The Cool House: More work than fun

Sunday, April 05, 2009

More work than fun

Well, the whole save-a-tree rescue mission did not go according to plan. It turns out trees are heavier than one would think, well this one anyway, and our combined super strength was only enough to move it an inch or so. We abandoned the effort and if the landscaper can't move it we'll have to resort to the final solution - the chainsaw.
We moved on to the next chore on the list: repairing the mortar that had cracked during the frost. Here's a tip for anyone laying a patio with pavers or stone: Place the stones as close as possible to each other and fill the cracks with sand or stone dust. That way you avoid frost-pop, loose pavers and re-grouting every other Spring.


These bluestones were laid in a random pattern with mortar that varies from a 1/2" to a miniscule 1/8". It's fiddly work to get the loose mortar out and fill in the cracks, then you have to wipe the excess off before it dries and leaves ugly marks on the stones. I left half way through to walk the dogs and when I came back The Guy was on the phone. I hope he was getting DIY advice because that mortar is separating as he speaks. I also hope he didn't track stone dust through the house on his way to answer the call...

3 comments:

Jennifer said...

Good luck with the tree! I hope the landscaper can do something.

Our stone patio is done with sand dust... it's been maintenance free except power washing so far.

Susan Lang @ Designing Your Dream Home said...

I plan to add to my blog, a tidbit blog once a week beginning this week and this is one tidbit I plan to post. I will go ahead and share it here. If your last resort is the chainsaw... you might want to try this...and most definitely share the outcome on your blog. I have never had the opportunity to try this. A very close friend told me it a living tree is cut down, jump on the top of the stump immediately. She said there will still be some energy coming out of the stump. When the tree is alive this energy shoots up through the tree trunk. When the tree is cut down, the energy is still flowing for just a little bit of time. So, immediately jump on top of the stump so you can feel that energy. She said it is electrifying, almost orgasmic. Just make sure you are not standing in the direction the tree will fall!

modernemama said...

I will so blog this but I'm not sure how I'm going to explain to my chainsaw-wielding landscaper what I'm doing and why...