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Summary: Inspirational Terracing Creates Works of Art!!
Review: For six years I have had a useless slope in my backyard. The slope was so steep all the water would run down, and the only thing that would grow were weeds. A friend had terracing done by Paul. I looked at his work, and was very impressed with his design.I contacted Paul and he came to my house to show me what he could do to my slope. Paul explained step by step on how he builds terraces, and was upfront about everything. I hired Paul the same day. I now have a beautiful terraced slope with many flower planters and steps leading to the top of the slope. I know I have increased the value of my home due to the terracing in my backyard. I went to my local bookstore and purchased paul's book "Inspirational Terracing." (Paul was kind enough to autograph my book). Paul's book is simple to read. Paul lists the matreials needed, and explains how the homeowner can terrace their own yards. Everyone who is considering terracing their property should buy a copy of this book. For everyone who is doubtful about Paul's technique, remmember, If we didn't have people like Paul showing us new ideas, techniques, and ways of doing things, We all would think the world was still flat!
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Summary: Working with precast and a simple technique.
Review: Having used natural stone in the past, the appeal of precast was in it's uniformity and the unlimited possibilites of design. The weight of the stone used by the author of this book was ideal and when coupled with the recommended adhesive, resulted in a work of art that was as strong as the hill itself. The technique used is easily grasped thus making it a book for do-it-yourselfers as well as professionls in the business who are looking for ideas to make themselves look good.
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Summary: God Awful Terracing With Cement Blocks From Home Depot
Review: I have never written a negative review of an Amazon product before, nor have I ever returned an item. This will be a first. The description of this book makes clear that is is not a "how to build a retaining wall" book, which leads one to believe it is a book of inspirational ideas, and beautiful photos. It is not. This book has nothing to do with gardening, or what goes into creating a beautiful garden. What the author done, more or less, is embellish charmless, barren, suburban developments with tons and tons of pre-cast blocks. The sad irony is I think most of the "before"photos were much more appealing than the terraced "after" photos. All of the plantings in the photographs are diminished by the overused, dominant pre-cast stone. In many cases, the terraces are left empty or filled with gravel. It's just too much stone. The result feels like endless, serpentine, prison walls... very unappealing! There is not a single piece of natural stone in the book. There isn't anything even remotely "inspiring" for those interested in aesthetics of garden design and landscaping. Beyond the use of precast stone, the book is very unprofessional and the quality of the photography is poor. Worse still, the author mentions "God" (his inspiration), dozens of times in the book in a way that I found heavy-handed and inappropriate. It's going back to Amazon tomorrow!
Rating:
Summary: God Awful Terracing With Cement Blocks From Home Depot
Review: I have never written a negative review of an Amazon product before, nor have I ever returned an item. This will be a first. The description of this book makes clear that is is not a "how to build a retaining wall" book, which leads one to believe it is a book of inspirational ideas, and beautiful photos. It is not. This book has nothing to do with gardening, or what goes into creating a beautiful garden. What the author done, more or less, is embellish charmless, barren, suburban developments with tons and tons of pre-cast blocks. The sad irony is I think most of the "before"photos were much more appealing than the terraced "after" photos. All of the plantings in the photographs are diminished by the overused, dominant pre-cast stone. In many cases, the terraces are left empty or filled with gravel. It's just too much stone. The result feels like endless, serpentine, prison walls... very unappealing! There is not a single piece of natural stone in the book. There isn't anything even remotely "inspiring" for those interested in aesthetics of garden design and landscaping. Beyond the use of precast stone, the book is very unprofessional and the quality of the photography is poor. Worse still, the author mentions "God" (his inspiration), dozens of times in the book in a way that I found heavy-handed and inappropriate. It's going back to Amazon tomorrow!
Rating:
Summary: Super Cool Pictures
Review: I like looking at pictures of landscapes and this book...Inspirational Terracing has the most amazing landscapes i have ever seen and to think one man built them all all by himself is even more amazing. I want to be like him someday.
A kid in Southern California
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Summary: You Don't Know What You're Missing
Review: I live in a suburb on a street with an incline. My back and side yard had an upward slope that was completely unmanageable. My wife and I are not very good with landscaping but knew we needed to do something to keep the weeds in check. Our yard wasn't very big so we were interested making the yard more functional as well as beautiful. The wife happened to be at a home show where she met the author and looked at some of his work. In my neighborhood most of the yards are landscaped with your typical low straight walls with a few variations - all "by the book" and very ordinary. We had Paul come over for an estimate and a quick sketch of what he might be able to do, and he brought his book along. Needless to say, Paul has almost completed our yard demonstrating to us along the way the concepts from the book. I've got no problem with the pictures as a guide, but they don't compare to the work of art we now have. I suppose if you're looking for a book full of pretty pictures of yards, instead of a book that tells exactly *how* to get a great back yard, then you should be looking in the photography section and not the gardening section. His book and methods are for people who can take that leap required to do something special with their environment. The book is very "hands on" and doesn't deal with a lot of philosophy, but gets right to what you need to. He methods and designs are very artistic, but based upon ancient, time-tested techniques. Somehow, in his book he never manages to talk over your head. This book ain't for everybody - just the beautiful people!
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Summary: Unbelievable Stone Art
Review: I started doing landscaping when I was 17 and have done it off and on for the past 33yrs and have never seen anything that comes close to what this individual is showing in this amazing book of"Inspirational Terracing",it's very hard for me to even imagine starting some of the projects shown in this book let alone finishing them and then going on to do more,what's really inspiring is that one person has done all of these and wants to share his work with everyone,I can't imagine anyone so dedicated to his work as this individual! I am looking forward to his next book..And shame on any of the negative Reviews I've read here,I've been to Home Depot and those stones weigh approx 22lbs to 25lbs,go lift a few hundred if you can!! Keep on Going Paul
Rating:
Summary: Unbelievable Stone Art
Review: I started doing landscaping when I was 17 and have done it off and on for the past 33yrs and have never seen anything that comes close to what this individual is showing in this amazing book of"Inspirational Terracing",it's very hard for me to even imagine starting some of the projects shown in this book let alone finishing them and then going on to do more,what's really inspiring is that one person has done all of these and wants to share his work with everyone,I can't imagine anyone so dedicated to his work as this individual! I am looking forward to his next book..And shame on any of the negative Reviews I've read here,I've been to Home Depot and those stones weigh approx 22lbs to 25lbs,go lift a few hundred if you can!! Keep on Going Paul
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Summary: AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME BOOK
Review: I want to personally thank Paul Nordmark, the author of the book Inspirational Terracing. I purchased the book a few months ago, and was able to follow his how-to instructions in his book and landscaped my back yard. As a woman, I could only work about four hard hours a day, but if you are dedicated and listen to what the author has to say---His technique really works!!!!!!
I not only have a very solid structure, but a very beautiful design. I also did what Paul said he does before I started and I prayed to the Lord to help me and He did, and gave me inspirational ideas. I love landscaping, and can't wait to start on my front yard. Who knows maybe I'll have the author himself come and landscape my front yard with me. It would be a blessing and an honor to meet him in person.
Rating: 
Summary: Disappointed
Review: I was disappointed to find that the entire book talks about walls made from fake wall stone that looks nothing like the real thing (think of those homogeneous cast concrete blobs at your local home store). In my opinion, which is obviously contrary to the author's, he is doing a great disservice to the natural beauty of any landscape, by pushing more people to fill their suburbs with fake walls. My advice: forget the book and hire a good stone mason.
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