I’M GETTING A DRIVEWAY NEXT WEEK!!!!!
And you better believe I’m yelling! 😀 Y’all, how long have I been waiting for a driveway? Eleven years! We’ve been in this house eleven years without a driveway, and it’s finally happening next week. I’m so excited I can hardly concentrate on anything else. I’ll share with you how this all came about, but first, let me back up a bit.
The first time I drove by this house to take a look at it, the first thing I noticed was that it didn’t have a driveway. That alone was almost a deal breaker, but I tried to have an open mind because it was a fixer upper in desperate need of some TLC (which is what I wanted), it was in the city (a non-negotiable to me — I’m not a country girl), and it was on a one-acre lot (incredibly hard to come by in the city). So while I hated that it didn’t have a driveway, I tried to push past it.
All that it had was an old gravel driveway, with most of the gravel displaced at that point, and which had largely been taken over by weeds. And the driveway went from the street directly to the garage.
And as you know, over the years, that garage was turned into my studio, and we had a carport added to the back of the studio. We still had no driveway, and at that point, we needed an even longer driveway (about double the length of the original driveway).
We had the driveway priced years ago, and the estimate we were given was about $20,000 to go from the street, to the side of the house, and have it stop so that it lined up with the back of the carport. We had another person a couple of years later give us a general estimate, and it came to the same amount. But I didn’t just want the driveway to stop right there. I knew I also wanted to extend it to the back of the workshop, but I figured we’d have to do this in stages because of the cost. In fact, you can see how I wanted it on the landscape design.
So the driveway has always been in our list of things to do, but it never reached the top priority. So here we were, eleven years later, and still with no driveway.
Fast forward to last week. I had just had my workshop built a couple of weeks ago, and now I needed a ramp going from the end of the carport to the garage door of the workshop.
I weighed the pros and cons of building a wood ramp or pouring concrete, and Matt and I both agreed that concrete would be ideal. A friend of ours had given me the name of the man they used for their concrete driveway, so I gave him a call and he came out to look at the project and take some measurements.
While the concrete man was here, I had him not only give me an estimate for the ramp from the carport to the workshop, but I also explained that at a later date, we’d be pouring a concrete driveway, probably in two different sections at two different times, and I asked him to give me a price for those separately as well.
Well, he gave me the prices, and I couldn’t believe it!! The price for all three projects — ramp, driveway, and driveway extension — came to about what I expected for the driveway alone. I was so excited! I told him that I’d have to talk to Matt about the order in which he wanted to get these things done, and that we’d probably want the ramp done now, and then maybe in a few months, we’d do Phase 1 of the driveway, and maybe next summer, we’d do Phase 2 of the driveway. But when I shared the prices with Matt, he said, “Let’s just do it all now.”
WHAT???!!!! OH MY GOSH!!! I CAN’T BELIEVE IT!!
So the concrete man jumped to action immediately and sent his guys over yesterday to remove the old 11-foot chain link gate and the two small sections of fence on either side.
Just seeing that fence taken out was so exciting to me! I’ve been looking at that eyesore for eleven years, and it had gotten to the point that it was completely useless. It wouldn’t close because it dragged the ground so much. So not only was it ugly, but it was useless.
They had quite a time getting those sections of fence out because the area was so grown over with trash trees (hackberry and such) that had grown in and through the fence.
But my goodness, just getting the gate out made a huge difference!
Most everything went smoothly until they got to these poles. They had a heck of a time getting these out. But of course, they finally succeeded.
And here it is with the old fence sections and the huge gate gone. What a difference already!
And now today, the tree guys are here getting all of that overgrowth and those trash trees cut down, grinding stumps, and getting everything ready for concrete next week. WOOHOOOO!!! So this view is about to change drastically.
I finally get to say goodbye (and good riddance) to this old unkempt gravel driveway, and I’ll have a proper concrete driveway that leads from the street, to the side of the house, and back to the carport.
The driveway will go all the way past my workshop, and will line up with the far wall of the workshop. (Say hello to Tiger, the neighborhood stray cat who hangs out mostly at my house because I feed him every day. 😀 ) The driveway will meet up with the little porch outside the side door of the studio, and then just past the air conditioner unit, it’ll meet up with the carport.
