Porch done, feedback?

[jimnyc]

The porch, stones and gravel are done, 2 days! I know it's just a small porch, as it's the backyard, but heaven for me!!

All that is left is for the Iron Works company in 2 weeks to come out and put in a sweet new railing. And before you complain about the green on the house - next job is a full house painting!!

Not cheap at all, but you get what you pay for!!

Hard to tell here, but coming into the yard was roots and dirt until you reach to the backyard point, then grass. I had this completely covered in rock, with 2" bluestone as the path. I purposely had them make it mis-aligned, partly because of the roots, and partly because I think it looks better that way. And yup, that's Porter peein in the background. He takes an hour as he HAS to pee on everything in sight, including the new stone the very instant he smelled it the first time. Just the middle here:



Angle on top of the porch toward gate. For hell of it, had him put 2 in outside of gate as well for our 2 garbage cans.



Directly facing the porch:



Side facing porch:



The top, with my Weber in the background - Wifey wants new one there too!

[High_Plains_Drifter]

Hell man, that looks awesome!

[Elessar]

That looks great!

I just got done replacing my front porch and steps due to rain damage and rot.

I was going to jack out the old lumber with a floor jack but decided it was better to cut them
out and use a wrecking bar to get the nails out.

Step-dad had made the mistake of painting redwood on a surface that would have foot traffic.
Paint cracked and moisture got under it and caused it to rot.

I replaced it with pressure-treated lumber, and treated all the cuts I had to make
with copper napthenate. I used deck screws instead of nails in case a piece needs replacing.
Got some fine tuning to do, but this will outlive me.

[High_Plains_Drifter]

I have begun the process of replacing my back steps on the side of the shop. Already pulled out 5 old rotten RR ties, but will have to dig out the last one. Then do some measuring and starting building forms for the cement. Maybe I can finish them in just a couple days. Depends on how hot it gets.

[Kathianne]

Really nice! Gotta get you a nice chair for grill watching!

[jimnyc]

Really nice! Gotta get you a nice chair for grill watching!

We have a half basketball court in the yard, sort of, made out of black crappy pavement. And the backboard and hoop still work perfectly. I think - as I haven't touched in 10 years. I want that down.... and him to come back, redo the base in a much more square area, with great stone blocks like the top of the porch instead of pavement. Then with a small raised fire pit in the middle of it. And 2 retaining walls facing the yard, in case it rains and rises in the slightest, it will push it further towards the french drains we installed, and keep it drier in there.

Also, this way when we sell, and they ask about the advanced water and pumping system, I tell them that long ago we used to get a water piling up in yard and a little in basement. But we really wanted to build out the yard to fully enjoy it, and protect the pit in this manner. Maybe make them think a little less about any "flooding".

[Gunny]

The porch, stones and gravel are done, 2 days! I know it's just a small porch, as it's the backyard, but heaven for me!!

All that is left is for the Iron Works company in 2 weeks to come out and put in a sweet new railing. And before you complain about the green on the house - next job is a full house painting!!

Not cheap at all, but you get what you pay for!!

Hard to tell here, but coming into the yard was roots and dirt until you reach to the backyard point, then grass. I had this completely covered in rock, with 2" bluestone as the path. I purposely had them make it mis-aligned, partly because of the roots, and partly because I think it looks better that way. And yup, that's Porter peein in the background. He takes an hour as he HAS to pee on everything in sight, including the new stone the very instant he smelled it the first time. Just the middle here:



Angle on top of the porch toward gate. For hell of it, had him put 2 in outside of gate as well for our 2 garbage cans.



Directly facing the porch:



Side facing porch:



The top, with my Weber in the background - Wifey wants new one there too!

You can come do my side yard. The pavers and gravel would be perfect. We are required to keep out trash cans behind the fence (gate). The SIL thinks it's just fine -n- dandy to have a mud pit from the driveway to the gate. Did I say "SIL" and "thinks" in the same sentence?

That looks pretty sharp.

[jimnyc]

You can come do my side yard. The pavers and gravel would be perfect. We are required to keep out trash cans behind the fence (gate). The SIL thinks it's just fine -n- dandy to have a mud pit from the driveway to the gate. Did I say "SIL" and "thinks" in the same sentence?

That looks pretty sharp.

Thanks!

But you don't want ME anywhere near this kind of work. I would do so wacky looking, and even ask them to do weird things like the stone out of order.

But perfect? You KNOW who you're conversing with!! Unless it's powered up, has a CPU and a motherboard - and also has a KB and mouse connected to it - and also has no Apple/Mac crap within 20 miles of it.... I'm your man, or your home or business network.

[Abbey Marie]

It looks great, Jim!

Until the railing is in (and maybe after) it would be safer and look nice if you can put a couple of potted plants/flowers along the edge.

[NT'sGirl]

Looks great man!

You should send them over to fix the front deck that one of the kids drove through at my house!

[jimnyc]

Looks great man!

You should send them over to fix the front deck that one of the kids drove through at my house!

NOOOOO! Rick has enough apparently on his plate, and yourself... and now that?

Glad to see ya, Shar! Hope you guys enjoyed the cabin, and I hope you were there too for that fact! Hopefully I can get over there again before I croak! Like less than a year hopefully!!

[NT'sGirl]

NOOOOO! Rick has enough apparently on his plate, and yourself... and now that?

Glad to see ya, Shar! Hope you guys enjoyed the cabin, and I hope you were there too for that fact! Hopefully I can get over there again before I croak! Like less than a year hopefully!!

You and me both! I have been to the cabin once since you left...

Sam drove the truck into the front deck years ago actually, was kinda surprising to see the front of the truck IN the door but eh she only moved the deck a foot and took out the lower bedroom window.

[jimnyc]

You and me both! I have been to the cabin once since you left...

Sam drove the truck into the front deck years ago actually, was kinda surprising to see the front of the truck IN the door but eh she only moved the deck a foot and took out the lower bedroom window.

Don't tell me you had to work while they went to the cabin again? LOL

That's what I figured, as I know it's only 7am already, and I didn't think you guys woke up, enjoyed breakfast and a little cleaning up, loaded things up, traveled from Talkeetna to Wasilla....

So I assume Rick is currently snoring in Talkeetna right now?

[NT'sGirl]

Don't tell me you had to work while they went to the cabin again? LOL

That's what I figured, as I know it's only 7am already, and I didn't think you guys woke up, enjoyed breakfast and a little cleaning up, loaded things up, traveled from Talkeetna to Wasilla....

So I assume Rick is currently snoring in Talkeetna right now?

Nope... he was up at 4 and heading for Barrow right now.
I always have to work while he plays, on my days off I go to Barrow to watch him work lol

[jimnyc]

Nope... he was up at 4 and heading for Barrow right now.
I always have to work while he plays, on my days off I go to Barrow to watch him work lol

Dang. Sounds like by the time he's finished up there he will be a billionaire, and also have brought them up to speed with NYC!!