Louisiana Colonial Backyard Makeover

The homeowners of this center-hall colonial residence in Covington, Louisiana, worked with a landscape designer and a local hardscapes firm to add a new patio and outdoor kitchen to their plain backyard in only four days.

 

The homeowners' plan for the backyard before construction (pictured) included a fireplace and additional amenities. After reviewing 3D Belgard Design Studio renderings of the installation in place, they eliminated the fireplace and adjusted the size and shape of the kitchen elements, customizing the project to their preferences and keeping the space open. The bar and grill station were installed after the patios were completed.

The hardscape installation and outdoor living amenities were elements in a larger renovation, which also included a new awning, doors and windows for the house.

Workers began the patio installation by demolishing several existing sections of concrete, one of which was more than 10 inches thick and required the use of a hydraulic concrete breaker and a jackhammer. Next, seven inches of topsoil were excavated for the pavers. Black felt was laid in the excavated dirt areas, and a limestone bed and a layer of sand were separately placed and compacted. After the pavers were laid, grout lines were formed by brushing water-activated polymeric sand into the crevices.

The bar and grill station were ordered in three pre-manufactured pieces and were ready to use immediately after workers placed them, eliminating the need for on-site assembly that would have extended the construction period.

When Jim Stone Company and Louisiana Pavers joined forces to update the backyard of a Covington, La., family's home, their arsenal of modern techniques – 3D renderings, no-interest financing and pre-built amenities – launched a quick-turn makeover, establishing a contemporary outdoor living space suited to the homeowners' growing needs.

The homeowners, Pierre and Christi, purchased their home in 2004 and had great plans for the center-hall colonial, including an outdoor living space. But the activities of their two children delayed those plans until recently, when they sought to create a space to serve as a usable space for their teenage sons and an entertainment area for their own friends.

Beginning at the End
The homeowners knew what features they wanted in their outdoor retreat, but they couldn't exactly picture how it would come together. Digital renderings allowed the clients to see how their backyard would look before the first shovel turned topsoil.

''While plans and illustrations help, some homeowners need more visual information to fully understand the possibilities,'' said Mike Miles, designer with the Belgard Design Studio. The initial plan included two paver patio additions off the back of the home with TVs and beverage cooler, and an outdoor kitchen furnished with an L-shaped bar, a grill station, and fireplace. However, once the homeowners saw the initial renderings, they realized the features would overwhelm the space, so they eliminated the fireplace.

''We were able to see exactly how the pavers and design elements would look,'' Christi said. ''We made a number of changes that we wouldn't have realized were needed if we hadn't had 3-D renderings.''

The renderings spurred other design changes, including the curvature of one of the patios and the size and shape of the outdoor kitchen elements.

Phasing vs. Financing
Since their plans had several interconnected elements, the clients talked to their dealer and contractor about payment options for the project.

''Contractors can help homeowners put together a plan for phasing the project that takes into account both budget and existing landscape,'' said Rod Trahan of Louisiana Pavers. ''The right planning can save time and money in the long run.''

''We had planned to phase several projects over a couple of years but wanted to do something faster to create a gathering place for our teenage sons and their friends,'' said Christi. ''Financing provided us an affordable way to complete our makeover.''

Digging In
After planning and meetings with Miles and Trahan, the project was ready to start. First, the area was excavated, which included removing seven inches of topsoil for the pavers, as well as several sections of existing concrete. One area of concrete was over 10 inches thick, requiring use of a jackhammer and hydraulic concrete breaker.

The next step was to install the patio areas, which was a multi-step process. First, black felt was rolled out to cover the bottom of the excavated dirt areas. Next, a bed of limestone was shoveled in and compacted, followed by a layer of sand that was leveled and compacted. Finally, the pavers were laid and polymeric sand was brushed into the crevices and activated with water to form grout lines.

With the patios complete, next came the bar and grill station, which arrived pre-manufactured in three pieces. Once placed into position, they were ready for use, as opposed to a multi-day on-site construction.

A Happy Ending
After four days of work, the backyard was complete. ''The modular elements for this project sped up installation time – a win-win for contractor and homeowner,'' Trahan said. ''The homeowners wanted to enjoy their backyard and we were able to move on to the next job without a hitch.''

''It has been a total transformation! We have always enjoyed our backyard, but now it is a true extension of our home,'' Christi said.