Landscape design options give homeowners new perspective

The actual landscape design is the corner stone to any landscape project. Professional landscape designers have portrayed their designs in forms of hand sketched renderings, topographic, and computer aided CADD designs in the past and currently. These designs give the customer a sense of scale which plant materials are being used, yard space, and the location of other components. The problem is that customers, who usually are not in the landscape industry, lack vision. This is expected especially when it comes to larger design. After experimenting over the years with doing different designs, power point presentations, trips to past projects, and many others we feel that through the addition of 3D landscape design to our services we can finally give customers the perspective they are looking for. These designs offer everything the past designs offer but much more. It gives the customer to view the design at any angle, shows how the landscape design works with the existing exterior features (including the home), and gives you the ability to move features in the design around during your presentations with the click of your mouse.

Pittsburgh landscapers selected to showcase project project on HGTV

This was a waterfeature designed and built by Pittsburgh Stone and Waterscapes for a residential client in the Pittsburgh area. The water feature consists of 3 ponds, 5 waterfalls, 100' of stream area, 20,000 gallons of water, 6 versa lok retaining walls, a large variety of aquatic plants, dozens of assorted goldfish in the top pond and dozens of koi in the bottom. This project was built in 3 months. An aquascape biological filtration system was used in this design using 3 biofilter, 4 skimmers, and 4 - 1 HSP pumps. It was showcased on HGTV in Spring of 08'

Before Construction

Pond 1 and Waterfalls

Pond 2 and Waterfalls

Stream Area

Pond 3 Before Construction

Pond 3 Waterfall

Koi Pond

Overall Waterfeature

Pittsburgh Outdoor kitchens take home entertainment to another level

With today’s hardscape and landscape materials skilled contractors are able to bring gourmet cooking and dining outdoors with style. The Landscape design industry has been introduced to an endless supply of stainless steel kitchen appliances that are produced for outdoor use too work in conjunction with hardscape materials. Here are a few of the options that can be added to your outdoor kicthen design:

- Sinks
- Refrigerators
- Ice makers
- Grills
- Keg misters
- Storage areas

The list of hardscape materials such as pavers, retaining wall stone, and various coping also has a widespread of variety to give your outdoor kitchen a unique look while complimenting your existing landscape design or home exterior.

The following pictures are a few outdoor kitchens, and outdoor dining areas completed by Pittsburgh Stone and Waterscapes.

(Pic1) This picture illustrates the following:
- built in gas grill
- 8’ x 2.5’ dining area
- 6’ x 4’ preparation area
- stainless steel double doors for storage

(Pic2) This picture illustrates the following:
- built in gas grill
- Two 2’ x 2’ preparation areas
- 8’ x 2.5’ dining area

(Pic 3)

(Pic 4) This picture illustrates the following:
- built in gas grill
- 2’ x 2’ preparation area
- 4’ x 2’ preparation area
- Stainless steel doors with storage area

(Pic 5) This picture illustrates the following:
- built in gas grill
- Two 2’ x 2’ preparation areas
- Two sitting walls with pillars

Big hillsides provide big possibilities By: Jeff Blunkosky

It is hard to even find a piece of property in Western Pennsylvania that doesn’t have some sort of hillside incorporated on it. Don’t let hillsides deter you away from involving a landscape project on your property. Don’t fight it work with it! Natural hillsides add beautiful proportion and symmetry that can highlight any landscape. These natural slopes are great for waterfalls, steps, boulders, and flowy landscape greenery.

The featured project was built in Burgettstown. Picture 1 illustrates the before picture of our project. This hillside is a major focal point from several areas of the home. We added two Retaining walls, landscape beds, boulders, natural stone steps, and a small pond and waterfall. These materials collaborated to turn a once unused piece of hillside to a beautiful landscape design which can seen at many areas of the house along with the waterfall which can be heard.

Picture 1: Before

Picture 2: Illustrates the finished landscape design

Wall material: Versa lok mosaic
Color: Allegheny blend

Picture 3: Illustrates the pond and waterfall

Waterfall size: 2’ x 10’
Pond size: 6’ x 8’
Pond components: Aquascape

Picture 4: Illustrates the natural stone walkway

Material: Sandstone rock

Raised Patios raise the bar for back yard excellence

One of the big misconception consumers have about paver surfaces is that they have to be installed on grade. Well, nothing could be further from the truth. With the help of properly installed segmented retaining wall systems raised patio surfaces have become quite common for residential and commercial applications. One example is the job illustrated below which was done for a family in Moon Twp.

Picture 1 illustrates a traditional wood deck that has began to rot away and become an eye sore. The task of replacing this deck with a paved surface was a little tricky but definitely workable. The grade of the finished patio on one side of the house was 8’ above grade and the opposite side was 6” above grade. In order to deal with the rapid grade change a reinforced retaining wall needed to be built before the pavers could be started.

Picture 1: Existing Wooden Deck

Picture 2-3: Illustrates sections of the retaining wall that was built around the perimeter of the patio.

