Garden design, garden planning, garden layout, planting plants and planting schemes

Sandstone Patios in challenging spaces

Posted on June 12th, 2009

A recent project of ours I believe provides some useful illustration about  the importance of design and layout in defining Patio areas. Perhaps not so evident from the photographs is that this particular garden which was was relatively compact but on two levels and made the more challenging by the chosen design. Some logistical challenges had also to be carefully considered, as there was no side or rear access to the garden areas, this project required that all materials be carried through the house.

Some might wonder why we did not select an easier approach by choosing a more simpler perhaps linear layout. No, we always endeavour to exceed client expectations and ion this instance it was obvious from an early stage of the design process a design with a split level solution with a distinctive finish to the retaining elements was preferred by the clients. In this instance Pressure treated Pine sleepers were used for the Raised Bed at the upper level and at the lower level a sandstone capping to a painted rendered wall was agreed upon.

Although it would have been much easier to construct a linear wall, the geometry was largely influenced by the fact that the client wanted to inset a circular arrangement within the lower sandstone patio. Thus it was obvious to me anyway, that the wall and indeed the Raised Bed should be consistent and therefore semi-circular layouts were selected. This was also the chosen finish for the decorative trims around patio perimeters which provided opportunity for sandstone chippings to contrast with the relative flatness of the sandstone paving. On the upper level, the sandstone paving also featured a circular-out to provide much needed breathing space at ground level for the mature tree.

Although a small garden space, all the common but key details and elements of everyday patio design and construction can be seen here, including  ACCO Storm channels at Patio doors, Recess Frames to provide easy but discreet access to the AJ (access to foul water system), Sandstone risers for steps.  How often do we see the appearance of new paving ruined by conspicuous AJ/Manhole covers?

The colour of the painted rendered wall at the lower level is Nevada, an dalthough we did discuss colour selection for some time.  We did at completion joke about how we took a gamble with the Nevada but it paid off!

I always believe that designing in small spaces can be difficult, with little room for error and in this particular project, construction was also more challenging than usual and this was very evident during extensive excavations taking place during recent wet spells. All in all, from start to finish, the project took approx 10 working days to complete. They were 10 hard days, but the results clearly justify the significant effort involved. Great sandstone cutting skill is much in evidence throughout this garden.

Garden patios – making more of Outdoors

Posted on May 18th, 2009

The garden patio designed to suit your requirements and site conditions is probably the most important functional aspect of your garden area. Generally size is rarely a problem, sometimes space permitting patios can be oversized and thus look disjointed and out of proportion with the rest of the garden. Frequently one sees patios that are simply extended hard surfaced platforms effectively separating house from rest of garden. Patios need not necessarily be large geometric shapes like a rectangle, a square or indeed a circle. Try to be a little more creative in determining the shape, seek opportunities to achieve a more integrated look with the lawn and planted areas within the general scheme. If possible incorporate planting beds i.e. trapped planting beds which not only create interesting focal areas within the patio but also contribute to a more pleasing and softening look within larger patio areas especially.

Obviously patios are best located in the sunny positions of the garden at the times they are most likely to be needed/used. On the otherhand beware with patios at the house end of the garden especially layouts which run across the side access area. This area can suffer nasty cold draughts ‘wind tunnels’  as winds pushed through side entrance and across patio area. Nobody will want to sit in a wind tunnel!

Probably an aspect which you have little control over but which can be a big headache to resolve is of course levels. Steps are the obvious solution for managing changes in levels. These are commonly positioned at the house but it makes more sense to go for a convenient transition between inside and outside and re-position steps at end of patio but away from main access/exit points. If you must use steps at house, be generous, not everyone can or likes using  steps requiring ballerina foot movements. Be generous with the steps, make ‘threads’ depth at least 450mm. Height on the otherhand should be set at a maximum of 150mm. When more than one step is involved, ensure step ‘riser’ heights are consistent.  Ramps are also a possible alternative to steps.

Different levels in patio areas can also be exploited to create interesting views or orientations. This may require retention walls and a favourite choice of mine is of course the natural stone finish but rendered block walls can also look well in certain designs requiring a more contemporary look. Other additions/features which may be used to complement patio areas include Raised Planting beds, Water features, Planters, Garden Sculpture, Swing Seating, Lighting etc.  

A much more critical design feature is to retain integrity of the overall look by avoid mixing materials. Our preference is for a more coherent and consistent finish, i.e., with sandstone patios we avoid mixing ‘apples with oranges’ so for example all the key materials used for paving, threads, risers, kerbing and indeed even the decorative stone chippings used as trims around trapped beds etc are all one material e.g., sandstone, limestone, granite etc.

In relation to layout, space (lack of) frequently curtails the options here, but try to develop a layout which satisfies the space requirements but also provides a layout which not only links house to patio but is consistent with the profile of the garden layout. For example, an average family will require a space of at least 3.0m x 3.0m but 4.0m x 4.0m would be much better. Larger groups will require more space perhaps reaching 7.0m x 7.0m and more. Increasingly homeowners demand that the Outdoor space share or complement style treatments or finishes from the interior thus placing more importance on the seamless transition from inside to outside spaces. No matter what your preferred design style is, many are demanding more from the outdoor area. To see it as a sanctuary for growing plants is to greatly underestimate the true importance of the many valuable contributions a garden can offer everyone. Seeing the garden in trems of an ‘Outdoor space’ is to see lots of other potential, not just an area in which to relax, enjoy, socialise etc but the choice is almost endless. What is essential that more and more people are utilising the garden area as a living space.  At a subtle level, homeowners are making choices that have impact on how gardens look but also how they work. In this new enviroronment, how something functions is taking precedence over more traditional values of how it looks. Here in this new era of outdoor living, form follows function, which is not a bad development. Ultimately if something cannot be enjoyed, it matters little how well it looks.

