These terrible images were shot during our home inspection almost two years ago. Unfortunately, not that much has really changed with the exterior of The Brick House as we move on into 2010.
Heretofore I dub 2010 “the year of the exterior”.
So hey, lets start off with the DRIVEWAY.
Here is my awesome drawing denoting the super rad cement pads that would run up the length of the driveway with 1″ crushed rock gravel as a main base. HA HA HA – awww dreaming. Yeah, that was way too expensive. Quotes ranged from $6,000 – $20,000 dollars. What!
Our DIY budget was $1,000 to do almost 3,600 sq. ft. of driveway. Yeah, I know. Stupid low.
Here is what we did…
Step 1
-Rent a tractor for one day.
-Let the Boy go hog-wild grading all our fancy dirt. (BTW, this was his first time on a tractor and he did brilliantly)
There was a surprising mess…
WTF, giant cement blob. You were a pain in the ass.
Step 2
-Take preventative measures with geotextile fabric. It’s permeable, prevents erosion, keeps gravel in place and helps stop weeds. Keeps that gravel looking fresh and not ghetto.
-Roll out 3,600 sq. ft. of this stuff and stake it down into place.
Step 3
-Move 50 tons of locally sourced 1″ crushed river rock. By hand. 50 TONS. F*ck you gravel.
-Thank your mom, Carpenter Craig, two friendly neighbors, and the Boy for helping spread gravel all day. Thank you guys.
Yeah. BY HAND.
Step 4
-Compact that crap down. (We used our cars)
Done!
Well, almost. There is still the issue of that large mound of gravel in the middle. It’s the leftovers for another project we are currently working on…teaser.
The DIY cost break down:
Tractor Rental: $235.46
Geotextile Fabric: $250.13
50 Tons o’ Gravel: $610.00
Driveway Total: $1,095.59
All in all we finished on budget and on time. It took two full days with a lot of help, a little rain and a ton of aspirin.
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37 Comments
Damn. That's a huge backyard/driveway.
We are in awe because that is a massively huge job. You guys have done well to get that done in two days.
Dropping my jaw and tipping my hat.
For real, you guys are amazing. I am in awe.
Just curious – how much of an approval/permit/BS process did you have to go through to do something like this?
very nice! my driveway sucks and i need to do something about it – excellent ideas!
That is an amazing amount of work, not that I have to tell you. Damn, my shoulders ache just looking at it. Looks like it was well worth the effort, though. In fact, it looks great!
Wow. Just wow.
wow, that is a ton of gravel. I'm very impressed.
Yikes, that new fence between your house and the neighbor's looks really orange… is that a trick of the light? Looks like you did a great job on the driveway!
I'm going to guess that you didn't have to go through any permit process for this? There was no actual digging, other than removing that chunk of old concrete, and therefore it was basically just resurfacing a driveway. Unless you live in a neighborhood with covenants or historic preservation regulations there aren't usually limits on what you can do to your driveway, and from how you describe your location that doesn't sound likely. There might be regulations in the desert about run-off vs. permeable surfaces, but California actually seems pretty bad about that.
Again, looks great!
you go girl! totally impressed.
I filled all my landscaping with gravel last year to replace all the nasty mulch. I feel your pain! Wash down the aspirin with a little johnny it helps
Awesome!
Rock on! Hee hee… but seriously I am impressed. It looks great and that is an amazing amount of work to accomplish in two days.
Crack it open (cement blob)–maybe it's a time capsule!
Driveway looks great, impressive. I think I would have wanted to give up.
I can't believe you moved all of that rock! Congrats
beautiful and inspiring! thanks for the cost breakdown especially. you're my idol.
No permit BS at all. Since we were really just resurfacing and not building, digging or changing anything drastically it was all a'ok.
plus his town is ghetto as shiz…there is no preservation or really much of a permit process.
One day I should really do a town tour – it would be HILARIOUS.
Oh – yeah that fence is hella orange. It was free and it is a Frankenfence.
It is on notice. Just add it to the list of stuff to deal with.
neighborhood tour, please! please, please.
Pianoart here…. Very well done indeed! I remember having to move just 50 cubic yards of sand, on a beach site, by hand, via wheelbarrow, and n.e.v.e.r wanting to see anything like that again in.my.life. so, again, well done.
wow!
that looks great!
im jealous he got to use the tractor!
I've got to tell you, this post is an inspiration and a boost for me! My husband & I are in the process of renovating our home and adding a second floor. We're just beginning and I honestly see no end in sight. But, thanks for sharing. Makes me feel so much better!!
Warm Wishes,
Mina
http://www.bohemianvintageonline.com
Sweet driveway.
Just curious: What do you use all of that driveway area for?
Parking.
Really it's for our eventual resale – most of the town and neighborhood have multiple cars and "toys" like boats, RV's, trailers…so the locals advertise it as RV storage. Yuck.
Most people park in the front yard since they don't have the luxurious gravel storage area we now made. My neighbors have 13 cars parked around the front of their property. Ghetto – ville. I HAVE to do a town tour. The Scientology center is the best!
All I want to do is praise all the hard work. Unbelievable! And nice neighbors to boot!
But why does the gravel cover the entire backyard, too? I understand a gravel driveway, but a gravel backyard?
That's not the entire backyard.
We have MORE backyard that is being turned into the patio/entertainment area.
The entire property is 10,000 sq. ft. The driveway is a big part of it, but not all…
Wowza. That is a lot of work and it's amazing how you manage to stick to such a tight budget. I was wondering why you needed such a ginormous driveway…13 cars parked out front you say? Sounds like your tease of a town tour will have to come to fruition. But seriously, good idea planning for the future owners. And can I just say that the house looks a gazillion times better painted white. It's been said before but I had to say it again.
Also, that's pretty sweet that you live in what looks like perpetual fall all winter. It is so damn cold up here, and no snow to make it pretty…
Holy shit! You guys are friggin' amazing. Is there anything you can't do? 3600 square feet? 50 tons? I can't wait for you guys to arrive at my apartment. It should take you all of about two minutes to paint all 400 square feet of the bitch.
well done and a standing ovation. you did a great job and thinking ahead with putting in all that extra parking…well worth the 2 days. TWO DAYS! INSANE. It does look lovely and am jealous of the orange tree.
Yes to the town tour. I can stomach it. It will probably make me nostalgic for the dump where I grew up.
Oh, and if you live in retirement hell, the "RV storage" makes sense. It seems like every retired person at some point or another buys an RV and vows to finally tour the country with their newfound free time–but it never happens, hence the storage part.
Wow. You are my hero!
Holy. Living. F**k. Yeah, I pretty much have a Neil Armstrong reaction to all your posts, but especially this one. Nice work.
Town tour sounds awesome – bring it on. I live on a dinky little Victorian street in England – I think the neighbours would riot (politely, of course, we're English) if we tried to park an RV in front of our house. Which is fair enough, really, cos it would probably block about three people's driveways.
Aspirin nuthin, you deserve Vicodin after that push. Well done, it looks great
Looks great. Does it reflect heat and make it hotter?
Wait, was that ‘fancy dirt’ there in the ‘before’ picture or did you have to truck that in? We want to do exactly the same thing to our driveway, but we’ll first need to tear up all our awful cracking cement.
As a resident of your town, may I add there are actually some very nice parts? Try the drive up to Simpson Park, there are some beautiful houses there. Also, the outskirts of town have some wonderfully landscaped and unghetto places. I moved here a year ago and found these while looking to buy. Just FYI. Yes, I know it’s not so great in many parts, but it’s really not 100% terrible.
I grew up in a much worse “ghetto,” so just a reminder things could get/be worse!
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