Hooray -- the door to the den now swings the same way as the original door!
The above-counter master bath cabinets are now assembled, trimmed and ready for countertops
Updates to the mud room 1 of 2: a rail for coat hooks
Updates to the mud room 2 of 2: a seat over the lower cabinet. Right now it's in pieces awaiting paint, but when assembled it will be a seat for changing shoes, and a hinged lid for under-seat storage.
Meanwhile back at the patio: Jeff and Roger building the base for the family room steps
Each layer's blocks are positioned before cementing
Some blocks are sawn into smaller pieces to fit the design
Blocks are lifted and cemented one by one
Patio work resumes after another weather delay. Today additional gravel is being brought in and the foundation will be leveled.
The black and white things on the far side are special insulated tarps that covered the foundation against rain
Paver patterns: running bond (L) and herringbone (R). We chose herringbone.
Rain and an equipment problem end the day. Jeff is on the phone, working on Equipment Plan B, as he stands in the mud.
It's the next day and most of the brick pavers have been laid
These black vinyl "rails" will serve first as guides to draw the curved patio edge, then as permanent edge support
The rails' section spacers are cut out as needed to allow the whole length to curve
Border pavers ready to place
Spare pavers hold down the curved line
Jeff checks positioning of the curve between the two doors
The pavers have been sawn and the excess ones removed. All the pavers now look chalky with sawdust! Next step on this side will be placing the border pavers.
A look to the south -- east and west sides are ready to saw
The saw follows a pencil reference line made with the curved rail
Removing excess pavers outside the sawn line
Starting to lay the border pavers (yes, that's a brief period of sun)
Note the ear protection. Can you say SMART?
Another cool patio-building tool: the Ramrod, a sort of mini-skid loader on golf cart wheels (yes, that's sleety snow in the air)
Surgically-precise gravel delivery!
The firepit hole has been cut and the first layer of pavers installed
Border leading up to master bedroom steps
Most of the border has been laid. A bit more gravel is needed to broaden the foundation by the family room steps.
Jeff lays the last of the border pavers. Next step will be power-washing, then grout when temperatures are a bit higher. Note the accumulated snow.
A new phase is launched: Jim Witt has arrived to begin interior painting. There's a lot of prep -- filling nail holes, caulking, taping...Next week -- trim painting!
