407: Wes Priddy - Higher Ground Outdoor Living

If you've ever stepped into a backyard and thought, this is the best room in the house, you already understand what Wes Priddy is going for. Wes is the owner of Higher Ground Outdoor Living and a founding member of our Best of LKN Business Network, and he took a winding road to get here – from a plumbing, heating, and electrical background up in Boone, to HVAC and interior remodeling around Charlotte, to a stint as a Mecklenburg County building inspector, before landing on the thing he loves most: building backyards. He started the company during the height of the pandemic with just himself and a helper, and four years later he's grown a crew he trusts to turn a plain concrete pad into a place people never want to leave.In this episode we get into what actually makes an outdoor space work around here – why turf keeps winning out over red-clay sod, how premium composite and PVC decks are framed completely differently than a house floor, and why outdoor kitchens, motorized louvered pergolas, and a good fire pit can add serious value (and square footage you don't have to build). Wes also shares the story behind his backyard tailgate tradition, the case for a solid sound system, and a little hard-won humility about letting clients' design ideas surprise him. Stick around for a plug for his own podcast, Outdoor Living Lounge, and the best ways to get in touch.https://lakenorman.highergroundoutdoorliving.com/Join The Best of LKN Business Network:https://thebestoflkn.com/lake-norman-business-network/The Best of LKNhttps://thebestoflkn.com/Hosted by:Jeff Hammhttps://lknreal.com/Support the show