Custom Concrete Stair Build in Progress for Delano New Build

New builds come with their own set of challenges - raw yards, grade changes, and a whole lot of bare dirt. That's exactly what we were working with on this property in Delano. A steep slope running alongside the home needed a real solution. Not just functional, but built to last and look great once everything else comes together.

We started with the stairs first, and there's a good reason for that. When you're doing a full landscape install, you want the hardscape anchored before anything else goes in. Getting the grade right, setting the forms, and locking in the layout early means the rest of the work - the patio, the curbing, the plantings - all ties in cleanly instead of feeling like it was pieced together.

What you're seeing here is mid-build. The stair structure is set, running the full length of the slope between the homes. The landing at the base features a stamped concrete detail with a diagonal pattern that adds some character without being overdone. Clean lines, solid construction, and a look that holds up to Minnesota weather year after year.

There's still plenty to come on this one. The patio will tie into the base of the stairs, curbing will define the planting beds, and the plantings will pull the whole space together. We plan these installs as a complete system from the start - that's what makes the finished yard look intentional rather than thrown together.