Jeff Bollinger won the 2010 RAE Award for this project!
Category: Residential Interior/Exterior Specialty
Cost of Project: $17,842.00
We were approached by this homeowner to update the front entrance of their home. The flagstone-covered concrete porch was deteriorating and allowing water to infiltrate the basement walls. The existing steps were very steep, and the walkway was cracked and steeply sloped.
In addition to solving these safety and practical issues, our proposed solution included creating a more inviting entrance that would become the focal point of the home. We also felt that it was important to carefully choose the materials in order to complement the home while softening the coarse texture of the stone of the house. The design included a walkway leading to gentle steps and a porch. A masonry column was also proposed.
Various materials were creatively combined. A total of six different masonry products were used, including:
- a rich brown clay brick for the porch wall, step risers, and as accents on the column
- three styles of concrete pavers for the walkway and for the porch paving
- bullnose concrete pavers for step treads and as accents on the column
- reconstructed stone block on the column
The porch, steps, and column were installed with mortared construction and were blended with the walkway, which was dry-laid as a cost-saving alternative. Two shades of colored mortar were chosen and used for the mortared materials, while a colored polymeric sand was utilized to seal the joints of the dry-laid paver area. On the porch, a paver inlay with a herringbone pattern provides a faux “welcome mat” at the front doors.
The masonry column is a unique ornamental feature that will be used by the homeowner to present seasonal displays and container gardens.
All existing stone and concrete were removed and sent to a recycling facility. After construction of the porch walls on proper footers, a new reinforced concrete slab was poured. A special technique was used to provide an elastomeric joint between the new porch and the irregularly-shaped stone of the home, in order to prevent future water infiltration.
Landscape lighting, including a post light and pathway lights, were chosen and custom-finished by the manufacturer in a color to complement the lanterns on the house. The energy-saving low voltage pathway lighting is controlled manually or by a timer, as is the post light.
Plantings were chosen that will complement the entrance while not obscuring the home. Spring-flowering tulips, summer-flowering perennials, fall and winter-blooming pansies, as well as ornamental grasses and varying foliage color will provide a true four-season landscape. Existing plantings at the corners of the home were preserved as anchor plants. The existing lawn was also preserved, except where minor regrading was required to blend the new with the old.
All work, including excavation, masonry, landscaping, and landscaping lighting were performed in-house by our craftsmen, without the use of subcontractors. This resulted in efficiency and cost savings to the client. The owner hired an electrician to install the post light, under our supervision. The three styles of concrete pavers used in the walkway and porch were chosen from overruns of the manufacturer’s previous custom-made orders. This allowed us to incorporate unique products that would not be available otherwise, for less cost than the standard, everyday products.
We were able to create this entrance within the budget that we were given, by carefully choosing the materials and methods that were most cost-effective. Our client is thrilled with the practicality and safety of the new entrance, and is amazed with the improvement in beauty and curb appeal.