In determining a layout which optimises functionality and integrates practical aesthetics, the design of the garden patio demands careful but creative consideration. It is afterall much to do with creating an area which allows one to enjoy as much as possible,  those few but precious moments of Outdoor bliss.

A DAY IN THE LIFE…of a landscaper (Day 14)

Posted on September 20th, 2008

Day 14 brought good weather allowing construction work to resume. As the Sandstone Kerbing was used to provide a distinctive Raised Profile edge (Pic 1) to the main planted Area within the Patio, excavations for base for the sweeping pathway got underway. This was followed by the providing a compacted (100mm) hardcore base as foundation (Pic 2) for paving. The construction of the Sandstone Pathway featured 600×300mm paving slabs (Pic 3) and for a more distinctive finish the pathway was edged on both sides with Sandstone Setts 200×100mm to create a very attractive and eye catching results (Pic 4).

Pic 1 Sandstone Kerbing helps define the Planting Bed within Patio

Pic 2 Hardcore base for perimeter pathway

Pic 3 Sweeping Sandstone pathway

Pic 4 Sandstone Pathway edged with Sandstone Setts

Attention to detail is one of the Hallmarks of our workmanship and here are some very clear examples. To achieve a very uniform joints and consistent radiating effect, it is necessary to cut and mitre every slab. This results in joints of consistent widths and no arcing (large tapers within joints, i.e. narrow and one end and wide at the opposite end (Pic 5). A string line from radius centre point is used to mark the radiating line for each paving slab on the two adjoining sides. Again all slabs are laid on a wet bed (typically 50mm) of mortar to provide a solid and stable base for the Sandstone pathway (Pic 5). In Pic 6 the exit steps from Victorian Summerhouse leading down to perimeter sweeping pathway are also completed.

Pic 5 Mitred paving for a radiating finish

Pic 6 Exit steps from Raised Platform

As work on Day 14 drew to a close, the garden structure, the skeletal attributes of the new garden were becoming increasingly visible. And is so often the case, it is certainly intriguing and absolutely fascinating to observe and try and determine at which point a project evolves from being a series of constructional activities to becoming a new garden? In spite of the many tasks involved, the pursuit of the greater green is something which excites us greatly and indeed a fantastic motivator.

A DAY IN THE LIFE …of a landscaper (Day 8)

Posted on September 17th, 2008

By the end of Day 8, construction of the top level Patio was nearing completion (Pic 1), the intermediate perimeter steps (Pic 2) were advancing, whilst the main Patio at the lower level (Pic 3) was also beginning to emerge and take shape.

Pic 1 Patio Top Level almost completed

Pic 2 Sandstone Step detailing

Pic 3 Construction of main Patio well underway

A DAY IN THE LIFE… of a landscaper (Days 2 – 6)

Posted on September 17th, 2008

With the weather very much on our side, we had by Day 6 managed to complete the site clearance and removed all waste and debris, mixed on-site and poured the Patio foundations, constructed the perimeter retaining walls for patios and planting pits/trapped planting beds, completed the Inner Wall aspect of the Raised Platform for the Victorian Summerhouse, installed the Acco Drains and associated pipe work for Run-off and extended the wall venting, completed the hoisting in of over 35 ton of sand, gravel, hardcore, almost 5 ton of cement in 25kg bags, 100+ m2 of Sandstone paving, several hundred solid concrete blocks.

With a few minutes before 4.00pm on Day 6, we had managed to hoist most of raw material requirements into the garden and removed most of the waste, and at 5 minutes to 4.00pm, the mechanical digger was finally hoisted off site.

We already knew we would have a challenging project, both in terms of construction planning but also design. Our spirits remained high that we could make good progress, but we were nonetheless conscious of how vulnerable progress might be if the weather was to change.

Perhaps because we have accumulated so much experience of designing and building challenging landscaping assignments, it never fails to impress not only ourselves but something which is frequently noted and commented upon by our clients. It does seem our infectious enthusiasm to tackle the task in hand head-on and our gritty determination to succeed in getting the job done is rarely missed by our clients.

Pic 1 Site Clearance resumes

Pic 2 Site clearance progresses

Pic 3 Site cleared and initial grading completed

Pic 4 Foundations for Patio Retaining Walls

Pic 5 More Foundations works

Pic 6 Foundation Walls and venting pipe work

Pic 7 Retaining Walls for Planting Pits

Pic 8 Acco Drains and pipe work

Pic 9 More Building materials arrive

Pic 10 Retaining Walls completed and hardcore backfilling gets underway

Pic 11 Backfilling and compaction of Hardcore almost completed

Pic 12 Inside Block work of Raised Platform for Summerhouse

Pic 13 Sandstone Paving materials

Pic 14 Removal of mechanical digger

It is only on very rare occasions, that the weather might manage to hinder our progress, but so far in this project, Mother Nature has shown us great favour. But will our luck hold out?

…to be continued.