Tom Watson and the Story Behind Finishing Touch Landscape
Founded in 2006. ICPI certified since 2015. Belgard authorized. 17 consecutive Angi's Super Service Awards. Owner-operated, locally based in St. Charles, MO.
Locally Owned & Operated Since 2006
Finishing Touch Landscape Company has been serving homeowners throughout St. Charles County, St. Louis County, and surrounding Missouri communities since 2006. Founded by Tom Watson, the company was built around a straightforward goal — creating outdoor spaces that are both visually appealing and built to last.
Before starting Finishing Touch Landscape Company, Tom worked in management roles for other local landscape contractors, gaining experience in project operations, installation coordination, and outdoor construction. That hands-on industry background helped shape the practical, detail-focused approach the company still follows today.
From the beginning, Finishing Touch has focused on residential landscape and hardscape projects including paver patios, retaining walls, fire features, natural stonework, landscape installation, drainage solutions, and outdoor living construction.
Experience with Hardscape & Landscape Construction
Finishing Touch works across a wide range of landscape and outdoor living projects throughout the St. Louis and St. Charles areas. Over the years, the company has completed projects ranging from smaller walkway installations to larger multi-feature outdoor living spaces with retaining walls, patios, fire features, lighting, and landscape installation combined into a single design.
Many projects involve balancing both aesthetics and site functionality, particularly on properties with grading challenges, drainage concerns, elevation changes, or aging outdoor surfaces.
Services often include:
- Segmental retaining wall installation
- Paver patio construction
- Outdoor step and pathway installation
- Fire feature construction
- Decorative landscape installation
- Landscape lighting design and installation
- Surface water drainage improvements
- Natural stone and boulder feature installation
Certifications, Authorizations, and Industry Recognition
ICPI Certified Installer (Since 2015)
The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute is the trade body that publishes installation standards for segmental concrete pavers, slabs, and segmental retaining walls. Certification requires passing both written and practical examination on base preparation, geotextile placement, edge restraint, paver pattern alignment, and polymeric sand application. We hold current ICPI certification and recertify on the renewal schedule. ICPI certification is a prerequisite for Belgard’s authorized contractor program.
Belgard Authorized Contractor
Belgard is the residential paver division of Oldcastle APG, one of the largest manufacturers of concrete pavers and segmental retaining wall products in North America. Authorized contractor status gives us access to the full Belgard product catalog, factory technical support, and manufacturer warranty backing on our installations. Belgard requires ICPI certification, independent insurance verification, and an installation track record before granting authorization. We’ve held this status for years.
BBB A+ Rated, Accredited Business
The Better Business Bureau accredits businesses that meet their standards for marketplace trust — including responsive customer service, transparent business practices, and honest advertising. Our BBB profile shows our accreditation status, dispute history, and customer review record. The A+ rating reflects our complaint resolution history and time in business under the same ownership.
17 Consecutive Angi’s Super Service Awards (2008-2025)
Angi’s List (now Angi) issues the Super Service Award annually to contractors in the top 5% of their service category based on customer reviews from the preceding 12 months. Finishing Touch has received this award every single year since 2008 — seventeen consecutive years. The award is reissued each year based on the prior year’s reviews, so this isn’t a one-time recognition. It reflects an ongoing pattern of customer-rated quality across nearly two decades.
How We Actually Build a Project
The process from your first call to project completion follows the same pattern on every job. We don’t deviate from this sequence, because skipping steps is where contractors get into trouble.
1. First Call & Property Walk
You call (314) 973-2103 or fill out the contact form. Tom calls back, asks what you’re thinking about, and schedules a property walk — usually within a few days. The property walk is free, no obligation, and takes 30-60 minutes depending on scope.
2. Written Estimate
Tom prepares a written estimate after the property walk. The estimate spells out scope, materials by name and quantity, labor, drainage details, and timeline. No vague line items. No “miscellaneous.” You get to see exactly what you’re paying for.
3. Design & Material Selection
If you move forward, Tom walks you through the Belgard product catalog, helps you pick pavers and accent colors that work with your home’s exterior, and finalizes design details — patio shape, seat wall placement, fire feature layout, drainage routing. Larger projects get a hand-drawn layout sketch.
4. Site Prep & Excavation
First day on site: layout marking, sod removal, excavation to base depth (typically 8-10 inches for paver patios, deeper for retaining wall footings). Soil is hauled off-site or set aside for grading.
5. Building the Project
Once preparation is complete, we begin constructing the specific features included in your project — whether that’s a paver patio, retaining wall, fire feature, landscape installation, or complete outdoor living space.
6. Final Walkthrough
Tom walks the finished project with you before final invoice. Anything that doesn’t look right gets fixed before we leave the job. After the walkthrough, you get a written care guide for the installation.
A Hands-On Approach to Residential Landscaping
Finishing Touch Landscape Company remains locally operated with a strong focus on residential outdoor construction. Homeowners work directly with an experienced team throughout the planning and installation process, helping maintain clear communication from the initial consultation through project completion.
Because every property is different, project recommendations are based on the site conditions, goals for the space, and the materials best suited for the project. Some properties may require retaining walls or drainage corrections before landscape installation begins, while others may benefit from expanding patio space, updating planting beds, or improving outdoor gathering areas.
The goal is to create outdoor environments that not only improve curb appeal, but also remain functional and enjoyable for years to come.
About Our Company
Is Finishing Touch a franchise or local business?
Finishing Touch is a locally-owned, owner-operated business based in St. Charles, MO. Tom Watson founded the company in 2006 and still personally estimates, designs, and supervises every project. There is no franchise affiliation, no national parent company, no out-of-state ownership. The phone number rings to Tom. The crew is local. The trucks come from St. Charles.
What does ICPI certification actually mean?
ICPI stands for the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute. It’s the trade body that publishes installation standards for segmental concrete pavers, slabs, and segmental retaining walls. Certification means an installer has passed written and practical exams on base preparation, geotextile placement, edge restraint, paver alignment, and polymeric sand application. Most paver failures come from base preparation shortcuts, which is exactly what ICPI training addresses. We’ve held this certification since 2015 and recertify on the renewal schedule.
How long has Tom been doing this work?
Tom Watson founded Finishing Touch Landscape Company in 2006 and has more than 20 years of industry experience in landscape and hardscape construction. Over the years, Finishing Touch has completed paver patios, retaining walls, landscape installations, fire features, and outdoor living projects throughout the St. Louis and St. Charles areas.
What size projects do you typically take on?
Finishing Touch Landscape Company primarily works on residential landscape and hardscape projects throughout the St. Louis and St. Charles areas. Projects can range from smaller walkway installations and landscape improvements to larger outdoor living spaces that include paver patios, retaining walls, fire features, landscape installation, lighting, and drainage improvements.
Project scope varies depending on the property layout, grading conditions, material selections, and overall design goals. Some projects focus on improving curb appeal and functionality, while others involve complete backyard transformations designed for long-term outdoor use.
Do you guarantee your work?
Finishing Touch Landscape Company focuses on quality installation practices designed for long-term durability and performance. As an ICPI-certified installer and Belgard Authorized Contractor, projects are completed using established hardscape installation methods including proper base preparation, compaction, drainage considerations, edge restraint, and joint stabilization.
Many Belgard products also include manufacturer warranty coverage depending on the specific product line and application. Homeowners can discuss product-specific warranty information during the consultation process.
Ready to Talk to Tom?
Schedule a free property walk and written estimate. No pressure. No upsells. Just an honest conversation about what your property could be.