And then behind the carport it’ll meet up with the ramp to my workshop. Sidenote: As I was taking pictures this morning, I caught sight of something I’ve never seen before. There’s a deer in my back yard. Can you see it? Tiger’s looking right at it, and has the fluffiest tale I’ve ever seen, and the fur on his back is standing on end. In eleven years, this is the first time I’ve ever seen a deer in my yard.
Anyway, all of this area is being cleared out today. All of these trees and overgrowth are being sent through the wood chipper right now as I write this. It’s an exciting day!
And while they’re here, they’re going to get all the rest of this mess cleared up that was left from the frantic tree trimming that had to happen the morning that the workshop build started.
And they’ll clear out all of the branches that I trimmed the day before the workshop was built. I put those in two big piles under these trees. I know a couple of you were nervous about that and the fire hazard it presented. So after today, your worries will be gone. 🙂
And after next week, this view will be drastically different.
Back in 2018, I got some spray paint and painted lines on the ground to see what my curved driveway would look like. Here’s an idea of where the driveway will go…
Anyway, I’m so excited. After waiting so long, it actually seems like it’s happening really fast now! 😀 He said they can start early next week. I sure hope that means Monday!
UPDATE:
These tree guys are making quick work of this! This area with the overgrowth of trash trees along the fence to the left of where our driveway will go (i.e., the trees that make the fence barely visible, if at all)…
…now looks like this…
Now it looks like a driveway can actually fit in there!
Addicted 2 Decorating is where I share my DIY and decorating journey as I remodel and decorate the 1948 fixer upper that my husband, Matt, and I bought in 2013. Matt has M.S. and is unable to do physical work, so I do the majority of the work on the house by myself. You can learn more about me here.
A question with nothing to do with this post: did the next door home with the ridiculous kitchen remodel ever sell?
I’ve been wondering the same thing! Also if the new owners plan to do some remodeling.
I can’t wait to see the finished driveway! I need one too. (I hope I can find as good a cement guy!) Beautiful job so far…I love it
I can’t wait to see it, I’m excited too!
It will make a huge difference in the dust, inconvenience and so much easier to clean up the mess that happens with DIY. Now you can purchase a really good blower and just blow the saw dust and such off the concrete. So happy for you and Matt, every step makes your home more comfortable.
I am so happy for you. The driveway will make a huge difference in how you view your home. I can’t wait to see it finished. You have been very patient.
Will the driveway be even with the ground or proud of it? Thinking of your company and parking. I love a wood chipper! Means something is getting cleaned up.
For now, it’ll be up about 4 inches, especially as it gets closer to the house. But we’ve needed to bring in some more soil to our front yard for a long time now. Every time it rains really hard, we have standing pools of water in our yard. So it needs more dirt, and it needs to be graded so it slopes away from the house.
That will be nice to get done too! I love projects.
What great news. I love concrete and I love driveways, ours is a little over a 1/2 mile long, and we have had to shovel it a few times, mostly chisel out the ice when we get those storms here in East Tennessee. Now for all the exciting details, plants, hedges, solar lighting, and just about anything else you can think of. Enjoy all of this.
Cheers!
Eleven years!!! I started following you when you were back in the condo near a college campus. Whew! You have accomplished amazing things in your forever home. Congratulations on the new driveway-to-be! It will make a big difference.
Can your tree guys get rid of that annoying bush in front of the windows where you watch TV??? Once and for all??? Can’t wait to see this awesome driveway!!!
Yes!! I had them include that in the work today. That tree bothers Matt so much. 😆
That was my first thought too!!!
The excitement in your post makes me so happy for you. And having a little curve to the driveway will add interest to the new landscaping options. Don’t forget to have the driveway sloped slightly(away from the house) for rain run-off.
Happy for you! It’s so nice to have these big projects done!
How exciting! What a relief for you to get all that cleared out and your new driveway! Can’t wait to see how it looks afterward.
Wow, it looks amazing already. I’m so excited for you.
Whoa!! There was a fence there all along???
Looks GREAT!!!
