How It Works
Every CGS project follows the same four-step process — built around reading the land honestly and building to last.
Every project begins with Vince walking your property. He reads the land — its grade, its drainage patterns, its natural stone character, and the light at different times of day. This isn't a sales call. It's a genuine assessment of what your landscape can become.
You'll leave the consultation with an honest sense of what's possible, what it would cost, and what timeline to expect. No vague estimates.
No templates, no stock pond shapes. Vince designs each feature from scratch around your site's specific topography, your aesthetic preferences, and the functional requirements of the feature — whether that's a healthy ecosystem for koi or a commercial fountain spec for facilities review.
The design integrates water, stone, planting, and light into a single cohesive vision — not three separate decisions bolted together.
Vince is on site throughout construction — not supervising from an office. Every stone is placed by hand. Every plumbing run is sized correctly. Every edge is finished to stay that way in year ten, not just year one.
Construction timelines vary by project scale, but you'll have a clear schedule before we break ground. Residential ponds typically take one to two weeks. Commercial installations are scoped project-by-project.
A water feature is a living system, and the relationship with CGS doesn't end at construction. Vince provides seasonal guidance — spring start-up procedures, winterization, and water chemistry basics — and is reachable for questions as your feature matures.
Many CGS clients have called Vince back for additions and expansions years after the original build. That continuity of relationship is part of what we build toward from the start.
Common Questions
Most residential koi ponds take one to two weeks from first dig to first fill, depending on size and complexity. Larger ponds with extensive hardscape can take two to three weeks. Vince will give you a specific timeline during the design phase — before you commit to anything.
Yes — CGS regularly works across the NC Triangle as well, including Durham. For larger commercial projects, we'll discuss travel scope as part of the initial consultation.
That's the most common project type. Most CGS work integrates a new water feature into an existing garden, pool area, or yard. Vince reads the existing landscape carefully and designs features that look as though they grew there.
A well-built koi pond with properly sized filtration requires about 20–30 minutes of attention per week during the active season. Vince designs filtration to be practical, not just technically correct — so your pond doesn't become a second job.
Yes, always. After the site consultation and design phase, you receive a detailed written scope and price before any work begins. There are no surprises at the end of a CGS project.
Step one: the site visit.
It starts with Vince walking your property. No commitment, no pressure — just an honest conversation about your landscape.
Request a Site Visit