Garden water reflection pond preparation

An insight to the daily life of a garden design and landscaping build up on a rear garden located in Cullompton, Exeter, Devon.

Day 11

View previous day here

Coffee.

Setting out the reflection pond

Setting out the reflection pond

I have set the road pins and string lines up to the required diamensions and double checked that all my corners are square, the entire width of the raised seating area and reflection pond area will be 4300mm.

Using the centre of the kitchen window I have transferred the centre line down the wall to ma pin and to the far side of the 4300mm wide garden by means of the set square again, once I'm completely central I pull my lines taught.

The red cross is perfect centre and I mark out the reflection pond from this point, the outer sand lines are the outside dig markings, allowing for a 225mm block wall.

Hand excavation to garden pond

Hand excavation to garden pond

The team remove the surface consolidated sub base and stock pile for later use as the reflection pond concrete base, the membrane is cut with a sharp stanley knife to expose the sub grade.

The required depth will be 550mm below top of sub grade level, to ensure a completely level dig we again use the rotating laser level to guide us. All excess soil is removed to the front of garden for later use.

Digging a garden pond

Digging a garden pond

The team hand dig the reflection pond ensuring that the side walls to the excavations are plumb, making later life easier when the time arises to install the 225mm wide concrete block works.

Saige charcoal composite decking

Saige black composite decking

The delivery of the hollow Saige charcoal composite decking was stacked on level wooden bearers so not to warp the deck boards. Then covered to maintain dry boards for the installation process.

Electrical ducting

Electrical ducting

The remaining electrical ducting is hand dug to the required depth of 400mm below FFL, finish floor level, the ducting is installed with in the trench making sure that the ducting is not crossing over each other.

The sub base backfill is barrowed to the trench and semi filled, the warning tape is installed and the trench filled to the correct level.

Plastering spot board

Plastering spot board

The final course of brick work to the recess feature garden walling has been installed now that the mortar has been setting over the weekend, this course was installed first thing allowing the setting to take place.

The plastering spot board is set up and water is applied to the dry board, the water application to the board stops the wood from sucking the water out of the scratch coat mix, this principle also applies to brick layers spot boards and the first mix of mortar in the wheel barrows.

Applying the scratch coat render

Applying the scratch coat render

Renders are a mixture of only 3 ingredients: lime, sand, and water. Ordinary Portland cement, OPC,  can be substituted for a portion of the lime, which will result in a stronger, but less breathable plaster. I always use a splash of Febmix with all my scratch coats.

Note that my rendering plaster mix is creamy and soft, the sand is course with granular small stones and grit within.

Also note the angle of the steel trowel, at this angle I'm not leaving trowel lines in the render nor is the trowel so flat that I'm tearing my scratch coat off the feature wall.

It's all in the wrists !!

Scratching the scratch coat

Scratching the scratch coat

Once the first coat of scratch coat render is applied but not  set, I lightly scratch the surface throughout the wall to provide a key for the next layer to adhere to, I'm careful not to apply so much pressure that I scratch to the face of the blocks below, this will cause the ripples and waves I mentioned in my previous blog.

Plasterers scratch coat

Plasterers scratch coat

Once the scratch coat render has been laid on and the light scratch for the top coat has been achieved, I clean the base of the footing of mortar snots and the spot board. Again this process makes life easier for laying on the top coat of sponge finished render.

Brickwork to kitchen storage space

Brickwork to kitchen storage space

I have installed the brickwork to the kitchen kitchen storage space, again I leave the final course of brick until the mortar has set hard. All the openings to the cupboard space will be 560mm wide.

In my last blog I mentioned that my lintel was assured for delivery today, actions speak louder than words Jewsons, pull your fingers out, I really do need this lintel as you can see I'm pressing forwards with the rendering.

Tomorrows blog:

Render plastering scratch coat application

Votes: 0
E-mail me when people leave their comments –

You need to be a member of Landscape Juice Network to add comments!

Join Landscape Juice Network

Open forum activity

Intelligent Gardening replied to Marc Ollerenshaw's discussion Insurance
"NFU are very exensive but are very good when it comes to making a claim apparently... but hopefully never have to. I was looking for a combined policy to cover all insurances but according to my broker there isnt one so I end up paying a broker fee…"
12 hours ago
Amy is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
15 hours ago
Peter sellers replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"Agree with you Graham, we have a client with a long run of Laurel which we only cut once a year mid june and have done for over 20 years, the client is fussy with a capital F ! It's a superb evergreen hedge which is bomb proof.
As to this so called…"
yesterday
Graham Taylor replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"Disagree there!  I maintain a site with a couple of of large laurel hedges and one cut in July suffices and keeps it looking nice.  Agree.... looks nasty immediately after cutting but quickly perks up so you don't notice the cut leaves.  Pretty much…"
Tuesday
Duncan Neville replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"Thanks Tim"
Tuesday
Duncan Neville replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"Wow,  that's impressive !  Thanks"
Tuesday
Duncan Neville replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"That's pretty much my thinking, but I am seeing them more and more. Mostly at expensive new builds. Mostly people with very limited gardening experience wanting an immediate finished product. "
Tuesday
Kevin Harden replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"Elveden Brochure Edition 3 (EMAIL).pdf
I hope this helps, if anyone has any hedging requirements, we are happy to help.
Regards,  Kev"
Tuesday
Brett Bouchard is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
Monday
Tim Bucknall replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"Yes 5' actual instant shaped hedging is very expensive, but if that's what he wants he'll have to pay for it.  A good compromise is use individual plants- you could use 1.5m, but 1.8 or 2m plants would probably be bushier, and by trimming to height…"
Monday
Tim Bucknall replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"He needs instant 5' hedge."
Monday
Kevin Harden updated their profile photo
Monday
Robbie posted a blog post
Sunday
Anthony Toop replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"Agree, nothing worse than driving past a new Cherry Laurel hedge planted too close to boundaries or buildings, and thinking they'll regret that decision in a few years time!
If a client really wants Laurel, i atleast try to push them towards the…"
Saturday
Kevin Harden replied to Duncan Neville's discussion Instant hedging
"Hi NevilleI would be happy to help and chat with you when you are free Elveden Brochure Edition 3 (EMAIL) copy.pdf
kevin.harden@elveden.com"
Saturday
Kevin Harden is now a member of Landscape Juice Network
Saturday
More…