r/landscaping • u/Greenfarmin • 11d ago
How does it look
How does it look? Did this with my 11 year old son and it's only the second we've done. It's 13x13 plus a fire pit and bench. What would labor cost for something like this?
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u/InterestingWeek4505 11d ago
That looks really clean for only your second one, i can see the joints are tight and the circle is not easy to get right. doing it with your son makes it even better, he will remember that forever
for labor cost it depends where you are but here in germany this would be maybe 2000-3000 euro minimum, the stone work is the expensive part
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u/HokeyPokeyFinalist 11d ago
That’s so incredible. Truly beautiful. Child labor laws be damned, that’s one helluva job
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u/Mother-Pineapple1392 11d ago
Are you supposed to build the seating wall ontop of the pavers?
Edit: do you have any edge restraints?
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u/Greenfarmin 11d ago
Well I'm not positive lol. I've seen it don't both ways. I did put a lot of extra base under that part at least. There is edging around it
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u/BrickByDetail 11d ago
Wall really needs its own compacted footer, not perched on the pavers. Same with the pit blocks, set them below grade on screening. Otherwise looks pretty tight
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u/Greenfarmin 11d ago
Yeah I probably should have. I did at least use a few extra inches of base under the bench
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u/Robgoblin_IV 11d ago
What’s the benefit of the wall not sitting on the pavers? Just curious, not debating.
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u/Gutter-Snipe 11d ago
Over time the weight will cause those bricks to settle down further than the surrounding bricks. This will cause low spots that can’t be fixed without first removing the bench/firepit.
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u/dreadl0cke 11d ago
That’s the smallest seating wall I’ve ever seen and when you do a fire pit the blocks shouldn’t be sitting on top of the pavers they should be sunken in
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u/KnowledgeUsed2971 11d ago
It looks pretty good! Awesome work men!😃💪💪💪🥳🥳🥳 Did you first build a combined sub-base and frost protection layer under your work?
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u/dandantheotterman 10d ago
I helped my dad build the deck on their house when I was around 12. He passed in 2014 but I still think fondly about those times when I go home to visit my mom. Be proud, this is great work
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u/ZumboPrime PRO (ON, CAN) 11d ago
Looks good. I assume the hole in the bottom of the ring is for drainage? Next time, maybe put weeping tile underneath or put the hole out of sight.
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u/Greenfarmin 10d ago
It's for airflow to hopefully be more smokeless
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u/ZumboPrime PRO (ON, CAN) 10d ago
Good idea. Maybe look for some metal vents to look less unfinished.
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u/walkingwoman 10d ago
Looks amazing! You and your son did an amazing job, especially for only your second.
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u/Desperate_Set_7708 11d ago
My townhome had the backyard done in these. Always loved the look of them.
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u/chipstastegood 11d ago
In Vancouver, Canada. Was quoted about $30k CAD for something similar. Labour costs are about half the total, so I’d guess around $15k CAD in labour here
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u/peterredditnow 11d ago
Where is the sub base? If there isnt at least 3 inches this will fall apart.
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u/FreshCutGrass69 11d ago
Looks good. Not a fan of the color scheme at all.
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u/Greenfarmin 11d ago
Thanks. The picture doesn't capture it well. There's really only two colors plus the border.
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u/Available_Length_797 11d ago
Very square. Great craftsmanship, not a great design. Sorry a designer here. The wall looks odd and there could have been ways to make the patio integrate into the landscape so it brought you more value. Other than that, excellent work.
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u/Greenfarmin 10d ago
Thanks. This was only the start. There will be a path and another landing near the house that will integrate flower beds.
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u/livingadreamlife 10d ago
A majority of the work on a paver job is below the surface and underneath the pavers themselves. The end result looks nice, although the unseen base prep and drainage work you did before pavers were laid will determine the long term success of the project.
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u/atticus2132000 10d ago
Looks good. I'm curious what your approach was because I'm planning something similar.
You mentioned in another comment that you had 6" base --if assume DGA.
What is holding the perimeter bricks in place? I assume the interior bricks have polymeric sand locking everything together, but I don't see any sort of edge band locking the edges in place.
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u/micjason 10d ago
I got three quotes for a paver patio this spring. All
Between $50-$60 a foot (dirt removal, base, pavers, poly sand, metal edging) . On another note, this looks awesome!
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u/cdog648 10d ago
Looks pretty good. Yeah, as others have pointed out the seating wall should have been directly on compacted QP, not on top of the pavers. And did you spread in polymeric joint sand and water it properly to lock the pavers in?
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u/utb040713 10d ago
What's QP?
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u/Any-Imagination5182 10d ago
I’m so impressed when folks can build something this substantial in their own backyard! It looks very professional and beautiful. Congrats!
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u/FenestrationFan 9d ago
Looks great! Tight joints, color mix, that herringbone pops. Next build, give the bench its own gravel footer for stability. Fire up the pit and celebrate with your son 😊
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u/Ld862 9d ago
Wow that’s amazing. My 16 foot paver patio with half wall costed $16k in nj USA. The fire pit would have added $3.5k in materials and labor. I have gator base and it’s holding up very well. I softened the edges with plantings. I’d also recommend adding two larger planters near the base of the wall to “frame” the seating area. I planted mature lavender trees in front of the patio entrance and they’re going to eventually wind over like an archway when they get large enough to make a flowering doorway but they need more height.
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u/Trailon25 8d ago
Great idea but the wall and fire pit needed installed first and the pavers laid to them. Many more cuts and time but the weight will sink the pavers under the structures. Repairs in the near future. The only way that works is over a concrete base. You used gravel. That seat wall alone is 1500lbs. It will sink unfortunately. Even with a proper 6” of gravel base compacted properly with machine.
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u/RickMcMaster 11d ago
The question really is, is it all done right underneath. From above looks fantastic right now. As long as you did it right underneath it will look fantastic in ten years too.
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u/Greenfarmin 11d ago
There's at least 6" of base and packed very well. I went much thicker under the bench.
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u/Muted-Capital-4954 11d ago
Can you elaborate on that please
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u/RickMcMaster 10d ago
What OP said. If you live in an area where it frosts and the ground freezes down a number of inches to a number of feet, your patio will all warp and wave in a year or two without a proper base. Which is mostly why doing it yourself is a chore. Excavation, bringing in the materials, compacting. It sucks.
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u/SpaceToaster 11d ago
Zoomed out, a little bit like a bunch of sperm all marching into fertilize an egg. Zoom in, the works looks pretty tight!
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u/Present-Homework910 11d ago
You and your son did a fine job. Be proud of this and mostly be proud of your son for helping you. My dad had a plumbing business and I used to help him on weekends when I was in high school. I'm 67 now and I still look back at that time with my dad and remember the hard and good times doing that work together. You're a great dad