RCP Palisade raised patio
Summit Hill, Saint Paul MN
First, solve the problem nobody else mentioned
Allie came to Heritage Outdoors through a referral — she'd inherited a yard full of gardens when she bought her Summit Hill home and simply didn't have the time or desire to maintain them. A busy career and young kids meant the yard needed to work for her family, not against it. Haven met with her, walked the property, and listened to how Allie wanted to use the space.
The vision was clear. The problem was access. Allie's house sits on top of a hill. Two sides were existing retaining walls. One side was a neighbor's fence. The last side was a steep hill. There was no way to get equipment into the backyard — which meant there was no way to do the project right.
Haven's solution: remove a deteriorated retaining wall on one side and carve into the hill to create a temporary equipment access point. Once access was established, the real work could begin. Phase 1 focused on the raised patio — tear out the old deck, build the Palisade wall system, and install the patio. Phase 2 would come the following summer.
A beautiful yard with one major problem
No equipment access. A deteriorated retaining wall, a steep hill, and a backyard that couldn't be reached by anything larger than a wheelbarrow. The first job was solving the access problem — everything else came after.
Summit Hill, Saint Paul MN — access carved, old deck removed, ready to build · 2024
A hilltop lot, no access, and a new product nobody had installed
Three separate challenges had to be solved before a single paver could be laid. Haven's site visit identified all of them — and the plan to address each one before work began.
"RCP Palisade is a remarkable product — 330 lb blocks with a face-mix finish that looks like it belongs on a high-end architectural project. Being one of the first to install it meant working closely with RCP to figure out the best approach. That kind of partnership is what makes the product better for every contractor who installs it after us."
330-lb blocks, placed one at a time
The Palisade wall going up course by course — gravel fill staged, steps taking shape, the structure that would hold the raised patio surface coming together.
Summit Hill, Saint Paul MN — RCP Palisade wall and steps under construction · 2024
A raised patio that belongs on this hill
RCP Palisade Café wall block, RCP Reno Santa Fe pavers, and RCP Bullnose Mocha cap — a warm, organic palette that gives the patio a natural character poured concrete simply cannot replicate. Allie now has a safe, comfortable outdoor space for family dinners. Phase 2 comes next summer.
Completed RCP Palisade raised patio — Summit Hill, Saint Paul MN — Fall 2024 · Heritage Outdoors LLC
Raised patio questions we hear often
What is RCP Palisade Wall block?
RCP Palisade is the first single-block, face-mix retaining wall system in the U.S. Each block measures 40 inches long, 8 inches high, and 12 inches deep and weighs 330 lbs. Available in Café and Cascade colors, the system uses large-format blocks with a refined linear texture that works in both traditional and contemporary landscapes. Heritage Outdoors was one of the first contractors in the country to install RCP Palisade, working directly with RCP's R&D team to provide installation feedback.
What is RCP Reno Santa Fe?
RCP Reno is a smooth-faced concrete paver made by Rochester Concrete Products, a Minnesota manufacturer. The Santa Fe color is a warm blend of tan, gold, and earthy tones that gives patios an organic, natural feel that poured concrete cannot replicate. It pairs beautifully with the RCP Palisade Café wall block for a cohesive warm-toned design.
How much does a raised patio cost in Saint Paul MN?
Raised patios are more complex than ground-level patios because they require a structural wall system, steps, and additional base preparation. Pricing with Heritage Outdoors runs $35–$50+ per square foot for the patio surface, plus wall and step costs. Wall block like RCP Palisade runs $55–$70+ per square foot installed. Heritage Outdoors has a $5,000 project minimum. We always provide a free on-site estimate.
What do you do when there is no equipment access to a backyard?
Equipment access is one of the first things Heritage Outdoors assesses on a site visit. When no access exists, we look at every option — removing a section of fence, carving into a hillside, or reconfiguring the site to create a temporary access point. On this Summit Hill project, Haven identified that removing a deteriorated retaining wall and carving into the hillside would open access for equipment and materials, making the entire project possible.
Does Heritage Outdoors serve Summit Hill and other Saint Paul neighborhoods?
Yes — Heritage Outdoors serves all Saint Paul neighborhoods including Summit Hill, Como Park, Mac-Groveland, Highland Park, Hamline-Midway, and Saint Anthony Park. Call 651-219-3668 for a free estimate.
Tough site? We've seen tougher.
No access, steep grades, difficult lots — Heritage Outdoors solves the problem before picking up a single block. Jacob will come out and tell you exactly what's possible.
Jacob & Haven. Family owned and operated out of Saint Paul. Hardscape and landscape design-build done right — from the first call to final walkthrough.
651-219-3668 [email protected]