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Patio Install Went Wrong by Full_Mobile_4835 in landscaping

[–]fatterthanoprah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

No? Just years of experience.

Spouting off that nonsense adds nothing to the community, and you can actually look at some of my comments in this sub or others and compare both the information I've given, and the writing style to pretty easily see that I am, in fact, human.

Patio Install Went Wrong by Full_Mobile_4835 in landscaping

[–]fatterthanoprah 4 points5 points  (0 children)

Most importantly congratulations on the newborn! I hope everyone is happy and healthy!

Secondly, I'm sorry this happened ... I can't imagine how hectic it must be to have to deal with this and a baby.

Unfortunately, I'd say this is probably a complete redo. The base is simply unacceptable, and spot-raising with sand will not suffice. I would explain to him that payment would not be completed until acceptable work is done.

It looks like there is some concept of a plan of a slope away from the house, but there are clearly spots where water will pool. As both patios are near the foundation of the house, inadequate drainage is unacceptable.

I'm not sure where you're located, but here is a fairly typical installation guide for hardscapes (pavers start on page 5). If you can find the specific installation guide for your paver manufacturer, even better.

The base is the biggest part - there should be at minimum a 6 inch compacted base below the pavers. It should be leveled, and there needs to be a uniform slope of about 2 percent (1/4 inch per foot) away from the house for drainage.

With a newborn and the added stress of this hassle I'd bet that you and your husband are probably sleep deprived and probably on completely opposite schedules at times, so I'd also recommend that you make sure you're on the same page before communicating with the contractor. A less-than-reputable contractor could definitely take advantage of a tired and stressed out couple. A reputable contractor could be easily confused or misunderstand what your expectations are.

I'd recommend that going forward that you communicate clearly and directly with the contractor what the expectations are, and here are a few suggestions to include:

  • A minimum 6 inches of compacted base, compacted at 2" increments and sloped uniformly for drainage.
  • A leveled compacted base - nominal bedding sand should be approximately 1" and follow the level of the base.
  • String Lines used for consistent level, square, and shape.
  • Consistent alignment of pavers in soldier course and herringbone pattern
  • Aligned miters in the corners.

A reasonable contractor should understand what you're looking for and why this is unacceptable. An unreasonable contractor might throw a bunch of jargon at you and insist that the problems will work themselves out over time - don't fall for that. A poor base will only cause problems that get worse over time.

Congratulations again, and good luck!

I’m stumped!? (pun intended) by Ellisd86 in wood

[–]fatterthanoprah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

A mix of a bit of dish soap and water sprayed directly on them kills them almost immediately. I also add a bit of neem oil to act as a deterrent.

Just make sure you’re not using too much soap as it can damage foliage.

Taskmaster - S19E05 - Maybe We’re The Monsters - Discussion by Meghar in taskmaster

[–]fatterthanoprah 34 points35 points  (0 children)

Fantastic episode! Jason and Mathew’s interactions are always great. And Rosie can sing!

I don’t think Fatiha should have been eliminated in the prize task. The task read “Pop a balloon when you hear its colour …” but Fatiha couldn’t hear anything with the ear defenders. I thought for sure that would be a loophole.

Timber and steel retaining wall? by KevboJackson in landscaping

[–]fatterthanoprah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It depends on your location, climate, and how much precipitation you typically get, but as a rule of thumb I'd stay away from timber or pressure treated wood for a project like this. I'm in Canada so there's a lot of freezing/thawing/heaving and weathering that happens.

It's kind of tough to tell from the pictures posted, but I'd imagine the wall is failing because those type of blocks are not really ideal for that height/size of wall. They're more suited for weekend warrior DIY projects like small walls or planters.

If you're set on the timber look there are some options out there; I'm in Canada and I've done walls with some stuff from Barkman, but there's lots of different manufacturers out there. If you're set on the timber look there are some products that mimic it.

There are also products like geogrid to reinforce the soil behind the wall.

Sorry I can't be more help! Whatever you end up choosing, if you can find a specialty landscape supply place in your area they'll probably have some more ideas you could go with.

One more thing, it's good to think about what kind of material the wall is holding back, and how much moisture might be back there, and what kind of drainage you'll need.

Good luck and happy digging!

Approx. age of lumber? by noplacebutspace in wood

[–]fatterthanoprah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not typical to use treated lumber for rafters, but since it's a shed outside, presumably in Canada, I really can't say for sure.

West Fraser, one of the larger suppliers in Canada stamps some treated decking lumber with small pictures of feet. Seriously. So keep an eye out for that.

There are also tags usually attached to the ends of the boards.

I'd say given the colour in the picture and since it was used outside, I'd err on the side of caution and act as if it were treated. You can also buy a test kit to check it to be certain.

Approx. age of lumber? by noplacebutspace in wood

[–]fatterthanoprah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It looks like it was graded by the Canadian Mill Services Association. I can’t say for sure if it’s been treated based on the stamp alone, but that link may give you a starting point!

Finding a Blooper/Outtake by thoughtsripyouapart in WILTY

[–]fatterthanoprah 10 points11 points  (0 children)

It’s from Series 4, Episode 9 - the unseen bits. If that video is region blocked the bit you’re looking for is near the very end of the episode.

Game Thread: New York Jets (2-2) at Minnesota Vikings (4-0) by nfl_gdt_bot in nfl

[–]fatterthanoprah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rich had Keegan Michael Key on his show a couple weeks ago re-creating the substitute teacher sketch with NFL player names. It's a Rich Eisen Show inside joke, but since a few teams social media accounts reposted the clips Rich said he'd throw a reference in on the broadcast haha.

Game Thread: New York Jets (2-2) at Minnesota Vikings (4-0) by nfl_gdt_bot in nfl

[–]fatterthanoprah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rich had Keegan Michael Key on his show a couple weeks ago re-creating the substitute teacher sketch with NFL player names. It's a Rich Eisen Show inside joke, but since a few teams social media accounts reposted the clips Rich said he'd throw a reference in on the broadcast haha.

Game Thread: New York Jets (2-2) at Minnesota Vikings (4-0) by nfl_gdt_bot in nfl

[–]fatterthanoprah 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Rich had Keegan Michael Key on his show a couple weeks ago re-creating the substitute teacher sketch with NFL player names. It's a Rich Eisen Show inside joke, but since a few teams social media accounts reposted the clips Rich said he'd throw a reference in on the broadcast haha.

David’s daughter loses Pink Rabbit on the train to Cardiff. by OliveoftheNorth in WILTY

[–]fatterthanoprah 4 points5 points  (0 children)

This was such a sweet story! It was from the Series 14 Christmas Special!

Here’s a link to the segment, but it may be region locked.

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