The Patio
at the Mesa Extension Office

Hosting a barbeque is always nicer when it takes place on a patio or deck. A patio using some of the newer products that don’t crumble or dissolve when they get wet is especially nice. A patio should be maintenance-free for many years.

The patio we built on the south side of our office at the Mesa County Fairgrounds fits the definition of a maintenance-free area. While this will be available for barbeques, an irrigation system has been included that will allow us to have plants on the patio. Next year we will be lining this patio with large pots filled with flowering plants. Each pot will be watered by a drip system and controlled by an electronic timer. This patio would still be a great place to host a barbeque.

The patio was built as a demonstration workshop for individuals interested in putting in their own patio. Pavestone of Denver provided the pavestones (paving bricks) and Rick Benson of All Western Hardscape Supply, a division of Curbco Inc., provided the training at the two free hands-on classes. The first class installed two small decks and one-half of the patio area. The class on June 12, 2004 finished the patio. A Basalite courtyard wall was also constructed.

Four different pavestones were used in this patio. Most people would probably choose only one of these but this is a demonstration site and we wanted to include as many types of pavestones as possible. We also included two sections of decking built by David Knestis of Distinctive Decking. The decking material used is impervious to stains allowing any drips from a barbeque grill to be easy cleaned up.

The Process

Applying roadbase

building a patio adding roadbase

The decking was installed

building a patio installing decking

Applying a layer of sand

building a patio adding a layer of sand

Laying the Pavestones

building a patio adding the pavestone

Cutting to size

building a patio cutting the stones to size

Packing the Pavestones

building a patio packing the pavers

Grouting with Sand

building a patio grouting with sand

Partially finished

building a patio pavestones

The first crew

building a patio

Finishing the patio
Packing the Roadbase for the second portion of the patio

Sand layer has been applied and pavers are being laid

Crew 2

 

Placed on the Internet: May 26, 2004 9:48 PM

email.gif Curtis E. Swift, Ph.D., Area Extension Agent, Horticulture
Colorado State Extension
2775 US Hwy 50, Grand Junction, CO. 81503
voice: 970-244-1834
fax: 970-244-1700
Comments are appreciated.