So here’s where we left off yesterday with the DIY BBQ pad project.
Day 2 started with a quick trip for a few bins of gravel, while Dad handled the sand and the last block to put into place. You see, the block needed to be cut on an angle, and he has all the tools for that kind of work!
See the last block?
We set it into place, and then built up some rock under the steps. This is just a border to help keep the gravel in place.
Because next we pulled all the large rocks out that were bordering the gravel driveway and pad area.
And this is where the bins of gravel came in.
We flattened out the edges of the landscape fabric, and then poured gravel over top.
Raked it to spread it around evenly, including up where the hose reel sits.
The new gravel is a bit larger than the driveway gravel, and here it’s wet, so is a lot darker, but it will help keep the slabs in place.
The next step was pouring sand into all the cracks, and sweeping it into the edges.
With the sand pretty much topped up in all the cracks, the excess landscape fabric was trimmed off. In case you’re wondering, the landscape fabric is just to help keep the inevitable weeds down!
Then the sand was gently saturated with the hose to pack it down into the cracks.
This is what the pad looks like with the sand packed down into the cracks.
Can you see how much it sunk down? This is what was anticipated, and the point of saturating the sand.
So on hands and knees, more sand was shoveled into the cracks.
Until the pad looked like this.
And was left to dry. We’ll have to add more sand here and there, but for the most part it’s packed in flush with the slabs. Notice how the gravel is already getting closer to the colour of the driveway gravel as it dries?
We didn’t put the BBQ on the pad the same day we finished it…
And you’ll see the weather decided to change on us by the time we did!
No more bright sun shining down on this project!
Here’s a little look back at the very beginning ‘Before’.
And the ‘After’ now.
With the BBQ ‘Before’…
And ‘After’. Well, it’s a new BBQ under the cover. Remember, the wind did our last one in! See how much closer we can snug it up to the house now?
My hubby just laughed when I said I wanted a new cover now, too! He said he predicted that! But I guess it’s not a huge priority, just an aesthetic indulgence 
Now with the pad complete, as all things go, one project leads to another.
Did you notice the broken step?
Let’s just say an ‘N’ driver was backing up So we’re going to replace the step, and take this opportunity to repaint the whole porch, too!
As for the heat pump ‘yard ornament’… well I have something like this in mind, but with diamond shaped lattice instead.
Source: Home Depot
And I’m hoping Dad will help us make this happen! 
And then of course, plants. I want to put a bunch of potted plants all around to soften the gray of the concrete and gravel, and bring in a little green. This area gets full sun all afternoon (when the sun actually shines!), so I’ll need some help to select the right plants.
Do you have any favorites you’d recommend? For this gardener the plants have to be hearty, and semi low maintenance. Geraniums and I get along! Does that help?
THANKS FOR READING!
xo
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