The front verandah
In contrast to the back verandah, the
front verandah will see a lot more sun, particularly in winter when the sun sweeps low. Being at ground level, the front verandah will be
subject to normal ground moisture, and so the only practical solution will be to have it paved. Due to the slope of the ground, a
retaining wall and fill is also needed to keep the paved area flat and level.
Although concrete sleepers is the better option over treated hardwood sleepers
for retaining walls, in practical terms the latter are a lot easier to shape,
manipulate and support, particularly in our situation. The main
worry is those little white
buggers.
As with all retaining walls of this type, the first job is to set out
and secure
the upright support posts. Holes were dug by hand and concrete
was poured around the 75mm RHS posts. ( We used the same concrete batching plant we
did on the shed footings, the wheelbarrow, shovel and hoe.)
Prior to fitting the treated sleepers to the posts, the ends were well dosed with Creosote.
To further increase
the life of the treated sleepers, heavy duty black plastic was laid against and
under the sleepers. Rocks were then gathered and
placed along the bottom to block the gap and allow for easy drainage.
It was only a matter of finally relocating 7 sq metres of the delivered fill from the
pile to the verandah alcove and level it all out, ready for the sand and pavers later on.
RETAINING WALL (Viewed
CW)
Holes are dug and the posts are in...
Placing the concrete around the posts...
Measuring up for the next sleeper...
There, that corner is finished...
The plastic and rocks are in place, now for the fill...
THE FILL (Viewed
CW)
Yes, we have to shift all that...
Getting in the swing...
There, that didn't take long...