Charleston, SC & surrounding areas

843-513-2528
Belican Builds.

§ Hard Escape.

Bluestone Patio

Natural bluestone connecting structures, carrying water away, and giving the backyard a reason to be used.

Bluestone Patio Fig. — cover

Getting from the back door to the garage meant crossing patchy grass. On a rainy day that meant mud in the house. There was nowhere to sit outside and no reason to linger. Bluestone was the answer.

Before

Backyard before
Fig. Backyard before

During

I dug out the footprint, added the base materials, and started laying stone. Once the initial area was in place I could see the path between the garage door and the sunroom entrance was going to be tight, and seating would be in direct conflict with it. The space did not feel right.

So I expanded the footprint further toward the back of the property. That extension created a dedicated seating area that sits completely clear of the path between the two structures. It was the right call and it changed the whole dynamic of the space.

Excavation underway
Fig. Excavation underway

Foundation materials in place
Fig. Foundation materials in place

Footprint expanded, stone going in
Fig. Footprint expanded, stone going in

Stone laying in progress
Fig. Stone laying in progress

Patio taking shape
Fig. Patio taking shape

Patio taking shape, second view
Fig. Patio taking shape, second view

Stone laid, seating area defined
Fig. Stone laid, seating area defined

Final stone in place
Fig. Final stone in place

After

The stone is laid to carry water away from both structures, where it used to pool. The path between the back door and garage is clean and clear. The seating area at the back has nothing competing with it.

A bird feeder went in. Grass seed was put down around the edges and should fill in nicely. Once you give a backyard a reason to be used, people use it.

Patio after, wide view
Fig. Patio after, wide view

Patio after, seating area
Fig. Patio after, seating area

Patio after, path view
Fig. Patio after, path view

Details

  • Natural bluestone hardscape connecting back door to garage
  • Footprint expanded mid-project to create dedicated seating area separate from path
  • Stone laid to carry water away from both structures
  • Bird feeder installed, grass seeded around edges