We recently constructed a new patio in Holly Springs off of an existing screened porch complete with a fire pit, retaining wall, outdoor lighting, and landscaping. Prior to beginning this project, these homeowners were unable to use their sloping backyard for much of anything. Now, three patios create multiple zones: one for a firepit, one for a grill, and one for mixed use. In the first of a series of three blog posts about this project, we’ll discuss the materials we used, the lighting we incorporated into the design, and the challenges we faced.
Materials
- Pavers: TECHO-BLOC Blu 60 Slate in Champlain Gray
- Wall and Stairs: TECHO-BLOC Mini-Creta Architectural in Champlain Grey (mix of 3″ and 6″)
- Caps: TECHO-BLOC Mini-Creta Architectural in Chestnut Brown
- Fire Pit: TECHO-BLOC Valencia in Champlain Grey
- Accent Ring Around Fire Pit/Patio Edging: TECHO-BLOC Blu 60 Slate in Chestnut Brown
Lighting
A project this expansive requires extensive lighting to ensure safety when navigating through the different zones at night. We built lighting under each one of the steps, the knee wall surrounding the fire pit, the wall that’s supporting the screened porch, and the wall that supports the bed with three gardenias and a tree. Now, homeowners and guests alike can easily navigate from one zone to another day and night.
Challenges
With larger projects, it’s hard to foresee all the challenges that will arise. During the construction of this new patio in Holly Springs, we ended up rerouting downspouts on both sides of the screened porch and the air conditioning drain. The biggest challenge we faced during this project was the engineered soil, AKA clean clay, that filled the entire yard. Builders use engineered soil because it tamps in a predictable way. The problem is that when engineered soil gets wet, it gets slippery, stains everything it touches, and makes it impossible to navigate machines without destroying the whole yard. In this project, literally everything the soil touched had to be thrown away. We ended up laying down fresh sod along with new landscaping to finish off the project.
BEFORE
AFTER
If you are wondering how to make use of your unusable yard, contact us today to schedule a free consultation. The options are limitless and we will work with you to create a design you will love for years to come. Our 3D Vizterra software allows you to see the design before we get started. We are thrilled to finally reveal this incredible transformation to you and can’t wait to see what we can make of your backyard!