East Grand Rapids Outdoor Living Space Walkthru

This East Grand Rapids, MI landscape was designed to encourage the home owners to live more often in their outdoor living space.  Wood burning fire pit. Unilock paver patio. Stepping stone passes through a crushed stone transition walkway between the main lower paver patio and the upper paver patio.  Future gardens are planned to finish off the landscape and soften the edges and water features to add sound to the newly landscaped back yard.

Call or Text Brent NOW

(616) 328-3258

Your Outdoor Living Space and Intimate Garden Transformation is One Call Away

2017 Outdoor Living in East Grand Rapids

Another  East Grand Rapids, MI Outdoor Living Space and Intimate Garden is completed. The 3D landscape design was created using Sketchup, an open-source design software used by architects, engineers, interior designers and many other in design fields.

3D Sketchup Outdoor Living and Landscape Design For Home in East Grand Rapids, Michigan

Outdoor Living Space and Landscape Design in East Grand Rapids, Michigan

Crushed Stone Walkway with Stepping Stone Path and Raised Paver Patio

When I was approached by the homeowners, they made it clear I would have a challenge on my hands.  The small backyard had, at one time, been transformed into a flagstone patio with a stream and native plantings.  Years of relative neglect and an unruly dog had returned it to an even more natural state: that of chaos. 

Long-Neglected Backyard Landscape Before Transformation

The majority of the yard was dirt or mud, depending on the weather, with slabs of flagstone and various sizes of cobblestone throughout.  Boards were laid down along the side of the house to allow access from the side door to the main backyard.

Another Before Angle of Before Implementing New Landscape Design

The homeowners' goal was to create an outdoor living space that would fit their lifestyle.

Their teenage children needed a place to gather with their friends.  They needed an area to entertain family and friends.  Grilling, Dining, Relaxation.

Unilock Paver Patio with  Black Diamond Paver Frame

Wood Burning Fire Pit

Though they enjoy gardens, their time is limited by career and family. So, the gardens were to be low-maintenance.  No lawn would be easily sustained due to the mature trees surrounding their property: oak, pine, maple. 

Wood Burning Fire Pit in New East Grand Rapids in Paver Patio Outdoor Living Space

3D Landscape Designs Created with You in Mind

This project includes a multi-level paver patio with a stepping stone path between the upper and lower levels.  The wood burning fire pit was built using Unilock Brussels Block Dimensional wall blocks in Mahogany Ash with Piedmonte Onyx Black wall caps by Techo-Bloc. I used Unilock Bavarian Beacon Hill large format pavers for the main body of the patio with Belgard's Black Diamond 3x12" Moduline Pavers for the border. Aberdeen Rock Garden Brown 20x30" Pavers are used as stepping stones to transition between the upper small patio and lower main patio.

Crushed Stone Walkway with Stepping Stone Pavers - Transition Between Large Lower and Small Upper Patios

I can design and/ or install a gorgeous Outdoor Living Space for you as well.  From concept to completion.  3d designs created so you can see your landscape before installation.

If you live outside of West Michigan, I would still be happy to consult on your project and design your intimate gardens and outdoor living space.

Call or Text Brent now to your initial consultation @

(616) 328-3258

2017 Outdoor Living - Boston Road East Grand Rapids

I have wrapped up the patio area of the Boston Road outdoor living space project in East Grand Rapids, MI.   For the paver patio, I used Belgard's new smooth/ crisp Cotswold Mist Moduline series large format pavers with Black Diamond accents.Wellington Wall was used for window well and fire pit with the 48"x14" natural gas American Fire Glass stainless steel pan. The fire pit cap is Techo-Bloc's Piedmonte in Onyx Black to tie patio and fire pit together.

The designed Trex deck with cable rails installed by Bruce Grifforst with Adaptable Homes is Completed as well. New Deck Pics Coming Soon.

I can transform your landscape from ordinary to extraordinary by designing and installing your new Intimate Gardens & Outdoor Living Space.

If you live outside of West Michigan, I would still be happy to consult on your project and design your outdoor living space.

Contact Brent now to learn more. (616) 328-3258

Landscape Design and Installation Services East Grand Rapids, Michigan

Correcting Drainage Problems with Beautiful Landscapes

Last year, I received a call from a potential client looking to correct some major drainage problems in their yard.  When I investigated the property, I found the walkout sitting in a bowl with dense clay subsurface soil, four down spouts draining water from the roof into the lower backyard and only one small drainage pit leading to nowhere. 

