0217 - Low-Maintenance Landscaping, Gutters, and Pantry January 1-January 7, 2007 | July 2-July 8, 2007 >> Vila: Hi, I'm Bob Vila. Welcome to the show. Our basement-refinishing project is really almost finished, and today we're spending a lot of time outdoors. We're putting in some plantings in the front lawn -- ground cover and bulbs and stuff. We've also put in some new gutters on the house that we'll show you, and we're putting in a new type of lawn that does not require any mowing -- lots of stuff for the kids to play in. And we'll install a new kitchen pantry. Stick around. It's good to have you with us. This 85-year-old house had only one gutter left on the front, and this one had been sorely neglected and was full of muck. On the rear, the homeowners had tried a do-it-yourself job with some vinyl gutters, but we called in the big guns from New England Gutter Kings to do a seamless aluminum gutter. Once the old gutter was removed, the crew measures carefully and then extrudes the length they need from the heavy-gauge sheet aluminum, right out of the back of a truck parked right in front of the house. They cut mitered corners, but they don't skimp on the gauge of the aluminum because flimsier material usually is more difficult to work with. This 32 gauge holds the profile of the gutter well, and it'll stand up to any abuse through cleanings and work on the house or the roof over the years. It also gives the profile of a crown molding up there. We were lucky that only about eight feet of fascia board had to be replaced, so we used some of our western red cedar before installing the new front gutter. The installation is a job for at least three people, lifting together and getting the pitch needed to channel the water towards the downspout. Because we have this house sitting on a slope and we wanted to avoid all that water from the backside of the roof accumulating in the backyard, we sloped all the backside gutters and carried the water to the front, where it can drain off towards the street and the sewers. Well, it started raining all of a sudden, and rain is a good thing. When you're putting in a new garden in New England, autumn is the best time to do it. Now, many of the improvements that we've already made to the house were things that really fall into the category of safety. This tree behind me is a big, old Norway spruce, and we limbed it. We had our friends from Tree Tech come in, and in a matter of minutes, they got up there in a cherry picker with a little chain saw and carefully took out necessary limbs so that enough light and air could come through the tree. That's important because when you have a blizzard coming through, if a tree is very dense, it's in danger of falling onto the house. Now, in the last couple of weeks, part of the landscape on the front of the house has been replaced. What we had here was just a very scruffy front yard that sloped right to the sidewalk. And the main improvement has been to put in this beautiful recycled granite stone curb along the front of the house. And it acts as a retainer wall, but it's also a beautiful accent, and it also gives us two steps here back down to the sidewalk. But i'd like to say "hi" to our friends Ruth Foster and Nick, who has been doing the installation from Atlantic. Hi, guys.
>> Hi, Bob.
>> Vila: Don't you love the weather?
>> Oh, boy.
>> Vila: Let's talk for a second about what the garden scheme is here, Ruth. What was your idea, in terms of the whole design?
>> The idea was that this should be a low-maintenance garden, and we took the lawns out all over. This is a busy household with children, and mowing grass is the highest-maintenance thing you can do -- putting in ground cover.
>> Vila: So what's the ground cover that the men are putting in right now?
>> This is pachysandra, which is very easy to take care of. It takes a year or two to get going, but it'll be all filled in.
>> Vila: Now, how does it grow? Does it just send out roots and rhizomes that send up new little plantlets?
>> Exactly.
>> Vila: Oh, okay. And do you have to worry about fertilizing?
>> Nothing.
>> Vila: Nothing? I like that.
>> That's why we put it in.
>> Vila: So, Nick, the soil condition that we have here -- is that something that you had to amend?
>> Yeah, we filled in what was previously here, a slope, and then we retained it with the antique granite. And then we filled in about 18 inches here of new screened loam.
>> Vila: Okay, and what's the tree that you've put in right behind us there?
>> It's a red Japanese maple.
>> Vila: That'll be beautiful. How big will that get?
>> It could probably get to about 30 feet.
>> Vila: Wow. So that's something that you would have to think about limbing also down the line.
>> Exactly.
>> Vila: And then, Ruth, you chose some evergreen shrubs, right?
>> Yes.
>> Vila: What are they?
