Wednesday, February 25th, 2009
Hardscapes Unite Nature With Luxury
Lawn & Landscape, Feb 23 2009
The design-build company Decra-Scape of Sterling Heights, Mich., recently received an award for its hardscape work at the Hearthside Motorcoach Resort in Petoskey, Mich.
When it comes to pleasing a customer, Decra-Scape is all about customization.
So when it came to creating elegant outdoor living spaces for the Hearthside Grove Motorcoach Resort in Petoskey, Mich., the design-build company’s workmanship was no exception.
The company’s focus was on the luxury resort’s hardscape features. From June to November 2008, more than 15 employees completed the workload, which included driveways, bungalow walkways, fireplaces, patio living and dining areas, pillars and courtyard walls, says Matt Caruso, founder of Decra-Scape
For the driveways, a 48,000-square-foot project, the company used Unilock paving materials, Caruso says. Several varieties were used, including Elegance Series Courtstone, Stonehenge and Olde Greenwich brick pavers. The resort’s model lot, which covers 3,000 square feet, also incorporated two different pavers, a Hollandstone that has a standard finish and a weathered-finish Brussels stone.
“We tried to encompass and incorporate as many different styles and shapes as we could,” he explains, adding the pavers also are strong enough to hold the weight of a 60,000-pound motor coach.
Basic equipment was used for their completion, including skid steer and track loaders, chop saws and “a whole lot of manpower,” Caruso says.
The driveways and walkways were only the beginning, though. Decra-Scape’s goal was to make the resort’s community lots as beautiful as its natural, wooded environment. To do this, fire pits were installed with burners covered in glass that give them a fire-and-ice feel. A cobblestone wall also was installed with flames coming out of it.
In addition, retaining walls were used to build kitchens equipped with granite tops, cocktail stations, ice makers, trash compactors and grilling areas.
“It incorporated a lot of neat things,” Caruso says. “Our niche before, during and after the service is to fit the clientele. This was high end.”
Decra-Scape’s work at the resort hasn’t gone unnoticed. The company recently received the Gold Award for outstanding work in hardscapes from the Michigan Green Industry Association. The award was for its brick pavers and retaining walls at the resort’s model lot that were judged according to site lines, safety factors, environmental fit, design and creativity.
It’s a great accomplishment for the company, and the employees at Hearthside Grove couldn’t be more pleased.
“We are proud to have such a quality partner onboard for this project,” says Hearthside Grove proprietor Craig Rose. “As we strive to create an environment where nature meets luxury, their outstanding work, craftsmanship and sheer quality continues to set us apart from others across the country.”