The homeowners hoped to finish their walkout basement, but had delayed for years because the basement flooded during heavy rain event.  The water would sit, several inches deep, on the surface for days.  Previous attempts to mitigate storm event flooding by contouring and use of swales beyond the "bowl" had failed.  More extensive steps were needed. 

After meeting with the homeowners and identifying their goals, I developed a plan to both eliminate the flooding and maximize use of the awkward space.  The area includes a large paver patio, segmental retaining and sitting walls (Wellington Wall by Belgard), and boulder retaining walls, Chilton outcropping steps, a rain garden in the lower area and extensive mixed gardens above.  We also added drip irrigation for area that receive minimal water, and a narrow sod path between the gardens and the patio.

The excavation crew removed approximately two feet of heavy clay soil over a three thousand square foot area within the bowl, sloped the grade away from the home and toward a large stone filled pit which, ultimately, included a sump pump that can pump the water out of the bowl and into a swale above the bowl.  The swale, which this year will be turned into a naturalistic dry stream bed, carries the water off into an open field away from the house. 


To Learn More About How I Can Help You Solve Your Challenging Landscape Problems, Call or Text Brent Now:
(616) 328-3258

Sketchup For Landscape Design

This year, I started designing with Pro Landscape design software and Sketchup . Pro Landscape is an excellent program for creating 2d and photo-realistic designs. While Pro Landscape can be used for creating 3d designs, it requires significant re-working of the Planner design to achieve a viable design. The transfer from 2d to 3d is not seamless.  The amount of work required to reach an acceptable 3d design does not seem worth it at this point.

Though it is possible to create photo-realistic designs from digital photographs. It is not possible to create these designs starting with previously created 2d or 3d design.  I believe Landscape Pro needs to add to its training videos.  At this point they provide only remedial training via videos.

The following is a sampling of my Pro Landscape designs in the program's Planner and Image Editor modes:

Landscape Design in Grand Rapids, MI
Landscape Pro Planner

Landscape Design - Grand Rapids, MI - Landscape Pro Planner

Landscape Design Alt. - Grand Rapids, MI
Pro Landscape Planner enables user to choose among several design styles rapidly by selecting an button on the screen.

Driveway Island Landscape Design - Richland, MI -
Pro Landscape Design - Photo Realistic Image Editor

Asian Inspired Relaxation Garden - Holland, MI
Pro Landscape Design - Photo Realistic Image Editor

Sketchup, on the other hand, is intuitive and highly useful for creating 2d, 3d designs and walk-throughs and photo-realistic pictures. There is no need to switch between 2d and 3d modes. 2d designs can be transformed into 3d designs using simple actions. Really getting to realistic looking designs takes a lot of practice and time, but it's worth it. Photo-realistic pictures can be shot from within the design by adjusting the view of the built-in camera. This program is made easier because it is an open source program used by thousands of professional architects, landscape and interior designers, engineers, artists, etc. constantly tweaking and adding to available models.  These models can be submitted to Sketchup and integrated into the designs of other users.  Check out some of my new Sketchup landscape designs:

Outdoor Kitchen and Living Space in Dowagiac, MI

Outdoor Kitchen Side View - Sketchup

For professional landscape design services, 
call Brent Langley at (616) 328-3258.

Outdoor Kitchen - Sketchup

Landscape Design - Holland, MI
Sketchup Camera Top View 

How To Build Dry Stacked Natural Stone Retaining Walls

Dry Stacked Natural Stone Retaining Walls

Purchasing Your Boulders/Wall Stone: 

When looking for natural stone for your future retaining wall, first search for “gravel pits” in your area. Because they are in the excavation business, they have access to the many boulders buried in their pits, often setting them aside for sale to landscapers (or other consumers in the know). Keep in mind, however, the machines they use are extremely large and therefore unfit for loading boulders into your truck or trailer. Because of this, you will find it necessary to either load them by hand (which can be very difficult because of their shear weight and awkwardness) or you will need to rent a small loader.  If you rent a loader to load the boulders, you will have to unload them by hand at the jobsite. This too can be difficult if you do not have a dump truck or trailer. However, with patience and the proper tools, you can do it this way and save yourself a lot of money. 

Stone Yards are another option. These are very popular for several reasons: First, they can save you a lot of time and labor. Stone yards can load the boulders for you if you have an open-bed vehicle. Also, stone yards generally offer delivery. Second, stone yards have access to a wide selection of stone from all over the country. The best yards can obtain stone from all over the world. However, with selection comes increased price. Stone yards sell stone significantly higher than gravel pits. They probably purchase their boulders from gravel pits and must recover the cost of shipping the stone from the pit to their own site. Not a cheap thing to do.

