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  1. Outdoor Photos
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Coates Design Architects Seattle

Architects & Building Designers

Green LakeContemporary Patio, Seattle

Backyard fire pit. Taken by Lara Swimmer.

Landscape Design by ModernBackyard

URL
http://www.coatesdesign.com
Patio - contemporary backyard concrete paver patio idea in Seattle with a fire pit —  Houzz
Related Photo Topics
Related Professionals in Seattle
This photo has 29 questions
Jennifer Johnston wrote:Aug 28, 2013
Pavers- where can I get those

- LOVE this!! I have a backyard very similar to this and I am looking to implement this look with the 36" x 36" pavers. I'm in Portland, OR and contractors are telling me they have no clue where to find those pavers. Where do you get them from? Do you have any referrals for contractors in the Portland area as well?

Jason Safabash wrote:Mar 17, 2015
Curious as to how to compact in between pavers.

- in trying this, my contractor tells me he has no way of compacting the crushed rock (palm springs gold) that we placed in between the pavers. Any ideas (I really want the rocks to stay in place)? Is there an adhesive type product that can be poured over the crushed rocks to make them stick in place? thanks any other recommendations would be great..

  • gs090
    Gravelock
    April 23, 2015
  • jml0877

    Gator dust

    July 5, 2015
Mr Ocasio wrote:Feb 14, 2014
Layers and Details

- What are the layers used (in order)? How deep is the gravel?

  • PRO
    Rock Solid Landscapes,LLC
    We installed approximately 3 to 4 inches of compacted 5/8" minus crushed rock before topdressing with 2 inches of crushed marble chips (colored). The marble chip is held in place by Permaloc CleanLine professional metal edging.
    March 31, 2014
  • sindhaus
    I have a similar project that I wanted to start this summer. My backyard has a little bit of slope on it. Should I follow that slope installing the concrete block or should I make the adjustments on digging the dirt to make it level?
    May 15, 2015
Bloom Garden Design wrote:Aug 12, 2013
Base for pavers

- hi there. what is used as a base for underneath the pavers? Can one use leveling sand? I live in California. No freezing and soil is pretty clay.

  • PRO
    Rock Solid Landscapes,LLC
    We used a compacted base of 5/8" minus crushed rock ( 4") to provide adequate support. The pavers can be leveled with a minimum of finer crushed rock (1/4" minus) or sand. We like to minimize the sand because in Seattle the rain tends to easily wash and we have found insects will disturb and change the grade.
    March 31, 2014
  • caitlin622
    Do you find the 1/4 minus is enough to hold the pavers without shifting? I have read some people use mortar mix underneath. I live in Portland and I bought Vancouver bay 24x24 and im about to start this project
    April 14, 2016
yolikeefe wrote:Apr 22, 2013
Like this look for my patio

- Love the look. Could you please describe this in more detail. Is that crushed stone/gravel underneath those blocks of cement?

  • PRO
    Coates Design Architects Seattle
    yes but they are fairly inexpensive to purchase - 24x24 from mutual materials
    June 19, 2013
  • yearbook1

    Problem is with Mutual Marerials the color changed for me from one year to the next. Wanted to use it in another home but the color is a battle ship gray, which the homeowner didn't care for. Used to be a beautiful off white. Where to go for off white?

    April 4, 2018
M S wrote:Mar 25, 2015
concrete pavers

- Hi. We live on a creek that rises/ebbs with bay tides and get really high tides maybe 5 - 10 times a year. The high tide would cover the area we want to place this type of paver. Would this be a problem. We were told pavers would float?

  • M S

    That's what I thought! I wasn't there so couldn't ask more questions. But he's a contractor right? Maybe he meant the dirt underneath them shifting (water table changes) so the pads or pavers don't stay level? Would that be a problem?

    Thanks for responding and not laughing too hard at me.

    March 31, 2015
  • Matt S

    How large are these pavers?

    June 7, 2016
jlwestbrook wrote:Mar 6, 2015
Hi - What are the plants along the fence line in the back right?

  • kathleen MK
    Cedars or cypress?? Can you get a close up of them?
    March 15, 2015
  • cleeseattle

    those are leland cypress, they want to get huge yet if maintained can make a very nice, dense hedge....you have to maintain shape yearly or they will go crazy.


    April 15, 2017
amurdoff wrote:Oct 29, 2014
can you tell me the size of these square pavers

  • Libby North

    are these prefab pavers or custom made?

    December 13, 2015
  • boonboonsmom

    Are the square pavers prefab or custom made?

