Loves

Brick sidewalks  (07/2005)

I was going to put in stamped concrete sidewalks but in the end the cost was going to be a little too steep. I had other projects that needed my funds. So I decided to roll up my sleeves and do brick myself. Here we go.

Yep, I'm on sidewalk one and was wishing I just spent the money for concrete. This was a lot of work.

This was one load of bricks out of three I think.

Here was a slab from the old sidewalk. I wanted to re-use a couple of these slabs down by the duck coop so I didn't want to bust it up. Moving them 150 yards was no easy task. This slab must have weighed 300lbs+ I'd think. I took the ATV, trailer, crowbars and two people to move them.

More digging. I thought it would never end.

I had wifey out helping me. Some of these days were in the 90s and humid I recall and we were still out there. I was a slave driver.

Mandie runs a home day care so there was a construction zone in the yard for a while.

Working into the wee hours of the evening to get this done. We were coming down the home stretch and I just wanted it over. I really didn't enjoy this project very much. Just back breaking work.

But that last brick felt great to put down. Every time I walk into my house I smile and take pride in the brick under my feet. You don't feel that way when you pay someone else to do something for you.

And the finished products (going into the breezway).

And the finished products (leading to the side of the deck).

And the finished products (overall look).

AMEN. All finished, a nice wide walkway to the house. For comparison below is a picture before the deck, rock walls and sidewalk. Big change and worth the work!