Backyard Bedrock

This three-season backyard outdoor living space in Croton on Hudson, New York, was created from a blank canvas of ledgerock, trees and eroded soil. Non-essential ledgerock was removed to create the base for the living space, and five gardens were dug out around the outside of the hardscape, each with underground sprinklers for spring plantings.

This Croton on Hudson, New York, homeowner was looking to increase the useable space in their backyard entertaining area. The previous space restricted them to less than 600 square feet of almost unlivable outdoor space, which became too hot to use at the height of a sunny summer. Their request included an addition of 2,000 square feet of living area, with several different spaces that would allow guests to spread out freely and comfortably but still be tied together smoothly. Wall seating was a major requirement of the project, which would define the outdoor areas and reduce the need for additional furniture in the space. They also requested seating areas near the children's play set and access to their vegetable garden in the rear of the property, as well as LED lighting for use at night to reduce power consumption.

The pond-less waterfall includes basalt columns and a custom constructed firepit by Thomas Palancia of Built Well Contracting. The client requested extensive wall seating to define the outdoor areas and reduce the need for additional furniture in the outdoor living area.

 

The existing backyard was underdeveloped and had some very challenging topography, including drastic elevation changes and several bedrock outcroppings, creating the need for custom work to fit requirements of the client and meet town code requirements. The initial demolition included removing an existing concrete patio that occupied approximately 225 square feet. The construction team removed about 40 cubic feet of bedrock, increasing the backyard entranceway to six feet. The final design included a 1,650 square feet main patio, which included a pond-less water feature using custom cut basalt columns from Coverall Stone in Seattle, Washington, and a custom built fire pit designed by Chapman Manzer of Manzer's Landscape Design and their mason, Thomas Palancia.

The four-man construction team increased the backyard entranceway to six feet by removing about 40 cubic feet of bedrock. The renovated backyard now features more than 2,000 sq. ft. of additional living space, including the 1,650 sq. ft. main patio, and the 650 sq.ft. lower patio.

The main patio accommodates a large seating and dining area as an alternative to their existing wood deck. The lower patio, measuring 650 square feet, falls three feet lower than the main patio, which enjoys a significant amount of shade in the summer months and provides a cooler outdoor space during warmer weather.

Manzer's used a Kubota excavator and a Caterpillar 272 skid steer to remove the existing backyard amenities and install the new outdoor living area. Workers installed 800 sq. ft. of Kingscourt wall stone and 300 linear feet of wall caps (Cambridge) in a Toffee Onyx color blend.

A 10-foot wide-open staircase ties the main patio and lower patio together. People on the lower patio can enjoy the separate seating area and shade, while still being able to enjoy the main water feature and fire pit and interact with people on the main patio. The round seating area, approximately 100 square feet, was also installed in a location that allowed it to enjoy the water feature and have an access point to the main patio.

Chapman "Chappy" Manzer incorporated drainage at the water feature, main entrance, lower patio and fire pit. LED lighting (CAST) was installed for the gardens, water feature and both patios for safe and comfortable nighttime use.

To create an access point for the garden and children's play-set, a seven-step staircase was added at the far end of the main patio, along with a short stair to access the forest behind the property and the client's firewood storage. Five planting beds were integrated through the patio, with underground sprinklers that will water a Japanese maple and a "green area" that comply with local height restrictions for walls.

Before construction, the backyard was underdeveloped, had drastic grade changes and multiple bedrock outcroppings that the crew had to work around during the 5-6 week installation, which was also slowed by inclement weather. Initial demolition required the removal of an existing 225 sq. ft. patio.

With the change in the elevation, numerous accommodations for drainage needed attention for the main entranceway, lower patio, fire pit and water feature. Also included were over 20 conduits by CAST lighting for the LED lighting, including expansion lines and 120v outdoor electric lines for the main and lower patio with up-lighting on the gardens and water feature.