    May 27, 2016
Dustin DeKoekkoek wrote:May 19, 2013
Where to purchase 3/4" clean crushed granite

- I live in the Seattle area also, where can you purchase the 3/4" clean crushed granite that you used in between the pavers? Also having trouble finding concrete pavers larger than 20". Any suggestions for where to find larger ones?

  • PRO
    Rock Solid Landscapes,LLC
    Try Marenakos Rock Center.
    March 31, 2014
  • cleeseattle

    We have crushed marble in this tan color and sourced it at manufactured minerals down by 405 interchange, tukwila, wa.

    April 15, 2017
mikejones wrote:May 9, 2013
What kind of trees are planted to the right of the patio?

  • Steve Oliver
    I was the owner of the house and thought I would add that we used Julie Miles at ModernBackyard for our landscaping and hardscaping designs and worked with Wade at Rock Solid Landscapes for the construction and maintenance. I'm sure they would be happy to help answer any questions, and I highly recommend both!
    March 29, 2014
  • PRO
    Rock Solid Landscapes,LLC
    The hedge is a typical tall evergreen hedge used in Seattle to achieve fast height and screening. They are Leyland Cypress at about 10 feet tall. They will need to be sheered to achieve the look for this garden.
    March 31, 2014
Jane Reeves wrote:Apr 29, 2013
concrete firepit

- Cool backyard - economical and great looking. Did you create the concrete firepit yourself? Could you share the process? Does it have a bottom? Did you create a mould? Thanks!

  • PRO
    Coates Design Architects Seattle
    i think any good concrete contractor could build it if you showed them the photo
    April 30, 2013
  • PRO
    Rock Solid Landscapes,LLC
    This was a design build firepit from an idea from Julie Miles. We cast in place 1 foot thick wall with an open bottom. The firepit was plumbed for gas with a shutoff cast-in-place away from the house. The pit is filled with crushed rock and a fire-ring added covered with special fire glass.
    March 31, 2014
Patrick Doliny wrote:Jan 13, 2019
marble tile outside

- I have left over 24” marble tiles from my home that I was thinking about using it to do a small patio outside with gravel in between. They are the large tile 24” tiles can they be used for outdoor?

  • miles_julie

    I applaud your efforts at using/recycling the leftover material, however, marble cut for indoor installation is often not suited to outdoor applications. If it has a smooth polish, that may be dangerous/slippery. If it is thin, it will need to be mortar set on a poured, concrete slab (1-1/2" - 2" thick is best for sand set installation). Best of luck!

    January 15, 2019
  • Patrick Doliny
    Thanks miles_julie
    I’m hoping that I can use it because I just finished with my house and have all this left over marble almost a crate left. My daughter is looking to build a small deck and wanted to give her the rest. So if I use the blackout sheets (I don’t know what its called) then add sand and then space the tiles two inches apart and add small pebbles between them much like the picture that you posted, do you think that would work.
    February 3, 2019
mbranch wrote:Jul 23, 2017
Firepit questions

- Was there any coloring added to the concrete of the firepit? And how was the concrete finished? (just troweled? broomed? or any polishing?) Thanks!

  • PRO
    ModernBackyard

    Hi! I wish I had the exact specs for you, I did not manage the construction, but...my educated guess is that YES there is color (lamp black or Davis color, integral, a shade of gray to darken the concrete) and the finish is NOT broomed or polished (it's a matte finish, pretty smooth). I hope this helps! Best, Julie


    July 24, 2017
  • PRO
    Coates Design Architects Seattle

    there is no color in the mix - it is a simple hard trowel skim coat

    October 12, 2017
Joe Damewood wrote:Jun 4, 2016
Did you use fire bricks for fire pit?

- I'm trying to build a concrete fire pit and they say to use fire bricks to line the inside. Did you do that or did you use a special concrete?

  • PRO
    HPC Fire

    If you are using wood you will need to use a material that will hold up to the heat. When the concrete is poured it could have air bubbles in it, as they heat up the air will expand and can crack or blow a chunks out of the concrete depending on how hot your fire is.

    Will you be using wood or a gas insert?

    June 16, 2016
  • PRO
    Coates Design Architects Seattle

    we just used concrete. haven't had a problem - it is a gas insert.

    December 19, 2016
Julie LaRochelle wrote:May 1, 2013
Advice on options for between gaps?

