Building an engineered wall on clay soil

Let me start by saying that I realize this wall isn’t massive. This article is written for contractors who are starting to venture into walls requiring an engineer’s stamped drawings. There were several challenges. First, the toe slope was extreme. It was about 2.5 : 1, or 37%. Second, we had access only from the top. Third, we had clay soils. And finally, we had runoff from the driveway and house roof that would impact the wall... MORE

If only this happened every project

A new client called in having seen GoldGlo Landscape’s work around town and having visited their website. She told GoldGlo project manager Ivan Fisher that she didn’t want budget to limit the design. “She said, ‘Show me what you can do to bring a “wow” factor to my backyard. I want my project to be your next award winning project.”... MORE

Building walls in the Mississippi bluffs

This mid-century St. Paul, MN home was built in 1952 along the Mississippi River bluffs so steep that the area was once considered unbuildable. It was cutting edge fashionable enough to be featured in an issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine in 1953. Hardscape has come a long way since that time, and the homeowners wanted to add unique outdoor spaces to further beautify their amazing home... MORE

Don’t let your business become stagnant

I describe the seasons in the life of a business as Wonder (just starting with owner making wages), Blunder (lots of work but little control and money), Thunder (very profitable and driving the market) and Plunder (aging with old systems and management). In many ways the Plunder phase of business is the hardest to turn around. Many plunder phase businesses are organizations of people who are a little too fat and happy... MORE

5 tools to double efficiency

Research shows that the best feature of the best companies is to focus relentlessly on excellence in the workplace by developing a culture of efficiency and the implementation of good work tools. Here are 5 of my favorite hardscape tools, relatively inexpensive for the value they provide, that can easily help you double your efficiency and the happiness of your employees... MORE

Contractor Profiles

Meeting the demand for hardscape restoration

December/January 2022

Meeting the demand for hardscape restoration

2 brothers start up a hardscape maintenance company to serve the largely untapped market for restoring old paver projects. MORE

Contractors start up a supply yard

August/September 2021

Contractors start up a supply yard

Opening a supply yard wasn’t in the plans, but the opportunity was too good to pass up. MORE

Interior design wins exterior awards

June/July 2021

Interior design wins exterior awards

Contractor stays on the leading edge of hardscape design trends by following interior design trends. MORE

Get smart building walls

April/May 2021

Get smart building walls

Educate yourself and your people to grow your company building more complex walls and bigger projects. MORE

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