• Random Cut Flagstone Patio Patterns
• Random Cut Walkway Patterns
• Setting the Stones

Given the variety of masonry products and materials the designs for masonry projects and in particular patios and walkways can seem to have almost endless possibilities. Working with flagstone alone the stone can be laid out in fitted irregular layouts like we did with the decking in our Hewlett Koi Pond project (photos 13, 14, 15, & 16) or using cut stone you can have an ordered geometric layout or one that is "random".

The trouble is in planning and designing Random Cut Flagstone Patios and Walkway people are often stumped as to how to create a layout has a random look that that doesn’t generate a lot of wasted stone cutoffs. To accomplish that we use layout pattern that on a small scale looks random but on a larger macro scale repeats itself.

The trick is to produce a scale drawing of your project that defines the desired size and shape you want and to then lay scale drawing of the flagging pattern layout you find most pleasing to your taste (i.e. do you want your pattern to be predominantly small medium or large cut stones) over the top of your layout and piece the pattern templates together like a puzzle. To give a straight edge to the border of your layout when using patters such as these you use cuts from the stones on opposite side of the patterns to fill in the voids.

This plan (click for a larger view) illustrates how we used one of the patterns to layout a driveway entrance walkway with a quarter turn cut out of it to fit around and accent a nearby tree

The patio layout patterns illustrated below are based on module size of 100 sf each while the flagstone walkway patterns are 3′ and 4′ wide in 12′ long modules.

Typically in the Westchester & Fairfield county areas we see a lot of homes with walks and patios done in Pennsylvania Flagstone which comes from quarries in Pennsylvania and the southern New York tier and depending upon the quarry and even the lot or palette we see a full range of color encompassing blue, green, brown, lilac, rust, and gunmetal. The natural cleft ( the flagstone is cleaved it along its bedding plane) gives the surface of the stone subtle natural variations which adds to it character and we recommend a trip to visit one of our stone suppliers to see the colors and variations yourself.

In addition to the Pennsylvania Flagstone we also see Vermont Slate (which can have even more dramatic pronounced color variations) and gauged thermal cut bluestone stone which is stone with four sawn edges, a sawn back, and a thermal (flamed) top face. The bluestone exhibits some variation it is valued for its blue to gray color range.

Random Cut Flagstone Patio Patterns

(click for walkway patterns)

Repeating Flagstone Patterns (100 sf modules)
	Patio Pattern 1 Code Stone Size Qty A 12" x 12" 7 B 12" x 18" 12 C 12" x 24" 12 D 12" x 30" E 12" x 36" F 18" x 18" 12 G 18" x 24" 8 H 18" x 30" I 18" x 36" J 24" x 24" K 24" x 30" L 24" x 36" M 30" x 30" N 30" x 36" O 36" x 36" Total 51
	Patio Pattern 2 Code Stone Size Qty A 12" x 12" 5 B 12" x 18" 6 C 12" x 24" 6 D 12" x 30" 1 E 12" x 36" F 18" x 18" 6 G 18" x 24" 9 H 18" x 30" 4 I 18" x 36" J 24" x 24" 4 K 24" x 30" L 24" x 36" M 30" x 30" N 30" x 36" O 36" x 36" Total 41
	Patio Pattern 3 Code Stone Size Qty A 12" x 12" 9 B 12" x 18" 12 C 12" x 24" 8 D 12" x 30" E 12" x 36" F 18" x 18" 9 G 18" x 24" 11 H 18" x 30" 1 I 18" x 36" J 24" x 24" K 24" x 30" L 24" x 36" M 30" x 30" N 30" x 36" O 36" x 36" Total 50
	Patio Pattern 4 Code Stone Size Qty A 12" x 12" 1 B 12" x 18" 3 C 12" x 24" 2 D 12" x 30" E 12" x 36" 3 F 18" x 18" G 18" x 24" 5 H 18" x 30" 2 I 18" x 36" 2 J 24" x 24" 3 K 24" x 30" 4 L 24" x 36" 3 M 30" x 30" N 30" x 36" O 36" x 36" Total 28

Random Cut Flagstone Walkway Patterns

(click for patio patterns)