Oh my gosh…that IS exciting. And I bet it will be done fast, and you will see SUCH a difference. It looks like you reclaimed some property already getting all those trees and shrubs out of there! I think it is so funny that the cat got disturbed by the deer…apparently she never saw one before either. 🤣 Oh, enjoy the process…I am excited for you.
Wonderful news! I am concerned about rain water draining into your carport from the new workshop ramp. This can be prevented by setting a French drain (covered by a grate) into the concrete at the edge of the carport. This is commonly done for barns and your concrete guy should be able to install one.
I thought the same thing.
Awesome! I’m excited for you. Will the concrete guys also pour you a stoop (do they call it that in TX? a little concrete pad outside a door) and steps to your studio door?
My jaw dropped when I saw the fence that was hidden! How are you even sitting still with all the exciting things happening??
It’s probably too late, but have you though of moving the curb, so the drive lines-up and goes straight? Nothing says “converted garage” like a mis-placed break in the curb…In any case, congrats on the new driveway. I remember the joy of finally getting that done. It’s wonderful!
Going to be wonderful! What if they did a small project while they are doing all the cement work? Like the side porch step? You wouldn’t think a small step, for your safety and aesthetics would cost that much. If you are going for the entire project, what is one more little step. LOL
I am so happy for you. It’s going to be beautiful. I couldn’t see the fence until all the growth was gone.
How cool to see a deer in your back yard. Is it wooded back there. Yay for you.
I can very much relate! We moved into our home that needed a lot of TLC and a driveway that had dissipated with years of neglect. Have a finished concrete driveway has made a world of difference to us and makes the property look so much more finished. Happy for you and Matt!
Awesome!
If the tree guys are still there, you should have them take out that tree/shrub that’s the by the breakfast room — the one you talk about having to keep cutting back.
I asked them, but I just realized they didn’t do it. They’ll be back tomorrow morning to grind stumps, so I’ll remind them.
Kristi: I think you will love this; and most importantly Matt. This will allow him some ease of exploring the out of doors during moderate weather. And regardless of any critical comments (sometimes when you ask for comments, people are NUTS); but this addition is WORTH the money. I commented on the EXTREME cost of additions and have a Dtr who luckily can’t afford the addition to her small house. I told her to invest in a driveway; it would be sooo beautiful. She and her spouse could do a lot of manual work on the yard…but feel powerless. They are not eager beaves like her dad & I were. I am VERY excited to see it and hear Matt’s comments. BTW; I loved your condo (before this home). You guys are also busy beavers!
Soooo exciting! Many congratulations!
This is awesome. So much progress so quick. I am excited for you.
It seems like you are going in 10 directions lately! Did you finish your craft room? And how is the new bedroom coming along? Congrats, I am glad you are so HAPPY about the driveway.
I feel like I’m going in ten different directions! My studio is all but finished. I have some things to put away, one door to paint, and I need to clean the floor. But every time I think I’ll have a solid chunk of time to finish, something comes up. I had a personal thing to take care of last Thursday, Friday, and then yesterday. And then I’ve spent the last two days working on taxes. It happens every time! Evey time I think I’ll have a day to get those final small things finished, something comes up. That’s how life goes sometimes. I won’t let myself start on the bedroom until I finish the studio.
You have been addressing SO MANY things lately, I am not sure how you do it 🙂
Oh, well you will get the odds and ends wrapped up.
Oh my gosh, I couldn’t believe the headline of this post. You’re getting a driveway!!!!! I think I’m as excited as you and can’t wait to see it done and the extra curb appeal it’s going to add to your place.
Already the side looks completely different with all those trees gone along the fence line. What a day of joy for you and Matt.
WOW!! THE FENCE LINE LOOKS MARVELOUS. I would be excited, too. I’m so glad that visible progress is being made.
LOL, I am so excited for you my heart started racing while reading this! What a blessing you have received with this concrete guy and your wonderful Matt saying do it all now. Blessed.
I love that Matt is always so enthusiastic and gung Ho to proceed with your plans. This will be a fun project to follow.
Wonderful exciting news!
I am so excited for both of you!!!
Kristi,
I know how excited you must be. Me to!