Lawn and Garden Construction

© 2011 Robert F. Baudendistel. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

First published by AuthorHouse 5/31/2011

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4248-5 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4247-8 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4567-4246-1 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2011907773

Printed in the United States of America

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First published in 1983 by Reston Publishing.

Many thanks to my five children for their love and encouragement:

My sons David and Jason and my daughters Betsy, Stacy, and Jesica.

CONTENTS

TOOLS

LUMBER AND RELATED WOOD PRODUCTS

STEPS INVOLVED IN CONCRETE WORK

HOW TO INTERPRET BUILDING DIAGRAMS

ESTIMATION OF MATERIALS

PLANNING THE PROJECT

DECKS

PATIOS

GARDEN STEPS

WALKS AND GARDEN PATHS

FENCES

WALLS FOR THE GARDEN

DRAINAGE, DOWNSPOUTS, AND DRY WELLS

POOLS

UNDERGROUND SPRINKLING SYSTEMS

GREENHOUSES AND COLD FRAMES

PLANTERS AND PLANT SUPPORTS

ROCK GARDENS

WINTER PROTECTION

BENCHES

BARBECUES

TOOL SHEDS

OF SPECIAL INTEREST BIRD STRUCTURES

HOW TO BE AWARDED THE CONTRACT

BUSINESS ADVICE

PREFACE

It is the intention of this book to provide the necessary back ground knowledge plus the how-to expertise to enable the reader to construct a variety of yard and garden structures.

Each chapter, written in easy-to-comprehend language and complemented with ample diagrams, stresses the importance of planning, as well as reviewing all the various considerations affecting the project’s eventual outcome prior to its actual construction. The projects described in many of the chapters are designed to be both instructional and useful.

Students, interested homeowners, and aspiring contractors will all benefit from its contents. Horticulturalists may become knowledgeable about a variety of construction techniques, while construction majors will recognize the ease with which they can extend their employment opportunities into the field of landscape construction. Chapters dealing with contractual matters and business advice will be well received by any aspiring contractor.

It is hoped that this book will help each reader develop confidence in his or her ability to consider, plan, and execute a specific project. It will also serve as a quick reference source with respect to the quantities required and the most appropriate materials to use for a project.

Chapter 1

TOOLS

Good-quality tools are essential to anyone intent on constructing a landscape item. Before any tool is purchased, it should be checked carefully for durability, efficiency, sound construction, and ease of maintenance. Good-quality tools may be more ex pensive than some on the market, but the additional price usually ensures that the tool will perform admirably for many trouble-free years.

MAINTENANCE, STORAGE, AND RECORD KEEPING

Proper maintenance of your tools is necessary to keep them functioning efficiently. When periodic maintenance is ignored, your finished project and your tools may suffer. Cleaning each tool immediately after it is used prevents having to do it the next time the tool is needed. This practice also prolongs the life of your tools.

Wooden handles of tools should be treated with linseed oil two to three times each year to preserve them and extend their length of service. Every attempt should be made to store tools with wooden handles in a dry location indoors when they are not being used to eliminate the excessive and rapid deterioration that occurs when they are left outdoors.

It is essential that you keep all cutting tools well sharpened. Using a dull saw blade or drill bit requires much more physical exertion and may affect the final appearance of your project. Dull tools are also dangerous.

Establishing a definite storage location for each of your tools should enable you to note at a glance which tool is missing from your storage inventory and possibly determine its whereabouts. One simple yet effective method of accomplishing this is to trace the outline of each tool on a pegboard. Items not suited to being housed on a pegboard and those with a specific function are best placed in a cabinet clearly labeled with the contents of each drawer and their quantities.

A checklist of tools to be used for each project is absolutely essential, since it not only helps you decide which tools will be needed but also enables you to make certain that you return with all the tools with which you started (Figure 1-1). Expanding this checklist into a complete inventory of all your tools could prove worthwhile for insurance purposes in the event that a loss is incurred.

To help alleviate the problem of leaving a precious tool behind, many contractors use some means of identifying their tools so that the finder of a lost tool feels obligated to notify the owner of the tool’s whereabouts. Usually, the contractor’s name and phone number are sufficient. Tools can be marked with a stencil, a punch, or an inexpensive electric scribing implement.

POWER TOOLS

Because of their speed and accuracy, electric power tools are frequently used to perform a variety of operations formerly accomplished with hand tools. Their proper usage must be thoroughly understood by every craftsperson so that injury does not occur to either the user or the tool.

For simplicity, the following guide to proper power tool usage has been divided into two categories: tips on ensuring personal safety and tips on proper handling and manipulation of the tool itself to achieve peak performance.

Power Tool Safety

It is imperative that the work area be safe.

1. It should not be cluttered with debris.

2. It should be well lighted.

Figure 1-1. A tool checklist

3. Bystanders must be kept a safe distance away.

4. Materials should be well supported and clamped down when necessary.

You must be ever conscious of your source of electricity.

