The latest rental tool – the trencher
Over the last year – we have all but become best friends with Bob, the owner of our local tool rental shop. It seems like every other week there is some major tool that we need to complete a project at “The Farm”. One day it’s a front loader or scissor lift, then next a power auger or maybe a walk behind brush cutter. And today, it was a big trencher to help lay in the drain tile behind the barn. Once again, Bob came through for us with a great piece of equipment. I like Bob and his rental shop because he gives the kind of service that not many places do any more. It’s nice to have someone who can help you select the right tools for the job – and takes the time to walk you through how to use them.
The trencher made quick work of digging for all of the drain tile to go in
So with the stone retaining wall now in place behind the barn – it was time to dig in all of the drain tile on the top and bottom of the hill. This is the final step before we can begin to lay the reclaimed brick for the pergola patio and build the base for the outdoor kitchen.
Laying drain tile is just not high on my list of “fun at the farm”activities. First of all – no one ever sees all of the hard work that goes into it because it all ends up buried. Secondly, I really hate spending money on items you never see! But without it – we would end up with a river or a pond on the patio any time we had a hard rain – so the trenching begins!
Another pile of rock to spread out! 10 tons of # 8 gravel – for the drainage ditches and back patio area behind the barn
We ended up digging three separate trenches to catch the water. First we buried at the top of the hill in front of the first set of big rocks. It’s purpose is to catch as much as possible of the draining water from the big hill behind the barn. 2nd – we put a drain tile inside the bottom of the wall to catch draining water within the hillside wall. 3rd – we put the final tile buried in the gravel pathway at the bottom of the back of the barn to carry away any final water.
A maze of pipe
The trencher made easy work of the digging process. We ended up going down about 28″ – and then adding about 10″ of stone to the bottom of the trench before laying in the pipe and then covering with stone. All of our drain tile is slotted so it can let the draining water wick through the openings and then be carried down and away from the barn and patio.
Progress! About half of the pipe is laid and the gravel patio area is taking shape
The pergola area will be all bricked – but we have decided to keep the 10 x 32′ area in back of the barn in the decorative gravel. That way water will drain easily through l to the drain tile – and it gives a big area to add some extra outdoor seating.
We should be able to finish up moving all of the gravel in place in the next few days – and then it’s onto the laying the patio! Some fun work that can actually be seen! 🙂