Easy and budget friendly weekend project: a front stoop

Levelling the subsoil is as easy as using a level and a scrap piece of wood.
(Gazette, Julie Cadieux)

by Julie Cadieux

Lack of a proper front porch on a new home construction in St. Lazare prompted the owners to take on this budget-friendly design which consists of slate-lookalike patio stones and grass. The result? A small gravel front walkway has been turned into a larger and more formal patio area.
An edger, a level, sand, measuring tape and a bottle of chalk was all that was needed to complete this “do it yourself” project.
After raising and compacting the area with fill and topping it off with topsoil, rolls of grass were installed. Next the slatelike stone pavers were laid out in a desired pattern, making sure each one was spaced the same distance apart. Chalk was then sprinkled along the edge of the stone and once removed, the chalk outline remained on the grass making it simple to remove the grass with an edger. The bare area was levelled with sand and compacted using a scrap piece of lumber.
The process took several hours but the result was well worth it when combined with complementary landscaping for a unique, inexpensive and easy DIY project.
Julie Cadieux’s home styling advice is available at http://www.julieloveshome.wordpress.com