The Great Wall

Back in the end of October I blogged about beginning replacement of our brick walls here and here.  

I never got back to give updates during the process.  

Life gets in the way.  

But I did take the time to photograph the evolution of the replacement.

After all of the old brick wall and block wall came down and was carted away 

(almost 2 large dumpsters loads) it was time to get busy building the new wall.  

This time it got built correctly.  The blocks were cemented in place, 

rebar was used, french drains and gravel were used.  

Peaches kept a close eye on the progress.  

This slowed the patio expansion down for two days.  

Three men spent two days trading off using the jackhammer until this 

VW-sized boulder was slowly chipped away.  

The stairs were widened at Jesse's suggestion.

Brick ties were installed. 

(The old wall didn't have any brick ties!  

Nothing holding the brick and block together.  

No gravel behind the block. 

No drains.  

Drunk monkeys built the old wall.)

All of the voids of the block were filled with concrete.

This wall isn't going anywhere!

The brick went up quickly.  

The new wall looks so much better! 

The new stairs are so nice and roomy!

The attention to detail is terrific. 

No brick holes stuffed full of concrete here.

Jesse suggested the brick pad at the top of the stairs.  

He surprised me with the cool design.

Just because I am a nice lady.

I really grew fond of this family while they were here.

How often can you say that about a contractor you've hired?

I would hire them again in a minute!

Operation Brick Beautification Begins!

Bright and squirrelly Saturday morning Operation Brick Beautification was in full swing.

It started with delivery companies calling to telling me they were on their way, 

or in one case, in my driveway, ready to deliver literally tons of materials. 

There were 5 pallets of brick.

Numerous pallets of concrete, mortar, cement block.

10 tons of sand.

The crew had been over on Thursday to get the new walls staked out and supplies ordered.

As soon as the dumpster hit the ground these guys were busy filling it up. 

It was no time before all of the old brick was down.

The area on the left, behind the diagonal wall is going to be excavated 

to enlarge and square up our patio.

The stairs are going to be excavated out more too. 

The old stairs were much too narrow.

The demolition is going very quickly.  

The crew actually started a few days ahead of schedule 

so they are looking very good to finish at or before Thanksgiving.  

Woohoo!

Brick Beautification Time

So, when we purchased this home almost 20 years ago it was most definitely a fixer-upper.

We spent the first 18 years renovating the inside, one tedious task at a time.

We have hated the brick wall that runs across the back of our patio.

It has needed repair for a long time.  

Crumbling brick, cracks galore. 

All of the ice and snow from last year has forced our hand 

about getting this wall replacement done.

Cracks have become huge.

Bricks are shifting (leaning toward the house in some cases). 

So, we made the decision to hire a mason to come in and get to work on this overdue project.

Not a moment too soon.

Watch for the development of this renovation.

It is the first (and biggest step) to get the outside looking as finished as the inside. 

The best part: they promise to be done by Thanksgiving.  

Losing a Car or Gaining Driveway?

When I married hubs I not only gained a husband, I gained a 1965 Mustang.

 It did run when he bought it. 

 He loved this car.

As our family grew, our house renovation took over our time and resources.

The thoughts of Mustang renovation moved to the back burner.  

It has been stationery in the driveway for several years. 

Our upcoming brick wall renovation required that we move the Mustang.  

It was time to consider passing this along to someone who had the time to 

lovingly restore this antique car. 

Enter my friend's 18 year old son.

When I called my friend to talk about needing to get rid of the car she told me 

that her son had asked for a car to restore for his upcoming birthday.

Timing is everything.

This is one happy young man.

My friend tells me that he has hardly left it's side since he got it home.

I am glad that he loves it.

So is hubs.  

I would be lying if I said that I wasn't glad to have the car gone, 

but it is a little weird not to see it parked on the driveway. 

Seems like the end of an era.