Free bricks prompt backyard makeover

CHESAPEAKE

There's no such thing as a free ride - or free bricks, for that matter - as Tony Gregory quickly learned.

And he doesn't mind one bit.

A neighbor's gift of 1,500 bricks evolved into a backyard project that took almost a year for the Chesapeake man to complete.

Still, he couldn't be happier.

"Those free bricks cost me five grand and a lot of hard work," the Ispwich resident said, "but the end product was worth it."

With the brick donation, Gregory built an outdoor kitchen complete with grill, ice machine, refrigerator, sink and food preparation areas. He also laid patio pavers to create a large dining space.

The initial idea was to build a fire pit, but as Gregory sketched out ideas, it morphed into a full-blown kitchen. He has about 800 bricks left and might eventually add that fire pit, he said.

"I can't even look at those bricks right now," Gregory admitted. "I had to take a break from working out in the yard to maintain my sanity."

Gregory, an air conditioning and refrigeration technician, started the project in May 2008 and put in a couple of hours each day after work as well as most fall and summer weekends. He finished in March 2009. The do-it-yourselfer estimates he spent nearly $5,000 in the process.

"I am a mechanic by trade, so I have a knack for figuring things like this out," Gregory said. "My only problem is I have a short attention span. So, I have to be able to get a project done fast."

Gregory has already done several projects around the house. He converted the garage, upgraded the kitchen and laid patio pavers in the side yard.

"I'm a blue collar worker and don't have a lot of money to throw around," he said. "I figured out how to do this stuff out of necessity."

Gregory said he honed his DIY skills by reading books, talking with employees at home-improvement stores and even stopping to ask people he sees working on projects.

"We were out at dinner one night, and I saw a guy doing some mason work," he said. "I had to stop and ask him how he was doing things so I could use his techniques on the outdoor kitchen."

Gregory said he also learned from past mistakes.

"There's nothing worse than doing something, then having to rip it all out to do it over again because it wasn't right in the first place," he said. "That's why I take my time up front to make sure I know what I am doing. I don't want to do things twice."

Gregory said his next project might be the bathrooms, or possibly taking down some trees in the backyard. He also wants to add a pergola to cover the patio.

"He is pretty handy and can do just about anything," his wife, Andrea Gregory, said. "Our house wouldn't be the way it is without his efforts and skills."

For now, Gregory said he is still taking time off from home renovations.

"I just want to relax and enjoy what we have for right now," he said. "I don't know when the inspiration will hit me next, but for now, it's break time."

Staci Dennis, sdennis@cox.net