Member builds beautiful new patio alcove

BEFORE

UNDER CONSTRUCTION
AFTER

Tool Library member Matt Wysong e-mailed us about a recent project of his:

I wanted to share a project I did in my backyard with a sledgehammer and circular saw I borrowed from the Tool Library. I also used a drill, shovel and and level of my own. The materials I needed were 4x4 pressure treated timbers, steel rebar and leveling sand.

My backyard rises 4 feet from my back patio and is essentially the remnants of a row of homes that were demolished into themselves. I wanted to open my patio up a bit and remove some of the hardscape, so I decided to knock down a portion of the former house to create a planting bed with a terraced effect.

One of the biggest challenges was digging out the fill in my backyard, which is basically the remnants of the house - brick, wood, glass, other debris, and not to mention some nasty stuff I didn't want to breath in. The other challenge was drilling though pressure treated would to insert rebar.

Once I was done, I backfilled with new soil and planted a Cherry Plum tree and some annuals in the bed and some upright growing Yews to frame the bed up top. I also transplanted some Tiger Lillies and daffodils into the bed that were already growing in my yard. Take a look at the before, after and construction pics. I couldn't have done it without the Tool Library. I re-poured my front steps 2 weeks ago...so more to come!