Home Improvements

After nearly 28 years of living with a gravel driveway up to our garage door, we at last have a concrete apron. We have long wanted to do this, and finally this spring we accomplished our goal. Along with that apron, we replaced our front sidewalk and improved the step access to the screened porch. Let's take a walk through this home improvement.

Step 1: Remove old sidewalk

We have had this brick sidewalk for over 20 years, and ever spring and summer we battle weeds that grow in the cracks. It becomes quite unsightly. These pictures were taken in early April, and the weeds were already becoming a nuisance.

This picture shows the area after all the bricks had been removed. Now that was a job! Fortunately, our son was home during the pandemic and he did nearly all of this for us.

Step 2: Lay out new sidewalk, remove excess gravel, and build forms.

Steps 2 and 3 occurred on consecutive days - a Monday and a Tuesday.  This particular day only Harlan and his helper/brother-in-law Eldon were here to build the forms and clear away the gravel. Eldon's wife (and Harlan's sister) Elma brought the men their lunches, and we got to visit a little bit.

Side note: This Mennonite community surrounds us and we have gotten to know them pretty well. DH drives the school van for them (they are a horse-and-buggy community); I occasionally take another sister or two to work in Frankfort, and we buy produce and eggs from other family members.

Step 3: Concrete Day!!

Cement delivery was scheduled for early on a Tuesday, so the Mennonite crew was here even earlier to do the final prepping. Harlan and his crew - Eldon, Ervin, and Harvey - were very efficient workers. They worked steadily even through the heat and sun with few, if any, breaks. Once that truck arrived, however, the pace picked up to a frenetic, strenuous level.This is back-breaking work! Concrete installation requires work to be done quickly, before hardening begins. The precision with which each man performed his duties in this process was something to watch. Almost like a conductor of a symphony, Harlan had his men right where they needed to be, anticipating each move and need. I was impressed by the entire process.

 

 

Have you noticed the skies? We really got lucky with the weather. These were two very gorgeous days.

Step 4: Finishing, Sealing and Clean-up

These steps occurred over 2 or 3 days, and clean-up continues even now, over a week later. We still have topsoil to fill in around the newly poured concrete, but we are able to use the sidewalks and park vehicles on the apron. Totally worth the 28-year wait. Shoulda' done it sooner.

So that's our big outdoor home improvement. Here in a day or two, I will share the "extra" job that Harlan did for us before he took all his heavy equipment away.

Hope you are having a productive day!

Happy Quilting, Friends!