31T18:03:00.000-07:00

I guess some folks find apricots tasty... or should I say some insects. Take a look at the termite impact on the tree. I was told that the tree would have collapsed within a year

More Yard

2008-05-31T17:34:00.000-07:00

Here are a few more shots at the existing conditions in my yard. Notice the closeup on the apricot. We aren't looking too good.

The Yard

2008-05-31T17:03:00.000-07:00

Here's the deal... I live in a small house and I have a good sized back yard. But there's a problem - my backyard looks like it was designed by a early 50's homemaker. It is utilitarian and orderly. I've got a concrete pad that used to host a clothes line... I have a row of ancient roses, I have a linear planter overgrown with star jasmine (light on aroma - not like the strong scent of pink jasmine), and I have a couple of ancient fruit trees. Upon closer inspection, you would find that my orange tree is about 50% dead and the apricot tree is completely riddled with termites. Did I mention that I have an inedible fig tree? Not that I like figs in the first place, but this sucker just adds insult to injury - bright green fruit twice a year that drop like rocks and never ripen. Oh, and the yard also has wood-sided raised vegetable planting beds. All in all, this yard just doesn't cut the mustard for my preference.

So here I go - I am undertaking a project to scrape the earth in my back yard and reconceive the space so that I get a couple of outdoor rooms and a lot more usable space. I get both encouragement and discouragement from my friends on this one, but dang gang, this is my yard and when I am done you will have no doubts. Take a look at the existing conditions.