Rosetta Irregular Steps Transform Backyard Hillside

THE CHALLENGE

The hillside behind Glenn and Carole Johnson's home was long overdue for a renovation; the wooden steps were deteriorating and to make matters worse, a tree had fallen across the slope. All the shrubbery was dying, and the Johnsons knew it was time for a change.

"We knew we had to do something, and we wanted it to be a little unique," Glenn explained. The Johnson's yard was on two levels. From the back of the house, the lower level of the yard extended about 30 feet (9 meters), then sloped steeply up to a half acre on the upper level. The goal of their project was to provide access to the upper part of the yard in an aesthetic way.

THE SOLUTION

So the Johnsons contacted Country Farms, whom they've worked with for over 20 years on various landscaping projects. Tim Davis of Country Farms showed the Johnsons several brochures of hardscape options including a dry cast system and natural boulders.

But for the Johnsons, the choice was clear. "I just fell in love with the Rosetta stone," Carole said. "It was so natural looking, and we knew we wanted to add a waterfall next to the staircase. Our plans kept getting more elaborate, but we said, 'You know what? We plan on staying here the rest of our lives. Let's do it!'"

Rosetta accurately captures the look and feel of nature in its richly textured blocks. Each Rosetta block is cast in molds taken from actual, weathered stone. Using wetcast concrete to create Rosetta gives the blocks an incredibly natural look that is engineered, consistent, and durable.

The Johnsons chose the Rosetta Outcropping Collection for their yard. Outcropping features large, structural blocks in 12 sizes and 24 stone textures, giving finished walls a random look. Rosetta Irregular Steps created the staircase, and Rosetta Dimensional Steps created the landings. The steps feature the rugged look of natural stone but with uniform rise, making a safe, consistent stairway.

The focal point of the project's design included a water accent. "A major part of the homeowner's wish list was incorporating a waterfall into the design," Davis said. The varied shapes and sizes of the Outcropping units allowed for a naturally random flowing pattern cascading down the hillside.

Davis designed the entire project, which included approximately 600 square feet (56 square meters) of Rosetta Outcropping walls, plus 27 Rosetta Irregular Steps for the staircase and 8 Dimensional Steps for the landings. Since the entire hillside was rock and shale, no reinforcement was necessary.

"It was quite a challenge to get the machinery in to install the walls and steps. Plus we have a gazebo back there, which made the space even tighter," Carole said.

"The engineered interlocking units made the installation process easier, allowing for installation efficiency," Davis said. Each Rosetta Outcropping block has a shear heel that rests behind the block below it, creating a solid, structural wall. To begin the installation, Country Farms' crew first removed the existing wall and staircase, then excavated and installed a gravel leveling pad before installing blocks. The walls were backfilled with gravel except for the top 12 inches (305 millimeters), which was backfilled with topsoil. The final touch was installing the water feature and landscaping. In total, the project took approximately 15 working days to complete.

THE OUTCOME

"We're extremely pleased with how everything turned out. In fact, my kitchen window overlooks the yard, and it makes having to stand at the kitchen sink to do dishes a lot more fun," Carole said. "We notice that our landscaping inspired others in our neighborhood to spruce up their landscape. It really was worth living in a dust bowl for awhile."

To finish off the project, the Johnsons are considering placing a statue of "Jack and Jill" at the top of the hill for a whimsical touch.

PROJECT DETAILS

Project: Johnson Residence Customer: Glenn And Carole Johnson Location: Westmoreland County, PA Manufacturer: R.I. Lampus Company Designer: Tim Davis, Owner of Country Farms Garden Center and Landscape Design Installer: Country Farms Garden Center and Landscape Design Year: 2010 Case: 13 - Johnson Residence