Congratulations to our newest Hardscape Hero, Ken Osterhus of Osterhus Outdoors!
Osterhus Outdoors is located in Salisbury, North Carolina, and is known for their desire to “take unhewn landscape and form it into a more inhabitable work of art.” The company completes all kinds of projects from retaining walls and spillover spas to fire pits and outdoor kitchens, but their specialty lies in installing fiberglass pools.
The biggest challenge that Ken and his team faced during the project was working with the size of the installation. With 3,300 sq. feet of GrandCay Textured to install, retaining walls and caps made from natural stone, CopingStone and a Highland Stone Fire Pit Kit, there was a tremendous amount of work to be done. Ken and his team also installed an untraditional base for the pavers. Instead of using ABC stone and sand, they set it all on a poured concrete base.
The goal of this project was to build the perfect patio, one that the homeowner’s family would be happy with for decades to come. The homeowner’s reaction was a testament of that goal being reached. The end of the project was greeted with lots of handshakes, pats on the backs and even hugs. But Ken and his team didn’t get there so easily.
Ken explains, “in the beginning [the homeowners] couldn’t see the project. There was just a lot of dirt moving, concrete being poured to set as the base – the homeowners didn’t quite understand the process.” But the sentiment changed as the project progressed. “Then the pavers started going down, the rock retaining walls were being finished, the outdoor lighting was put into the steps and walls, and the homeowners began to get very excited.”
Ken’s inspiration comes from natural designs. “There are places on this planet that look like paradise. Let’s try to get some of that paradise in our backyards.”
We’re excited to have Ken join the ranks as a Hardscape Hero! For more photos, information and inspiration from Osterhus Outdoors, check out their website.