Come Sail Away

The first thing you notice about Walt and Teri Daniels backyard is the shade sails overhead. The slightest breeze catches the colorful fabric causing the sails to ripple in the mid-afternoon sun. Not only are they visually pleasing, the sails provide a shaded area while you sit and relax on the paver patio overlooking the pool.

But the beauty that graces the Daniels’ backyard wasn’t always so apparent. Just last summer their backyard was more of a burden than an enjoyment. It consisted of an old wooden deck near the house and a patio surrounding the swimming pool.

“The wooden deck attracted so many carpenter bees and wasps, the entire space was totally unusable,” says Walt Daniels. “The deck was so hot we had to literally run across the deck to get to the pool. We knew the space had a lot of potential but we weren’t sure how to tie the areas together.”

Enter Mark Tarnowski and Chris Henning, owners of Charlotte Patio and Wall. As one of the area’s premier hardscape contracting firms, they have transformed many outdated Charlotte backyards into functional spaces that provide years of enjoyment for their customers. Mark and Chris are specialists in hardscape design and have built hundreds of patios using both traditional materials like flagstones, as well as, newer engineered materials such as tumbled pavers.

“When I first saw the Daniels’ backyard I knew we could create an outdoor space they would enjoy,” Tarnowski said. “The backyard was infested with bees, there was no shade, the layout of the wooden deck didn’t flow with the area, and poorly placed gates and fences made the space even more undesirable.”

Mark and Chris set out to change the space immediately.

“The first thing we did was replace the deck with an elevated stone patio using tumbled concrete pavers,” Henning said. Tumbled pavers are irregularly shaped concrete materials often colored in warm earth tones like gray and brown. They resemble cobblestones yet are smoother and easier to walk on. “We were able to tie together the backyard pool with the new stone patio, creating a more natural flow,” recalls Henning. “Along with the patio we designed a seating area that curves into a creative recess for their grill.”

Mark then researched alternatives to a wooden pergola and found an unusual solution with the shade sails.

“Using the shade sails was an innovative way to cover the deck,” Tarnowski said. “They provide shade while using the least amount of ground space.”

“This new patio is amazing,” added Daniels. “What was once an unusable eyesore has been transformed thanks to the help of Mark and Chris.”

Charlotte Patio and Wall is a full-service hardscape contractor. They can be reached at 704-545-WALL (9255) or online at www.charlottepatio.com.