Schoolhouse Converted into Private Home with Amazing Home Decoration Ideas
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Landscaping - IN PROGRESS
Access to the "Buggy Corral" garages at the rear of the school was by a driveway that ran adjacent to our rear deck (2021). We decided to remove that driveway and landscape the backyard.
Before eliminating the driveway next to the deck, we first had to build a new roadway to access the back of the school.
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The New Driveway - 2021-2022
The Site - 2021
Driveway Access to be Closed
Driveway Access to be Closed
Original access to the rear of the school ran adjacent to our back deck. It was decided to close this access lane and replace it with landscaping to add privacy to the backyard.
Driveway Access to be Closed
Driveway Access to be Closed
Driveway Access to be Closed
Closing this route meant a new driveway needed to be installed in a location that didn't impact the landscaping and privacy concerns.
We decided to go on the other side of the wooden fence.
The steel building in the background was installed in 2020.
The New Access Site
The New Access Site
The New Access Site
Here I am staking out the new access road.
November 2021
October 2021
The New Access Site
The New Access Site
Sod was stripped away to a depth of 12-16"
November 2021
November 2021
November 2021
Built to a width of 25 feet, the excavation was completed and excavated materials removed from the site.
Stone and gravel will wait until next spring 2022.
Spring 2022
November 2021
November 2021
May 2022 - The new access road needed to accommodate fuel trucks and our diesel-pusher motorhome, so a solid base was essential.
Compaction is Key
Completed - June 2022
Completed - June 2022
When completed, anything could drive on this roadway!
The packer was rented from GC Hudson in Brockville.
Completed - June 2022
Completed - June 2022
Completed - June 2022
We topped dressed this section with crushed asphalt. If it works well, we can apply it to the entire driveway area behind the Buggy Corral too.
More Work- 2022
Six 10-foot Blue Spruce trees were purchased from a tree farm just north of London, Ontario.
I hauled them in on a dump trailer!
May 2022
The remainder of 2022 was spent cutting out asphalt and prepping the area for landscaping.
The trench to hold the propane line to new torpedo tank as well as the electrical and water line to garden site.
The 6 "Pig" propane tanks will be removed to allow landscaping in this area as well.
The driveway Big "O" drainage will be reconnected after the lines are installed.
June 2022.
The new 1000 gallon torpedo tank was dropped on its pad by P38 Propane. The 6 "Pig" tanks were removed a few days later.
July 2022.
Corner Garden - Started April 2023
Little Lime Punch hydrangeas will grow to 4 feet or so.
They turned deep pink in September.
West Side Garden
This area was started in September 2022.
The old driveway asphalt was cut out with a concrete saw and given away to neighbours to use as fill.
The rest of the work was completed in 2023.
44,500 lbs of rock for the project were trucked in before winter.
All set for Spring 2023!!
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Brandy Wine Maple in the corner.
12 Montana hosta…grow to 48” diameter with 10 Astilbe plants for their backdrop
A few Little Quick Fire hydrangeas and the mandatory rhubarb right next to the deck.
Guess what?… it took 10 yards of mulch to cover the bed!
The rock border and planting was completed in June 2023.
Main Garden Area - 2023
The area immediately in front of the deck was excavated to a depth of 24".
Landscaping rock from the Jackson Quarry near Sunbury Ontario was used for border.
In total, the completed project required just over 100,000 lbs (50 tons) of landscape rock...about $15,000.
A pathway was constructed between the Colorado Blue Spruce and this large area to add interest in addition to providing functionality.
Black non-woven landscape fabric (3.5 mm) was used under pathways for weed suppression.
The crushed rock for pathways is 5/8" crushed red granite. The project required one tri-axle of "HL3 Red Granite 914287 " from Tackaberry. Cost $1200.
This area required 2 tri-axle loads (44 cubic yards) of triple mix at a cost of $2600 for planting.
September 2023
This photo shows the pathway in front of the deck, about 6' wide to allow for a golf cart. We have a golf cart which is used for visiting neighbours.
In this shot, topsoil is being moved into place.
Another pathway was added to the middle of the garden to provide a path from the deck to the lawn.
The 8-foot aluminum bridge adds an interesting feature to the area.
A 24" wide border of 1-2" washed river stone was used to create an interface between the landscape rock and lawn. This facilitates lawn cutting. Non-woven landscape fabric was used under the stones for weed suppression.
Added Dry Creek Bed - October 2023
Just when we thought it was done... we decided to add a dry creek bed for interest.
Removed the bridge and brought in some more 1-2" river stone. The 3-6" river rock add realism to the creek bed
look.
The finished look.
The old barn on the farm next door provides a great backdrop view for quiet afternoons.
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ENJOY !!