Monthly Archives: July 2016

Orange County Outdoor Construction

Orange County Outdoor Construction

When TRU Landscape Services started this project in the Orange County area, we were presented with a significant task as to creating a concrete pool deck area that was all one level. The existing deck had multiple step-up areas around the entire pool. We had our bobcat working for 4 straight days breaking and hauling away chunks of concrete until we had one solid level of dirt. Once the demo was fully complete, we started from scratch and began going over design features with our customers so they could get a realistic portrayal of what the yard would ultimately look like. We began measuring and spray painting lines of where certain features would now be and what we had envisioned for this yard. The yard was not the largest of sizes but the customer wanted to incorporate a barbecue island, patio cover, and fire pit. Basically, we needed to incorporate a full Outdoor Living Area into our back yard renovation. This took careful precision in locating where each feature would be built as we were working around a rather large size pool with limited yard space.

Barbecue Island

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This is one of the more common types of barbecue islands we design here at TRU Landscape Services. This island consisted of a poured in place colored concrete counter top with a bull nose finish. This particular counter top had a step up feature added to it which allows the bar to sit at roughly 42″ and the cooking area at a standard 36″. We used a San Diego Buff colored concrete to match both the planter walls and deck concrete. Our barbecue islands are all built using 6″ cinder blocks, concrete, and re-bar. We build you something that is going to last for years to come. The sides received a light stucco finish. Customer was concerned with cooking at night and what visibility might be impaired so we went ahead and installed small VISTA under mount LED’s all throughout the barbecue counter top. Looks beautiful all light up at night and makes cooking a whole lot easier.

Patio Cover

Fullerton Print-20Customer wanted to incorporate a patio cover into the project so we went ahead and designed an open faced patio cover made of wood. We used 6×6’s for the post and 2×3’s going across the ceiling. The posts were skirted to give us a more decorative design. Lights were hung along the rafters to give this patio cover a more curb appeal. The wood was all primed and painted. Patio cover’s are a key ingredient to all of our Outdoor Construction projects that we design here in the Orange County area. It not only provides an area for family and friends to congregate and relax but adds another aesthetically beautiful feature to our back yard renovation.

Fire Pit

Another element to our outdoor design here at TRU Landscape is incorporating a fire pit in all of our outdoor construction projects. Sticking with the ongoing theme of this backyard, we designed the fire pit to have a PUP (poured in place) colored concrete bull nose cap. We build our fire pits almost identical to that of our barbecue islands. Fire pit is designed to be a permanent feature so we use block, re-bar, and concrete. Lava rock was installed in the middle instead of fire glass. This feature was a little bit more custom then most of the standard pits we build. Customer was concerned with limited space around the fire pit so we went ahead and worked with them to design something smaller that would allow plenty of seating around. Our standard fire pits are typically 36″ round, this one was done at about 24″. Definitely a necessary feature that compliments the rest of the design aspects of this Orange County outdoor construction project.Fullerton Print-19

 

Stamped Concrete

The final touches of this backyard renovation was rejuvenating the existing  pool deck and giving it a complete make over. Customer chose to go with a two colored stamped concrete around the pool deck. Concrete color was a San Diego Buff just like the counter tops, planter walls, and fire pit. Trick is, we used a dark gray release while we poured the colored concrete. The release will penetrate the deep grooves that the stamps provide during installation. The next day we come back with a high powered pressure washer and take a light layer off the top of the concrete that gives us our color contrast we were going for. Our concrete finishers did an awesome job and cutting random joints in our newly poured concrete. Once the entire project was completed, we came back and applied a wet seal to all of the concrete. The sealer presents a wet/glazed over look that our customers just loved.

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Landscape Contractor

Here at TRU Landscape, we’re interested in making all of your Orange County Outdoor Construction projects as hassle free and enjoyable as possible. We’ve been in business for over 30 years and are family owned and operated. We’re a licensed contractor that operates out of the Orange County area. Let us make all of your outdoor renovations dreams come true. Whether you’re looking for a new Outdoor Living Area like the one just presented  or something as simple as pouring a new concrete driveway. Our professional staff will take care of all of your needs. Call today to set up a free estimate 1-866-487-1359.