Patio/Outdoor Kitchen Project

[polo1665]

This all started about a year and a half ago with the simple idea of building a flagstone patio around our outdoor fire pit. As I went it grew into something much more, and I began to wonder what I had gotten myself into when I decided to take on this project myself. I had never done anything like this before so naturally I was a little apprehensive.
I studied up on things bought some (several tons) of materials and got started.

Without further ado.............A picture of the tractor with the first of many loads of dirt that were removed to create the patio area.

I figured in sticking with the forum rules I had better start with a tractor pic.

 

[polo1665]

The first part of the project (flagstone patio) isn't terribly well documented, so be patient with me.

Here is the patio area laid out. Yes, those are the septic tank lids that you see. This was one of the little dilemmas I had to deal with.

 

[RadarTech]

Great to see the start... Keep em coming!

 

[polo1665]

The first order of business (after removing 6+" of dirt) was to build a retaining wall against the hill. In the photo you will see this completed. It really only seems that easy:laughing:.
One of the things that I wasn't prepared for was the amount of dirt I had to get rid of While digging this out.
I used to have fleeting thoughts of digging a pond until I did this.

 

[polo1665]

Great to see the start... Keep em coming!

Boy, you really stay on top of things buddy.
:laughing::laughing:

 

[polo1665]

Can't be a complete description without a pic of the 6 ( yep, I said 6) tons of PA Lilac flagstone. My back has started hurting again thinking about it.

 

[RadarTech]

Boy, you really stay on top of things buddy.
:laughing::laughing:

You have no idea.. :laughing:

 

[polo1665]

Unfortunately this is where the poor documentation begins. The next pics of the patio you will see will be of the completed patio.
I can briefly describe the steps, but there will be no pics to accompany them.

After digging out the 6" of ground to allow for the flagstone's base, I had to provide some drainage. This is a very wet area and during the process we had quite a bit of rain.
After the drainage was complete I laid 2" of gravel in the patio area. The gravel was tamped (by hand) and leveled. On top of the gravel I placed 2" of coarse sand and leveled it as well.
This is when the fun started. The flagstone pieces were brought down one a time by hand truck and put in place.
Here's a quick pic of the completed patio (with fire pit)

 

[Craig Clayton]

I see that you found the septic tanks. I also built a interlocking patio over my tank and a pair of interlocking block steps to my deck over the tank. It dates back to the guy who that built the house ( me ). I framed with double 2x10" PT lumber a 3 compartment frame on the top of the tank. I laid in 2x6" cross pieces so I had a ( 2) 30"x 30" sub boxes. I back filled and laid the stones over the top. Call it a golf tee between the cracks of the stones marks the center of the access hatch.
Craig Clayton

 

[Jimmy Joe]

Looks very nice, you sure you never did this before? Thanks for the pictures, I already have ideas floating around in my head.

 

[polo1665]

The big challenge of the patio portion of the project was how to deal with the fact the the septic tank was going to be under the patio. I knew of course that I had to have access to the tanks, but I certainly couldn't leave the round lids in the middle of the patio.
The solution I came up with was to build concrete frames to place around the access ports. I then made lids from 3/4" treated plywood topped with ceramic tiles for decorative purposes. all four of these lids can be removed to access the septic for pumping or maintenance purposes. The step up portion of the patio is due to the second tank being higher than the other. In the attached picture you can see the lids pretty well.
All in all I was very happy with the way it came out.

 

[polo1665]

I see that you found the septic tanks. I also built a interlocking patio over my tank and a pair of interlocking block steps to my deck over the tank. It dates back to the guy who that built the house ( me ). I framed with double 2x10" PT lumber a 3 compartment frame on the top of the tank. I laid in 2x6" cross pieces so I had a ( 2) 30"x 30" sub boxes. I back filled and laid the stones over the top. Call it a golf tee between the cracks of the stones marks the center of the access hatch.
Craig Clayton

Yeah, the septic was a big pain. had to be careful with the tractor and making the access covers took me a long time.

Looks very nice, you sure you never did this before? Thanks for the pictures, I already have ideas floating around in my head.

Thanks for the compliment Jimmy Joe. I am always very apprehensive the first time I do something like this. I take a lot of time to do research and ask a lot of questions. The patio did turn out pretty well and has held up for over a year now.

 

[polo1665]

With the patio portion of the build done we set our sites on the outdoor kitchen. The first detail was to pick out a location. We decided on the area directly off the kitchen in the house. There is direct access via a door off the porch and it would provide a nice view down onto the patio and fire pit.

 

[polo1665]

First we had to decide whether to stick with the decking board theme for the outdoor kitchen or go with something different for the floor space. The deck around our house id made of Ipe wood. If we kept with the decking theme it would have meant buying enough Ipe lumber to cover 300 square feet. This lumber is not easy to work with and we figured that we would have a lot of weight on this floor space. For these reasons we decided to have a block wall and slab floor put in for the outdoor kitchen.
I was not at all comfortable doing this work myself, so I hired a qualified contractor to do the work.

First the footings were dug out.

Please excuse our dog Cody in the second pic:laughing::laughing::laughing:

 

[Carl_NH]

Nice job Polo,

Flagstone can be challenging due to their uneven surfaces but you must have taken time flipping and turning as it looks great! I like the way you covered the septic too.. I have always liked the hardscape better than decks for the outdoors as they are low maintenance and realatively easy to change/make bigger

Your outdoor kitchen project looks interesting too, and from the slope it would appear you will either need to lower it off the porch a bit or build another retaining wall?

Have you considered a terraced set of steps tying the two areas together along that bank?

Also on the outdoor kitchen do you plan a trellis or framework around the cooking area for inclement weather cooking/shade?

Looking good!

Carl

 

[polo1665]

More footing pics

 

[polo1665]

Footings poured........

 

[polo1665]

Nice job Polo,

Flagstone can be challenging due to their uneven surfaces but you must have taken time flipping and turning as it looks great! I like the way you covered the septic too.. I have always liked the hardscape better than decks for the outdoors as they are low maintenance and realatively easy to change/make bigger

Your outdoor kitchen project looks interesting too, and from the slope it would appear you will either need to lower it off the porch a bit or build another retaining wall?

Have you considered a terraced set of steps tying the two areas together along that bank?

Also on the outdoor kitchen do you plan a trellis or framework around the cooking area for inclement weather cooking/shade?

Looking good!

Carl

Thanks Carl,
Yes, the floor of the outdoor kitchen will be at the same level as the porch. You will be able to see as I post more pics. It is taking me forever to upload pictures from my little wireless notebook.
A set of steps is planned, but that is work for this spring. I am planning on putting a roof over the kitchen. May need some suggestions from the group here on how to accomplish that.
Gotta take a break now. The deer and birds need fed.

Mark

 

[EddieWalker]

It looks fantastic. Really nice!!!!!!

Are you thinking of covereing the brick with the same rock that you used on the ends of the retaining wall?

Eddie

 

[polo1665]

It looks fantastic. Really nice!!!!!!

Are you thinking of covereing the brick with the same rock that you used on the ends of the retaining wall?

Eddie

Thanks Eddie,
No, the brick will stay. As a matter of fact the brick theme will be expanded upon. The rocks on the end of the retaining wall may well also play a part in the scheme of things

That stone end post actually came in three pieces. It is a concrete shell with the stones set into it. each piece is about a foot tall and weighs 140 lbs. All a little guy like me could do to get the third one on top.