Repeating Walkway Flagstone Patterns
	4 x 12 Walkway Pattern 1 Code Stone Size Qty A 12" x 12" 3 B 12" x 18" 9 C 12" x 24" 5 D 12" x 30" E 12" x 36" F 18" x 18" 1 G 18" x 24" 4 H 18" x 30" I 18" x 36" J 24" x 24" K 24" x 30" L 24" x 36" M 30" x 30" N 30" x 36" O 36" x 36" Total 22
	4 x 12 Walkway Pattern 2 Code Stone Size Qty A 12" x 12" B 12" x 18" C 12" x 24" 5 D 12" x 30" E 12" x 36" F 18" x 18" 2 G 18" x 24" 4 H 18" x 30" 2 I 18" x 36" J 24" x 24" K 24" x 30" 2 L 24" x 36" M 30" x 30" N 30" x 36" O 36" x 36" Total 15
	3 x 12 Walkway Pattern 1 Code Stone Size Qty A 12" x 12" 3 B 12" x 18" 3 C 12" x 24" 5 D 12" x 30" E 12" x 36" F 18" x 18" 2 G 18" x 24" 2 H 18" x 30" I 18" x 36" J 24" x 24" 2 K 24" x 30" L 24" x 36" M 30" x 30" N 30" x 36" O 36" x 36" Total 17
	3 x 12 Walkway Pattern 2 Code Stone Size Qty A 12" x 12" 2 B 12" x 18" 4 C 12" x 24" 2 D 12" x 30" E 12" x 36" F 18" x 18" 4 G 18" x 24" 2 H 18" x 30" I 18" x 36" J 24" x 24" 1 K 24" x 30" 1 L 24" x 36" M 30" x 30" N 30" x 36" O 36" x 36" Total 16

Setting the Stones

After your stone has been selected, it is set in Portland cement (the result of a chemical process that combines limestone and other materials) and sand. The final process includes acid washing the walkway and surveying the surrounding project area for grading and repair. We apply topsoil and seed these areas, if necessary. Finally, after 60 days, for an additional charge, we can seal your project with sealant.

Special template patterns for building a cut dimensional bluestone or flagstone patio that has the appearance of a random cut stone layout.

flagstone, flagging, random, cut, template, pattern , bluestone, paving, patio, walkways, projects, landscape, design, construction, decorative stone, masonry, mason, concrete, stone dust, sand

Not So Big Remodeling: Tailoring Your Home for the Way You Really Live

Many of us first took notice of Sarah Susanka ten years ago with the release of her now seminal book The Not So Big House: A Blueprint for the Way We Really Live and saw it spark a movement in a direction away from the over-sized ‘McMansion’ direction that so many builders anxious to make money selling square feet over quality were pushing on the market in the late nineties and the first part of this century.

With the downturn of the housing market in 2008 a lot of people find themselves now thinking of remodeling rather than buying or building expansive new homes.

Sarah Susanka is famous for having said “build better, not bigger” and while we have longed believed in that sentiment that thinking is particularly relevant today and looking ahead into the future.

The book is packed with ideas and inspiration that can help the homeowner in identifying the small things we can do that deliver the greatest bang for the buck and have the most visual and aesthetic impact.

"It is my fervent hope that you’ll discover that the house of your dreams is actually hiding right where you live today." — Sarah Susanka, Not So Big Remodeling

Susanka is the author of eight books that collectively evoke the “not so big” approach.

And we’ve just set up a new website to talk to you about our approach to those kinds of offering too.

Click to visit SummerStructures.com

In my mind, that sums it up. But this article will focus on providing some more detailed benefits.

Contrary to what you might be thinking, this article is NOT some type of promotion for the use of Microsoft Project. As a matter of fact, your schedule could be of value even if it is on a napkin, providing you (and your team) develop it, and manage with it!!

Forces Detailed Thinking and Planning

This is the biggest benefit! Brainstorming with the team on what needs to be done when and by whom can be a very enlightening exercise. A few months ago I was assisting a project manager and his team as they were developing their plan. As we were loading the tasks into a Microsoft Project schedule (again, could have easily been a napkin), I kept asking about predecessors and successors. This would be followed by a long pause as the team members pondered the concept, then discussion and sometimes, additional tasks would surface. About 3/4 of the way through the exercise the project manager stated "So now I see why we should do it this way!"

