My Garden renovation 2016.

[Simps]

Thought I would start my own thread since I have a fair bit planned. Hope that is ok.

I will copy and paste the start bit and update the thread as it goes on.

Started building my concealed fire pit in the new patio. All slabs are reclaimed from different jobs I have done. Shame to throw them away as they are better than new ones you can buy and will easily outlast any newly made slabs

It got dark and rained so I couldn't finish the last 2 slabs
Its on red ash so the drainage will be good but I will dig a hole in the middle and fill it with pea gravel for a mini soak away. I will be laying brick on edge in the bottom and leaving one brick out in the middle above the soak away for drainage.
It will be about 350mm deep when finished. 2 slabs will sit on top of the upright slabs for when it's not in use. I will drill 2 holes in each slab and have these heavy duty screw in eyes to lift the labs out when we fancy burning some burgers or have a cosy meal outside
Probably finish it off next weekend or do a bit after work each night if there is enough daylight.

 

[Simps]

Finished the fire pit today. All done with stuff dug up from the garden. Except the sand and cement.

Last 2 slabs put in.

Nearly 2 foot deep tiny soakaway filled with stones

Bricks that were the old edging to some flower boarders.

Some old wider blues which bridge the soak away.

Pointed up and mass filled round the back of the slabs.

Hope it does stand up to the heat
Need to get a grill made now to fit the recess.

 

[Simps]

It passed the soak away test. 4 buckets of water.

So you can see how it will look kind of. I have two screw in eyes that screw into holes in the slabs, then I put a bar through them and lift one slab off at a time.
Just been jumping up and down and them and they are very solid. I have no worries about them breaking.

 

[Simps]

Got my slabbing finished at the weekend but was not able to post last night so today will have to do sorry

Before I started.

First row of the day gone in.

Second row in

Slabbing all done. Having a gravel edge for drainage.

To get the slabs out I came up with this idea and it works a treat.

First Burn was amazing and despite been very cold we were very warm indeed.

Got some sleepers for free from the farther in law all the way from Newbury...I'm in the Midlands for the next project.....

Got to pressure wash them off sometime in the week but they are SOLID oak untreated and they are very heavy

Any guesses what they are for

 

[Simps]

Bit more in the garden and small pond.
The sleepers may not look pretty but they are solid in the middle, not sure what wood it is but its solid.

Beautiful inside..

This saw cuts through them very well I found..

Ends cut off and squared up on a few..

They were going free so I will use them, I love the rustic look. Had another delivery from the farther in law..

Using the not so good ones in another project anyway..

I have to say the timberlok screws are amazing. Had to pre drill through the first sleeper, it still struggled in the end grain of the other one :shock:

Dug a bit more out of the pond and started the bottom drain..

Need to dig a bit more out but it started raining as usual...
Doing the concrete ring next then I can finish digging the sides.
All the goodies i.e filter, pumps, UV etc have been ordered and being shipped this week. Just waiting for some quotes on the box liner so I can order that.
The glass will be ordered when the guy emails me back.
Had my 3 year old 'Helping' which was fun lol.

 

[Simps]

Just ordered this
21.52mm Toughened Laminated Glass,PAR,RAD Corners
1300mm x 650mm x 21.52mm

Every pond needs a window

 

[Derek W]

Dug a bit more out of the pond and started the bottom drain..

 

[dholdi]

That did occur to me too.

 

[djshauny1]

haha

 

[Windle]

Are you not concerned about the side slabs spalling under the heat? Also, those aren't fire bricks. They'll get wet, couple with heat and you have another potential issue.

It's a nice tidy job, but I'm not sure of the longevity of the construction given its purpose!

 

[a1ex2001]

Are you not concerned about the side slabs spalling under the heat? Also, those aren't fire bricks. They'll get wet, couple with heat and you have another potential issue.

It's a nice tidy job, but I'm not sure of the longevity of the construction given its purpose!

I had the same thought, I wouldn't expect it to be many fires before a slab or two crackup.

 

[Mr Joshua]

The railway sleepers are nice but have you looked into any potential problems with the treatment they've been given and plants? I'm sure I remember reading about the killing off a lawn they adjoined due to the tar/creosote leeching out.

 

[Maccapacca]

The railway sleepers are nice but have you looked into any potential problems with the treatment they've been given and plants? I'm sure I remember reading about the killing off a lawn they adjoined due to the tar/creosote leeching out.

Old sleepers have to go away from site now as contaminated, years of tar, creosote, diesel, human excrement, asbestos let alone what they were treated with in the first place. That's why mine were all bought new, there was very little difference in cost.

 

[R.O.S.S.I]

How much are sleepers new out of curiosity? Just wondering what to build some raised planters out of.

 

[Mark M]

Pictures not working here?

 

[Maccapacca]

How much are sleepers new out of curiosity? Just wondering what to build some raised planters out of.

3m pine tantalized are £16 + VAT + delivery each

 

[Simps]

Had roughly 5 big fires in there and all is well. These materials are old and made when things used to be made properly. They are not fire bricks no, but they are still fired in a kiln when been made which gets a damn sight hotter than my fire will ever get

The sleepers were free and as far as we know from what the old owner said they are untreated. I did not smell anything when cutting them and I know from cutting plenty of sleepers in my time what creasote smells like when you cut in to a treated sleeper. So I am not concerned at all to be honest.
Like maccapacca said, tar might be present but I have not seen any evidence of that either, again no smells of bitumen.

Got a bit done tonight as the nights are drawing out.

Armoured cable going in for the pond and summerhouse.

Finished the trench for the bottom drain.

 

[Simps]

Busy Weekend and Friday night.

Friday night I got the blocks laid to sit the sleepers on.

Dug the sides off a bit more then started on the bottom drain.

Little helper

Bottom drain in.

Time to start cutting and placing the sleepers in place.

NO creosote or anything The black mark is where the blade gave up. Bought a new one

All cut and in place for fixing together on Sunday.

Sunday. All marked up so I know where they went. Started drilling for the steel bar for the corners.

Put resin in the hole in the slab, blocks and sleepers then put them all back in place and hammered the bar through.

Time to start fixing these buggers together. I'm using 250mm timberlok screws and square washers (because I like the look)

Put some diagonals in the reveal too. It was bloody solid. Better than I expected tbh.

Also put some fixings on the sleeper joints.

Then it was time for the 18mm sterling board.

Window frame in too. Glass is coming Wednesday.

 

[MAPeX]

are you not concerned about the whole thing moving being as the rear and one side are built onto dirt?

Just concerned if the ground gives way slightly as there is no footing under the blocks?

 

[Simps]

There will be 3 ton of water in there by the weekend pushing on the soil stopping it from pushing in. I was a little worried but the ground is solid and I've seen a lot bigger things built on no footings.
The blocks are the footings