Our yard remodel

[sixb]

The yard sprouts do happen, but luckily most people that mow their lawns don't have an issue because, well, they mow them down with their lawns.

That could be a problem
Oh I love BBQ btw espically with cold beer

 

[SAMI]

BYOB sixb..

I purchased 8 aspens tonight. Well more, since several have clusters.. So closer to 11-13 or so, average 10' tall and a few 12'ers. Great prices from a guy in Draper who grows trees.. So they were half of the 50% off sales right now at the big stores. I got all of them for $367.

I've drawn up a scale drawing of the backyard. I'm hoping to get a few suggestions about the next phase in this project, sprinklers. The guy at home depot said the most inexpensive way to do them is run them straight down the middle of the yard and have a pop-up sprinkler every ten feet. Carl brought up a good point that the little kids feet will find the sprinkler heads in the middle of the lawn. Carl also mentioned that there are dudes out there who charge slightly more than a daily trencher rental to come in and just do it. Anyone know someone? I'm really liking the sound of that. I would love to have the trenches dug Friday afternoon or Saturday morning, so that Saturdays focus could be assembling the sprinkler system.

I dig pergolas, cause gazebos are ghey. Really though I do like the look of pergolas and I'm hoping that we are able to afford nice lumber. I completely agree about using quality lumber vs not-so-much quality lumber. Im fine with concrete instead of pavers.. I'll present the idea to Jacey, but in the end I'm the one doing the work and determining the budget for each aspect of the project.. She likes to be involved in the design type.. Sort of. She's interesting when it comes to outdoors, but that's another topic.

I'll post the drawing of the yard in the morning.

 

[SAMI]

Eh I'll post it all crappy like..

and here's my trees!

 

[I Lean]

Call Brad!

(I don't know him, I just searched on KSL and he's close)

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=11985840&cat=&lpid=1&search=trenching

 

[SAMI]

Thanks Carl.

I'll hopefully have a drawing of the front/side yard done today, fwiw.

 

[mesha]

I like aspens. I like them because they are cool. I like them because they are the largest living organism on Earth. I like them because I can blame the bumps in my yard on them and not my laziness. I have a couple clusters in the back and think they are great. I think the fact that they go rogue is endearing. Plus they sound cool, like they are afraid of me.

What am I talking about?

 

[Bart]

Nice work on the yard and basement. It's going to be nice. Add me to the quaky hater list. Loved mine for the first 12 years, then I started finding them poking up everywhere, even 40 feet away in the back yard. I pulled them out then rented a mini excavator and had to dig down 16" in my whole front yard., about 25' x 100'. Yes, took out the sprinkler system, walk, and everything. I hear some don't have problems with them, maybe they can contain the root system somehow. I hate them with a passion.

 

[SAMI]

So, I'm wanting to compare pavers vs. concrete in a cost/maintanence comparison. The patio area will need 200sq ft of either pavers or concrete. The pavers that we found come out to be $1.10 per sq ft, not including any additional materials. So we'd be around $220 for pavers, plus the weed mat, sand, gravel etc..

I'm thinking that if concrete comes close to, or beats $1.50sq ft - that'll we'll most likely do concrete.. Seems like far less of a headache on install and less upkeep than pavers. I'll need some concrete for the 15x5 dog run anyways. So if we do concrete for the patio, we'd be looking at an approx total of 280sq ft..

With concrete, is there a recommended thickness? 4", 6" thick?

 

[SAMI]

Davey, i'm glad you're on board the Aspen train... As a result, my side yard is still open for your storage needs; especially trailers full of junk.

 

[Caleb]

So, I'm wanting to compare pavers vs. concrete in a cost/maintanence comparison. The patio area will need 200sq ft of either pavers or concrete. The pavers that we found come out to be $1.10 per sq ft, not including any additional materials. So we'd be around $220 for pavers, plus the weed mat, sand, gravel etc..