Improves Communication

A completed / current version of the schedule keeps all team members "singing from the same page of the hymn book". When the team knows what is supposed to occur when and by whom, this makes managing the rest of the project a little easier. Communicating with management, the customer, and other stakeholders is also much easier with a schedule.

Provides a Goal

Whether it is the short term goals of tasks for the week, the mid range goals of a deliverable or milestone, or the overall project finish date, this information is all contained within the schedule. And providing you are following the tip of communicating, all team members should be aware of these goals.

Lets You Know When You Are Off Track

Just like when you take a trip; the schedule is the roadmap that tells you how to get from point A to point Z. There even may be times when you experience potholes or detours, but if you did not have a roadmap, how would you get back on track? Monitoring the baseline or original schedule allows you to know when you get off track. It will tell you just how far off track your project is, and can allow you to experiment with what-if scenario’s for getting back on track.

Reduces delivery time

There are a couple of ways a schedule helps here.

Once your original schedule is complete, you now have the abilitiy to step back and determine what tasks could be started early or completed in parallel with other tasks (Fast Tracking).

Secondly, by tying dates and durations to tasks creates a sense of urgency that might not otherwise be there. Without these dates, a team member may postpone working on an activity that could cause a delay in downstream milestones.

Reduces Costs

You may think that developing and managing a schedule would increase costs. It is more work right? Here are a few examples of how a schedule reduces cost.

Reduces rework – Imagine someone starting to develop the code for a new application without understanding the requirements.

Eliminates duplicate work – Imagine person A and person B heading off to perform the same task when only person A was assigned.

Return resources sooner – Whether renting a bulldozer, or contracting a team of people, the longer those resources are on the project, the more costly it becomes. A schedule will enable the project manaer to return those resources as soon as possible.

Increases Productivity

By examining the sequence of tasks and the resources assigned, perhaps periods can be found where resources are under-utilized. Assigning them to additional tasks or changing the logic of when the tasks should be performed will make the team more productive.

See Problems Earlier

Whether it is an issue with a milestone date slipping or resources being over-allocated a month from now, having an up-to-date schedule can help you see these problems before they become true issues impacting your project. You can leverage the schedule for what-if scenarios to find a solution or raise the issue to the proper stakeholders well in advance.

Enables Project Managers to Control the Project Instead of the Project Having Control of Them

This one is probably debatable by many project managers who currently have a detailed schedule but still find themselves struggling each day just to stay afloat. But imagine where you would be without that plan!

Hopefully this article has proven some of the value in creating and maintaining a project schedule. If you are currently managing your projects without a schedule, you should try building one and managing to it. It may seem like more work at first, but stick to it. The payoff’s come in the long run; I’m sure you will find your life will change. If you do use a schedule, whether it is in MS Project, Excel, or a napkin, look at it now and see how many of these tips you can apply.

(*- With thanks to the PM Connection Article 9 Benefits of a Project Schedule)

Slide Show:Tennis Court Cabana

The slide show starts with the excavation and setting of the tubes for the concrete piers and then continues with the erection of the walls and basic structure. And then contues on with the exterior finish carpentry and then shows a few photos of the framing as seen from the interior before the erection of the partition wall and paneling of the ceiling. The next group of photos then shows the cedar paneling applied to the partition wall and ceiling as well as the installed base cabintry. And the slide show ends with photos of the painted and roofed cabana and a few shots of the scenic surrounds.

We haven’t added any captions yet to help tell the story but we will soon.

We also have a lot more Galleries still to come so check back again soon for more.

Timber Frames Honor the Structure by Displaying It as Artwork for All to See

Timberframing is perhaps one of the most satisfying and rewarding carpentry disciplines to a tradesperson and one of the most beautiful and dramatic construction methods in the eyes of homeowners too.

In fact in his seminal book on the subject Building the Timber Frame House Tedd Benson quotes J. Frederick Kelly writing: –”The massive framing of our early houses is thing to delight anyone possessed of the smallest amount of architectural sense. A feeling of boundless strength, of security and steadfastness, as well as a notable kind of dignity, is inseparable from the ponderous timbers which go to make up these mighty frames.“—

Yes, timber framing can inspire the poetic spirit in both builders and owners alike.

