Recently in Work in Progress Category

Here is a progress image from a large tile patio we are in process of installing for this Napa backyard renovation. The material itself is a unique product from Tile & Stone Concepts in San Rafael, which is custom cast concrete from molds and then colored. The advantage to this custom product is that it can be manipulated in a variety of sizes and applications and color can be custom tuned to the project color palette.

Here's an image from a recently completed project in Mill Valley. We were performing an uplight adjustment on this kinetic stainless steel sculpture, the focal point of the front yard.
 

Here is a current project in Napa for an outdoor fireplace and kitchen that is in construction. The design for this project really opened up a small backyard and brought the detailing and richness that was present inside the house to the landscape for a great outdoor living space.

Here is some current work on concrete paths and retaining wills for a project in Mill Valley. We are working on the garden for this recently remodeled modern home.



Walkway and retaining curb wall poured. The color of new concrete starts out dark and rich and fades as it cures.

Here are some follow-up images and featured portfolio for a challenging Tiburon project we worked on earlier this year.


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Spring is a busy time around here, sometimes it is easy to get wrapped up in spring work. Here are some of the projects we have been working on so far this spring:

Here is a current project that we are wrapping up in San Rafael. It features a large bluestone patio set in sand. The seams in between the stones will be planted with low creeping Thyme groundcover. Patios set in sand can give a different design look than patios set on concrete. They also allow for future flexibility as the shape of the patio can be fairly easily changed by moving stones. These bluestone pieces are 2" in thickness and set on a compacted baserock subsurface, providing good stability. Having stones of good size (these are 2' x2'), thickness, and with proper base preparation is crucial to having a patio that will be stable over the long term.

We are working on wrapping up this project in Mill Valley that features a granite water wall and Ipe Fencing. Because of the challenging nature of the site topography, the 1,500 pound polished granite fountain piece had to be installed with a forklift and hoist arrangement to lower it into place.


The Ipe fencing for the project consists of two types of fencing- a wall cladding over an existing concrete retaining wall and a solid Ipe privacy fence. The Ipe has been treated with a hardwood stain to bring out its natural color.

Here is an image from a current project we are getting close to wrapping up in Mill Valley. It features a terraced bluestone patio with bluestone capped stucco walls and a tempered glass aluminum safety railing.

Here are some photos from a couple of current projects- one in Mill Valley and one in Tiburon that are in progress.

We are continuing to make progress on this project in Tiburon despite a little rainy weather. Pictured below is an image of a garden pathway edged with Aluminum edging, which will receive a final finishing layer of pathway gravel. The second image shows a planting bed that has been laid out for planting plan approval prior to installation.

Here is an image from a current project in Tiburon. We are working on the finishing touches preparing for this roof garden. For the project a new pool house was constructed and integrated into the terrain to minimize visual impact from the house. We are in the process of starting our preparation for a lawn and plantings that will be installed on top of the pool house's waterproofed roof.

Here's an update from a project in Mill Valley. We have completed a section of the stone veneer I mentioned in this previous post. In the second image we are working on the drainage system and backfill for a retaining wall that is going to create a patio space for the small side yard of this hillside home.

Here is a follow-up on a previous posting on an outdoor Rumford fireplace for a project in Tiburon. The final stucco and tile detailing has been completed and its ready for the marshmellos.

We are working on a wood fence replacement for a project in Mill Valley. Instead of replacing the existing lattice wood fence with a traditional fence, we are installing a wood framed wall with stone veneer. The choice of veneer was important, because of the construction, full sized stone veneer could not be used. As a solution, we are using Rox Pro stone veneer, which is precut and glued into panels. This allows for easy installation, with a natural stone quality that manufactured concrete stone doesn't have.

Here is a construction progress photo for a bluestone patio on a current project in Tiburon. Bluestone is typically imported from Pennsylvania and Connecticut, where it is used as the most frequent paving stone in the landscape. It has a great color, which ranges from blues and grays to highlights of purples and browns, and good durability.

This patio is of Select Blue grade, which has only blue and gray tones with no browns. This irregular installation is much like a huge jigsaw puzzle. Pieces are cut and fit together to create a patio with nice consistent grout joints and an organic overall character.

 

Select Blue Irregular Bluestone Patio

Here are some progress images from a project currently under construction in Mill Valley. We are in process of putting up hardwood cladding over an existing concrete retaining wall. The cladding will be integrated to replace an existing railing on top of the wall and help transform the patio area under construction to minimize the visual impact of the retaining wall.

We are working on finishing up this hilltop project in Tiburon. This was a large project that involved dramatically reshaping the existing landscape to improve the great views of San Francisco and Belvedere. We also created a cohesive style that flowed well with the architecture of the residence. To accomplish this, large segmental block retaining walls were constructed capped with custom railings to expand the yard space. This then provided an envelope for a side terrace with outdoor fireplace, and connecting flagstone patios.

At times advancing technology does not live up to its billing. Instead of saving time and making things easier, it often seems that the newest and latest gadget just wastes the time it saves getting through the bugs and make the device work correctly.

One good exception, mobile technology, has revolutionized the construction industry in terms of basic communications. The bells and whistles are pretty fun too. We are currently working on a larger construction project with a webcam mounted for the construction site. We can check in on project progress, never leaving our desk. This is especially handy for projects where clients travel frequently.

Another nice advance is good quality cameras on mobile phones. All of our foreman have phones with cameras, allowing for progress pictures to be sent back to the office instantly.

Below- Images from Current projects from Cell Phone Camera and Construction Webcam

 

 

Here are construction images from a current project in Tiburon. We are installing large stone slabs to provide stair access down a hillside. These slabs can be a bit of a challenge because of their size and weight. We use equipment to get them near the installation area. Then it's old fashion leverage and strength to move and set the slabs in place because of the steepness of the hillside. These slabs are also a challenge because of their natural variation. To get consistant stairs and riser heights we have to chip and hone the stone on-site to get them to fit together properly. The result however, is a distinct and natural looking staircase.

 

 

Replacing an old wood wall, we are in the process of installing this Versa-Lok Mosaic retaining wall.

Here are some installed photos of the black granite Mizubachi Water Feature from Stone Forest that was just installed for a current project. The 30" rock weighed about a ton and had to be set in place with a telescoping forklift and then leveled for even flow across the stone.

The hookup for this water feature was fairly straight forward- the recirculating pump has a timer that controls on and off times, a filler valve connected to the irrigation system to automatically refill the reservoir, and a bypass valve connected to a drain inlet to empty the reservoir.

This project in Larkspur is having seeded aggregate walkways and patios installed with bluestone accents. The Mexican pebble stone combined with the bluestone makes a good complementary paving match.

Forming and Rebar for Front Walkways

Forming and Rebar for Rear Patio

Seeded Aggregate Mexican Pebble with Formed Strips for Bluestone Inserts

Seeded Aggregate Mexican Pebble Patio

Current construction photos of Cold Water Canyon stone walls and concrete pathways with bluestone accents being installed. The boxed wall will receive the water feature detailed in this post.

Seating wall square around which Mizubachi black granite water feature will be installed