Out with the Old (Patio) and in with the New (Landscaping)

Everyone gets busy in these summer months that come and go so quick. We have started the summer off with a bang at the Mack residence. Our aged and cracked concrete patio has been hauled away and landscaped to perfection thanks to the big guy in charge. Our back  patio butts up to the foundation and has given us nothing but problems since we've moved in. Because it was so cracked, water from rain showers would pool up resulting in standing water. Through out this past winter we had even more trouble with the water and snow concoction pooling up and then coming through our foundation to our basement. Nothing better for newlyweds than a flooded basement. We went into the summer more ambitious than ever to correct and fix this problem that the previous homeowners had been neglecting.

To start, Nate and a group of our family members came over to remove all of the cracked concrete.
We installed a window well at the left block window and fabricated a corner piece of metal for the right block window to insure water stays out. Nate rented a trencher to trench deep underground canals to run the drain tile which now connect to 2 french drains. These drains are huge basins to drain any water 6 feet down in the ground.We then put an order in for black dirt to fill in the empty space where the patio laid and fill in the trenches.  Every day for two weeks Nate would be outside trying to finish this project up; talk about a work horse!

We finally have got the landscaping completed featuring grass seed, edging, fabric and mulch. About a month later all the plants and grass have grown in enough to show everyone the finished product. Being built in the 1940's, there are multiple additions that this house has gone through including the kitchen, back breeze way, and master bath. Having such a unique home, makes some projects much more interesting than expected. Keeps us always on our toes and thinking.