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Blogger Clarendon Hills, IL on Jul 03, 2012

Patio Renovation with Pergola and Fire Pit

Six years after we built our home, our wrap around patio stairs had sunk almost three inches causing the risk of someone tripping as well as drainage issues. We disassembled the stairs and the blue stone patio, poured new concrete footings (on the 4th of July with temperatures above 90 degrees and guests coming for a party in 6 hours!), and a new corner for the upper patio. We enlarged the lower blue stone patio, reset the upper stone patio, set stone veneer on the new concrete wall, built a stone fire pit, seat wall, and a pergola. It was a huge project, it took our family of four (two adults and two teenaged boys) six weeks with only minimal help with grading the gravel base, setting the edges of the patio, and making the pergola structurally sound.

For more details, visit: http://www.serendipityrefined.com/2012/07/po...

4 Comments

Becky H Tampa, FL

Six weeks is a fair trade for years and years of enjoyment, not to mention the pride of doing such an outstanding job on your project! From these pictures, you appear to have prepared and have supplies on hand before needing them. That's a burger biggie when beginning a project. Kudos to you and your family!

on Jul 03, 2012 · Like 0
Serendipity R Clarendon Hills, IL

Hi Becky, and thanks! By carefully planning the new design I was able to re-use virtually all of the deconstructed patio with the exception of the landscape block that they used for the stairs. By re-using the existing material and doing most of the labor ourselves, I was able to lower the cost significantly.

on Jul 03, 2012 · Like 0
Thistlewood Grand Rivers, KY

What an amazing project! And you did such a great job!

on Jul 03, 2012 · Like 1
Douglas Hunt New Smyrna Beach, FL

Great job. And glad to hear about all the resourceful re-use you were able to do.

on Jul 03, 2012 · Like 0