Slam dunk in Michigan

Despite challenging elevation changes and the sheer number of features, Thoms Bros. Landscaping pulled off a clean and contemporary overhaul of a client’s property in Michigan.

A 12-foot change in lawn grade elevation from the basketball court’s cabana to the turf near the spa required extra attention. Fortunately for Thoms Bros., selecting pavers was simple because the client wanted a crisp, modern feel to the design.

Even then, securing those pavers and other hardscaping materials was difficult because the project was installed right in the midst of COVID-19. There were also plenty of shortages and supply chain issues to navigate.

Still, the company installed pavers, walls and steps to make up the grade difference. It also creatively used a retaining wall to hide the exposed foundation on the walk-out basement wall.

Thoms Bros. was also the general contractor for the spa, raised steel deck, cabana and all utilities, further raising the stakes on this design.

The utility line management was very complex and was documented for future reference. With a spa, irrigation system, complex drainage system, A/V equipment, low voltage lighting and an outdoor kitchen, keeping all of these organized was essential.

Perhaps most notably, Thoms Bros. installed a 60X90-foot basketball court with a Michigan State University theme, plus close to 5,000 square feet of synthetic turf and a batting cage. The project also included more than 100 low voltage lighting fixtures from step lights under wall caping, well lights installed in the synthetic turf and uplights shinning on trees and buildings.

In all, this award-winning design took from the fall of 2019 to the spring of 2022 to finish.