Blazyk Transformation

The Challenge · Circle C

Bare slope. Single live oak.

Five Planes · Zero Subcontractors

A sloped backyard in Circle C dropping away from the house with nothing to hold it — bare ground, a single live oak, and unusable grade. The homeowner needed a complete transformation that would carve usable living space from a hillside that had defeated every previous bid.

The brief: reclaim every inch of the slope through terraced steel and cantilevered decking, anchor social zones with dual fire features, and tie the entire build to the Central Texas landscape with native plantings. No subcontractors. No compromises on material or craft.

Red Agave carved the slope into five distinct planes — three terraced steel areas stepping down through gravel and boulders, two composite deck levels cantilevered off the existing structure. Quarter-inch mild steel edges every transition. Eighteen days. One crew. Turnkey.

Terraced mild steel retaining walls stepping through decomposed granite and hand-placed boulders — Circle C Austin TX — 01 · Steel Terrace System1/4" mild steel / 260 lf

Cantilevered Dekorators composite deck with steel-framed fire table and COB-lit turquoise glass planters — Circle C Austin TX — 02 · Dual Deck Levels520 sq ft / Dekorators composite

Cantilevered steel planters filled with crushed turquoise glass glowing from integrated COB uplights — Circle C Austin TX — 03 · Turquoise Glass PlantersCOB uplight / CRI 90+

Engineering Solution

Five levels from one slope. Mild steel.

Multi-level terraced backyard with mild steel retaining, decomposed granite, and hand-placed boulders — Circle C Austin TX

Cantilevered composite deck levels with steel-framed fire table and turquoise glass planter detail — Circle C Austin TX

Structural · 01 Terrace System 1/4" Mild Steel · 260 LF Three steel-terraced gravel areas stepping down the slope, each retained by 1/4-inch mild steel edging totaling 260 linear feet. Two Dekorators composite deck levels cantilevered off the existing structure at 520 square feet total. Eight hand-placed boulders in the 300–600 lb range anchor the transitions between planes.

System Details

Steel Terrace System

—3 steel-terraced gravel areas with 1/4-inch mild steel retaining
—260 linear feet total mild steel edging
—2 composite deck levels cantilevered off existing structure (520 sq ft)
—8 hand-placed boulders (300–600 lb range)

Dual Fire Features

—Stone fire pit on upper terrace — hand-set limestone, natural gas
—Steel-framed fire table on lower deck — 1/4-inch mild steel, 36×18 burner
—Both features plumbed to natural gas — zero propane
—Social zones anchored at upper terrace and lower deck levels

Turquoise Glass Planters

—6 cantilevered steel planters with crushed turquoise glass fill
—12 COB uplights integrated into planters (CRI 90+, 2700K)
—180 lf 24V FCOB perimeter lighting under steel coping lips
—ESP32 WLED controller, 4 independent zones

13-Species Native Palette

—Whale’s Tongue Agave, Blue Glow Agave, Yucca rostrata, Sotol
—Mexican Feathergrass, Gulf Muhly, Lindheimer Muhly
—Flame Acanthus, Turk’s Cap, Autumn Sage, Mexican Bush Sage
—Blackfoot Daisy, Purple Coneflower — 12 tons decomposed granite (Texas Tan)

Takeoff / Circle C

The blueprint.

01 / Structural

Steel + Decking

1/4" mild steel terrace retaining (260 lf)
3 steel-terraced gravel areas
2 cantilevered composite deck levels
520 sq ft Dekorators composite decking
8 hand-placed boulders (300–600 lb)
12 tons decomposed granite (Texas Tan)

02 / Hardscape + Fire

Dual Fire Features

Stone fire pit — hand-set limestone, natural gas
Steel-framed fire table — 1/4" mild steel
36×18 stainless burner tray
6 cantilevered steel planters
Crushed turquoise glass fill
Natural gas plumbing both features

03 / Lighting + Flora

WLED + Native Palette

12 COB uplights (CRI 90+, 2700K)
180 lf 24V FCOB perimeter lighting
ESP32 WLED controller, 4 zones
13-species native planting palette
Whale’s Tongue Agave, Blue Glow Agave, Yucca rostrata
Mexican Feathergrass, Gulf Muhly, Sotol

Feature / System	Material Specification	Engineering Class
Steel Terrace Retaining	1/4" Mild Steel Edging — 260 LF Total	Structural Steel Fabrication
Composite Decking	Dekorators Composite — 520 SQ FT, 2 Cantilevered Levels	Structural Framing + Cantilever
Upper Fire Pit	Hand-Set Limestone + Natural Gas Line	Masonry + Gas Plumbing
Lower Fire Table	1/4" Mild Steel Frame + 36×18 Stainless Burner	Steel Fabrication + Gas Plumbing
Illuminated Planters	6 Cantilevered Steel Planters + Crushed Turquoise Glass + 12 COB Uplights	Custom Steel + Low-Voltage Electrical
Perimeter Lighting	24V FCOB Silicone Tape (180 LF) + ESP32 WLED 4-Zone Controller	Smart Low-Voltage Electrical
Hardscape Base	12 Tons Decomposed Granite (Texas Tan) at $55/Ton + 8 Boulders (300–600 LB)	Grade Engineering + Placement
Botanical Palette	13-Species Native: Agaves, Grasses, Perennials, Yucca, Sotol	Native Xeriscape Design

Location

Circle C

Build Time

18 Days

Execution

100% In-House

Levels Created

Five levels from one slope. Mild steel.

Steel Terrace System

Dual Fire Features

Turquoise Glass Planters

13-Species Native Palette

The blueprint.

Riverview Fire Build.