Maria and Kosta’s Garden Makeover
Over the last few weeks Don, Scott and Nigel have completed the deck, pergola, tiling and concreting at Maria and Kosta’s place. This week’s projects included a tiered herb garden, wire balustrading on the deck, bench seating and the installation of a fabulous pizza oven.
Hebel benches
Nigel built curved bench seats for the entertainment area using Hebel blocks, which he then rendered. Hebel is a lightweight, aerated concrete product that is easy to carve. (Tip: When building on a curve with a tight radius, lay the blocks through the back of the curve end-ways rather than lengthways, to minimise the size of the rebate.)
Timber bench
Scott constructed a simple, movable bench. Two identical rectangular timber frames were joined using 450mm risers. Noggins were added to the top frame to support decking boards for the seat. (Tip: Use an indoor chair as a template when designing benches such as these. The floor to seat height and seat depth need to be similar to a normal chair to be comfortable.)
Pizza oven
A fabulous Mediterranean woodfired oven will be the focus of Kosta and Maria’s garden. These ovens work like kilns, creating a 500-degree heat on the inside but remaining cool enough to touch on the outside. They use very little firewood and only take around 30 minutes to heat. Maria and Kosta will be able to use their oven to cook roasts, chops, sausages, steak, fish, vegetables and bread, as well as pizzas.
Pizza oven base
Nigel used Hebel blocks to build a base for the pizza oven. The first course was laid on a mortar mix (4 parts brickies sand to 1 part cement). (Tip: use a level and set up a string line to make sure the first course is level and straight, then you’ll finish level and straight.) Hebel adhesive was used to bond the next four courses of Hebel blocks to the first. The Hebel base was rendered with 6 parts brickies sand to 1 part cement, then topped with a slab of sandstone. Because the pizza oven weighed 400k, a crane was needed to lift it into position.
Balustrade
Stainless steel balustrade wire was used on the sides of the deck instead of timber. The wire balustrading was connected with stainless steel eyelets, shackles, thimbles and swages. (Tip: The Building Code of Australia requires any deck that is more than 1 metre above the surface beneath to have an appropriate balustrade.)
Tiered herb garden
Scott created a tiered herb garden between the wall of the house and the steps. First he fixed battens to the wall with a ramset gun, which uses an explosive charge and punches nails straight through the timber and into the brickwork. (Note: Unless you are licensed to use a ramset gun, use a masonry drill bit and galvanised dynabolts for this type of job.) The wall was painted with a waterproofing material to stop water getting into the bricks and causing dampness inside the house, and then compressed sheeting was attached to the battens to hold back the soil.
Further information
Hebel blocks (600 x 200 x 200mm) cost about $8 each. Hebel thin bed adhesive costs around $33 for 20kg. Call 1300 369 448 or visit the website:
www.hebelaustralia.com.au
Don used Gripset 51 waterpoofing paint on the wall. 4 litres costs around $47 from hardware stores.
Balustrade stainless steel wire costs $1.99 per metre. A swage tool for crimping can be hired for around $20 per day.
Mediterranean Woodfired Ovens
Unit 2, 216 Balcatta Road
Balcatta WA 6027
Phone: (08) 9402 3862
Fax: (08) 9403 3178
Email: [email protected]
Web: www.woodfiredovens.com.au
Maria and Kosta’s Mediterranean Woodfired Oven cost $3,750 installed.