Putting mini-golf in my backyard

For this project, I need a tamper to compact the crushed granit before I lay the fake lawn. Rather than renting a tamper for $80 a day, which would turn out to be 3 days at $240, I figured would buy one, then sell it later. I could use it when I want for how long I want.

I was looking for a used one, they go for about $600-$750 on craigslist used, as they are about $1800 new.

Then I found a going out of business sale from a construction company. They happened to have a tamper, brand new, for $550.

Here is the tamper I bought. Brand spankin' new, still in it's crate.

http://img501.imageshack.us/img501/4513/p1010030zm4.jpg

nice work on the bargain find. i love it when things like that happen

Yes, so far this project has been a breeze. Everything I need has fallen into my hands.

Did I mention the truck I got?

I was out looking at pickup trucks, thinking to trade in my Lincoln LS (http://www.neverbuyalincoln.com) and get a truck. I was pricing them out, and visiting dealerships all Sunday about 4 weeks ago.

THAT EVENING, only hours after looking at trucks, my friend calls and asks if I can sell her truck in San Diego, because it's not selling in FallBrook. She wants to drop her truck off at my house and have me sell it for her.

So only hours after looking at pickups, I have a free truck sitting in my driveway. All I have to do is sell it after I am finished using it.

I must have an angel. But I have no idea why. I don't deserve it.

hah! I love it when things fall into place like that! Can't wait to see your course once it's all done. Sounds like a cool idea, certainly will save on mowing costs

I know exactly what you should do with that truck, especially since it's not yours.

Hahaha Nice!

The concrete is done. I was going to do it myself, but just for fun, I called a finisher and asked how much he would do it for.

It was soooo worth it to have someone else do it. $1100 for two guys for two days. One day to set the forms, the other to pour the concrete.

Final pour - the white stuff is salt to give it texture that I will sweep off after it is dry.

http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/6241/p1010067bp9.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/2026/p1010062js6.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/4573/p1010150gp8.jpg

http://img174.imageshack.us/img174/1459/p1010161qw6.jpg

$1000 in concrete (colored, with fiber)
$1100 in labor
$250 in wood, decomposed granite and rebar
$220 for pump truck

I'm starting to get curious about what exactly that guy who wanted $13K was going to do.

It looks like you're racking up expenses quick.

Well the guy that wanted $13k was probably going to buy himself something really nice with his $10000 profit. The lawn will cost about $2500+

Remember, the 13k, didn't include the concrete that I am just installed. He wanted that just for the fake lawn.

Oh wow.

was he going to come out and cut it for you once a week for life ?

woah nice work on the concrete, certainly pays to shop around

what a rip off $13k the guy prolly thought you had money to burn or he just didnt want to do the job...

Yeah I really like the concrete work. I am sooo glad I didn't try to do it myself. It looks sooooo good.

Next comes powerwashing the main deck. The color of the main deck has faded since it is really dirty. So I bought a power washer from craigslist and will strip all the grime off of it.

This is a huge project...

It'll be worth it once its done though. I've powerwashed a wood deck before, it takes ages and I found left streaks all over it DOH

Did you acid wash it? I am acid washing it today and that should get rid of the streaks.

You know what's funny? Every time I've read this thread I keep thinking to myself, I would have just shot the gophers and planted a Japanese garden.