River's Edge
For this project the client wanted to redo his driveway to allow for more parking and easier circulation. He also wanted to create an outdoor area in his back yard to add function to the unusable slope that existed there.
The driveway was redone to create a parking circle centered on his front door and was also widened by the garage to allow for more parking and easier access to the garage bays. The driveway was constructed out of colored integral concrete and bordered with tumbled bluestone pavers.
Transitions were made from the driveway and and parking area to the existing front walk using a flagstone slab staircase and walkway. Natural boulders were used to retain the slope where needed for the newly graded front yard and driveway.
In the back yard, A stepped patio was set on helical anchors to support the slab in the soft soil. The helical anchor also allowed for more trees in the immediate area to be preserved as they are lower impact then using a standard footer. Walls were built out of building stone that was selected to match the house. Large rectangular bluestone pavers were used for the patios.
In order to create the circular driveway our client desired we went through a lengthy process with a soils engineer and the health department to be allowed to relocate the septic field. We designed a puraflow system and located the reserve field at the opposite end of the property to allow the room for the driveway. The process took a year to get approved.
We had to cut about 3-5' of dirt away (100 loads of soil were hauled away) to install the new driveway. We had to lower a well line, relocate the main electrical feed and install a new well as part of this process. The utility companies were very difficult to work with and made it almost impossible to stay on schedule. We had there entire front yard torn up so it was difficult for the homeowner to get in and out while we were working.
In the backyard we were restricted by an RPA line that went all the way up to the house. We worked with an engineer to re-survey the RPA and were successful to move the line about 25' away from the house which gave us the room to design and build a beautiful patio.
In the backyard the homeowner wanted to preserve the trees. There was one very large tulip poplar that looks beautiful when you walk in the front door. What we did was install Helical piers and rest our footings on the piers. We avoided excavation around the tree and did not cut any roots. We used large gravel to backfill under the patio so we did not compact the root system.
The driveway was redone to create a parking circle centered on his front door and was also widened by the garage to allow for more parking and easier access to the garage bays. The driveway was constructed out of colored integral concrete and bordered with tumbled bluestone pavers.
Transitions were made from the driveway and and parking area to the existing front walk using a flagstone slab staircase and walkway. Natural boulders were used to retain the slope where needed for the newly graded front yard and driveway.
In the back yard, A stepped patio was set on helical anchors to support the slab in the soft soil. The helical anchor also allowed for more trees in the immediate area to be preserved as they are lower impact then using a standard footer. Walls were built out of building stone that was selected to match the house. Large rectangular bluestone pavers were used for the patios.
In order to create the circular driveway our client desired we went through a lengthy process with a soils engineer and the health department to be allowed to relocate the septic field. We designed a puraflow system and located the reserve field at the opposite end of the property to allow the room for the driveway. The process took a year to get approved.
We had to cut about 3-5' of dirt away (100 loads of soil were hauled away) to install the new driveway. We had to lower a well line, relocate the main electrical feed and install a new well as part of this process. The utility companies were very difficult to work with and made it almost impossible to stay on schedule. We had there entire front yard torn up so it was difficult for the homeowner to get in and out while we were working.
In the backyard we were restricted by an RPA line that went all the way up to the house. We worked with an engineer to re-survey the RPA and were successful to move the line about 25' away from the house which gave us the room to design and build a beautiful patio.
In the backyard the homeowner wanted to preserve the trees. There was one very large tulip poplar that looks beautiful when you walk in the front door. What we did was install Helical piers and rest our footings on the piers. We avoided excavation around the tree and did not cut any roots. We used large gravel to backfill under the patio so we did not compact the root system.
Project Year: 2011
Country: United States
