Landscaping
This project started with the idea of a total demolition job, but developed into a renovation of the front of their house, leading to the driveway.
The first part of the demolition for this project was removing all of the railroad ties and dirt behind to clear it away from the foundation of the house.
Once all of the railroad ties were removed and the dirt was cleared away from the foundation, we hosed down the foundation to get the remaining dirt off.
Soon after, we quickly realized that we weren't digging down any further as we got closer to the front door. This was due to a massive boulder in the center of the old walkway.
After spending some time weighing the possibilities of various solutions around our problem, we came to the conclusion to leave the boulder alone. Since we wouldn't be able to break it down low enough, we decided to build a path around the boulder from the front door and recede down to the driveway.
Once the boulder was cleaned off, we decided to add large rocks as an edge to transition the terrain from grass to rock and finish off the boulder side of the project.
As we were waiting on materials to start the other side of the walkway, there were a couple retaining walls that had been washed out and needed to be rebuilt, so we took a brief intermission from the walkway to work on the walls.
Once we cleared the debris from the locations of the old walls, it was smooth sailing from there. The walls themselves don't usually take much time to construct.
One wall to go!
For this second wall, we decided to build two smaller walls instead of one tall wall because the slope of the ground was so steep. Building two small walls versus one tall wall reduces the risk of the wall washing out overtime due to heavy water flow.
After the retaining walls were complete and the material was delivered, we needed to accomplish one last thing before moving on to the walkway, remove the last section of the railroad ties. This section was much smaller than the other parts that we ripped out which allowed it to pull apart much easier. Once the ties were fully removed, we could finally move on to the pinnacle of the project, the walkway!
With the material delivered and a variety of dug-up rocks to choose from, we started crafting the base of the walkway with its first steps. We also constructed a rock retaining wall beside the walkway to replace the railroad ties that held the dirt back.
The homeowner loved the look of all the natural rock, so as we dug up more and more to build the walkway, he wanted us to fill the voids of the boulder and surrounding low areas with small rocks. We weren't sure at first how, what we were calling "the rock garden", was going to look, but as we acquired a significant amount of rocks, the rock garden started to add character around the walkway.
With how long the boulder stretched underground, we couldn't keep the walkway as tight as we planned. This caused us to pivot the walkway away from the house and then once the steps were built up enough, we would work the walway back towards the house.
Once we reached the mid-point of the walkway, we decided to build a large pad out of a variety of slates to round off the edge turning back towards the house, instead of making a hard turn in the walkway which could have led to potential tripping hazards.
After the pad was filled in with gravel, we added the rest of the steps to the walkway!
When all the steps to the walkway were installed, we added larger rocks along the edge of the walkway to add contrast. At this point in the project, we were more than halfway finished and all there was left to do was finish the path at the top of the steps and level the high spots in the dirt to match the grade of the surrounding ground.
The path at the top of the steps was very easy to craft. All we needed to do was build a short, three-layer, retaining wall to hold the gravel from washing away overtime. Once the retaining wall was finished, we poured gravel down to level the base, then started piecing rocks together to create a custom design throughout the path.
When all of the rocks were in place, we poured the remaining gravel over the rocks in the path and spread it throughout all of the crevasses between each rock. Once the dust settled over the rocks, the path looked better than ever!
Now that all the hardscaping in the project was finished, all there was left to do was rake down the high areas in the dirt surrounding the path and plant some grass seed!
After a few weeks, the grass was growing at a very healthy rate and the front of the property stood out beautifully because of its diverse qualities.
This project began with an idea to keep water from flooding the homeowner's backyard, in the location of his daughter's play area. After some brainstorming, we came to the conclusion to build up the play area with wood chips, then build a buffer of river rock in between the play area and the yard to keep water from deteriorating the wood.
The first step to the project consisted of measuring the perimeter of the play area, then cutting the pieces of wood to size with the proper angles.
Once all the wood border pieces were level and screwed together, we laid down layers of weed fabric to prevent weeds from coming through the wood chips overtime. In order to hold the weed block down, we also stapled it tight to the wood perimeter and used larger steaks to keep it tight to the ground.
After all the weed fabric was tight around the edges and stapled down, it was time for the wood chips! Although the ground beneath the weed fabric wasn't entirely level, the wood planks were the same height all around, making the wood chips a level base for the play set to stand flat on top.
Everything was all set in the play area, so we began digging out the trench for the river rocks!
We dug the trench around the edges about two feet in width for it to be wide enough to catch heavy rain flow. We also installed 4"x4" wood posts horizontally in between each fence panel to create a barrier for the river rocks and provide extra support to the fence.
Once the edging was complete, the 4"x4"s were installed, and the weed fabric was laid out, it was time to start dumping & spreading the river rocks!
After the rocks were dumped and spread, we went back around to tamp everything down and fill low spots with more rocks.
When the project was finally complete, the homeowners were beyond happy with a transition that went from a muddy play area to an oasis of fun in the blink of an eye.
