County Materials supplies award-winners
KOHLER, Wis. (March 8, 2005) – Five award-winning landscape projects that featured County Materials' concrete hardscaping products were honored by the Wisconsin Concrete Masonry Association at its annual Excellence in Hardscaping Awards Breakfast on Feb. 21, held in conjunction with the Wisconsin Landscape Federation's annual convention in Kohler, Wis.
The competition honors talented landscape professionals for creating the best, the most beautiful, most functional and most innovative landscapes using manufactured concrete landscaping products, such as segmental retaining wall systems, pavers, manufactured patio stones, and other concrete landscaping items.
Appleton residence Cornerstone Hardscapes, of Hilbert, used nearly 700 square feet of County Pavers in Charcoal and Cedar Blend colors to create expansive patio areas for entertaining guests.
Cornerstone also used 450 square feet of County Block retaining-wall units that, judges said, resulted in "nice, flowing lines and the use of border accents and curves."
Honorable Mention - Residential category 1B (projects $20,000-$50,000):
Appleton residence Stumpf Creative, of Menasha, made the most of the freedom granted to transform a sloping hill of burnt-out grass. Stumpf used great creativity in the incorporation of more than five County Paver colors and two County Blocks® concrete retaining-wall colors into the patio layout, according to judges.
Excellence award - Residential category 1B (projects $20,000-$50,000):
De Pere residence Hanus Masonry, of De Pere, had to uproot old railroad ties to solve some serious erosion problems on a lot leading down to the Fox River.
Hanus used County Pavers and the County Block® Retaining Wall System because of their natural beauty and durability, after the owners cited bad experiences with other landscaping materials.
Honorable Mention - Residential category 1C (projects more than $50,000):
Sherwood residence Springhetti Landscaping, of Menasha, went from one project to another at a Sherwood residence that graces the shores of Lake Winnebago.
He began by installing a pool, then a series of terraces comprised of 9,000 units of County Block retaining wall, and 15,000-square feet of pavers for a driveway and walkways throughout the property.
Excellence award - Commercial category for Retaining Wall Projects:
Retention Pond, Hobart Ground One Landscape, in Green Bay, used more than 4,000 units of County Block retaining wall, and 656 gray caps, to border a 1.25-acre retention pond on the property of a home-design company.
The pond measures 800 feet around, and most of the backfill had to be done by hand in order to protect a delicate liner that ran under the water.
County Materials, founded in 1946, operates nearly 30 locations serving Wisconsin, Minnesota and Illinois. The family-owned, American-based company is an industry leader in the manufacture and distribution of concrete block, brick, ready mix, hollowcore, pipe, pavers, retaining walls and exposed-aggregate products for residential, commercial and municipal construction and landscaping.