[OldWorld]

I really appreciate this site, and all of you craftsman and contributers here----I have learned a great deal from all of you

now don't hold it against me...I'm a homeowner DIYer in St. Charles MO...I do enjoy/need hardscaping, too.

I'm going cold turkey here with this first post ---trying to post pics below of a back raised terrace in progress--

I'm ready to take the heat from everyone from all of you pros-- to get any expertise/help you will dish out...

...used 4"+ minus, compacted with a jumping jack in 2" lifts all around for base...used drain tile per everyone's recommendations here--with openings for out drainage in extreme conditions...buried at least 1 course all around...planning to remove existing slab to allow for one base material and not short cut by leaving in the existing slab...using good materials (creta & probably Navastone stone tile for the terrace top)

...should have removed the slab before doing the wall, but wanted to split the project into fall and spring half & half--and wanted to leave the slab in as long as possible...

stairs: I poured a footer at bottom to try to control any movement downgrade...stair caps have been finish cut since the photos...photos are in progress

working on cutting wall caps now---slow but gettin er done...yes--only using a hand circular saw with diamond blade---but my new angle grinder acquisition has done wonders for fine trimming...also have a small MK diamond saw ready to use on the 1.5" thick stonetile...

yet to do: remove slab, prepare base, install Navastone stone tile and stairs up to entry doors...BBQ/party/enjoy.

thanks
if I am accepted here as a DIYer without scorn , I can contribute some things learned on a front stonehenge paver porch I did and also ask a lot of questions as I finish this one up and tackle other upcoming projects

I appreciate your time and thanks for all your (unknown) help thus far...hopefully pics will be posted soon...I emailed pics and HELP to STONEHENGE....

sincerely,

Old World (believe it or not, I thought I was computer savy until I couldn't load these pics--sorry)

[OldWorld]

sorry--pics didn't load

can anyone help the new guy who can't post pics?

I've sent them to Stonhenge and maybe he'll be kind enough to post pics or advise me

thanks

Old World

[Stonehenge]

I didn't see anything in my inbox - here's a tutorial on how how to post pictures

Moved to the Homeowner forum.

[OldWorld]

PATIO PIC1--BEFORE

[OldWorld]

PIC2--BASE PREP

[OldWorld]

PIC3-BACK DRAIN FILL

4" DRAIN TILE IS BELOW THE 1" CLEAR GRAVEL ALL AROUND.
DRAINTILE DAYLIGHTS OUT OF WALL AT 3 SPOTS AROUND THE WALL

[OldWorld]

PIC 4--WALL SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE

LEAVING A SMALL OPEN TO LATER REMOVE THE SLAB

SIDE STAIRS ARE ROUGHED IN & CAPS ARE YET TO BE FINISH CUT

[OldWorld]

PIC 5--WALL SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE

CAPS YET TO DO

[OldWorld]

PIC 6--STAIRS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLETE

CAPS YET TO DO

[OldWorld]

PIC 7--Side SHOT OF STAIRS
YOU CAN BARELY SEE ONE OF THE DRAIN TILE OUTLETS RIGHT AT THE SHADOW OF MY HEAD...A 1" SPACE WAS LEFT BETWEEN WALL BLOCKS AND A T-JOINT ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE WALL FEEDS INTO THE 1" DRAIN OUTLET....MY UNDERSTANDING IS DRAINTILE DISPERSES RATHER THAN "DRAINS", BUT IN EXTREME CONDITIONS DRAINAGE CAN OCCUR SO OUTLETS WERE BUILT IN

a very roughed in footing was later poured were the blocks are randonly laid at stair bottom in an attempt to prevent erosion and base movement... planning to dirt-fill & grow grass right up to a few inches below the bottom stair...
interested on your take on this approach....pitfalls? on a limited budget, what other approach might be as good or better???

[OldWorld]

PIC8--TALL PART OF PATIO WALL

see the drain oulet space in middle bottom of wall

...don't like the look of the gap on the drain outlet but I really wanted to take all precautions on drainage and I think it won't be as noticeable after grass and landscaping are installed

[OldWorld]

pic9--TALL WALL VIEW #2

[OldWorld]

rocca blue 16"x16" is being considered for the patio surface...
anybody have feedback about this?

see a stonetile example in the pic below...ideas are welcome..thanks!

[Stonehenge]

Hi Old World,

Maybe I missed it, but were you asking a question? It looks like everything is pretty much complete, so I'm not sure there's anything we can advise.

Looks fine to me. The fabric looks like weed fabric (which would tear and break), I might daylight the downspout one course deeper, and I'd be careful about breaking out the slab, to make sure that post isn't sitting on the slab.

[TrickyDick]

I think he was just looking for a critique. I'm no hardscape expert but the one thing that stands out to me is that you could have cut your stair treads to get a tighter fit on those curves. Other than that it looks okay to me.