If you’re thinking of a timber frame home or addition we can work with you as project managers assisting you in either finding the right frame producer for your project or even cutting and fabricating the components your project needs ourselves given the experience some of our key personnel have had with cutting timber frames themselves. We can plan, organize, budget, and contract your project from foundation to the last pint of paint used to finish your home.

We’ll put together the team of artisans and craftspeople and supervise and coordinate their actions so everything can come together in a satisfying and exhilarating experience for your and your family.

Contact Us to arrange for a Free Consultation
to discuss your Timber Frame dreams.

Helpful Reference Materials & Book Recommendations
Timberframe: The Art and Craft of the Post-and-Beam Home	The Timberframe Way: A Lavishly Illustrated Guide to the Most Elegant Way to Build a Home
Timberframe Interiors	Timberframe Plan Book

Call us at 914-239-3635 to arrange for a Free Design Consultation

For years builders in the northeast have built their homes on basement foundations as standard operating procedure and often leave them unfinished for the homeowner to decide on the space’s use later.

Some of the important elements you need to consider in finishing a basement that apply to any project regardless of it intended use are:

• Lighting is essential to make the space comfortable and useful. Large well insulted windows or sliding glass doors (with a secure three pronged locking system) in a walkout basement can do a lot to help in accomplish that goal (while also helping to satisfy the building code’s requirement for a suitable means of egress from the space). In lieu of and in addition to windows and doors a well thought out lighting plan is essential.
• Keep the space as open as you can. It ‘s very likely that the total finished height of the basement space will be typically lower than the spaces through out the rest of the house since ceiling height will be lost at times too beams and hiding the services such as electrical, plumbing, and duct work that are channeled through the space so closing the space in with too many walls will tend to make the space feel more confining.
• Keep the basement dry. Before doing anything develop a plan to keep the basement dry. Spraying asphalitic or fiberglass waterproofing material on the foundations exterior is on way to go or if that’s impractical a french drain and sump pump system in conjunction with a DRIcore sub flooring and a dehumidification system may be the way to go.
• Keep the basement climate controlled. Make sure the temperature and humidity don’t vary from the other rooms in the house by installing the appropriate heating and air conditioning system.

Call us at 914-239-3635 to arrange for a Free Design Consultation

Collect bids until you find contractor (not a bid!) you like!
— Author Unknown

• Design/Build
  – What does it mean?… An Overview
• Defining
  the Design/Build process or paradigm *
• Why
  Not Just Get 3 Free Bids?
• The
  Design/Build Process
• The
  Advantages of Design/Build
• What
  Design Build Is Not

• The
  Other Alternative Processes of Contract Work:

Design/Build
– What does it mean?… an Overview

While in recent years the term has seemingly swept the country, You
may wonder, is it just a marketing slogan,… a buzz word,… a hot
button,… or does it really mean something? The concept is really
the reincarnation of a way that things used to be done. For the better
part of history builders were often designers and vice versa and it
was only around the turn of the century that found themselves splitting
apart.

Design/Build today gives you the client a seamless cost effective
functional product from one accountable source. It’s a process
that fits the time and lifestyles of today’s busy families providing
a happier solution than the more conventional " get at least
three bids" approach we hear so much about .

Over the years as I’ve learned more and more about the building and
remodeling trades I always sort of wondered about the process where
an architect or designer designs a project and then puts it out to
bid with let’s say three or more contractors for a client. To me that
always seemed the equivalent of shooting an arrow and then drawing
the target around where it hit. Many times the project would then
come in way over the clients budget and it would have to go back to
be redesigned and then put out to bid again thereby adding extra time
and money to the design phase and further delaying the construction
of the project.

To put it in a nutshell Design/Build puts the design phase and the
estimating & planning phases of a project together. Since both
processes take place concurrently the design and pre-construction
planning timeline is shortened. But this only the beginning of the
advantages to design build. With the design team working together
with the production team the design team get feedback on the cost
and time requirements their design efforts will require and the production
team having greater time to familiarize themselves with the projects
design can offer ideas and suggestions for materials and techniques
that can save the client time and money in the construction phase
thereby delivering more bang for the buck on the project. through
the cracks.

