With a family history of masonry on both of his parents' sides, it's no surprise that Dave "Dutchie" Fisher embarked on a similar career. But his love for outdoor living is truly his own, and luckily he was in the right place at the right time when the industry started to take off, enabling him to pursue his passion on a full-time basis.

That was in 2004, and Dutchies Stoneworks is now celebrating 20 years of designing and constructing elaborate backyard oases for customers throughout Chester, Montgomery, Berks, Delaware and Bucks counties, along with Northern Delaware. It all began with Fisher's younger brother, who preceded him into the masonry trade and brought his sibling on board, first for a personal home project before it became a job.

"We started working as a subcontractor for a builder, doing stone facades," Fisher recalls. "When the houses were done, the homeowners would come back to us wanting patios built, so we worked directly with the homeowners to build their outdoor living spaces with outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, patios and walkways. That's how we got our start in the outdoor living space. Today, we have a team of about 30 and we have a full-time salesperson, and building outdoor living spaces is our main goal."

Although his brother left the business and moved to Montana, Fisher still gets as much joy from bringing clients' visions to life as he did in the company's early days. An accomplished outdoor chef himself – he has a grill, a Green Egg and a pizza oven in his backyard – he endeavors to give his customers the same ability to create lasting memories with loved ones.

"We just built our own outdoor space last year, and to spend time with family out there is just priceless," Fisher says. "You are going to spend some money, but it's not just about that – it's about making memories and being intentional about spending time together, whether you are having a cookout with your family or entertaining friends. It's a great place to be social and to interact with people, especially in today's world where we have even more of a challenge with so many distractions."

While some customers know exactly what they want from the get-go, many others rely on Dutchies Stoneworks to offer its expertise and suggestions. Depending on the budget, the team may recommend a pergola, pavilion or screened-in porch for protection from the elements. Outdoor kitchens and fire features are high on most clients' wish lists, while retaining or segmental walls can add usable space if the back of the house drops off sharply.

Finishing touches, also provided by Dutchies, include lighting, plantings and mulching.

"There are times when you really have to guide customers through the design because they really can't visualize anything, and that's why we have 3D renderings," Fisher says. "It's definitely fun to walk through with the customer during that process."

The foundation of most projects is a custom stone patio built by Dutchies' expert craftsmen, who all have years of experience. Although the company also uses manufactured pavers from EP Henry, Fisher urges customers to consider natural stone first.

"I would recommend natural stone, because it's more durable and has better longevity," he says. "The concrete products have come a long way and you'll get some life out of them as well, but natural stone holds up and doesn't fade as much. You're going to pay a little bit more for it and you're a little more limited in your options as far as colors and styles with natural stone, but overall it doesn't fade nearly as fast as the concrete products do, especially the darker colors."

Fisher notes that the Pennsylvania flagstones quarried in the Northeast are locally in demand for their versatility and availability, compared to more expensive imported stones.

"The modern styles are definitely in and have been for the last few years," he adds. "Squares and rectangles are very hot. We still see some of the old fieldstone in the irregular shapes, but not like the square and rectangle patterns."

No matter the scale or type of project, homeowners will enjoy a smooth process with a family business that now includes Fisher's sons: Mike serves as an operations manager and Jason is a foreman on the outdoor living crew.

"I think our attention to detail stands out, because we grew up in the masonry world so we come at it from that angle and our specialty still lies within natural stone craftsmanship," Fisher says. "But we also strive for service and we strive for transparency, and that supersedes the sale. Sometimes people will come to us without expectations of the cost, and we'll work with them and see if they are a fit with us. If it's within their budget, then we try to do what we say, when we say it. That's one of our core values here. We really focus on service and doing a great job."

Dutchies Stoneworks
Gap, Pa.
(717) 407-2235
DutchiesStoneworks.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 24, Issue 4 (March 2024)
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