DIY Paver Patio

We were on vacation last week and as nice as it was, I need a vacation from my vacation...we seriously busted our asses every day but are so happy with everything we got done!!

So the hubs and I mentioned here that we were planning on building a patio area outside so we would have a place to enjoy dinners outside.  The past few summers we had a patio set that we just had set up on the grass in our backyard, but it was a pain when we would cut our grass because we would have to move the table and chairs so we could cut the grass.



Before we started the project our yard looked like this:

We needed some materials for this project which included the following:

• 2 yards of pea gravel
• 1 1/2 yards of sand
• 7 yards of dark brown shredded mulch
• Sod cutter
• Compactor
• Approximately 100 12X12 pavers

The hubs started out by using a spray marker and marking the area that we wanted to cut the sod, followed by using a sod cutter and cutting out all the grass that we needed removed.  Three HUGE trailer loads of grass later we had it removed and at the dump.

Once the area was cleaned up the hubs started laying down the first layer of pea gravel and evening it out with a rake.  Once it was level he used the compactor to compact all the gravel.  This part of the project was SO much fun (total sarcasm) because mother nature decided to rain on our parade and include beautiful cold blowing wind as well!  The hubs then proceeded to add more pea gravel in areas that needed it followed by the compactor. 

After what felt like forever compacting the area and he felt comfortable, he laid the sand over the top of the gravel and leveled it out with a long piece of pvc pipe that we had laying the basement, pushing off any excess towards the edges.  He then used the trusty compactor that we rented to flatten the sand and compact it.  The rain that mother nature "blessed" us with helped because one is supposed to get the sand slightly wet then compact it to help tighten it up, so we didn't have to do that.

This is when the project really started to come together!  The hubs started out by grabbing pavers and laying them out starting in the middle and working their way outwards towards the edges of the "patio". 


After busting our buns for what felt like forever, the hubs got the pavers laid and I got the mulch down in the back yard and this is the finished results:

The hubs also used some of the field stone that we had and made a "rock river" for drainage from our gutter off the garage!

My birthday was on Saturday and we were having some friends over to celebrate, so we wanted to try and get all these projects done, but we barely had enough time to finish the patio area and the mulching along with at least getting a funtional toilet in the bathroom project we've been working on for WAY TOO LONG!  There was actually a point where the hubs and I looked at each other and both thought that we had bitten off way more then we can chew, but once we consolidated what was actually important and necessary it helped ease our stress levels!

We still have a few areas that we need to work on:

• The firepit still looks like crap and needs to be redone
• I want a screen around the air conditioner to hide its "beautifulness"
• We are on the fence about a pergola now, who knows we (the hubs) may build one himself, but that's at a later date
• Add plants to the mulched area
• Add shutters and a planter box to the garage window

Since I love the befores and afters here you go:

We love how much cleaner and more open the yard looks and we think it will be much easier to maintain!  I am SO excited to finally get some plants in the pots and in the ground!!