After work on Monday afternoon I stopped @ Lowes and bought the gate latches & hardware - probably too much stuff,
but I can always take back what isn't used. I hate having to stop in the middle of something to 'make a run' because
I am short a bolt, nut, bracket or piece... But it always seems to happen.
- First thing I did was remove the walk-thru gate, and re-hang it to 'swing in' and toward the garage.
I think it will work better that way.
- Put a 2"x4" board under the gate, and used that as a reference for clearance of the pickets, then measured, cut and
hung the pickets on the walk-thru gate.
- Couldn't do that with the drive-thru gate, as the asphalt has not yet been layed. Instead, put a string at the
level of the pickets on either side of the gate and took my measurements. I cut 1 1/2" off of the bottom of each picket,
and marked the distance from the top of the picket to the first rail - to align them on the fence. Managed to get all
but the two 'end' pickets up (they need to be cut lengthwise then fitted around the hinges).
Work yet to be done this week:
- Mount the gate latches and hardware;
- Rake, seed and water the landscaped areas;
- Clean up & straighten up;
Thoughts/Ideas:
- Need to 'clean up' the curb/concrete I cut last year, near the driveway entrance. Am considering making a form
and pouring a bit more concrete for that.
- I will probably put the residual rock/gravel that is just outside the fence next to the shed. There
is 2-3 cu yds of topsoil still there, but should be able to 'shovel' it further to the side, enough to allow a 'drive thru'
for the work area, into the back yard!
- There is some leftover retaining wall blocks. We have a lot of rotted 6"x6" landscaping timbers around the flower
gardens, this may be of use there...
- Neighborhood children are using the 'new driveway' to cut through the yard. Looks like I need another fence -
probably just a 40' extension of a 3-rail decorative "rustic" fence that is already there.
Lot of progress, as seen in photos -
Managed to get the retaining wall in, pickets up, fabricate & hang the gate frames, do some landscaping, and a bit
of clean-up as well.
More work planned, during the week -
- Buy and install gate latches;
- Buy and spread some grass seed;
- Install the remaining pickets on the gates;
- etc., etc., etc...
