A business that can’t curb its enthusiasm

Once Randy Knapman saw a curb-making machine at work, he knew where his future would be.

“I was just so taken by it,” Knapman said. “Once I saw the machine run, I knew I had to do it.”

And now he does, on an almost daily basis, having started up his own business, DuraShed Northwest, which he’s had up and running since July at his 1319 SE Swofford Lane location just outside of Port Orchard.

Knapman worked as a contractor for many years but first purchased his curb-molding machine back last summer. He went through a training course in Arizona over the summer and has now been providing curbing in many areas across Kitsap County.

“For anyone that has had a construction background,” Knapman said, “it’s a pretty simple process.”

Basically, Knapman and his three-man crew can come in and lay out curbing in a variety of styles in just about any area using a number of molds that leave a lasting impression.

From actual curbs to property dividers to garden borders to flower bed markers, Knapman can — and has done — it all.

Concrete curbing, Knapman said, is a great alternative to conventional types of edging borders used in the landscape industry. Since wood rots and plastic breaks, concrete curbing is the perfect choice for homeowners who want to spend their time enjoying their landscape, not repairing it.

“It provides a very attractive, one-piece curb that is the border between grass and stuff,” Knapman said. “This is just an absolutely wonderful way of alleviating the problem of overgrowth during the winter months. Especially up here in the Northwest.”

Knapman said the process is quick and easy, for him and the customer. In fact, he laid out a continuous section of concrete curbing in Poulsbo recently that measured more than 1,000 feet.

The curbing machine, which looks like a large edging machine, pumps out several hundred feet of curb each day in many different styles, giving any yard a very professional look and feel to it.

“It’s just really started to take off up here,” Knapman said. “There’s a market for it up here. And as far as what the customer wants to do, it’s unlimited.”

For now, Knapman is focusing on the curbing aspect of his business, doing jobs for landscaping companies and homeowners. In fact, he was tapped to do the curbing for the Kitsap County house that will be featured on an upcoming episode of ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition.

But curbing isn’t all DuraShed Northwest provides.

True to its name, the company does offer custom-built sheds and is an authorized dealer of pre-cut, ready-to-assemble storage sheds by Star Lumber.

Knapman also offers a complete lineup of easy to assemble carport, RV, equipment and boat covers by Star Lumber, while his company also provides home, shed, garage and fence repair, as well as blackberry vine dig-up and downed tree removal.

DuraShed Northwest serves Kitsap, Mason, Pierce, Jefferson and Clallam Counties. Example of its work can be found at www.curbme.com.

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