Our backyard… Where to even begin? We didn’t buy this house for a lot of what it had, but what it could become. This was a massive compromise that we knew would be a project one day, and we chipped at it for a few years before attacking the patio expansion. Follow us on this meandering path, where we both find our collective vision in unison.
The previous owners did not make this paver improvement until the last year they lived here; year 29 of 30! They should have expanded the hard scape, as it didn’t offer any seating area or room for entertainment. Our albizia, aka trash tree, made a massive mess as it bloomed and shed in the fall. The grass was inconsistent as well, and resisted effort to keep green.
Our first spring in 2019, and we let the grass go way too long. Even during a normal mow, it would fill two mower bags with grass. Mulching it made a heaping mess that tracked into the house. We knew the grass would go one day too.
Phillip and Buddy (RIP!) playing.
Phillip did enjoy his first swing on the tree, but it came with ants raining down 🙁
On the bottom left, Phillip’s new playhouse is waiting to be built. This would be this tree’s last day.
Adios trash tree! All of this wood was cured and used for heat in 2020.
The stump pre-grind, it was a little over 12 inches in diameter. This tree was notorious for sending up saplings, and it had to be fully eradicated.
Stump and root system is obliterated. Time to start the next phase!
Phillip’s new play structure is assembled, and the rest of the backyard in a temporary holding pattern. The grass is a mess, and the bugs were atrocious.
Our “seating” area. This just wasn’t going to work much longer.
When the grass and weeds grew, they really grew.
Carol helping weed our neglected corner behind the Sago palm.
Eric’s last time mowing the backyard! Cheers to reducing our mowing by two hours and as many miles of walking, when combined with our smaller back and front around our driveway.
This tree was a specimen, and we tried to find someone to move it to another part of the yard. Not one tree service was interested in helping crane it, since it might not survive a transplant. Even if it could have been moved, it would have been upwards of $4000. Also note Bill, Ted, and Rufus sunning on the patio.
In order to walk by and use the BBQ, we had to hack the front of the tree back substantially, which didn’t look healthy. It was that, or getting stabbed any time you walked by.
A bonafide mess. Eric is nearly in the Sago while grilling.
We didn’t want to do it, but we needed space. Hacking two of the three trunks was painful, but opened up the patio more than it had ever been.
Room to move, which was a nice change of pace. Our raised flower bed made a move to this side of the yard during this time.
This was temporary, but it’s days were numbered. We began shopping for new patio furniture sets, but where would we put it? The grass wasn’t an option for us.
Our patio set came in stages over a few weeks, and we opted to tarp it with a bunch of items we were clearing out of storage. It would be easier to sell from home versus running to our storage by our office.
Phillip helping Daddy make some measurements for pavers.
We have these nice crape myrtle trees, and we would end up moving our fence outward to bring these into the backyard.
As luck would have it, the previous homeowner left us a copy of the receipt from their paver install. It only made sense for the original contractor to be called out to give a bid. We hired AJ Criss, and Tony the owner was like family from the first visit. Dreams were dreamt, and bids were drafted. We were in budget! Well, before two serious change orders that is.
Phillip never skips a beat when it comes time to “work.” This is one busy boy.
Phillip getting a ride on the mini excavator. These guys were absolute pros. We incorporated grass removal into the project so we could save time doing playground mulch. The area was cleared in an hour.
This equipment might seem overkill, but not when time is money, and progress needs to be made.
The yard was starting to look like a mess, but Phillip doesn’t mind.
Demo is just about done here, the last thing to go is the concrete walkway from the driveway to the paver patio. Our water filter would also be bypassed temporarily and relocated once the new slab is poured.
Dirt being moved about, most of this pile would be used for re-leveling the entire area.
Our paver addition needed to continue to drain away from the house, and a curb needed to be built so we wouldn’t compromise the retaining wall footing.
Progress is coming quickly.
Four pallets of pavers were delivered to keep momentum going.
Concrete pour! This was one of the hottest days of summer yet, and the poor crew busted their hump working the concrete in 100+F temps.
Our new fence line is in, and the second major change order is finished. We opted to fully pour this 300 square foot space to tidy up the front.
Near the peak of the mess. Although we were moving ahead on schedule, this was a fatiguing part of the process.
Phillip never stopped taking advantage of the tractors in the yard.
Some of the attention to detail with the stone work, our drains are perfectly fit. They also painted them a brown tone instead of leaving them black plastic.
With construction wrapping up, it was time to order another 15 yards of gravel and mulch. This load was a trunk and tender for each material.
Prince P surveying his mountain kingdom.
You can see the new pavers integrated into the existing patio. The Southern California sales rep for this product visit our site and brought a number of samples to make sure the original color was indeed the one we had installed. A good pressure wash helped this fade in, and a summer or two will make it look indistinguishable.
We also laid down a weed barrier for the play ground area. New domed drain covers were also installed.
Mulch going in. This was a slow process in August, as temps were pushing 105+ daily this year. Eric would work for an hour or so each morning until it was completed.
Carol also upcycled our “gifted” patio table from the prior owners. It was thoroughly sanded and re-screwed, and given a good coat of paint and varnish was added to protect the wood from the elements. Not that it hadn’t weathered a few decades already.
Our new patio furniture is assembled and in place! This wouldn’t be the final configuration, but it was one of a few that we tried.
Our improved lighting means we can enjoy the entire backyard after sun down as well.
Again, more interface of the new patio with the old. We really tried to keep costs down as much as possible. This phase of pavers was change order number one. We added almost 500 square feet of pavers to our original patio.
Slowly laying out the birds eye gravel to give continuity across the driveway area.
We wanted a horizontal fence, and a six foot double gate. It turned out nice. Our prior seating area was relocated out front.
Our double gate allows us more access than we previously enjoyed.
We added two umbrellas to give respite from the baking sun in the morning and afternoon. We were able to bury the bases in the gravel to fully conceal them.
All wrapped up! This was a bit more than we budgeted, but worth every single penny. Our trash cans are no longer visible from the driveway, and we have the room to stretch and entertain again. The next project on deck is 24 foot shade sails, stay tuned!