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A Walkway to the Water

A curving wooden walkway connects a waterfront house to the water.

From "Grounds for Improvement"
episode DGFI-307

(Continued from page 1)

Building the Chairs and Adding the Finishing Touches

Hill custom-designs curvy wooden chairs to place beside the walkway overlooking the scenic waterfront landscape.

Materials
9 (3/4"x4'x8') pressure-treated plywood
14 (2"x6"x8') pine lumber
deck screws
1 gallon primer
1 gallon green paint
1 gallon orange paint

Figure A

Figure B

Figure C

Plants
2 bales pine straw
3 cubic yards pulverized top soil
12 Pink Muhly grass
6 Shenandoah switch grass

The crew marks out the outline for the chairs onto pressure-treated plywood and uses a cordless jigsaw to cut along the outlined area (figure A).

TIP: Always be sure to wear safety goggles when cutting.

They assemble the sides together with deck screws, using a small wooden spacer to maintain uniform spacing between the boards. They sand over the edges and surface to create a smooth seat. It's important to maintain a uniform overhang with the seating boards.

After the chairs are assembled, they apply a coat of primer and then paint the chairs using exterior latex paint. Then they create new planting beds with indigenous grasses along the waterfront for a natural border. The green and orange chairs are a colorful addition along the pathway to the boat dock and water (figures B and C).

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