Tag Archives | paver patios

Sellwood – August 2014

This is a backyard renovation project in the Sellwood District of SE Portland that we completed in early September.  Normally, we post pictures of the finished project, with maybe a picture from before we started work, but we decided to do things a little bit differently this time.  A lot of details are involved in putting together a quality landscape project, so we took pictures of this project as it went through the different stages leading to completion.

This project involved transforming a boring backyard into am inviting and functional outdoor living area.  When we started, the highlights of the yard included wood chips and old concrete.  There really wasn’t much to write home about when we began, but over the course of a month, we transformed this dull area into a beautiful outdoor living space.  The wood chips are gone, the concrete has been removed, and in their place we have installed a large paver patio with raised planting areas and a water feature.

The highlights of this project include:

  • A textured concrete paver patio:  We used two paver sizes to create a patterned patio area.  The pavers are concrete, but are textured to resemble slate.  We used a color blend that has some slightly warmer tones in it to soften the area and add some color contrast.  Runoff from the patio is diverted into a series of pre-manufactured dry wells (flo-wells) to manage the water on site.
  • A stacked stone wall:  The edge of the patio blends into a stacked stone wall that contains a large planting area.
  • A water feature:  A waterfall cascades from the stone wall, complete with blue LED lighting effects.  The water feature includes an autofill valve and an overflow drain to make it as easy to manage as possible.
  • A privacy screen:  A large wooden screen provides privacy for the hot tub area and outdoor shower.  The screen was built with 6×6 pressure treated posts and stained 2×6 cedar boards.
  • A dog run area:  The fence was extended along the side of the house, and a new gate added for access.  The dog run area is contained with pressure treated lumber and filled with pea gravel so it can be hosed out more easily.
  • Irrigation:  The plantings are watered by a Rain Bird drip irrigation system for maximum efficiency.  We installed an easy-to-use Rain Bird ESP-RZX irrigation controller.  We also installed a new double check backflow device for the current and future irrigation needs.

We have included two photo galleries – On that shows the finished project, and one that shows the project in varying stages of completion.

Here are the final pictures of the project:

 

Here is a gallery showing the project as it progressed from the beginning to just before completion:

 

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Tigard – April 2014

Here is another backyard transformation.  We turned this yard from a sloped nightmare into a level, usable space.  After removing several truckloads of soil to bring the grade down to a reasonable level, we constructed a sturdy stone retaining wall to create a level landing for the yard and patio.

We then constructed a set of stone stairs that allow access to the new yard from the house.  The stone stairs lead down to a beautiful paver patio, which is bordered by a lush new lawn.  To complete the project, we planted arborvitae around the perimeter to provide privacy and greenery.  And of course, we installed an efficient irrigation system for the lawn and shrubs using quality Rain Bird parts.

Although we are finished with our part, there is still so much future potential in this “new” yard.  We created the solid foundation, and now the homeowner has lots of new options for planting and other landscape enhancements!

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King City – March 2014

Yes, there were plants in this King City project, but the centerpiece was truly the extensive paver patio and curved sitting wall.  We transformed an old concrete slab into a beautiful and functional outdoor living area that makes the backyard area much more usable and appealing.  The pictures speak for themselves, and for this project we have a “before” shot to demonstrate how much difference a good hardscape can make.

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A New Landscape for 2014

A new landscape for 2014Welcome to 2014!  2013 was a busy year at John Darby Landscape, Inc., and we want to thank all of you that we had the opportunity and privilege to work with last year.  We are looking forward to another great year in 2014, and wanted to remind you all that landscape projects in our region can generally be done at any time of the year (with some exceptions for polar vortexes and hurricanes, but those are fairly unlikely).  As we move toward the spring and summer season however, our calendar fills up fast, and we sometimes have to delay new projects by several weeks during the busier months.

Besides scheduling, here are some good reasons to tackle your landscape project in winter instead of waiting for warmer weather:

  • You get a jump on the season.  You can be sitting in your lawn chair marveling at your amazing new outdoor living space while your neighbor is still trying to figure out where he left the shovel last fall.
  • Fall and winter plantings establish faster.  Planting in the cooler weather gives plants an opportunity to establish and get prepared for our harshest season – summer.  Whereas summer plantings are “what you see is what you get” until the next growing season, fall and winter plantings have the benefit of an extra spring growth flush.
  • Let nature provide the water for establishment instead of your wallet.  Fall and winter plantings use the natural abundance of seasonal rain water to get settled in and get past the fragile “newly planted” stage.  Summer plantings rely completely on irrigation systems to establish themselves, which means more money out of your pocket every month when the water bill comes in.  Early planting and an efficient irrigation system can cut the watering costs dramatically!
  • Hardscape projects such as paver patios, walkways, and garden walls form the backbone of your landscape.  By getting these main elements in place now, you will be able to focus on more important things once the sun comes back.

Whatever your landscape dreams for the new year, we can make them happen!

 

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