>> Well, we chose lovely holly and lovely rhododendron because they bloom. And there's a succession of bloom here so that even though we -- we've tried to make it very low-maintenance. We have bulbs in the spring. We have rhododendrons. We have the berries on the holly. You can see them now. And the whole thing kind of moves along without a lot of work from the homeowner.
>> Vila: What kind of bulbs are you putting in?
>> We put in two kinds of daffodils -- early daffodils and late daffodils. And we put in beautiful blue muscari, lovely little blue flowers along the wall.
>> Vila: So there will be a blue-and-yellow accent in the spring.
>> Yes, there will.
>> Vila: That sounds wonderful. I think we should go around the back of the house and see the plan there. Okay, and, of course, the rain is slowing down now. And the side of the house has been outfitted with a wonderful white cedar fence from Architectural here in the Boston area. And what they've done is not just fenced but create a bin for garbage and an area for storage or garden tools and even this fantastic little potting bench. Did you have anything to do with that?
>> I designed it.
>> Vila: It's just a perfect little thing. And Sarah, the homeowner, has already put some of the things that I guess she's trying to save through winter. But let's talk about the materials, Nick, 'cause again here you managed to find some use for recycled granite.
>> Again, the same recycled granite from the Danvers state hospital. We cut it into lengths of about four feet to --
>> Vila: now, the cutting process can't be easy.
>> Well, what we use are the wet saws with a water attachment and a diamond blade. And it cuts through fairly easy. It's a little loud and sometimes a little bit messy, but it cuts through the granite, and we dress up the sawn ends with a torch to give it a thermal, rough finish, then chisel it.
>> Vila: That's great.
>> And then the material that you've chosen here is -- what size is this?
>> 3/8-inch peastone.
>> Vila: So it's a peastone.
>> It's traditional. The composition, the color is nice. It goes with the fence. And it's very easy to maintain, and you never get a water problem in this 'cause it drains through.
>> Vila: It drains right through, exactly. And then what I love is the transition you made over here, where there's three steps, but they're differing widths.
>> We cut each step a little shorter as we got towards the top -- sort of a pyramid effect with these stone blocks.
>> Vila: Beautiful. Let's take a look around back.
>> Vila: So as we enter the backyard, Nick, the choice of hardscape material changes. What did you use here?
>> We used these natural, flat fieldstones because of the relaxed, natural feeling back here. This loose retaining wall was already installed and existing when we came, and we wanted to do something sort of relaxed to go along with the feel of the backyard as it is.
>> Vila: And so the shape of -- I mean, this is primarily a functional area to have -- a table or for kids to play with Tonka toys or whatever. The shape of it is sort of defined by the slope, you're saying?
>> We kind of kept it free-form, just like the wall is against the slope.
>> Vila: And they're just laid in stone dust.
>> Correct.
>> Vila: There's no real concrete or cement involved.
>> It's all dry-laid materials with the compacted stone dust underneath everything, holding it all together and then a layer of the peastone again on top.
>> Vila: But the choice of the peastone is one of the important things, too, because sometimes you just say, "get me half-inch gravel," or whatever, and it's blue-gray. What is this mixture?
>> This is a natural bank-run mix that's screened, so it's got all of the natural colors from the native area. It's not crushed. You can see that it's still sort of smooth pebble instead of a crushed aggregate, which is smaller pebbles from the crushings of larger stones.
>> Vila: It's a great, great choice. It's a very good collaboration between you guys. Congratulations. Let me ask you one last question, Ruth, in terms of your plant-material choices here. It's autumn. A lot of things are dying back, but what's the logic, in terms of what you've put on the bank?
>> We got all of these plants from Monrovia. They're one of the largest plant suppliers to local nurseries all over the country, and they have a number of growing stations where they grow very specialized plants. They're absolutely beautiful plants. I was here earlier in the season with some blooms of the hydrangeas so we could work in the colors.
>> Vila: So our cedar will weather, and we'll have all the beautiful growth of the flowers.
>> Yes.
>> Vila: Thank you both. It's a beautiful job. Now, all this natural stuff meets high-tech stuff on this other side of the garden. And we've got two interesting products that have been used here. The first one is a product that we've installed along the perimeter of the fence. Okay, so we're gonna look at a product that's been developed to help control weeds along a fence line. And Jack Schreiner's with us from Bruckman Rubber company out in Nebraska. Now, what, the government asked you to develop this?
