| The owners of Cafe Medici
in Austin needed additional seating for their neighborhood coffee
house. The solution DIRTCO created, used cut stone for durability
and a natural appearance. |
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The location had a limited
amount of space to work with so DIRTCO and cafe owner, Michael,
chose a design that would make the most of the area available. |
| The narrow strip of
lawn adjacent to the patio and entrance would provide just enough
space for casual gatherings. |
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The DIRTCO crew
selected large blocks of native stone to use as seats. |
| Careful selection is
used to match the size and coloration of each block for a more natural
appearance. |
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Then the bobcat is used
to move each block around the work area. |
| Spacing the blocks in
the work yard gives everyone a preview of the final product. |
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Final positioning of
the blocks is done by hand. |
| With the seating stones
laid out in the design pattern, the cafe owner can get a first look
at the project. |
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Each block is then cut
with a rock saw to an approximate size. |
| Experience in cutting
stone, is key to safety and reducing waste. The men at DIRTCO
know what to look for in the materials and how to work it. |
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The spacing also allows
the crew to evaluate each block in relation to the overall project. |
| Hand tools are used
to score lines for a pneumatic chisel to follow. |
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Then a pneumatic chisel
does the rough shaping on each block. |
| Various hand tools are
employed for the final finish and appearance. |
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A sander creates the
smooth finish needed for comfortable seating. |
| As the last blocks takes
shape, the stone seating portion of the materials is near completion. |
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The table tops begin
as stone slabs cut to the correct thickness. |
| After being cut to size,
the table tops have an indentation shaped into one side to accommodate
steel support stands. |
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Steel pipe that will
be used as the base for each table is cut to length. |
| The design calls for
wooden back rests on some seating that will be attached using formed
steel. |
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Each table top gets
a final sanding for a smooth finish. |
| After loading the stone
on a trailer it gets power washed to remove the dirt and dust created
the shaping. |
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The finished seating
stones retain some of the rose color on the uncut surfaces. |
| After cleaning, the
top surfaces reveal contour cuts designed for greater comfort. |
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All the materials are
delivered along with the DIRTCO crew and tools. |
| The large seating stones
are moved from the trailer to the site using the bobcat. |
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The DIRTCO crew
begins preparing the site by removing the grass. |
| The location for each
block is then marked on the ground. |
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The seating area will
have a cut stone borders and gravel underneath the tables for drainage. |
| Compacting the ground
under each table prevents the stone blocks from settling and tipping
over. |
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The DIRTCO crew
sometimes has to use a hand truck to maneuver stone in areas the
bobcat won't fit. |
| Seating on one side
of the entrance begins to take shape as the seating blocks are arranged. |
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Steel posts, with square
pieces of flat stock welded to them, are anchored in the ground
between the rows of seats. |
| The posts are ready
for the table tops to be set in place. Additional concrete work
on the sidewalk and drive can be seen in the background. |
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With the table tops
in place, all that remains is the addition of the wooden backrests
to some of the seating to finish the project. |
| This unique outdoor
cafe seating arrangement will be durable and blends well with the
neighborhood feel of the cafe. It's a great place to relax and enjoy
an espresso with friends. |
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Call DIRTCO Construction
at 512-844-4366
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DIRTCO
Home Page
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