Grand Award Winner
We were hired with complete responsibility to build every facet of the extensive outdoor construction. The family had been in an apartment for over a year due to complete renovation of their home and they were anxious to get everything done so they could move back home. We were hired with complete responsibility to manage every facet of the outdoor construction and coordinate this extensive work with the general home contractor. Looking through the list of work completed, you will see just about every box checked as our work or work managed by us. Even this extensive list does not tell a complete story.
The largest challenge was coordination and management of the client and thirteen contractors and subcontractors. The owner had an extremely well detailed landscape construction plan. However, even the most detailed plan requires onsite adjustments, especially since the general contractor and the pool company were not completely aware of where their responsibility ended. As an example of work that was unexpectedly left to us, the client had hired the pool company but had not made any arrangements for a licensed electrician, plumber, or gas contractor to properly complete the pool installation.
The centerpiece of the back yard is the swimming pool area which features natural flagstone wall set on the pool beam, and the beautifully designed and constructed arbor. The support for the arbor was an extensive steel beam structure set into the pool concrete beam and into large reinforced concrete footings. We used the highest grade cedar for the solid 6 by 12 beams, 4 by 10 joists, and a facia wrap around the steel beams. Copper piping stabilized the rafters and provided an interesting final touch.
The top terrace is blue select Pennsylvania flagstone set on a structural concrete slab with natural stone steps. The client chose large broken flagstone for the lower terrace.
The bottom terrace compliments the adjoining natural boulder retaining wall, which separates the pool terrace from the existing Magnolia grandiflora. A hidden steel drainage system beneath the patio collects the water through hand drilled flagstone and distributes it in a cleverly hidden percolation area under the trampoline.
We constructed an outdoor kitchen that included a top of the line gas grill and refrigerator with a natural stone facia.
The client wanted a quality screening fence that would look beautiful from both sides. We used a specially designed “sandwich” style fence with heavy facia boards and no stringers. Strategically placed lighting allows the outdoor living areas to be used at any time of day or night.
The original plan laid out the plant beds in a conceptual manner, but the responsibility for choosing the plant material was left to us. We used Nellie Stevens Holly to complete the screening. Water tolerant flowering Iris works wonderfully in the water distribution area. Other perennial color in the backyard included long blooming hemocallis “ happy returns”, echinacea, phlox, pennisetum, and liriope. Trumpet vine climbs up the back pergola.
The front planting includes two gorgeous crape myrtle, winter gem boxwood, and hypericum.