I'm thinking that if concrete comes close to, or beats $1.50sq ft - that'll we'll most likely do concrete.. Seems like far less of a headache on install and less upkeep than pavers. I'll need some concrete for the 15x5 dog run anyways. So if we do concrete for the patio, we'd be looking at an approx total of 280sq ft..

With concrete, is there a recommended thickness? 4", 6" thick?

With concrete, to make it a little more appealing, get it colored and stamped for just a small bit more. 4" should be fine for a patio/dog run. Beware with concrete contractors...they are known for being flakes. I wouldn't pay them a dime until the job is done. I've been going through the same debate as you (pavers vs. concrete) for my back yard. I have about 1500 sqft I need to have done though (not including my RV pad). Let us know what you find out regarding the cost.

 

[Corban_White]

For what you are using the concrete for 3.5" (the width of a 2x4) will be a good thickness.

 

[SAMI]

Call Brad!

(I don't know him, I just searched on KSL and he's close)

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?nid=218&ad=11985840&cat=&lpid=1&search=trenching

Ad Not Found!

... But, I found another ad of his on KSL.. Called him and he's coming out this evening to check out the yard and bounce ideas. Nice guy on the phone. He ball-parked $200 for a 4 zone system.. But I'm wondering if I should do a few more zones?

Here are my thoughts...

Zone 1 front yard - I figure a few that can sweep the yard and get the few plants (garden island in the middle of the yard)

Zone 2 west side of house - veggie boxes only via fogger/misters attached to roof of pergola

Zone 3 Backyard lawn

Zone 4 Backyard gardens

I'm thinking of adding non-valved spigots next to/at the patio (toying around with a small low-key sink too - but drainage?), and one on the west side of the house. Would I want one along the west fence mid way between the north/south sides at all?

 

[Corban_White]

The zones should be based on the number of heads and the available flow. Too many heads in a zone and you will not have enough supply, causing dry spots. Just looking at your pictures you may have problems in zones 1, 3 and 4. How many heads are you planning on in each zone? Also, many places like sprinkler world will design the system for free if you bring them a drawing like you have shown above. Saves figuring it all out yourself.

 

[Hickey]

Also, many places like sprinkler world will design the system for free if you bring them a drawing like you have shown above. Saves figuring it all out yourself.

This is a must. You will learn and save at the same time.

 

[mesha]

Davey, i'm glad you're on board the Aspen train... As a result, my side yard is still open for your storage needs; especially trailers full of junk.

I will find something to store there. Maybe a pile of the aspens logs I am growing. Maybe a bunch of chinese elms.

 

[SAMI]

Also, many places like sprinkler world will design the system for free if you bring them a drawing like you have shown above. Saves figuring it all out yourself.

This is a must. You will learn and save at the same time.

A good destination for my lunch break

 

[N-Smooth]

ASPENS FTW! i have had two maples die on me, they are too picky about watering. thank goodness for warranties. some of my neighbor's water runs into my yard (unfortunately) so it's hard to meter how much water they get. i got a quakie two years ago that was probably less than an inch thick and 6' tall -it was like $15- and now it is 3" thick or more and over 15'. also they are easy to figure out watering for... the more you water the faster they grow seriously i think it is growing a few inches a week right now.
hopefully if they start sprouting up everywhere and causing problems it will be for the next owner cause really who wants to stay in their first house?

 

[skippy]

whats the going rate on concrete right now???

 

[I Lean]

whats the going rate on concrete right now???

I paid pretty close to $100/yard for 15 yards a couple months ago. A smaller amount will be more though, since a fair amount of the cost is in the delivery charge.

 

[SAMI]

whats the going rate on concrete right now???

Great question....

Anyone have opinions/ideas with using flagstone slabs to form walkways? It the prep anything like pavers? I do like the look of flagstone flush with the lawn, for a walkway.. The walkway through the veggy garden could be flagstone as well, surrounded with small gravel rocks (thinking 1").