>> Well, the Department of Environment Quality in Nebraska had asked us to start developing products that would utilize some of the scrap tire to clean up the environment. So this is one of the products, the weed seal, that we developed that utilizes about 50% scrap tire and 50% virgin material, a special formula so it allows it to seal together when you install the pieces.
>> Vila: So it's basically 100% rubber.
>> 100% Rubber with fiber reinforcement.
>> Vila: And so the idea is that you just -- we interrupted you here, but you're just laying it down along the perimeter of the fences.
>> We'll lay it under -- we'll cut the sections for between the posts, and we'll lay those sections between the posts.
>> Vila: It's heavy.
>> Yes. 1.6 Pounds, so it won't blow away. It'll stay here. And you can see by the density of it, nothing's gonna growth through it. Well, what I like is the whole concept that you're not gonna be trimming or edging with a weed wacker and banging up the nice cedar fence.
>> We even had the EPA talk to us. So much spray goes down that harms our environment and gets down to our groundwater when people spray their fences, and this gives a big opportunity.
>> Vila: Oh, with weed-controlling chemicals.
>> It's very dangerous stuff that gets put on our soil, so this prevents that.
>> Vila: What are these square ones for? These square ones are what we call our post protectors, and they're designed to go around -- we have what we call a slit-lock device, designed to go around the post on an existing installation so that you'd put it on there. This particular one here had a conduit coming up, so we required another cut on it, another notch on it. But this is put in when we -- you can slip this around there and then go around the other side and --
>> Vila: So you're not gonna have anything seed itself at the post, either.
>> Right.
>> Vila: Well, that looks great. It's a terrific product. Thanks, Jack.
>> You're welcome. Thank you.
>> Vila: And at the other end of the little backyard, we've got a totally different concept. Greg Goehner's with us from NewGrass. And when we started this project back here -- and remember, this family has two little kids, 4 and 5 years old, and they're rough on it, but there are also two big trees back here, lots of shade, and you couldn't grow grass. So that is the reason that you're seeing NewGrass going down here. And, Greg, let's talk about it, 'cause a lot of people have a stigma for artificial-turf products and that it's kind of rough on your knees, or you think about it in terms of football fields. This is a new approach.
>> Yes, it is, Bob. The NewGrass product we're putting in here features two different types of blades. We have a soft monofilament and a twisted fiber that adds a little cushioning to the product. It's soft. It's durable.
>> Vila: It is, yeah.
>> Children love it. Pets love it.
>> Vila: But you don't have to mow it. You don't have to water it.
>> Exactly.
>> Vila: Yeah. Now, what is it made out of?
>> The fibers are polyethylene, and the backing is a urethane. It's very durable. It has a U.V. coating that has a warranty of 10 years.
>> Vila: And what about water puddling on it? Do you have to worry about -- I mean, does the water filter through it?
>> It filters through at a rate of 30 gallons per hour.
>> Vila: Oh, so that's not a problem.
>> Now we're gonna lay out the NewGrass, cut it to shape. We're gonna have one seam that's nearly invisible upon completion.
>> Vila: Okay.
>> Then we'll stake the perimeter so it doesn't lift up, broom up the fibers, and you're set for 10 years or more of a beautiful NewGrass lawn.
>> Vila: Does it come with a warranty?
>> It does, yes.
>> Vila: Okay, well, Greg, this looks like the regular kind of seaming process that you do with wall-to-wall carpet inside the house.
>> Yes, it certainly is. So we're getting it prepared to do our initial seaming of the two pieces. Now, with the pieces put together, you can see we have a nearly invisible seam. Once we do the final brooming, it'll be nearly impossible to see what work we've done.
>> Vila: Greg, what about the cost of this?
>> The cost for this NewGrass rye is $4.99 A square foot. Insulation is customer-, project-specific.
>> Vila: Well, this is a very specific project, and it works really well. Thanks a lot.
>> Thank you very much.
>> Vila: Okay. This closed-caption sponsorship is brought to you by...
