Bluegrass Oasis

By Jennifer Brown, Mink's Landscape Contractors, LLC

Before planting, workers added sifted topsoil and applied Jon Carloftis Soil and Root fertilizer. They then planted black eyed susans, boxwoods, a clethra and a dwarf nandina. To aid in growth, the plants were sprayed with Jon Carloftis Fruit and Bloom fertilizer; the area is irrigated via Rain Bird mist heads. photos: Jennifer Brown, Mink's Landscape Contractors, LLC

When the owners of this Ashland, Kentucky project approached Mink's Landscape Contractors, they had a few design goals in mind; namely, to address that the homeowners and their three children love the outdoors and physical activity. Minks set out to design a backyard area to meet the needs and desires of an outdoor lifestyle. And they did just that.

The project features a large outdoor living area, with a large walk-in pool with a cave and waterfall, as well as fire elements all integrated in a lavish landscape plant material.

After stripping the area to the ground, the contractor constructed the sidewalk and steps out of brown flagstone. Workers then laid 2,700 square feet of Fescue sod. The retaining walls were constructed out of hand-hued brown stone.

Breaking Ground

The contractor broke ground using their D32E Komatsu Dozer to level off an acre of area in the back yard. Based on the contractor's design, the general shape of the pool was painted on the ground, and then Mink's employed a WB-140 Komatsu Backhoe to excavate for the pool. After excavation, reinforced walls using various sized rebar were added to hold and support the concrete, and then workers sprayed in 110 yards of shot-crete to create the pool shell.

Their first bit of masonry work formed the theme for the rest of the project. Hand-hued brown ruble stone was used to build three retaining walls terracing the entryway down to the pool and gathering areas. Chattanooga flagstone was used to cap these walls and then they installed an elegant carriage lantern atop one of the columns.

A 100-foot long replica of these walls was built on the opposing side of the yard. Workers lined the wall with hemlock and white pine trees to provide privacy from the neighbors below as well as also to act as a visual backdrop.

Designed by Gretchen Roach, of Kitchen Interiors, LLC, the kitchen area features Viking brand appliances. The full overlay cherry cabinets were treated with a custom outdoor poly finish.

Challenges Faced

The biggest challenge faced while constructing this project was inclement weather. The fall was notorious for the amount of rainfall. Furthermore, the winter of the project's construction was one of the coldest on record and carried some of the heaviest snowfall the region had seen in years.

The weather made pouring concrete and laying stone difficult. To combat this, the company placed a 20x30-foot canopy tent over the largest area of patio. The tent was was enclosed with plastic. Makeshift tunnels using plastic and 2x4s extended this coverage all around the property. Propane heaters placed throughout the tent and tunnels made the concrete's curing process possible in such cold weather.

In total, 62 tons of concrete were poured, creating 5,000 square feet of patio area and sidewalks. Fourty-two tons of brown flagstone was also veneered to these areas using 500 bags of Portland cement.

More than 50 lights were installed throughout the backyard. To power the lighting system, the installation crew buried 5,000 feet of conduit, and pulled 5,000 feet of wiring.

Constructing The Cave

The construction of the synthetic-cast rock cave with a slide and two waterfalls presented another big challenge. Mink's worked with the owner of Riggs Machine and Fabricating to engineer and produce custom-steel reinforcements. These steel reinforcements held the weight of the walls and cave's ceiling. The machinist fabricated four steel casings that were eight inches in diameter, as well as fabricating a series of L-shaped angle iron that formed the initial curved shape of the cave. Then, a rebar grid was built for the ceiling and walls of the cave.

Synthetic cast Rico Rock rock panels were attached to the rebar grid. Concrete was then poured into the casings, as well as on top of the Rico Rock panels, ensuring that the rebar grid was surrounded completely by concrete and tied to the panels. Mink's workers attached the additional Rico Rock panels and boulders around the cave. Next, the panels were acid stained to create the natural stone look that blended with the flagstone patio, as well as the natural boulders that are found sporadically throughout the landscaping.

The company worked with engineers at Riggs Fabricating and Machine to create custom steel reinforcements to support the weight of the artificial-cast Rico Rock cave, waterfall and slide. Machinists fabricated four 8-inch casings and a series of angle irons. The steel reinforcements were welded together for strength and stability. Workers then used a WB-140 Kamatsu Backhoe along with a boom truck to install the steel reinforcements and artificial cast panels. They poured concrete so the steel rebar grid was completely encased and then attached the other Rico Rock panels. The cave was then stained to achieve a natural appearance.

To complete the cave area, a 17-foot, left turn Slidescapes slide was added with steps leading up from the behind of the cave.

The top of the waterfall was landscaped with low-maintenance shrubs and perennial flowers. Several Rain Bird mist heads were added to irrigate this area. There are also two 5-wood wide rain curtains of water concealing the entrance of the cave. The water for these curtains are pushed by twin Pentair AFP-180 specialty waterfall pumps. In addition to these pumps, two 3-HP Pentair Whisperflo pumps filter the pool, as well as providing water to the other features.

The company had to engineer a system head curve of the hydraulics and relate it to the performance curve of the components to ensure each feature would receive the proper water flow. Determining the GPM was imperative for the three Polaris MiniJets and the 4-foot Polaris Power Fall waterfall bar to perform correctly.

In total, the company poured more than 62 yards of concrete, which created 5,000 square feet of patio area and sidewalks. 42 tons of brown flagstone was veneered to these areas using 500 bags of Portland cement.

Fire Pits

Three fire pits were built out of the same hand-hued brown ruble stone as the walls. These fire pits are automated using 35-inch Grand Effects fire rings and filled with Caribbean Blue StarFire glass. Focal plants, such as Blue Atlas Cedars, Weeping Nootka Cypress, Emperor Japanese Maple, Cryptomeria Yoshino, Hinokii Cypress, Bonzai Boulevard Chameocypress, Pine Topiary Bonzai, and Hoopsii Blue Spruce were added in carefully selected locations as well.

Workers planted an array of hardy perennials, such as black-eyed Susan, Shasta daisy, Lirope, wisteria, and many more flowering shrubs and evergreens throughout the project.

For privacy screening, workers planted Leyland cypresses. The entirety of the landscaping was treated with Jon Carloftis Organic Soil and Root, as well as Bloom and Fruit Fertilizer.

The landscaping around the pool is irrigated with an automated Rainbird system. For lighting, an array of line-level voltage aluminum-cast path and spot lighting accent the area. Three Colorlogic lights in the pool add an extra dimension to the nighttime festivities. The pool, patios, walks, and landscaping flows together with a very well designed pool house and outdoor kitchen.

The pool house includes a large air-conditioned shaded entertaining area. This covered space not only includes three walk-up bars, but also an outdoor kitchen with stainless steel sinks, a grill, a refrigerator, and a wet bar; these amenities were set in the same granite counter tops as the pool's swim-up bar. The contractor installed illuminated Onyx stone backsplashes and bar fronts finish, as well as mouthing and wiring in a touch-screen control panel, which operates the pool features, fire pits, and the project's entire lighting system.

Despite the obstacles of a wintertime installation and cold weather events to overcome, this project came together on time and on budget.