- Advice on stones between gaps? - We just created a patio just like this. We got 24"x24" concrete pavers from home depot and we left a 2" space between the tile. We are trying to figure out what stone/sand to put between the spaces. We were advised to look into Gator Polymeric Stone Dust since its meant for gaps up to 4" but my husband and I feel the Stone Dust looks more like a grout and we like the look of loose stone/rocks instead. We brought a few bags of small 3/8 river stone and we put that between some of the gaps to get an idea. we love the look but I'm afraid they will get kicked up or washed away with rain/wind, etc. Do you know of any product (like a clear glue or something) that we could mix with the loose river stone so that we can still get the look of the loose stone but make sure it stays in place?? Thanks

  • PRO
    Coates Design Architects Seattle
    yeah you should use a 3/4" or 1/4" clean compacted granite. AKA decomposed granite - larger stones make installation difficult as well as maintanence
    May 1, 2013
  • marya1111

    Would it be okay to use the polymeric sand with the loose stone? Once water was sprayed over the loose stones, the polymeric sand should theoretically hold them in place? This is what I have planned for a small deck area in my yard.


    Mary

    May 15, 2015
sindhaus wrote:May 17, 2015
Concrete Slab

- I have a similar project that I wanted to start this summer. My backyard has a little bit of slope on it. Should I follow that slope installing the concrete block or should I make the adjustments on digging the dirt to make it level?

bldoan wrote:Mar 7, 2015
Can you tell me if you used an edge restraint.

- Where the gravel meets the bark. Did you use an edge restraint. How did you keep the crused granite in place. Thank you.

nicoleburbank wrote:Dec 7, 2014
Outdoor firepit

- Who can I contact to get a similar outdoor firepit made/installed.

Kim Viviano wrote:May 9, 2014
What is the fire pit made of?

- Is it gas or can it burn wood?

lauren040508 wrote:May 5, 2014
Are you satisfied with the gravel joints?

- Are they loose or did you use some sort of bonding agent to keep them from going astray?

bbrink111 wrote:Apr 29, 2014
Spacing between concrete pavers?

- What is the spacing between the concrete pavers ?

liz m. wrote:Sep 19, 2013
Who built fence?

- I live in Seattle area and am looking to have similar type fence installed ... Can you share name of who did this fence for you?

  • PRO
    Coates Design Architects Seattle
    we are not sure...its a simple design and any contractor should be able to put it together for you if you show them this picture
    September 23, 2013
Pat Plett wrote:Aug 11, 2013
What material is the fence made of and where can I find it?

rtmullen wrote:Jul 22, 2013
how high is that firepit?

zeehouse wrote:Jun 23, 2013
Like the fence

- What type of wood is it?

juniperjo wrote:Jun 22, 2013
Love the chair! Where is it from?

Cindy Pelton wrote:Apr 29, 2013
what is between the pavers?

prernaset wrote:Apr 25, 2013
Like the stone. What stone is this.

- What stone is this. Is this good for outdoor patio in Florida.

Brenda Ramos wrote:Apr 14, 2016
Area square footage

- Can you provide square footage of the backyard seen on this project? Our backyard project is 468sq. ft. and would like to get an idea of how many pavers I will need. Beautiful design btw. thanks

    What Houzz contributors are saying:

    falonland
    Falon Land Studio LLC added this to Precast Concrete Pavers Make a Versatile Surface in the GardenMay 28, 2015

    Material specifications. Precast concrete pavers are available in a wide range of styles, and it’s helpful to know what the material specifications mean in order to choose the right product for your project.Thickness: Pavers for pedestrian areas should be at least 2 inches thick, and vehicular areas should use pavers that are 3 or more inches thick. Size and shape: Sizes range from 2- by 3-inch rectangles up to 36- by 24-inch pieces for residential products. Look at the patterns created by a field of pavers in addition to looking at the single paver shape.Color: Different colors are achieved in several ways. The concrete either is dyed using an additive that’s mixed into the concrete, or the surface of the precast paver has a colored finish applied. Hardness (measured in pounds per square inch, or psi): In the U.S., precast concrete pavers are cured to the standard 8,000 psi for the highest quality. Don’t use a product that does not meet this standard.Finish: Available finishes are similar to those for cast-in-place concrete. Sandblasted, grooved, textured and lightly polished are all available.Tip: Get product samples from the supplier and test them in sun and shade in your outdoor space prior to ordering.

    lolalina
    Laura Gaskill added this to 6 Ways to Rethink Your Patio FloorApr 10, 2013

    Get creative with concrete slabs. For this modern patio, large square slabs of concrete define the seating area surrounding an outdoor fireplace. When you are designing with concrete, you can also leave sections open for plantings, trees or other garden features, creating a custom look that suits your space perfectly.Find a concrete pro that suits your style

    What Houzzers are commenting on:

    renovate98
    Gillis Langlois added this to renovate98's Ideas1 hour ago

    Idea 2 for Bri and Dor’s backyard

    susiedowdmarkarian
    Susie Dowd Markarian, Landscape Design added this to Ken and TrudyJul 9, 2019

    one idea but too barren for me... we can dress the surrounding area

    Photos in Green Lake House

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