When DIY Fails, Rosetta Delivers: Outcropping + More in Pennsylvania

About twenty years ago, wife and I, when we first built the home, we had a major wall behind the house. It was just nothing but dirt. So I decided to build a retaining wall myself at a block. After about eighteen years, I started leaning in. I didn't have jail grid, didn't have anything like that. So I said, it's time to get it done right. And after interviewing Helsel Brothers and other contractors, I really liked the feeling that I got with Helsel Brothers. Yeah. So I felt confident they could do the job and they absolutely did an amazing job. I'm Cody Helsel, owner of Helsel Brothers. It's my brother and I. It's pretty much a family business. My dad works for us. My mom does the office work. And we're growing into the hardscape here. So started off maintenance, mowing grass, small landscape jobs, then eventually we started into some patios and everything like that. And then moving to the bigger projects obviously and this is one of our first Rosetta walls ever. Honestly a customer just gave us the opportunity, he called us and asked if we'd be interested and we really never dreamed of doing something this big and then it just happened. Why we chose Rosetta was because we just thought it was such a big project and we didn't want to take away all the hill by going up so we just thought that they were tying nicely into the hill since they look so natural. The Rosetta wall was just beautiful, looked natural, large, massive, but also a nice soft touch to it, but rustic as well, and it fit my landscaping. The support we got with Lampus helped very much with tackling this project because we were very nervous to try it, then Dewey came out and talked us right through everything. And between him and Tasha, I don't think we could have done it. They care about the project, they care about the homeowner, they care about the product itself. They're very diligent, very detail oriented, and that's what takes what was a very hard navigatable hillside here and created an awesome backdrop for an entrance into a beautiful home. The layout that Lampus provided for us made this project with ease. One of my favorite details of this project is when you can walk up here at night and you see the wall and everything lit up with the wash lights in just how beautiful of a setting it is. I know the wall's gonna stay there at the end of my day, so I feel very confident that it's gonna last. I mean, what you help us with, not only this, block everything. I mean, the the support I never we don't get that from anybody else. I mean, it's great. So That's good, man. That's good. We've nailed it. You know? We've nailed it. I don't have that much money off of here.

Project Details

Project Name: Averill Home Manufacturer: R.I. Lampus Company Landscape Designer: Helsel Bros Outdoor Services Contractor: Helsel Bros Outdoor Services Owner: Residential Location: Duncansville, PA Year Built: 2025

The Challenge: Replace a Failing DIY Wall

After 18 years of standing guard, the tired DIY brick wall at the front of this Duncansville, PA home was starting to give way. Time and gravity were finally catching up–bricks were leaning, the structure was failing, and the homeowner knew it was time to work with a hardscape pro to choose a long-lasting retaining wall system.

The Solution: Saving the Slope, Upping the Style

The Averill family hired local contractor Helsel Bros Outdoor Services to design and install their dream landscaping. Helsel Bros recommended Rosetta Hardscapes solutions and teamed up with local Rosetta Hardscapes producer, R.I. Lampus. With R.I. Lampus’ expertise, the project’s Rosetta selections feature gorgeous natural-stone-like materials in a regional color palette that blends nicely with the home’s design and wooded surroundings.

The entire installation–from demolition of the failing retaining walls to the final patio block placement–took 6 weeks, a relatively speedy turnaround for a project involving various hardscape features, tight grade changes, and a first-time Rosetta installer. That’s right–Helsel Bros tackled this project as their very first Rosetta build, and the results point to more Rosetta projects in their future.

The completed project features:

A fortified front entrance built with Rosetta’s Outcropping retaining wall blocks and Irregular Steps—both crafted from wet cast concrete for reliable drainage, weather resistance, and long-lasting durability.
A grand total of 800 sq ft (74 sq m) of Rosetta’s Outcropping Wall was installed along the edge of the property and throughout the front entrance area.
A winding Irregular Step ascent and integrated landscape lighting create a well-lit, comfortable walkway.
Rosetta solutions defining the boundaries for the new outdoor space, the homeowners also incorporated a new backyard patio and garden area.

It’s no secret that DIY retaining walls are often short-term fixes for long-term challenges. Knowing when to start fresh—and who to trust—makes all the difference. With expert guidance from Helsel Bros and support from local Rosetta producer R.I. Lampus, the Averill family now has a landscape built to last, featuring Rosetta Hardscapes precast solutions that deliver both beauty and peace of mind.

The Rosetta wall was just beautiful, looked natural, large, massive, but also a nice soft touch to it, but rustic as well, and it fit my landscaping. -Averill Family

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