They quickly added that after seeing this transformation, they wanted to do more with the space. Their idea was to build a wood platform around the trees for their daughter's new playhouse which was no problem, but required some additional planning and preparation before starting the next phase to this project. Click here to jump straight to phase 2, "Platform Precision"!
This project called for creating an outdoor oasis of natural materials and plants surrounding the home's freshly finished patio, along with an elegant transition from the patio down to the backyard.
With the backyard being about four feet lower than the grade of the patio, we needed to build multiple retaining walls with flower beds in between to steadily recede down to the level of the yard.
We also needed to double the amount of steps that we were planning on installing to make up for the steep slope. The steps weighed 500 LBS each which made it extra difficult to unload, but once they were stacked in place to our satisfaction, we were ready to move on to the retaining walls!
When it came time to install the retaining walls, we needed to ensure each wall was built to perfection. On steep slopes like this property, it's significant to perfectly level the ground beneath the base layer of the wall. Once we set our base for the first wall, it was smooth stacking from there!
Although we were still planning to add another wall above this zone to serve as a barrier for the patio, we started on the middle wall first because it was by far the biggest and required the most rocks.
After we finished the retaining walls leading up to the patio, the homeowner wanted us to install the plants that they had picked out before it got too warm outside. Their request was no problem as we laid the greenery out to see what looked best, then installed everything throughout the beds.
Once we got back on track, we moved down to the backyard to work on the the other retaining walls and flower beds, along with the transition from the steps to the yard.
Although these retaining walls were already in place, they were known for being unstable which was why the homeowenr wanted them redone. All we had to do was strip the rocks to the base on each side, rake out and re-level the ground, and then stack the rocks precisely on top of one another.
When the walls were set, we then edged the beds, lined rocks along the edges, and graded the soil.
Then we put down a weed prevention seed and layered the bed with weed fabric for extensive coverage.
All there was left to do was add mulch to the beds and figure out a game plan for the fire pit area and path beneath the steps.
With the game plan for the firepit area came a solution to filling this void beneath the back door. Since we were planning on using 3/4" clean stone to fill the firepit area, we decided to attach a square drain head to the pipe going into the ground, then filled the rocks up to the base of the door footing.
Before pouring the rocks, we decided to add a piece of rubber edging across the mouth of the path to keep grass out of the space. Once the rocks were installed and spread, it was finally time to complete the backyard with the path from the steps to the fire-pit area.
Digging the path was not very difficult, but measuring and aligning the edge pieces took some patience and precision.
Once the path was dug out and level, we laid layers of weed fabric down to prevent weeds from growing through the path overtime.
When the path was fully covered with weed fabric, we nailed the edge pieces through the fabric and in the ground. Then we took the stepping stones and placed them evenly down the path and filled the rest of the path with rocks up to the edge to match the surrounding grade.
Once the path from the steps to the fire-pit area was complete, it was finally time to finish off this massive exterior renovation project with the fire-pit area. Since the seats and fire pit were already set in place, all we had to do was caulk the loose blocks back in place, pull all the weeds, put weed fabric down, and fill the area with rocks. That may sound like a lot, but with this being our last task of the project, it felt easier than ever!
When the rocks were spread throughout the fire-pit area, the whole backyard felt together again, from its once torn apart state, to an oasis of relaxation with a variety of characteristics and focal points.
This homeowner reached out to us to rake out and remove the seaweed that was overgrown in his docking space. He also wanted us to recover the fallen rocks and rebuild his wall at the edge of the lake.
We began the project by raking the seaweed 20 yards away from shore back to the rock wall. Once majority of the seaweed was raked to shore, we scooped it up and left it on a tarp to air dry.
Once all the seaweed was cleared and on-shore, we searched the edge of the lake for fallen rocks from the wall to reuse them. Then we removed the unstable rocks in the wall to prevent the likelihood of the wall washing out overtime.
When all the rocks were cleared from the water, we began rebuilding the wall!
To rebuild the wall with more stability, we stacked the largest rocks on the bottom and strategically placed smaller rocks on top. We also reconstructed the wall two rocks wide for extra support against waves.
After all the rocks were in place and restacked, the homeowner was very pleased with the transformation of his once broken-down wall into a sturdy barrier to deflect the wake.
Painting
This project involves a simple paint refreshment to a kitchen that had not been painted since the house was constructed!
The first thing we had to do was prep the space, then cut in the edges of the room with two coats of wall paint. The original color of the room was a salmon pink that the homeowner wanted to brighten up with a lemon yellow.
Once the edges of each wall were cut-in with two coats, we were ready to roll!
When it comes to painting walls with a roller, we use the standard method of starting at the top of the wall and overlapping our strokes up and down. We also overlap each of our strokes by more than 50% to prevent visible streaks even further.
Once all the walls were painted and dry, we removed the tape and plastic and reattached the clocks and light switch plates.
When everything was all cleaned up and complete, the homeowner took one look at the kitchen and was amazed by its bright new color. They were very appreciative with the new look of their kitchen and our efficiency in meeting their project needs!
This massive basement renovation project consisted of various kinds of work, all to turn an unfinished space into a space of relaxation and beauty.
