March 2008 Archives
We are working on this commercial project for a Pool Courtyard in San Rafael. As part of the renovation we are expanding the existing patio space, installing a new gas fireplace and a central wood trellis. Below are images from before and after the courtyard transformation as the concrete has just been poured-
Before Construction- The existing configuration of fencing and patios resulted in a cut up space that was not usable and didn't flow well
The existing planters were cut out, new rebar installed and prepared for pouring
Concrete has been installed. This photo was taking right after installation. The concrete will dry to a closer match to the existing concrete. The result is a much more open and usable space.
Concrete has been exposed with an acid wash and pressure wash and the concrete has had a chance to dry.
The result is a close match to the existing patio.
Concrete has been exposed with an acid wash and pressure wash and the concrete has had a chance to dry.The result is a close match to the existing patio.
Doing some research for local suppliers for a statue for a Zen/Asian style garden, we stumbled up Routes Gallery in San Anselmo. Their intimate store front in San Anselmo has all sorts of stone, concrete, and wood Buddhas and other statuary that would work well as garden accents. Definitely worth a look if you need an interesting accent for an Eastern style garden.
Here are a couple of details from some current projects. The first is for an outdoor gas only fireplace, the second a planting plan with images of plantings to be installed.
An amazing video showing how one man from Flint, Michigan is able to move Stonehenge sized concrete lintels alone, using only leverage and other simple mechanisms. Makes our projects moving boulders and trees using equipment seem easy by comparison.
Here is a current project that we are wrapping up in San Rafael. It features a large bluestone patio set in sand. The seams in between the stones will be planted with low creeping Thyme groundcover. Patios set in sand can give a different design look than patios set on concrete. They also allow for future flexibility as the shape of the patio can be fairly easily changed by moving stones. These bluestone pieces are 2" in thickness and set on a compacted baserock subsurface, providing good stability. Having stones of good size (these are 2' x2'), thickness, and with proper base preparation is crucial to having a patio that will be stable over the long term.
Sometimes in retrospect you can look back and be glad in the judgment of having made a correct decision. Our company's decision to switch from Nextel to Verizon a couple of years back was one of these instances. I read with interest in the Wall Street Journal of Sprint/Nextel's huge 30 billion loss in the previous quarter, due largely in part to a write down in the value of the Nextel division. Our company's experience with Nextel has been well chronicled here in the past, and I was in no way surprised to learn of Nextel's difficulties. For the scores of other construction companies who still use Nextel, the question has to be asked, is it time to get off a sinking ship?