Backyard Freecycle/Recycle Project

• screenshot of the CAD design

  This is a screenshot of what I designed. It is a 3D model in an old (free) version of CAD software. The kitchen/patio with pergola is on the left and the cedar deck with privacy screen is on the right. The stonework included an island, a BBQ island, and a fire pit; designed to use as much of the stone I found as possible

• Deck Layout

  CAD file for the layout of deck foundations. The deck was freecycle obtained in 5 parts - 4 approximately 8x8 foot sections and one 12' long 14" wide section. Figured out this pattern for foundations, which were all freecycle material as well - deck blocks on 15" square patio stone on 2' square styrofoam sheets on 2" gravel.

• Deck Set up

  Each section was carried into the backyard by hand, then propped up to build foundations underneath.

• Deck Foundations

  Holes dug, gravel yet to be placed. The other 3 freecycle components - styrofoam layer, patio stone and deck block can be seen in this photo

• One Section down, 3 to go.

  Footing components set up to drop the deck on top. One of the 4 corner sections is already in place.

• Deck installed

  Deck is now in position and the 5 parts are assembled together. Now time to strip the old coating.

• Deck Stain

  Finishing the deck staining

• Deck Stripped

  Most of the stripping now done. One "test" board stained with the new color

• Perimeter Post install

  These six upright 4" x 4" posts were the only material purchased new for this project. This photo shows the last hole being hand augured. Even the deck screws were salvaged and re-used to reassemble this deck.

• Perimeter screening installed and stained

  The perimeter panels were assembled beforehand from freecycled lumber, then lifted and secured into position. Stained 2 different colors - dark brown and grey - to closely match the house. In this photo I have started to install the deck perimeter trim, cut from freecycled vinyl fencing scraps. Some of the vinyl fencing is also used as soldier piles to seal the underdeck area from allowing critters in.

• Planting Perimeter installed

  Some vinyl fencing components (posts and rails) were freecycled from the fence installer and used to build a raised garden perimeter for the deck. Pic taken from an upstairs window. Stone hoard under the tarp on the right for the kitchen (phase 2)

• Conduits and drainage being installed

  Corrugated O-pipe is used to bring drainage from the downspout to the back of the deck. The orange/black conduit allows a garden hose to go from the tap at the wall of the house to a hose reel behind the deck. A smaller orange conduit carries an outdoor grade electrical cord to a location behind the deck. All material sourced freecycle.

• Adding soil and plants

  A lot of the soil was recycled and topsoil added to make a suitable planting bed for the perimeter of the deck. Surface topped off with black cedar wood chips.

• Finished Product; Phase 1 (Deck)

  This is the stage at which everything is pretty much done for the deck and Phase 1. Just need the plants to start growing!

• And now for Phase 2!

  This is the beginning of phase 2 - the patio/kitchen. All soil dug down 12" minimum and removed by hand (wheelbarrow). 12 tons total removed, one one-ton-trailerful at a time. Soil was freecycled to local persons looking to add fill to their properties.

• Drainage and conduit systems install

  Drainage is around the perimeter of the patio area. This includes conduit for the water service, the electrical cord, and a conduit for the gas line between house and BBQ. All of the material was obtained for free.

• Pergola Installation

  The pergola was installed before the pavers since the foundations for the posts needed to be completed prior to the unit pavers being installed. Stained after assembly to match Phase 1 deck. Canopy material was all freecycle; 4x4 and 6x6 posts were the only things purchased new for Phase 2 (other than sand and gravel)

• Gravel Pile

  Gravel delivered to front of house. The pile is about the size of an average SUV and weighs 12 tons. Wheelbarrowed to the rear yard in one day; about 170 wheelbarrows full.

• Gravel placement

  Starting to fill in the gravel. Note depth of excavation is about 1 foot. A compactor was rented to separately compact both the granular layer and the sand layer.

• Gravel almost finished

  Finishing placement of the granular layer. Sand is next

• Screeding the sand layer

  Using a long piece of lumber to screed the sand. Note the compactor in the background was rented for both gravel and sand layers

• Sand done - ready for stone laying

  Sand layer is finished; stone ready to be laid.

• First of the pavers laid

  Laying out per the pattern done on CAD. Important to place and space to properly line up with the pergola posts

• Cladding Stone layout for islands and fire pit

  The blue mountain granite veneer cut-offs found as freecycle material came in mostly standard sized blocks, but many were also long and skinny. This was the CAD design ultimately used to make best use of this material with minimal cutting. This render omits showing the granite countertop and BBQ that sits "inside" the leftmost island

• Paver stone layout for patio/kitchen

  The paving stones I found as purchased recycle also needed to be laid out to make best use of space but also to integrate with the other components including the islands and pergola. This render only shows the beige stones; there are also grey perimeter stones of a different size on an undisplayed layer. The countertop and BBQ are also on undisplayed layers in the CAD file.

• Granite countertop and sink

  Another freecycle find. This granite countertop sat on a carpet in my garage for 2 years before installation. Sink was freecycle too.

• Pavers installed, drystacking begins

  The pavers are now installed but the granite needs to be restacked block by block and "assigned" to its assembly location. We moved this 2 ton hoard of blocks about 3 times over during the build. Now it finally gets used.

• Drystacked Blocks

  Mostly completed drystacking to see extent of cuts needed. Luckily I was able to borrow a chop saw free of charge. Most of the stone was able to be re-purposed; very little went to waste.

• Poured and curing slab for BBQ station

  This is the foundation for the BBQ station. The concrete is hand mixed and poured into a form made of freecycled wood. Blocks will be stacked and secured on this level slab for the BBQ island

• BBQ Station/Island

  Blocks are now cut, placed and adhered. Grout later added along all seams. The BBQ drops into place. The white conduit is seen poking up behind the slab and will contain the natural gas line from the house

• Kitchen Island and Fire Pit

  Both the island and the fire pit are now built with blocks trimmed to fit and masonry completed. The chop saw is under that blue tarp in the background.

• Poured slab for Kitchen Island

  Poured slab for the kitchen island with freecycle wood used for the formwork. Drainage piping and water conduit with removable hose prepped beforehand

• Countertop ready for Install

  The freecycle granite countertop is ready for installation. I was fortunate to find both this countertop and the cladding stone as freecycle material. They are entirely from different sources but ended up matching quite well.

• BBQ installed and ready to use

  The BBQ was purchased in "near new" condition for about 1/2 the cost of an equivalent new one. The stonework was designed to fit this model. A underground conduit brings the 15 foot natural gas line from the house to the BBQ.

• Kitchen Island completed

  The Kitchen island with the stainless steel sink and plumbing all installed and ready to use. The "cross" shape of the stone column support on the near end allows 2 persons to sit on stools along the edge

• Fire Pit

  Small but functional. I have an insert to use propane or you can burn wood since I have also put in a heat liner using hollowed masonry blocks

• Fountain

  I added in this fountain afterwards since I still had some granite to use. This was a poured concrete base with patio stone sub-floor upon which the granite was stacked. There is a pond liner allowing stormwater to enter and be captured through a nearby drain The two plastic "spouts" is where the water flows out when the pump runs. Conduit buried for the electrical cord. Top is removable and pump is serviceable and removable . All material 100% freecycled.