Patio Can Be a Room Extension

Christina Burdette
by Christina Burdette
8 Materials
$1000
2 Weeks
Medium
Back yards are becoming an extension of your home & a great place to relax. And after getting high bids to create a backyard oasis, I was ready for a diy project to save some $$$.
On my 47th birthday (Feb), several of my siblings w/spouses drove many miles to surprise me. We had a blast but it was freezing cold. So pulled the fire pit on our dilapidated deck (ok, not the safest idea). It bowed in the middle from improper support (previous owner diy) & when spring arrived we put it out of its misery. Drew up a plan and got started on a new one.
We staked the ground, tied string around perimeter & dug down 10" (have a neighborhood digging party; we did!). Figure 6" gravel, 2" sand & paver depth: ours were 2" deep. Lay landscaping fabric, we used 30yr & fill w/6" paver base; your local gravel company can help figure amount. We rented a tamper for a firm foundation. Make sure you level it & slope away from house. Recommend dropping 1/2" per 4 feet.
Next step is 2" sand base. We ran a 2 x 4 x 8' through table saw to get 2 boards 2" wide; cut board in half (you can see boards through the sand). Shovel sand in area & use a straight 2 x 4 to screed sand (tested straightness by laying on a flat surface). Screed sand by pulling your flat board across the 2 - 2" boards in the sand for a level surface.
Now the fun part...laying your pavers!
Our pavers were 2" deep & weighed 40lbs each, so it was a good workout. Gently lay the paver onto the sand, as to not disturb it.
Lay paver down on one end and gently drop into place.
Keep repeating the laying process. The nice part is, once you lay down the first few pavers, you can walk on it to lay the remaining. Once you get through laying paver over the 2" boards, gently remove them by pulling them out from underneath the laid tiles. This part goes quickly and so satisfying as you see your beautiful patio coming to life!
Pour on paver lock/polymeric sand & fill joints & spaces with a push broom. After joints are filled, set spray hose with nozzle on "shower" mode & spray pavers/joints until no more water soaks into surface. The polymer will begin to set. Spray for a few minutes, then check absorption rate. Water will stop absorbing when it is completed.
If you want to put on a sealer, wait several days for everything to dry.
Start adding your furniture and décor!
I hung mirrors with candles as well as added candles on tables and such for a romantic feel at night. I created the space to look like a large room. Some features were adding an illusion of a window & hanging outside bamboo blinds. This once dilapidated space with no privacy transformed into a relaxing extension of our home.
Have fun with the décor. I recommend getting a large plastic storage container for your cushions with it rains. We tucked it behind this wall.
You know that old deck we tore up...well we ran the boards through the table saw and it came back to life. Inside of those old boards was a beautiful reddish color. We used it to create a slat wall for privacy as well as inlaid it into the cedar bar table we built (it covers the gas meter). We also capped the raised bar table with the slats...Yeah free material!
Add plants, placemats, hang chimes, large shade umbrella & anything else that brings joy to your space.
With a good plan, creativity & some physical work (I lost several pounds during project) you can have that backyard oasis. And save a lot of money doing it yourself. Even though this project centered on the patio which was around $1000, the entire project with cedar decking & posts was $3000. It was money well spent. If you have questions or want to send pictures of back yard dilemmas, I would be glad to help. I truly enjoy doing these projects. I have drafted plans for many projects & have an intuitive eye for creating a beautiful space that fits nicely with a home!
Suggested materials:
  • 16" x 16" Cobblestone Patio Block   (Menards Model Number: 1791239)
  • Fine Sand   (Local Gravel Company)
  • Crushed Stone   (Local Gravel Company)
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