PITTSBURGH

By Kevin Kirkland,
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Dan Smith Jr. thought he wanted an in-ground pool in the backyard of his new house in Cranberry. What he and partner Don Megahan ended up with was even better (especially when it's too cold to swim) -- a multi-level patio with an outdoor fireplace and grill.

"It's an annex of our house," Mr. Smith said. "We plan to use it year-round. I know we will be out grilling this winter."

He's effusive in his praise for the project's contractors, the landscaper and one other expert that's a bit of a surprise -- his mom.

"She really has an eye. I have to see it first but she can picture it. She had everything planned out in advance," he said of Patricia Smith, who lives around the corner with his father, Dan Sr. ... ... ...

Mr. Smith and Mr. Megahan first used OmniPro to build a patio at their former home in Blackridge and were pleased with the Omni-Stone pavers and Versa-Lok walls they installed.

"Their creativity and knowledge of their craft are incredible," Mr. Smith said. "If it weren't for them, this would not have happened."

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View a gallery of photos of these projects>>

A view from the covered deck show the dining area, planting bed and outdoor fireplace behind a home in Cranberry.

Rosetta cast-concrete steps to the fireplace look like real stone.