1. No electric tool should be used in damp locations or exposed to the rain.

2. An electric cord should never come in contact with sharp objects or heat and should never be yanked from a receptacle.

3. Before any electric tool is serviced, it should be disconnected from its power source.

4. An extension cord should be of adequate size and labeled for outdoor use if so used. It is essential that the cord be inserted into a ground fault circuit receptacle.

5. Never allow yourself or any material to become entangled with an electric cord.

6. Never operate any tool if the line voltage is questionable or known to fluctuate.

Wearing the proper attire is an absolute necessity.

1. Loose-fitting clothing or jewelry should not be worn because of the possibility of it getting caught.

2. Safety glasses should be worn whenever a danger of flying debris exists.

Safe treatment of each tool must always be kept in mind.

1. When idle, a tool should be stored in a dry location out of the reach of small children.

2. Monthly maintenance should always be performed while the tool is not in use. This includes checking for sharpness of attachments and proper functioning of all moveable external parts, plus following the required lubrication schedule.

3. When in use, a tool must never be forced beyond its capabilities.

4. Never use the wrong sized attachment on any power tool, or injury to yourself and the tool may result.

5. Make certain that you are never off balance and that you do not overextend your reach when using a power tool.

6. Avoid operating any electric tool in an explosive environment where fumes might be ignited by sparks generated by the tool. Make sure that no gasoline, oil, paint thinner, or other volatile liquid is near the working area.

7. When an electric tool appears to be working at less than peak efficiency, disconnect the cord before attempting any examination of the tool or its components.

8. Never place your hands beneath the working area for any reason.

9. Never remove any of the manufacturer’s safety-designed components from any power tool.

Using Power Tools With Optimum Success

Circular Saw. Start by checking the saw blade for tautness and the electrical cord for wear. Test cuts and precision depth cuts with a piece of scrap wood before making the actual cut.

When trimming an edge, make sure that the saw’s housing passes over the material to be kept. The material to be cut off should always be to the right of the saw blade (Figure 1-2).

Figure 1-2. Positioning a circular saw

To avoid kickback, be sure to provide adequate support near the cut, and make every attempt to cut on the drawn line. (Kick back may also be caused by a dull blade.) Place the good side down, especially when cutting wood panels, so that any splintering will occur on the top surface.

When the saw is used to make angle cuts, its blade must be adjusted to the desired setting and then used to cut the material. For a successful cut, the saw’s shoe must lie flat on the material (Figure 1-3).

Figure 1-3. Making bevel angle cuts with a circular saw.

A pocket cut requires close adherence to the following series of steps: Adjust the blade to the desired depth. Tilt the saw forward so that the front of its shoe rests on the material. Lift the blade guard so that the saw blade nearly touches the drawn line, then release the guard to rest on the material to prevent the saw blade from missing its cut. As you begin to cut, gradually lower the saw blade until the shoe lies flat on the material; then complete the desired cut. Allow the blade to come to a complete halt before withdrawing the blade.

Figure 1-4. Making pocket cuts with a circular saw.

A hand saw is usually needed to complete notched cuts that require two perpendicular cuts and an acceptable final appearance, as for formation of stair stringers and for deck boards that require notching to fit around a rail post (Figure 1-5).

Figure 1-5. Making stringer cuts for stairs with a circular saw and a hand saw.

Sabre Saw. Before using a sabre saw, it is advisable to clamp down thin material such as sheet metal, Formica, plastics, and Power Tools composition tile to guarantee straight cuts and to minimize vibration, since excessive vibration can result in damage to the material. Unlike circular saws, most sabre saws are able to cut intricate designs in a variety of materials. The procedure for making pocket cuts and bevel angle cuts with a sabre saw is similar to that explained in the circular saw discussion.

Electric Drill. Because of its adaptability to a variety of attachments, the electric drill is an absolute necessity for every crafts- person. It enables one to perform a variety of operations with just one tool. Drilling holes, sanding, grinding, buffing, and inserting and removing screws (provided the drill is equipped with a reversible chuck rotation) can each be accomplished with the appropriate electric drill attachment (Figure 1-6).

Figure 1-6. Electric drill attachments.

Power Tool Terminology

It is helpful to be familiar with terminology associated with electric power tools.

Guarantee or warranty. For how long is the tool covered? Will it be replaced free of charge or repaired free of charge during the specified period? How accessible are replacement parts?

Double insulated. Tools having this notation need no grounding and protect the user from electric shock, no matter what the circumstances. Such tools have a two-prong plug.

Grounded. Tools equipped with three wires to prevent electric shock to the user if the internal wiring malfunctions. They require an adapter, which must be properly installed to achieve the desired grounding.

Switches. Several types are available. Variable speed switches provide the user with the ability to change the rpms of the motor from zero to the maximum by simply changing the finger pressure. A trigger switch has a locking mechanism quickly released by a squeeze of the trigger. Some power saws are equipped with a safety switch