Gate

Short Fence

After changing our mind a few times, we decided to build a cosmetic fence to provide a bit more privacy, cover up the old graffiti on the neighbor's fence (from our prior house owners), and bridge a gap to the house for a new gate across the driveway.

A lot of mock ups were required for Rachel to approve the final height, material, spacing, spacing change height. Knotty boards were nixed due to them looking too country. The cost is high with the clear cedar boards, but it was not too big and since I built it myself, it still cost much less than hiring a fence builder.

It is 24' long and 7'6" high. After building it, I know why no one builds fences this way. No 2 boards are ever the same, so you really do not want to butt them together. Also suffered through getting all different board sizes from Lowes, Home Depot, and the 2 good lumber yards.

It took ~$1000 of wood (8' cedar 4'x4'x8' with metal post is $82/each!)and ~20 hours of labor.

We still have to build the gates!

Yard Updates

We finally decided to hire some help to get some of the yard finished up since it was taking years with me not doing it. One of the small projects was breaking up the back of the old driveway and turning it into a small patio space off the back of the guestroom.

We also added a lot of plants between the 2 patio spaces to add division and partition them into separate spaces. Nandina, spirea, rosemary, and lavender.

Making smaller spaces larger by dividing them...

We still have work to do with coming up with a cohesive garden space.

Painted Shingles

Shingles

Steps

Jim has finished his 40 days labor. I estimate he saved us 8 months of pecking away. Raya cannot wait to get on those stairs.

Finishing