Moving Along

Hey, before you know it we'll be pouring concrete. The crew is setting the form work for the patio and is applying sand in prep for the concrete. It is definitely starting to take shape. The holes you see in the right foreground are for the footings where the pergola posts will be set.

We've Got Walls

Alrighty then, it looks like the walls have finally taken shape. The finish you see in these photos is the scratch coat. The smooth coat will be applied to the walls at the end of the job. The next step is pouring the concrete portion of the patio and then we move on to the pergola.

We're Taking Shape

Well, the walls are coming along nicely. The first scratch coat of stucco is on most of the walls and the soil level in the elevated area is almost at the final level. Before you know it we will start to see plants... but don't let me get ahead of myself.

And So It Goes

The wall for the elevated area is coming right along. We are also trenching for the footings for the remaining retaining walls along the back part of the yard and the Area for the spa. Slowly but surely the space is starting to show itself. This next week we should complete the walls and start applying stucco.

Anatomy of a Wall

Here we go. The walls around my elevated area and water feature have started. For a while I have been staring at the trenches (where they pour the foundation) - trying to figure out how the finished area will look. Well the crew has poured the foundation and now has placed the first course of blocks. Suddenly I feel like I can imagine how it will look. They have also excavated a bit more of the yard - it really feels big right now.

Oh yeah I almost forgot

Okay, so the whole project got under way officially on Monday, May 19th. As is almost always the case, we hit a snag one minute number one. It turns out that the main water line for our neighborhood runs down the street about 4 feet in front of my house. Well that sucker sprung not one, but two leaks. So when my crew showed up to start my house, they were met with three city trucks and a bulldozer tearing up the street right in front of my house... exactly where the crew needed to park and access my yard. In true fashion, it took a week to dig up the line, find the leaks and patch the road. In the end, the project started on the 27th (the 26th was Memorial Day). Hopefully we got the bad luck out of the way early. Anyone with me on that thought?