Friday, April 15, 2011

Finally...a patio and fenced yard!

After many years of wanting a patio and a fenced area for the dogs to run around in….we did it. Slowly we are getting the house as we like it….a long process due to economical reasons, timing, drainage issues……….but finally. I have some before and after photos so you can see the differences.

Oh yeah…there is a story behind how we ended up with a smurf blue colored house…….painters I just can not recommend. At all. Ever.

BEFORE



AFTER




We had drainage issues because trees were too close to the house, thus crushing a septic tank and requiring us to get an above-ground drain field. This resulted in the land sloping in such a way that (we think) allowed the heavy rains to flow under and into the foundation. Our brick floors appeared wet and so…yeah…that is most likely what happened.

The hiring of a fantastic company (Fielder and Associates) to remove trees, install a French drain and drainage solutions as well as put in a beautiful patio was one of the best things we’ve ever done.

The big oak near the front door was bound to give us trouble in the near future with the roots destroying the foundation or a huge limb crashing into the house. Behold the size of it....



We really dodged a bullet getting this down when we did as it was cracked down two sides and had hollow spots inside. Disaster waiting to strike!



Now the shibas have a fenced yard to walk and run freely. Aja is thrilled.



I predict with gas prices soaring that we’ll be spending a lot more time enjoying our new patio, grilling, reading outside and tossing a ball to Kobe and Aja.



Future plans will be saving for either a paint job, Hardy Board or siding. It's taking shape and I am loving it. Now off to buy ThermaCELL to keep the mosquitos from bothering us.

19 comments:

  1. What a huge project, but a success; it looks really nice. My son had one of those dogs years ag; they are special and I be they are thrilled with their new yard.
    Rita

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  2. looks great...even with the smurf colored house :-P

    I really like the patio...simple but lovely.

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  3. Oh YAY! That's so awesome Tina...it's going to be wonderful to spend time back there. Congrats on a long project completed...the big parts, at least ;)

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  4. Thank you ladies. We are pleased with the plans as they are going so far. Once in awhile we'd have a set back, such as that drain field, but right now...it's all good. Those shibas are lovin' it! We look forward to many evenings on this patio eating grilled food and sipping a cold beverage. :-)

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  5. A lovely brick patio! It's very nice and I'm sure you'll so enjoy it this summer.
    And yes, we were both "to the manor born"!

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  6. Love it. Would love to help y'all break it in. Call when you can. J

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  7. Everything looks great! I'm sure that will be your summer paradise! :-)

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  8. Kobe and Aja will certainaly enjoy the new freedom and ya'll will enjoy so much the outdoors too, so love our little patio on the backside of our house, grilling kitchen as I call it....

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  9. yay! Gorgeous!

    You may have just inspired me to paint my walls Smurf-colored.

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  10. Don't tell me about all the people who work in building homes, but I thought they were living only in Greece. I guess they are the same everywhere! You did a great job with the patio, slowly slowly you will make it as you like it, hang in there!

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  11. Yay! Looks great, the patio really complements the house, and great that the pups have running space with their new fence!

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  12. Wow - that looks lovely Tina ... bet you are loving sitting there in the sunshine!

    I am about to go and sit out on the patio in the French sunshine!

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