After investigation in lifting the sunken slabs, it was evident the sub-base was not prepared correctly and had dropped, a new base was prepared and the offending slabs re-laid, all old pointing was cut out and re-pointed.
Rather too much plum slate on this driveway with a narrow side path way out of proportion, so the remedy… install a very pleasing light grey block with a dark grey outline, a percentage of graveled area was retained due to the property being at the bottom of a hill and can at times collect a lot of surface water. A couple of planting areas was incorporated to break up the hardness and soften the look once planted.
An unwelcome snow storm covered us overnight but was soon gone to allow progress.
Garden cleared to start with, new panels and concrete gravel boards installed.
Existing slabs cleaned up (by customer) and re-laid on a new hardcore base , extra slabs laid to for a new patio.
Pine sleepers constructed to produce a retainer for the raised shrub bed.
Screened soil was used to level up the lawn area and seeded .
So… after a spell away phase 2 was started, the top area was slabbed, greenhouse and shed installed. The lower area had more drainage installed to take the roof water and main patio water, various levels of footings laid to accommodate beautiful Purbeck stone walling , this again was set off by continuing with Indian Sandstone paving . Shrub beds were created into the paved area and topped up with a quality loam 18inch’s deep for good root growth. A large pergola style arch was erected to access the garden from the main patio, some trellis work still has to be put up to screen and seclude the space once the intended planting has been done by the customer. Electrics have been installed into some of the beds ready to power the water features. A Large ouside garden room is currently being built across the main patio and the final touch will be a center area of luxury artificial grass.
Many thanks to Mick and Jane (Customers) for the hospitality during the many weeks work and for Jane’s enormous effort on deciding the relative areas that MSC LANDCAPES BUILT!!
After the snow and in between the persistent rain, finally the new patio was laid and the old lawn removed and leveled ready for new turf once the soil has dried out!
Greeting me on Day one here was basically a neglected and very sorry looking garden… the Current and new owners ARE NOT to blame!! but very much looking forward to sorting it out. the only installment they have done was the new summer house looking rather lonely! the existing open sided Blue Gazebo was left behind from the previous occupiers , but on inspection appeared to be in good solid order so seemed a shame to destroy it, instead it was relocated to the the top left corner.
A raised shrub bed was installed first using timber sleepers with access steps, two concrete bases have been laid ready to accept a shed and a greenhouse. Drainage was required to take the garage rain water, raised vegetable planters were built and installed to combine tidiness and ease of use.
A Paving circle was laid which includes a rotary line slot, the rest has been laid to hard core for now until phase 2 starts in April which will include Purbeck stone walls and a new Patio.
Well, after 4 months (inc Xmas break) this very interesting project is finished bar some final detail around the pond, old concrete paving and borders were discarded and the new layout was constructed, a large area of lawn was changed into flowing shrub beds packed with a good seasonal plants, ( Planted by the ever hard working Jane ‘customer’, good work Jane! ) a pond was dug to approximate shape and levels by Roger ( Customer and very keen helper! before i arrived) from then on the pond was shaped, footings and concrete block wall’s installed by myself ready for Arron ( A B Aquatics ) to install the liner pump, and complete the pond stone work.
The new Indian Sandstone Paving ( Umbra Grey ) was installed to wrap around the house meeting the driveway, Purbeck stone was used throughout the project to build various walls hugging the paving.
My favorite feature of the lot has to be the stone circle created to give a seating area lapping up the evening summer sun!
Oak pergola frames have been installed by Roger mapping out a garden walk way.
Finally the driveway was cleared ( much to Jane’s delight ) and a layer of 20mm Quantock grey stone was spread.
A big thanks to my 2 collegues helping me out with all the work, and a massive thank you to customer’s Roger & Jane for there hospitality and help along the way.
More spring/ summer pics to be added…
An old gravel area plus a section of lawn was used to gain space to create this stunning new patio using Buff blend Indian Sandstone, a Pergola was erected to provide some shade once the customer has selected and planted some climbers to cover the top.
A Pine sleeper retaining wall was built incorporating a set back in step.
Fantastic Couple to work for and enjoyed an ‘afternoon tea in the summerhouse on occasions’ had a few giggles between us along the way making the whole job more delightfull.
Phase 2 of a project in Wimborne, previously a Indian sandstone patio was laid over looking the River Stour to the rear garden, the driveway needed completely re-doing after extensive building work was carried out, i’ll let the pictures do the talking, but this did turn out rather well don’t you think…….
An old Gravel area at the rear of the property was transformed into a clean slabbed space suitable for outside entertaining, small slabs where left out and in-filled with Quantock 20mm stone to allow the customer to plant groundcover scented plants.