Defining
the Design/Build process or paradigm*
(paradigm 2. an example; pattern, method —;Syn.2. model, mold,
ideal, standard)

Instead of projects budget being the result or afterthought of the
project’s design with the design/build process your design is derived
as a result of your budget . A single contractor works as a team
with an architect or designer during the design phase in order to
accomplish cost efficiency and function while the design is being
developed.

A full set of plans, elevations, and other drawings necessary to
visualize the design along with an estimate, specifications, a projected
schedule, and a detailed warranty are provided to the client before
a final contractual commitment to build the project takes place. This
gives the client a more accurate and complete picture of what the
project entails well before the project starts.

The design/build process allows the contractor as project manager
to do as much preplanning as possible before the job, so that when
things are ready to proceed they done in a more efficient and orderly
manner. This enables greater cost efficiencies by more closely
integrating production procedures with the project’s intended design.

From concept to completion, you are working with one firm which manages
the entire process. This eliminates blame shifting, where everyone
claims it’s someone else’s fault, leaving the customer falling through
the cracks.

We were probably all taught to get 3 estimates and we’ve grown very
accustomed to seeing contractors offer free estimates as a way of
marketing their company. Over the years we’ve assumed that this was
the way to get the best possible price for our project and keep the
contractor honest. While there are cases in which this method has
worked well for the client-consumer there countless cases where it
has backfired in reality. Why?

Lack of Detail – Since the contractor faces the risk of not
being chosen for the job, it is difficult to spend the proper time
needed to work on anything but the price. He tends to be hasty and
skimpy on the details of paperwork, because he can’t afford to do
work he doesn’t get paid for. Unfortunately, you need to know exactly
what he is going to do for this price in order to compare it with
other bids, and be confident that the work done will be for the price
quoted.

Inaccurate Estimate – The contractor bids low in order to
obtain the job, figuring he can make it up in change orders throughout
the job because of the vagueness of his contract. Since the contractor
doesn’t get paid for his time, not a great deal of effort will be
put into researching prices thoroughly, often basing them on what
the client can pay. Usually he will not guarantee compensation for
missed deadlines, nor guarantee the price. This is not fair to you,
the client, especially if your budget is limited.

Many Conflicts – When nothing is stated in detail, either
on paper or in plans, both client and contractor have their own version
of the project. This is the beginning of many arguments, mistrust
and frustration.

Most Jobs Take Longer Than Planned – The reason should be
obvious. Until the contractor gets paid, he won’t do much. A well-managed
project must have a lot of preparation before construction begins,
or else delays may occur. Coordination problems, special orders not
arriving on time, scheduling problems with subcontractors, legal requirements,
selections not made, materials not shipped, and other problems all
cause the job to take at least 50% longer than Design/Build. This
results in the nightmare of having your house torn apart!

The
Typical Design/Build Process

The
Advantages of Design/Build

You Can Save Money- I’d like to stress the word can because
when design/build is properly executed and the design and project
management teams are working together in the design process, cost efficient
means of construction can be designed into the project from the beginning.
It’s amazing how you find was to do things on a budget when you have
to. The security of the client’s commitment to the project in the
early stages helps the contractor to reciprocate with reduced costs.
Since the contractor has intimate knowledge of cost effective construction
techniques and materials design concepts can be developed from the
beginning that reflect a realistic understanding of construction costs
and the budget guidelines established by the client. Additionally
contractor as a design/builder has more time to gather the best prices
from vendors, as opposed to the short time commonly allowed in the
competitive bidding process.

Collaborative decision making between the design and construction
staff as opposed to the hierarchical approach found in competitive
bid, saves time and ensures the most cost-effective, maintenance-free,
energy saving building possible. While the design staff focuses on
what should be built and how it will look, the construction staff
focuses on how it will be built and what it will cost.

It Takes Less Time – From concept to completed project the
design/build approach requires less time than the competitive bid
approach. Several events may occur simultaneously, such as design,
regulatory approvals, financing, price planning and scheduling. Paradigm
having singular control of the schedule and is therefore in a better
position to expedite the whole process. Your home is torn up for a
shorter period of time, since a good portion of the work is done before
construction begins. The direct communications between the client
and Paradigm can also prevent delays caused by unanswered questions
or slow information transfer. Change orders can be implemented quickly
at a minimum cost.