Depending on your location, you may be able to save even more money by scamming fieldstone from fields in the area. Especially keep in mind any farms or ranches you may have seen while driving around lately. Farmers often have large piles of boulders moved aside while preparing their fields for planting. Before you make off with any boulders, make sure you get permission from the owner of the property from which you intend to "pilfer".

Choosing the Right Stone For Your Dry Stacked Stone Wall Project:

Types of Natural Stone Available for Retaining Walls
Weight and Dimension:

It is essential, when choosing your rocks, to keep a few things in mind. You may think my first recommendation is obvious, but it must be said. It is easy to find boulders you love at the stone yard only to discover when you get them to your site you can’t budge them. So, plan ahead. Know how you intend to manipulate your boulders once they’re home. Don’t choose boulders that you cannot move. That does not mean you must be able to pick them up. However, you must determine your ability to access and use the tools necessary for the project. (I will take you through some of the many options available, and how to utilize those later).

Because stone density varies due to composition, it is impossible to give you precise weights per boulder or square face foot. Nevertheless, I have taken the time to give you some estimates based on my experience and those of other professionals. Below are estimates of weight based on dimension for various regions and rock type:

*Face feet assumes average thickness of the wall is 18".  Actual thickness will affect Face Feet.
*The List Below is stone readily available in Michigan:

Region                          Rock Type                    Estimated Weight                       Pounds/Face Foot

Pennsylvania/NY         Bluestone                      162.5 pounds/cubic foot             243.75 lb/face foot
Wisconson                   Chilton                          168 pounds/cubic foot                252.00 lb/face foot
Wisconson                   Fon Du Loc                   162 pounds/cubic foot                243.00 lb/face foot
Mid West                     Granite                          160 pounds/ cubic foot               240.00 lb/face foot
Michigan                     Michigan Fieldstone     170 pounds/per cubic foot          255.00 lb/ face foot
Michigan                     Michigan Limestone     155 pounds per cubic foot          132.50 lb/ face foot
Canada                        Canadian Limestone      165 pounds per cubic foot          247.50 lb/face foot
Michigan                     Grindstone                     136 pounds per cubic foot          204.00 lb/face foot

The Right-Size Wall Stone for Your Project

Building Stone: Different natural stone wall projects call for different size stone. For the sake of stability, use the largest boulders you can handle.  Retaining walls under two feet tall can be built using 10-18” boulders. Vary the sizes and shapes in order to give it a more natural look. Larger walls should be built using 18”-36” boulders. Boulders over 24” will probably require a machine to install.

Small Boulder Retaining Walls and  Rosetta Dimensional Steps

Shims: Whatever the size of the boulders you intend to use always keep some smaller angular stones handy for use as shims. Shims are used to increase contact between rock surfaces and thus improve stability. They can also help stablize rocks that rock.  Use a sledge hammer to set any shims that will be filling spaces between boulders.

If the soil at your sight is rich in either clay or humus, you will need crushed stone and rubble for backfill. Proper backfill improves drainage and keeps frost heave (a problem in cold northern parts of the county) from shoving boulders out of your wall. 

Building Your Retaining Wall

Before you do anything else, locate any underground utilities. Most municipalities have programs set up to provide free or inexpensive utility location. Give them a call. In Michigan you need to call MISS DIG. Next, mark out the base of your retaining wall using spray paint. Make sure you keep in mind the set back. Allow for a minimum of 1 inch set back per 12 inches of height. For walls over five feet, set back should be 1.5” per ten inches of height.  Once you have marked out the front of your wall, begin digging a trench approximately 1 ½ times the depth and 2x the thickness of your average wall stone.  Dig 6-12” in front of face of the wall.  Boulder Walls can be built by simply digging individual stones into the soil so they sit about 1/3 of the total height into the ground.

Chilton Dry-Stacked Retaining Wall

If you are using stacked  stone such as Chilton or Bluestone, it will be necessary to dig at least six inches deeper than the average thickness of your stones.  This will allow for a compacted "chips n dust" or crushed concrete base.  You will need to dig your trench  wide enough to allow for a minimum of 6 inches in front, and 6 inches behind the wall's base layer.   Thus, if your average wall stones are one (1) foot wide, front to back, you will dig your trench 2' wide.  Doing this will ensure a stable base and keep your stones from sinking or tipping forward or backward.  

To learn more about my services and begin planning your professionally designed and installed retaining wall project,

Call or Text Brent NOW

(616) 328-3258.