We host our Backyard Paradise Contest sponsored by Pavestone and Quikrete every year.
This year, the winners are John David and Bronwyn Mercer from Senoia, Georgia. They have lived in their home for eight years.
What they love about their house is their large backyard which is perfect for their five-year-old son, Wyatt, but they are disappointed with their 12 by 15 concrete slab. They have wanted to turn their yard into a backyard paradise, but other things have taken precedence.
Because their backyard is so spacious and they are tired of their small concrete slab, we are going to give them the patio of their dreams.
The Projects
Lay The New Patio
First, we mapped out where the new and improved patio would be. We used white paint to draw a rough sketch of the new patio. Then, we used a metal rod and string line to determine the elevation of the project. It was essential to ensure that there was enough slope so that water would run off.
Once we had everything determined, we began digging.
Next, we built a retaining wall using Pavestone Ladera Blocks. The great thing about these blocks is they require very little cutting. They made installation so easy; even little Wyatt helped.
We stacked them on one another and glued them together using Quikrete Construction Adhesive. Therefore, the blocks will not shift over time, which is important in a retaining wall.
After the retaining wall was completed, we added landscape fabric to retain the soil. Then, we used Pavestone Compactable Paver Base and poured it into the space inside the retaining wall, compacting it in two-inch layers. This is important because we want to ensure the patio is tight from top to bottom.
After fully compacting the paver base, we covered the patio in the sand before installing the new pavers.
For this project, we used two different types of pavers. Around the planting bed, we used Luna pavers. We used a random pattern for these but made sure they were touching. We used these to add dimension to the space.
After laying the Luna pavers, we filled in the gaps with the paver base.
Finally, to complete the new patio, we used 24-inch square pavers. Because of their size, the installation was pretty quick.
Built Fire Pit and Planter
To build the planter, we first had to build a retaining wall.
Then, we filled it with soil and planted fresh herbs and vegetables.
For the fire pit, we placed the insert on the floor for sizing and built a retaining wall around it using the Ladera Blocks. Once the first row of Ladera Blocks was placed, we removed the insert and continued building upward.
After the retaining wall was to our desired height, we placed the insert inside the retaining wall. Next, we filled the insert with the paver base. This was the easiest installation process and took only four minutes.
Added Accent Shelf Table
To enhance their new backyard paradise, we added a modern table. First, we painted a wood post black to match the rest of the furniture.
Then, we used a water heater drain pan as a mold for the new shelf. We poured Quikrete Countertop Mix with water into the mold. To ensure that the shelf would fit around the post, we added a piece of the post in the middle of the mold to create a donut-looking shape. After we peeled off the mold, we sanded it to make it smooth.
We used post-hole diggers to put the unique table on the patio. Once we dug a deep enough hole, we used Quikrete Fast Setting Concrete Mix and water to hold the post.
Additionally, we used a leveler to ensure the post was standing straight and not tilted in either direction.
To add the table, we first made a shelf of wood blocks for the concrete to sit on. Then, we slid the concrete circular table over the post, caulked it on the top of the wooden shelf, and placed the concrete table on the wooden, caulked shelf.
Finally, we added a light to the post to brighten up their backyard paradise.
We also:
- Made a Bocce Ball Court
- Added new landscaping
- Installed a shade umbrella
- Installed lighting
- Built a fence around the trashcan
Post Production Thoughts
John David and Bronwyn have an enormous backyard, but their patio was tiny by comparison. And the landscape border around the house was aging poorly. The needed more outdoor living space and they needed a cleaner, more modern look.
But now, the new larger patio suits the scale of the yard and offers all of the visual interests the space was missing before.
The clean straight lines of the Ladera Pavers border everything beautifully, adding character to whatever they touched from the planting beds and the patio itself to the bocce ball court and the fire pit. The 24 inch pavers in the main patio, give it the appearance that it’s actually larger than it is.
While the cobblestone look of the Luna Pavers around the raised vegetable garden creates a soft transition to the surface of the bocce ball court.
All of these elements combined to create a space that’s as perfect for quality family time as it is for entertainment.
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Products Featured in This Episode
- Pavestone Ladera Blocks
- Quikrete Construction Adhesive
- Pavestone Luna Pavers
- Pavestone 24 in x 24 in Pavers
- Pavestone Compactable Paver Base
- Quikrete Fast Setting Concrete Mix
- Quikrete Countertop Mix
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