>> Vila: Hi, I'm Bob Vila, and next time on the show, our basement project's almost done, but we're doing some home improvements on the exterior, putting in lots of landscape in the backyard, as well as in the front, where we're putting in ground cover and planting bulbs. We'll also be showing you a new product that helps to control weeds along the perimeter under the fences. And instead of planting any grass, we'll be putting down a new product that's called NewGrass. You don't have to mow it. And inside, in the corner of the kitchen, a new pantry installation. Don't miss it.
>> Vila: Hi, I'm Bob Vila. Next time on the show, we're working on the outside, putting the finishing touches on our landscaping, including planting some NewGrass -- a product that never needs mowing -- weed control around the fence perimeter, and we're putting in some aluminum gutters. Don't miss it.
>> Vila: Hi, I'm Bob Vila. Next time on the show, we're doing lots of landscaping, putting down NewGrass, and aluminum gutters. Don't miss it.
>> Vila: And what a wonderful, maintenance-free backyard. Let's come over to the other end of the garden now and say "hi" to Jay Triandafilou from Architectural Fence. Hi. How are you, Jay? And you are putting the finishing touches on this entire fencing job with what has got to be one of the most elegant gates in this town. Tell us about it.
>> Thank you, Bob. This is a board-bottom-with-a-lattice-top gate, Bob. It has the tongue-and-groove sheathing that we use.
>> Vila: Okay.
>> And above you see this lattice, which is what we call a half-lap lattice.
>> "Half-lap" because -- well, how is it constructed?
>> Each piece is individually cut so that it makes a half lap, so it fits in and makes a smooth finish...
>> Vila: So you run it through a table saw with a dado blade.
>> Sure, yeah.
>> Vila: And then the arch?
>> The arch is a laminated cap above so it bends with the curve.
>> Vila: And the construction of the gate is really well thought out. I mean, this is one sturdy item.
>> It is very well made. You have the half-lap-frame-on-the-side style. That makes it rigid.
>> Vila: Very rigid, yeah. And then, of course, it's the same white cedar as everything else throughout here, so it's gonna weather. It's gonna turn nice and gray.
>> It will silver.
>> Vila: Excellent. Thanks, Jay. It's a beautiful job. And one of the interesting things that we did to the back of the house is to modify the entrance. There was just a single little back door into a tiny little mudroom, if you will. And by inserting this big trio of patio doors, not only have we given them a view of this new garden from inside the kitchen, but we've also turned that little mudroom into a terrific little pantry that we've outfitted with California Closets.
>> Well, California Closets -- we come to each person's house after they call us at the office and set up an appointment. We take a look at the space and see how the person needs help or if they have a special vision that they'd like to do. In Sarah's case -- this is an old house with sort of an extra walkway. There was a door right here where the window is right now, and there were lots of hooks with things hanging on them. It was sort of cluttered, and it felt a little bit dark. So what Sarah told me is that she needed a space for growing families, for her family that's growing, and to make lunch. So what we've designed here is a butler's-pantry style. We have some little drawers going in. It's gonna be very quaint -- a deep countertop with some spaces up above for snacks and crackers. The drawers will have little baggies, maybe some spoons for yogurt and things like that, and then underneath some open space for recycling storage.
>> This is the rail here. This is the backbone of the whole California Closet system. What we do is we attach this side of the rail to your wall. It'll fasten into the studs with those screws. Also, when you take your hanger, the hanger sits onto the rail like this, which allows the partitions to be solid. It allows partitions to go up and down, and you can basically stand on it, and it'll hold any amount of weight that you want to put onto the system.
>> All right, here's the last of the four drawers. They all come complete with full-extension drawer runners. Down bottom we got a couple compartments. The one on the right side can be used for your recycling bin. Up top's great 'cause it's got wide-open space on both sides for your kitchen appliances. We also have dividers in there, which make great use of your cookie trays and muffin tins. So basically what we've done here is we've just taken a jumbled-up mudroom, and we've converted it into a useful pantry for your kitchen.
>> Vila: And that's what it looks like moved into. Not bad, huh? We're out of time. Join us again next week. We'll give you some tips on exterior paint jobs and how best to accomplish them in cold weather. Also, we're installing a trellis out of western red cedar and IPE decking. Till then, I'm Bob Vila. Thanks for joining us. Looking for help on your next project? Visit BobVila.com for everything you need to get the job done right. You'll find show highlights, interactive tools for planning your next project, and helpful how-to articles for every room in your home.
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