Grand Ledge Walls Hold Pools, Elevation, and the Occasional Platinum Recording Artist at Lake Norman

The Challenge: Delivering Poolside Perfection Amidst Elevation and Space Limits

Meet Declan Hopkins, President of Cornerstone Site Works, a North Carolina residential landscape contractor. When faced with a complex build on the shores of Lake Norman, North Carolina, Declan and his team knew their reputation depended on delivering a stunning, stable solution for three luxury Airbnb properties—each complete with a pool and dramatic elevation changes.

Traditional retaining wall methods would mean extensive excavation, geogrid installation, and costly labor, putting timelines and budgets at risk. The project faced:

• Limited build space with strict lakefront buffer zones
• Nine feet of elevation change that needed to be retained safely and beautifully
• Pool installation directly behind the walls, causing a tight installation footprint, and the need for a lasting retention solution

The Solution: Turning Tough Terrain into a Lakeside Showcase

The team used a variety of Rosetta Hardscapes solutions throughout the landscape design. These included Grand Ledge Wall and Dimensional Steps. At the heart of it all, Grand Ledge Wall delivered the versatility needed to build gravity and freestanding walls.

Grand Ledge Wall blocks feature 24 distinct face textures, perfectly replicating the character of natural stone. While providing the reliable consistency and installation efficiencies that only precast concrete can offer, Rosetta’s solutions for this project included:

• Freestanding Grand Ledge wall units that doubled as coping, creating a clean, seamless finish.
• 4 ft (1.2 m) and 6 ft (1.8 m) Dimensional Steps brought functionality and standout style to the design.
• Regionally inspired colors—Mud River and Cornerstone—sourced through Peerless Block & Brick, blend perfectly with the natural lakeside setting.
• Over 7,500 sq ft (696 sq m) of Grand Ledge Wall was installed as freestanding walls and gravity walls to complement the landscape design and pool construction.

Additionally, by choosing a suite of Rosetta Hardscapes solutions, Declan’s team:

• Eliminated the need for geogrid by using concrete backfill
• Minimized excavation and compaction time, and reduced clean fill requirements by selecting a machine-set wall product
• Simplified installation with a "hook and go" process—just one operator and one laborer placed up to 19 pallets of Grand Ledge Wall in a single day.

Contractors like Declan know that the right product turns potential problems into opportunities to impress clients and protect margins. Beyond the impressive site features, these properties have played host to guests like those who could sell out an arena just by picking up a guitar, and aren’t afraid to stir up whiskey glasses on a lakeside evening.

Ready to turn your next hardscape challenge into a showcase project?

Discover how Rosetta can help you build smarter, faster, and beautifully—no matter what the site throws your way. Explore the Rosetta Hardscapes Technical Guide.