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Bocce Ball Madness The Grounds for Improvement team converts a boring grass-only backyard into an authentic Mediterranean bocce court. From "Grounds for Improvement" episode DGFI-407

(Continued from page 1)

Framing the Bocce Court and Installing Filter Fabric

Using several pressure-treated timbers and rebar spikes, Eric Normington (the homeowner) and host Dean Hill start building the frame for the court. A framing square helps host Jackie Taylor and Dean make sure the corners are square, and using a drill and some deck screws the crew toenails the timbers together for extra stability. Once the frame is finished, Jackie shows Eric how to install filter fabric first, and then drain gravel on top of that.

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	Host Jackie Taylor (background, right) and Eric Normington (beside Jackie) work with the compactor while one of Eric's friends (forefront) levels the dirt in preparation for the seating area for spectators.
	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F
	Figure G
	Figure H

Framing the Bocce Court

1. Lay out the shorter (10') pressure-treated 4 x 6 piece of frame for the back of the bocce court on top of the line previously marked.

2. Measure out from the wall to line up the corner of the frame correctly (figure D).

3. Use a level to make sure the frame is laying flat against the ground, then use a sledgehammer to drive the rebar into the ground (figure E) through the frame at the pre-drilled location.

4. After the rebar is driven through the first framed piece, use a framing square to measure the 90-degree angle between the 10' edge and the 40' edge. This is to make sure the court is perfectly aligned.

   Tip: Use a level on all four pieces of the frame to ensure the bocce court is level to the ground.

5. In order to keep the pieces of frame for the length of the bocce court together, use three to four 2-1/2" deck screws and drive them in with a drill at an angle — (figure F); this is called toe nailing. The combination of the screws and the rebar keep everything in place for the frame.

6. Once at the end of the frame, with a small gap left to fill in for the bocce court edges to be complete, use a speed square to mark a perfect cut line around the timber and use a circular saw to trim the piece to fit.

Installing the Filter Fabric

1. When purchasing the filter fabric, measure it out to the length of your court not the width. When laying down the fabric, overlap the pieces width-wise a few inches (figure G).

2. Add staples every five feet between the pieces of fabric to keep it attached to the ground.

3. Along the edges, use a utility knife to trim the fabric to fit snug inside the framed bocce court.

4. After the fabric is laid down tight and is cut to size, the stone is ready to be installed.

Court Materials

1. Using a 3/4" aggregate size gravel, pour approximately 3" deep worth of gravel across the entire bocce court which will be the base for the court.

2. Spread out the gravel with hard rakes making sure you cover the entire court.

   Tip: Plate compactors can be rented at most home centers.

3. After all the gravel is poured and spread out, use a plate compactor to flatten out the stone base (figure H).

4. It is a good idea to wet the stone base after the plate compactor has gone over the gravel to make it harder before the next layer is added.

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ALSO IN THIS EPISODE:
	Bocce Ball Madness