A CLOSER LOOK AT THE PROJECT
Backyard Transformation with Custom Pool, Bluestone Patio, and Outdoor Living Features in Niskayuna, NY
This landscape renovation project in Niskayuna, NY began like many others, with homeowners frustrated by the poor design and construction of their original patios. Built during the initial home construction, the existing patios were not only undersized but also deteriorated rapidly. Within just three years, they required complete replacement.
Design Goals & Planning
After an initial consultation to understand the clients’ vision, several key objectives were identified:
- Increase privacy from neighboring properties
- Expand the usable backyard space for children and dogs
- Create a versatile outdoor living area for dining, entertaining, and relaxing
- Add additional patio space and incorporate a water feature
As the design process evolved, the homeowners expressed interest in integrating a pool or spa. After two rounds of design revisions, the final plan included a thoughtfully designed custom pool with raised spa, surrounded by 1,200 square feet of dimensional bluestone patio.
Additional features included:
- Raised brick fire pit for year-round enjoyment
- Two brick and bluestone stoops connecting different home exits to the outdoor space
- A fully-equipped outdoor kitchen with a built-in grill, condiment sink, refrigerator, and storage
- A cedar pergola to define the space and support overhead lighting for ambient evening use
Fencing & Privacy Solutions
To enhance privacy and security, two types of fencing were installed:
- 445+ feet of 6-foot PVC privacy fencing for complete backyard seclusion
- 70+ feet of 4’6” ornamental iron fencing near the house to maintain an open feel without compromising enclosure
Construction Process
Once all necessary permits were secured, construction began with the removal of trees, stumps, brush, and the existing patio. The entire rear yard was then regraded, and over 500 feet of drainage piping was installed to manage surface water and roof runoff. Roof water from downspouts was connected to this underground drainage system for efficient water management.
Following grading, the first round of fencing was installed, and construction commenced on the pool, masonry stoops, and outdoor kitchen. All vertical masonry was veneered with Danish brick sourced from Pennsylvania to match the home’s exterior.
The bluestone patio was built on a durable base—a 6-inch reinforced concrete slab over 10–12 inches of compacted crushed stone—ensuring longevity and structural integrity. Once the patio was complete, the cedar pergola was erected, and the pool coping was installed.
Landscaping & Finishing Touches
The final phase of the project focused on landscape restoration and planting. Due to soil compaction from construction, the yard was aerated and rototilled to rehabilitate the soil. New plantings included a mix of species chosen for their tolerance to wet conditions around the yard’s perimeter:
- Red Maple
- White Spruce
- Redtwig Dogwood
- Clethra
Near the patio and home, where soil conditions were improved, more delicate species were installed:
- Klondyke Azalea
- Annabelle Hydrangea
- Endless Summer Hydrangea
- A wide variety of perennials
All planting beds were finished with shredded bark mulch, and a complete irrigation system was installed to support long-term growth. The project was wrapped up with the installation of premium sod, resulting in a lush, functional, and visually stunning outdoor living space.
CHALLENGES…
The property had some inherent flaws that were particularly difficult.
- The site soils were mostly clay and poorly drained.
- The unusual shape of the property meant that 4 of the neighboring properties naturally drained into the owners’ backyard that eventually made its way to a catch basin located in a drainage easement that ran along our clients southern most property line. This catch basin was part of a 25’ wide drainage easement that extended from the street to the middle of the rear yard.
- Perhaps the most challenging aspect of the project was not a physical one, but rather the need to carefully navigate the client’s deep apprehension and mistrust, understandable given the poor treatment and subpar service they had received from the contractor who built their home just three years earlier.