Belknap Landscape wins four Cornerstone Awards

GILFORD — The New Hampshire Home Builders Association announced winners of the annual Cornerstone Awards, recognizing excellence in the building industry. Winners included local firm Belknap Landscape netting four awards in the categories best outdoor living space, landscape design, landscape construction, and stone/masonry work. These awards add to a total of 21 Cornerstone Awards Belknap Landscape has received. Owner Hayden McLaughlin is quick to point out the group efforts a winning project requires.

“It takes a great team. From design to permitting, construction and finishing touches, everyone needs to execute on a level worthy of an award. You can’t have a weak link and be successful.” McLaughlin says, “One of these properties had over 25 Belknap team members and partners involved from start to finish. Every one of them contributed their unique skills and craftsmanship.”

Located on Alton Bay, that property featured a terraced landscape with natural stone retaining walls and patios, a perched beach, fire pit, built-in spa, rolling lawn, and ornamental gardens. Another winning property on Silver Lake features a twenty-five-foot-long, seven-foot-tall cylindrical retaining wall capped with a stone patio seating area. This wall, reminiscent of a castle tower, was constructed using a dry-stacked stone technique with some stones protruding into the retained earth over three feet, belying their size but creating a feature that will last the test of time.

“Landscapes like these are complex. Everything we do is custom, built specifically for each project. While some may not understand everything that goes into building something like these landscapes, when you get recognized for doing a good job by those who do understand, the builders association, it means a lot.” McLaughlin continued, “It makes me proud to win these awards because it shines a light on the work my team does. They deserve that.”

Belknap Landscape is a locally operated full-service landscaper based out of Gilford with locations in Belmont and Wolfeboro. To learn more about Belknap Landscape, visit belknaplandscape.com.