Although the homeowner hired us to take on a variety of projects, they decided to outsource the larger parts of the renovation in order to finish everything in a timely manner. These larger projects included the framing, drywall, electrical, plumbing, HVAC, and vinyl floors.
Once the drywall was installed, our first task was to prime all of the walls and ceilings!
When the walls and ceilings were fully primed, we started installing the doors.
The singular doors were fairly easy to attach to the door frames. Attaching the double doors was a similar process, but more tedious due to aligning the doors.
Once all six sets of doors were installed throughout the basement, we went back around to install the mantle.
After the mantle was finished, the floor guys came in to install th vinyl floor and base trim.
Now that all the trim was installed, it was time to paint!
Since the doors took more time and effort to paint than the trim, we started by applying one coat to each door, then by the time we circled back to the first door, the paint would be dry and ready for a second coat.
After all the doors were painted with two coats, we went around the rest of the basement to finish painting two coats on the trim.
As we worked our way from one side of the room to the other, one of the last things we needed to paint were the stairs.
Since stairs have a variety of edges, its important to prep the area well to ensure that no paint bleeds onto the wood.
After the stairs were finished, all there was left to do to finish the basement was remove any remaining blue tape and peel the glass covers off of the glass doors.
Once everything was finished and painted, the homeowner was very pleased with the outcome of the project. Even though he wasn't sure if painting the trim a different color than white was the right decision, the colors of his newly renovated basement highly complemented the size of the space, along with the inevitable feeling of relaxation inside. Click here to check out the second part to this project, "Cabinet Customization"!
Interior/Exterior Remodeling
Phase two of this project began with measuring around the trees to figure out the overall size and shape of the platform. Once we finished taking our measurements, we attached the beams to the trees along the outside, then to the boards that it would but up against.
After each of the perimeter boards were attached along the outside, it was time to add some studs for extra support. The most difficult part about installing the studs for this project was since the boarder of the platform was not parallel, it required us to make angle cuts to each of the studs. If we didn't make these cuts for the studs, the boards would have gaps at its ends because they wouldn't align with the angle of the perimeter boards.
Once all the studs were attached and level, it was time to start the decking!
Although the decking was fairly simple, the process of measuring, spacing, and installing the deck boards took a lot of precision and especially patience.
As you can see, all of the deck boards needed to be cut on an angle. This made the project slightly more time consuming, but added a creative look to the space, different than a generic square platform.
Once all the decking was finished, the homeowner once again showed his gratitude and appreciation.
Not only was he amazed at recreating his daughter's play space, but he was extremely impressed at what a perfect addition the platform was to the space.
Last but not least, we hoisted the play set onto the platform, installed the slide, and finally took a step back to admire the transformation of an area experiencing too much water into a zone of play and memories that are everlasting.
This carpentry project sprouted from a favor and turned into a workshop dream!
The homeowner reached out to us with a small clean-out job, along with a request to organize the things they wanted to keep. Since it was a small task, we asked if they would be interested in turning their workspace that never saw the light of day into a storage shelf success, with a fresh workbench on the side. Their smile said it all and he immediately responded with a yes to start planning for the project.
It didn't take much to plan for the project other than picking up material. All we needed were 2"x4"s, 3/4" plywood, wood screws, and masonry screws for extensive stability. Our first step was to build the frames for each shelf. Once the frames for each shelf were together, we mounted the top shelf to the wall, then attached all four legs and the remaining shelves. Lastly, we added the 3/4" plywood on each shelf and legs in the center of each shelf to prevent the shelves from sagging overtime.
Once the shelf was complete, it was time to finish the work bench! The first time we visited the customer's house, we noticed leftover Trex boards from a previous project. Although we planned to use plywood, we asked the customer if he had any plans to use the Trex in the future. Once again, he loved the idea of and mentioned how he probably would never use the boards anyway. Once we had the go-ahead, we built the frame, attached it to the wall and shelf, and laid the Trex boards across the top.
When the customer came down to see the finished product, he was astonished and grateful. He was very impressed with the functionality and fit of his new shelves and a work bench in a place that used to be untouched and invisible.
Once everything found its place on the new shelves, the homeowner could finally have a space to work, while also storing tools and accessories with ease!
Junk Removal
This job involved a simple rip-out and removal of railroad ties that the homeowner didn't want in their flower bed anymore.
Since the railroad ties had been in the ground for decades and we knew they would be tough to rip out, we cut them in five foot lengths with a reciprocating saw to allow easier extraction.
Once the railroad ties were cut up into manageable enough lengths, we used a pry bar to lift the pieces out of the ground. As you can see, the rebar steaks that are sticking through the railroad ties were a foot and a half in the ground!
After all of the railroad ties were removed from the ground, we decided to cut the rebar pieces that were sticking out of each piece to prevent any safety hazards. Then we loaded them into the truck and got ready to take a trip to the dump!
The last and most important step to this small project was loading the rest of the wood on top and STRAPPING EVERYTHING DOWN!
After some time passed, the yard was refreshed with a path of river rock and more lawn!