More Cost Efficient Design- Since the project being designed
is going to be built by workers and trade contractors that are all
included as part of the planning process, the plans and specifications
need not be as comprehensive as they would ordinarily be in a competitive
bid project . The cost of architectural work typically ranges from
2 to 5 percent of the total project cost with Paradigm design/build,
as opposed to the 5 to 12 percent architectural firms often charge
in competitive bid arrangements.

Better Craftsmanship – Since the project manager has a hand
in the design, construction materials and methods with which the company
and crew are familiar are designed into the project. This means better
management and a more efficient use of skills and company expertise.
Because the Paradigm staff is so fully in control, we have a strong
incentive to make certain that all details-from design through construction
are properly addressed.

Reduced Hassles – The client’s administrative role is dramatically
reduced, for he or she must no longer facilitate communications between
an architect and a contractor. In addition, the design/build approach
requires only one set of financial and communication records. Since
Paradigm assumes all responsibility for planning, design, pricing,
and constructing the project coordination and oversight activities,
as well as inter-party communications, are all enhanced.

Passing the Buck Is Eliminated- By limiting the number of
"chiefs," the client is exposed to less buck-passing than
often occurs in competitive bid projects. Questions pertaining to
the clarity completeness, or "constructability" of the plans
and specifications are eliminated along with the legal exposure posed
by multiple parties.

Less Conflict – Most contractors strive for excellence. When
details aren’t spelled out and addressed in advance, conflict
between the contractor and client usually ensues. Since most contractors
"wing it," these decisions are made in a forced context
where a contract is already signed. With Design/Build, a commitment
to do work takes place after these items are discussed.

A Friendly Relationship With Your Contractor – Since there
is plenty of time for the contractor to demonstrate character in advance
of the actual construction the potential for conflict is reduced,
there is a much better opportunity to become friends before work ever
commences. You’d rather have a friend working on your house,
wouldn’t you?

What
Design-Build Is Not:

It’s not a panacea. The success of a design/Build project is predicated
upon initial trust in the abilities of the Design/Build team. Any
advantages that there might be to the traditional competitive bid
are eliminated.

The
Other Processes of Contract Work We Work With:

While Design/Build is our preferred method or work there are other
formats which depending on the project might be better suited to a
particular clients needs.

• Negotiated Contracts: Usually a hybrid or combination
  of methods whereby the final construction documents and scope of
  work is modified because of budget restrictions.
• Cost / Plus: A method that has no fixed contract
  price with the possible exception of a not to exceed ceiling price.
  This procedure is best used in a situation where there are numerous
  unknown conditions that can effect the work throughout the construction
  process.
• Competitive Bid: Occasionally a client may
  approach us with a complete set of plans already in hand and they
  have real interest in us performing the work to execute the project.
  The most popular and well known method of contract work. We will
  provide limited bid proposals in a pre-qualified situation.

It is often thought an architect will ‘do all that’ – not necessarily. In most cases involving the construction or refurbishment of buildings the real Project Manager is the Client … you.

You are there at the start; you conceive the project; you set its objectives in terms of timing, cost and quality; you monitor performance against these objectives throughout the design and construction phases; you decide upon any necessary changes.

Over the course of the project you will have had to build a team whose disciplines you may not be familiar with. You will have had to motivate this team to achieve the project’s objectives. You will have had to take decisions in relation to contractual and technical issues sometimes on the basis of conflicting advice. All this absorbs a tremendous amount of your time.

Paradigm’s Project Management service has been established to provide you with a constructive alternative.

A single point of reference well versed in the construction process, a pragmatic assessment of the strategic issues affecting your project, and a significant increase in your chances of achieving complete success.

• Obtain required blue prints and site plans
• Apply for all permits
• Provide all specifications for building materials
• Provide material take offs
• Ordering of all materials
• Provide a list of preferred subcontractors
• Obtain, analyze and organize all bids from subcontractors for your consideration
• Provide contractors statement/budget
• Schedule all subcontractors
• On-site supervision to maintain quality and schedule
• Schedule and attend all building inspections
• Make sure the construction site is kept clean and safe

Whether you are in the planning stages or half way through your home building project we can help you. We are available for construction consulting on an hourly basis or through scheduled weekly site meeting. Paradigm can be there to help you