Good Neighbor Podcast: Pittsburgh

E83: Retaining Walls That Last Generations: Beyond the Garden with Rolling Hills Landscapes

• Leila Carter & Amanda Linder • Episode 83

Share episode

What makes Amanda Linder with Rolling Hills Landscapes a good neighbor?

Quality matters- especially when it comes to the backbone of your outdoor space. Amanda Linder of Rolling Hills Landscapes joins us to reveal why all retaining walls are not created equal and how proper construction techniques make the difference between a hardscape that fails within months versus one that lasts generations.

Amanda's journey from public school teacher to landscape construction expert offers a fresh perspective on an industry often plagued by misconceptions. She and her husband John have built Rolling Hills Landscapes on a foundation of education and transparency. As Amanda explains, "John doesn't just build, he also teaches other contractors how to build the right way." This expertise translates directly to their projects, where they follow strict guidelines established by the Concrete, Masonry and Hardscape Association- standards many homeowners don't realize exist.

What truly distinguishes Rolling Hills is their commitment to treating each project as if it were their own home. They implement time-lapse cameras on job sites, giving clients unprecedented transparency into the construction process. This approach attracts homeowners who are "in it for the long haul," not those seeking quick fixes or "paver emergencies." Their philosophy runs counter to common industry practices where corners are cut beneath the surface. As Amanda thoughtfully notes, "John's goal is for his projects to outlast him"- perhaps the most powerful testament to their work ethic and craftsmanship.

Ready to build an outdoor space that stands the test of time? Learn more about their approach to creating hardscapes built on expertise, quality materials, and genuine care.

To learn more about Rolling Hills Landscapes go to: 

http://www.rollinghillslandscapes.com/

Rolling Hills Landscapes

 (412)885-7049

Speaker 1:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Lila Carter.

Speaker 2:

Welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Are you in need of a landscape construction company? One might be closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Amanda Linder, with Rolling Hills Landscapes. Amanda, how's it going? It's going well. How are you, Layla? I'm very well. Thanks so much. We're excited to learn all about you and your business, so please tell us more about your company.

Speaker 3:

Absolutely. Rolling Hills Landscapes is a mom and pop landscape construction business. We specialize on retaining walls. That's our focus. We've always been small, family run, and that allows us to really get to know our clients and be a part of their projects in a personal way. John is my husband. He doesn't just build, he also teaches other contractors how to build the right way. We follow the guidelines of the CMHA Most people don't know that, but it's the Concrete, masonry and Hardscape Association and so homeowners don't always realize they're hiring an instructor, not just an installer.

Speaker 2:

Excellent. How did you get into this business, Amanda?

Speaker 3:

For me. I started on evenings and weekends estimating projects. I used to be a public school teacher and so in my spare time after work, I'd throw on my work clothes well, get dirty clothes and go out and start with estimates that way. And then, when we started our family, this became more of the focus. So I stopped teaching in the public school but teach in a more personal way, sharing what we do, how we do it, why, and help problem solve some of the challenges that people are facing in their yards.

Speaker 2:

Excellent, and are there any myths or maybe misconceptions in your industry that you'd like to talk about today?

Speaker 3:

Oh, absolutely. There are many. With contracting in general. Usually it's believed that contractors aren't trustworthy, they don't see their projects through or they rip people off. Specific to what we do, some people think it doesn't really matter who installs your retaining wall or lays your pavers, that we're all building to the same standards, and that's simply not true. If everyone did everything to spec, we probably wouldn't have a job anymore. We'd have to spend a lot of time fixing other people's work, In other words, our products. You know retaining walls. I hear that they don't last. It's just stacking block, but there's a lot more to it. We usually think of retaining walls as just holding back soil, but in reality they're the backbone of any outdoor space. So it might look okay for a year having a random person construct it, but if you want it to last, you need to really dig into some certain things that are specialized to the industry, that you would only really know from a lot of experience and education.

Speaker 2:

Absolutely so. As we know, marketing is the heart of any business. Who are your target customers and how are you currently attracting them?

Speaker 3:

We work really well with homeowners that are in it for the long haul Not somebody who's. I've had someone call me before for a quote unquote paver emergency. Call me before for a quote unquote paver emergency. We're looking for people that are, and work well with people that are longtime homeowners that maybe have been saving up a long time for a project, that are really concerned about what's underneath the project, what kind of base and things like that, that they don't have to replace it again. That's really what we're aiming for.

Speaker 3:

We get a lot of people through Google, word of mouth and repeat business for coming back to do multiple projects for folks over a series of years. We get some social media traffic and one of the other things that we like to do is put a time-lapse camera on most of our projects and what that does is give folks a behind-the-scenes look at construction to understand, because for most people, this is a once-in-a-lifetime project or should be, and we also like to be completely transparent. So if they're watching everything that we're doing, they can see that whatever I said, you know the specs are and that we're going to follow, that we actually are following them to the standard, that we're not going to cut corners on their job.

Speaker 2:

Excellent, and so have you ever thought about maybe doing a podcast to reach the people that are looking for your kinds of services?

Speaker 3:

We actually have dabbled with a podcast and we've called ourselves, um, we, john and myself, my husband, uh, the hardscape nerds, and we have some, I guess the start of two seasons, and uh, really need to get back into that very cool.

Speaker 2:

So, outside of, what do you do for fun?

Speaker 3:

We just family time. We have three young children. Golf is something that relaxes John a lot and a shared interest for us and our children and auto racing watching NASCAR and attending races in person.

Speaker 2:

Very cool. So, amanda, please tell our listeners one thing that they should remember about Rolling Hills landscapes.

Speaker 3:

That we care, that we're going to take the time to do the work to make it right and treat it like it's our own house. John's goal is for his projects, or our projects, to outlast him.

Speaker 2:

Oh, very good. And how can our listeners learn more about Rolling Hills Landscapes?

Speaker 3:

So you can call or text our office, which is going to be me at 412-885-7049. Visit our website, rollinghillslandscapescom, where you can email me directly at A Linder or Alpha Lima, india, november Delta Echo. Echo Romeo at rollinghillslandscapescom.

Speaker 2:

Excellent. Well, Amanda, I very much appreciate your time today and having you as a guest on our show. We wish you and the landscaping company the best moving forward.

Speaker 3:

Thanks, Lila. Thanks for having me Take care.

Speaker 1:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnppittsburghcom. That's gnppittsburghcom, or call 412-561-9956.