Picture 2

Wall product: Unilock Pisa 2
Color: Beech wood

Picture 3

Wall product: Unilock Pisa 2
Color: Beech wood

Picture 4: Illustrates the steps that lead from the paver surface to the existing grade.

Wall Product: Pisa 2

Color: Beechwood

Custom Railing: Steel

Picture 5: Illustrates the finished paver patio. Pillars with steel railing were installed for safety and to break up the large patio surface.

Paver Product: Unilock hollandstone
Color: Beechwood

Pattern: 45 degree herringbone

Adding color and stability to steep hillsides

This project was conducted in Wexford Pa. The situation was we had a steep hillside that needed to be landscaped. But what is the best way to landscape a steep hillside that a strong rain won’t wash everything off of. The first thing that needed to be incorporated was stability to the hillside. So, the first thing we did was go throughout the hillside a place large boulders that would stabilize soils, mulch, and serve as footing for plant material. After the boulders were placed perennials were placed throughout the hillside which were low growing (which also stabilized mulch) and added a variety of color. Lastly, the beds were edged and mulch was applied. This was a commercial landscape application, but this method can also be applied at any residential hillside.

Picture 1: Takeuchi Excavation


Picture 2: Finished Landscape


Picture 3: Finished Landscape

Entertainment For All Ages

It can sometimes be difficult to buy on an item for your home that will not only add value to the home but also accommodate all members of the family. The options that the hardscape industry have provided to contractors makes it possible to establish an outdoor living space to accommodate all ages. This featured landscape design displays the following items:

• A 1,000 sq. ft. paver patio


• Built in Jacuzzi


• A pondless waterfall


• Sitting walls


• A enclosed 400 sq. ft. paver patio


• Colorful landscape beds

Whether Mom and Dad are having company over for dinner and drinks, or the teenagers are entertaining friends. This outdoor living space can cater to everybody’s needs.

Before Picture 1: This picture was taken at the begining of construction

Picture 2: This picture shows the finished waterfall and landscape bed

Pondless Waterfall
Size: 8'x2' waterfall
Material: Aquascape

After picture 3: This picture shows the main patio area

Material: Stratford Paver
Color: Allegheny Blend
Pattern: 45 degree Herringbone

Picture 4: This picture shows a raised patio with a recessed jacuzzi


Picture 5: This picture shows a seperate patio area located under a second story deck

Makeover Your Old Pool With a Hardscape Transformation

Does the ugly concrete around your pool take away from the beauty of your once enjoyable oasis? Well give it an updated facelift that will make a 20 year old pool look like new! You might even say “Well I don’t like the look of the concrete, but it’s still in good shape and it would be a shame to crack it all out”. No problem. If your concrete is still in good shape meaning it’s sloped properly for runoff and the concrete has no cracks or minimal cracks then sand can be applied right over top and pavers laid on top. Having an existing concrete base can reduce up to 40% off your hardscape cost! After adding a new updated paver appearance around your pool, other factors like adding some landscaping (a nice variation of color and shape), and even enclosed outdoor spaces like decks, pool houses, and pergolas are always an option to compliment your new outdoor entertainment area.

Picture 1: Existing concrete patio




Picture 2: Finished Paver Patio


Material: Omni Vintage
Color: Allegheny Blend
Pattern: 45 degree herringbone

Picture: 3 (Same as picture 2)


Picture 4: Enclosed Outdoor Living Space

Material: Cedar Wood

Patio, Sitting Wall, Formal Water feature, and Fireplace

This project was started May 1, 2009 and completed in one week. It was an outdoor living space created for a family residence located in Peters Township.

The first picture illustrates the home before construction.

The second picture illustrates new pipe work that we had to install. These pipes were down spout drain lines for the gutters for the house. Schedule 40 4 inch pipe must always
be run underneath a paved surface to keep from being crushed or damaged.

The Third picture illustrates the finished project which included

A paver patio:
Material: Omni Vintage
Color: Allegheny Blend
Pattern: Random
Border: Desert Blend

Three 2’ sitting walls with pillars:
Material: Country Stone
Color: Desert Blend
Pattern: Running Bond

A 6’ x 4’ formal water feature with a color falls spillway:
Material: Country Stone
Color: Dessert Blend

Pattern: Random

Fourth Picture shows an 8'x6'x4' wood burning fireplace.

Material: Country Stone

Color: Desert Blend

Pattern: Random

Inlays: Castle Mist, Artiste

Bringing your hillside to life

Many homeowners in Pennsylvania are faced with the same dilemma concerning their backyard space, and steep hillsides. There are several options homeowners have with dealing with unsightly hillsides.

1. Retaining walls
2. Grading
3. Ignore it
4. Add a water feature and boulder scape. This concept has become very popular for homeowners who want to bring their backyard to life and utilize unused yard space. By incorporating rock, water, and plant life your once unsightly hillside becomes your own private sanctuary. The pictures below show a once unusable piece of yard space transformed into a backyard oasis.

Picture 1: Hillside Before


Picutre 2: Finished pond, waterfall, landscape

Pond Material: Aquascape
Waterfall Size: 18'x2'
Pond Size: 15'x10'