I don't know where to begin as our entire back yard, save a couple trees, was gutted and redesigned. The project took almost 3 months and cost almost as much as we paid for our home 32 years ago!!! I do know when I step out the back door I feel like I have entered a peaceful dream.
My husband and I knew what we wanted, and had resources set aside ...but we were terrified to go forward, as we were fresh from dealing with some bad experiences with contractors. We retired last year, and spend a tremendous amount time in the yard. I have issues with balance, and my back and the our yard was becoming an accident waiting to happen. We have lived in this 1966 tri-level home for over 30 years. Each previous owner had added their touch, and the yard was a combo of many projects, lol. All falling apart. One day after catching my foot in the cracked patio, I had it. I looked for landscape contractor, and chose Red Roots for the first interview. They were local, had good reviews and had their own crews. After speaking with owner,Memo, we just went with it. We hired Cammie Brown of Serenity by Design to design yard , and hired Red Roots to do the work.
The project entailed constructing a side fence with retaining wall, as our neighbors yard was over a foot and 1/2 higher than ours. The fence itself is a masterpiece. They tore the entire yard down and out. Constructed a trex deck off the dining room that is enclosed with 5 steps that descend onto a patio of pavers that wrap around the entire back of home and the entire side yard. They built a patio cover that is part of the home. The ceiling of arbor is interlocking clapboards, and painted an off white.. A rotating fan with light and dimmer was installed. New roofing matched to existing roofing. Four columns supporting arbor were wrapped, and have stacked ledgestone supports that are like small tables. They installed gutters and additional drainage. The yard off the patio is held back with 5 curved retaining walls, with caps that serve as seating. They are the perfect level!!! There are two sets of stairs, one in center off patio that goes to lawn area, the other set of stairs goes up to a small round paver patio. The stairs are a work of art. Each step must weigh a ton of natural ledge stone. They were hand chiseled to fit. It was agonizing just to watch them put these onto place. It was exacting, heavy work. One group of workers must have spent 2 weeks on the stairs alone!!! They look natural, like nature placed them there. They are abour 6ft long each, with 6" pitch. Amazing work. Red Root's tile, paver and retaining wall skills are stellar! Each retaining wall was covered with stacked ledge stone...hundreds of piecesfitted like a puzzle. These guys are good!
Before everything, French drains, sewer lines, irrigation, electrical for lighting were installed.
A natural looking, 800 gallon recirculating pond with high waterfall was artfull installed by Lee and crew. The pond has a maximum depth in center of over 2 feet, but the whole structure and surrounding planted area takes up a lot of yard. One of the retaining walls are the front of pond. So I can sit there and watch fish, relax and read. It is a sanctuary. The pond was designed so natural one might find it coming out of the woods. Boulders, creek stone naturally guide the waterfall. Pond is complete with caves for fish, high/low areas, a little lagoon for lilies. This was my dream. I told them I wanted a pond with waterfall,and it had to look natural. Lee went to work and created something out of Sunset magazine, but better. He has a love and natural instinct for this work, so it just unfolded. There are gardens on each side of pond with grasses and colorful, native plants. There will be tons of color each season. Oh, and they put in a planting area where I quickly planted onions, green onions and garlic. It is off another retaining wall, so it is higher, and easier to tend.
Some projects had to be tweeked, or redone a bit, but it was done quickly and only to improve. City permit inspections passed first time!
I highly recommend Red Roots for your landscape dreams.
I think the design, construction and detail aside..one of their strong points are their employees and craftsmen. They came everyday, mon-Fri, 7am to 4pm without fail. Some saturdays. Men worked non stop, through some pretty awful heat in July and August. They broke for a lunch onsite, and went right back to work. The work ethic was impressive and appreciated. The workers were always pleasant.
My husband and I are tough task masters. We are detail oriented, demanding of perfection and I have a curse of noticing the smallest flaw. I am pretty tough. I want the job done right, done once, and done to my specifications. When they leave the job, I dont want to have to call anyone back to fix anything.
Owner Memo, and crew are to be truely congratulated! read more