Say, thanks for the compliment (your patio is handsome, worth every dime you spent on it!). We designed and built the pergola ourselves in two weekends, hiring a local landscaper to dig out the planting beds so we could set the footings easily. Roughcut hemlock was relatively inexpensive (forget, but $200 sticks in my mind). It is 30' long with a 12' projection. I stained it myself over the course of a Patriot's Day weekend (50/50 bleaching oil and silver grey stain). We added it to visually "tie" the house to the raised septic system and soften the tall aspect of the home on a low lot. Trompe l'oeil, I guess. It spans the continuation of the driveway to the back of the house. It is tall enough to accomodate a full size pick up truck/SUV, but NOT with a roof rack. The bay window in the bedroom dictated the height at the mid-point. We spent a lot of time working on proportion, so it would have enough mass to work with the proportions of the house; and not look too "spindly" or "cheap". Planting it has proven more problematic. It is a partial shade garden throughout the growing season here in Maine. I have Sweet Autumn clematis on the first (eastern) post, another clematis on the second (which I don't think will remain there throughout this season), and a lovely clematis (Triternata rubromarginata) on the third. I had an Akebia on the western post, but lost it to a brutally cold winter with no snow cover in 2003-4. I love Aristolochia durior and am thinking of adding it to either that post or the second one. But what I thought would be an easy planting exercise has been tougher than I expected, funny how that works, huh?

I used the large 2'x2' patio blocks to put a very small(6'x4') "patio" under my swing that sits by the pond. i just laid down some black plastic and plunked the pavers on top...leveling wasn't an issue with a space this small and the ground was alreay fairly level. It has been in place for 4 years now, no sinking, etc. If i was rich i would love to a larger patio this way, right now i am putting in a fire pit and i want seating all around it, the budget calls for cheap to free so I gathered up all my rocks(just ones from out of the field) and am diggin up the sod, laying the rock in and then moving on to the next spot, the grass is my "mortar". I plan on planting some of the gaps and weed whacking the whole thing when needed. I almost didn't do it but i have a section about 8'x6' done in very little time, very little work and it looks good.

The sand I use between pavers here in PA is called polymeric sand (contains polymers). It sounds like the same thing as stabilizing sand mentioned above. It is costly. It is around $22.00 for 60 pound bag. It comes in a tan or gray mixture. I don't suppose there is much limestone available in Florida. We use a base of modified stone here (limestone about an inch or so mixed with limestone "dirt" (that's the modified part), so that you can put down a 4 - 6 inch base and tamp it so that it really packs down. Then use 1 inch diameter pipes (appropriate length(s)) to lay down on the packed base which is slightly sloped for water runoff, dump sand (coarse construction or cement sand) in the area of the pipes that are resting on the base and use a straight board (2 x 4) of required length to "screed" or level the sand (don't tamp it) to the one inch depth (the top surface of the pipes will be slightly exposed). Starting at a convenient spot, lay the pavers on the sand and work your way around the area, moving the pipe as required to cover a manageable section with sand, laying pavers as you go. Try to slide the pipe(s), maintaining contact with the base at all times, and fill in the groove left by the pipes with sand, leveling lightly with a flat metal cement hand trowel or something similar.

I have a white granite gravel patio area. Total area is about 24 x 30 feet. The gravel is the same as what is sold by the bag at home depot. It is about 1/4 to 1/2 inch in diameter and rounded. I can walk barefoot over it. I would not like to run over it ;) I have a Chihuahua and an English Shepard, they are both absolutely fine with it. Some times the tiny pieces get caught in the treads of a running shoe and track into the house- but not a huge deal. The rounded stone might scoot around more. We have slate pieces (like flagstone) for the main walkway to the door and concrete pavers for a 12 x 12 patio for the table and chairs. This is an easy, cheap DIY alternative to expensive patios. It does take some maintenance for weeds and raking to keep it looking best. But what doesn't require some upkeep. It isn't even a problem with snow. we just shovel the off the slate. Easy. Water drains. The beauty is if you want to paver over it the stone base, it is done! We get lots of compliments on our unconventional patio.