Building my bonsai area

[Jamie]

verry nice steven looks like a good plan. i was thinking about this gutter system the other day and you would only need to make the one gutter that was the width of the bottom step and top step so it fits underneath. and it will catch water from both steps. i sounded confusing then didnt i

i will come back soon with a plan for you mate

[Jamie]

ok here ya go, a little rough but not bad for free hand eye up on a computer

steven bench gutter system.jpg

basically it would have to angle down to one end off the bench, or both ends to 2 seperate tanks. i would think about putting a back on the step section to cover the gutter up but it might also block sunlight, one thing it would do though would be that it reflects sun light up and would be great for cascading trees!

jamie

[Matthew]

Thanks for the input fellas!

The area has now been cleared, leveled and all the plants that I removed have been transplanted. The bamboo screen has been extended and I am sore after a big afternoon in the sun. Hopefully I'll get around to building it soon

Area cleared, leveled and prepared.jpg

Regards,
Steven

Mate i know exactly how you feel, im still a week away from finishing mine. how are you supporting the upright posts?

[Steven]

Thanks Jamie! I'll look into a way of incorporating this gutter design. Do you know a metal fabricator who may be able to help

Mate i know exactly how you feel, im still a week away from finishing mine. how are you supporting the upright posts?

G'day Matt,

I will be fixing the 5 x 2400mm upright posts that support the awning and the other legs will just be sitting on pavers or similar.
I was just going to use standard post brackets in concrete footings until I saw 'ground screws' which I am considering using because you don't need to dig or mix concrete.

Has anyone had experience with ground screws? Are they difficult to get in the exact position/height? Do the give as much support as concrete footings and post brackets?

Ground screw.jpg

Post bracket.jpg

Regards,
Steven

[Matthew]

Steven,

ground screws should be fine if you dont have a nice bed of rock 300mm or more down. I did and wasent it fun They are easy to install just use a stingline etc to get your footings parallel . Im looking at your metal stirup and if you were going to use them i would choose ones which come with a lip at the bottom end which makes it more secure in concrete as round piping etc can come out of concrete. some people weld rio or something on but you can buy them with a lip and there about the same price, again depends how big the structure is and amount of weight or force againest it. The way im going you will proberly complete yours b4 mine

[Steven]

Thanks for the tip!

Any chance on seeing what you are building?

Regards,
Steven

[Lynette]

I have question about the bamboo , we put some up about a year ago and with in 6 months it looked horrible. we have had buckets of rain and this may have contributed. Just wondering about others experience.
I will be making a Japanese garden shortly, if it ever stops raining for more that a few days, and want to make a couple of backgrounds. Atfer the bamboo experience, I have been thinking of using fibro and painting it to look like a screen, using black paint for the lines.
Any thoughts appreciated.
Lynette

[Jamie]

hy lynette, i have the same prob with the bamboo screening, anything exposed to the sunlight is going to fade and go horrible. i have found that the big B sell bamboo screen fence like panels and they are fade resistant, the only prob is they are about 70-100 bucks, but when i build my area thats what i will be using.
otherwise fibro cement and paint might be hard to do freehand i would suggest trying to get a pencil, im not sure but i think you need to base coat the firbo aswell.

jamie

[lowlegs]

hey Steven love the design would love to make one of my own how much would it sey me bacj roughly?

[Matthew]

Thanks for the tip!

Any chance on seeing what you are building?

Regards,
Steven

steven bench is 21 metres long, 2.7m posts 100mm by 100mm , stirups 600mm. mesh is 50by 50 galvinised at 1200mm wide . I still have to pot support braces either end, avery mesh for hail protection on the top. Im building a fence with a gate to go around the area as i have wild deer, roos, rabbits not to mention my 2 cows. once thats up i can complete my path and add a couple of ordimental trees. heres some quick pics it was late so light not the best.

Try using a gross enamel or something simular as a spray to protect the bamboo. it will last alot longer .

[Steven]

Wow Matt!

That's an impressive structure. 21 meters long! I wish I had room for something that size Can't wait to see it completed with your bonsai in place.

hey Steven love the design would love to make one of my own how much would it sey me bacj roughly?

G'day Lowlegs, the material costs were about $1500. It could be done cheaper but I have gone for the H4 treated pine which is rated for 50 + years in the weather. The hardwood decking also adds up. I'm not sure what the cost of Noah78's gal mesh would be but he might like to let us know for a comparison.

Following are some pictures of the work completed last Saturday;

Support posts up 27.03.10.jpg

Corner detail of bracing.jpg

centre bracing detail.jpg

Frame oiled 29.03.10.jpg

More to come as the project continues - hopefully this weekend...

Regards,
Steven

[Jamie]

looking great steven! i would think that the gal mesh would be quite comparitable to the hardwood decking, maybe a touch more these days, the steel prices have gone up and up over the last few years. i cant give ya a price on it though as i would need to ring my contacts, if you know the right people you should be able to get trade price on the gal mesh and make it a lot cheaper!

jamie

[kcpoole]

I think Sheets of Gal mesh were about $50-60 when I was looking not long ago
they were maybe 1800x900mm in Size

ken

[Matthew]

Steven,

my constuction was roughtly $950 for the treated pine, i didnt use any hardwood but have the pine raised off the ground by steel stirups. i still have acouple of joice braces to put on, avery mesh for hail at the top which was $150 for a 30metre roll if i remember, gal mesh was the heavy duty one at 50 by 50 sheets where 1200 by 2900 mm at $ 80 i think.its not as pretty as deck but allows better air flow, no water pooling etc no where for bugs to hide too. I still have shade cloth to design retractable at the top along guide wires and removable screens at the front for frost , hail protection. this little project will end up costing me around $2100 i reckon. that dosent include my fence in construction atm for critters i must like my bonsai aLOT i might get some pics up this week with most of it done if it dosent rain tuesday.

p.s i love your design particullay the support joins and braces. NICE WORK

[Steven]

Thanks for the feedback guys, much appreciated as always!

Here is how the bench was looking last week after day 2 of the build;

After day 2.jpg

For those who are interested in the engineering side of the build, here are some more shots of the bracing;

Centre braces and mid rail.jpg

Corner bracing.jpg

I don't think it will fall apart any time soon!

More to come after todays work...
Steven