Jeff and Chad looked at each other and said, "We could do this better."
But they didn't just jump in. They hired a pool construction professional with over 20 years of experience to teach them how to build a pool the right way: excavation, rebar, plumbing, plaster, tile, and coping. They partnered with Jandy (Fluidra) for pool equipment because of the quality, reputation, and post-sale support. And they accepted that the pool division would cost them money before it made them any.
The first year, they built four pools.
Today, Blue Tree Outdoor Living designs and builds everything from straightforward backyard pools to full resort-style outdoor living spaces with grottos, waterfalls, slides, sheer descents, and raised bond beams. And because landscape design, hardscaping, lighting, irrigation, and ongoing maintenance are already under the same roof, homeowners get something no pool-only company can offer: a single point of contact for the entire project, from the first design consultation to the last mulch spread.
"A lot of people nowadays want that single point of contact, and we're able to provide that for them. A turnkey approach where we have degreed designers who can go out and design based on your vision, your lifestyle, and your budget."
Jeff Mattiola
For years, Blue Tree Outdoor Living worked alongside pool companies on residential projects. We'd handle the landscape before the pool went in, or clean up the mess after a pool-only contractor left. And we kept hearing the same frustration from homeowners:
"The pool company sold me the job and I never saw the salesperson again."
"Nobody thought about where the storm water would go."
"I have to hire someone else just to finish the grading and seeding."
"There was no thought to how the pool connects to the rest of my yard."
Blue Tree Outdoor Living is led by co-owners Jeff Mattiola and Chad Ochnich, two partners from separate families who've been building this company together. It's not a family business in the traditional sense. It's something rarer: a partnership that's lasted over 30 years because both owners share the same values and refuse to cut corners.
During the summers of high school and college, the children of each owner, Jeff's children, Meg, Andrew, David, and John, and Chad's daughters, Natalia and Brielle, grew up working alongside the Blue Tree team, whether they were out in the field building beautiful landscapes, shoveling snow during winter storms, or helping in the busy office answering phone calls and assisting customers. From an early age, they learned the value of hard work, teamwork, and taking pride in serving the community. Those experiences helped shape the family-oriented culture that continues to define Blue Tree today.
Two of Jeff's sons, Andrew and John, joined the company after earning their college degrees in Landscape Design and Construction. Today, they work as landscape design and sales professionals at Blue Tree Outdoor Living, meeting with clients daily and creating custom outdoor living spaces that bring each homeowner's vision to life. Jeff's wife, Maureen, is also an important part of the team, helping lead the company's marketing efforts through advertising, branding, and community outreach initiatives.
Chad's daughter, Brielle has embraced the company's commitment to giving back. During her Christmas breaks from college, she collects food and toys for families in need through Blue Tree's partnership with the Collegeville Bakery Food and Toy Drive. Her involvement reflects the family values and community spirit passed down through generations at Blue Tree.
When you hire Blue Tree, you're working with people who've staked their careers, their reputations, and their family names on delivering for you. That's a level of accountability no franchise can match.
Blue Tree Outdoor Living isn't just in Southeastern Pennsylvania, we're part of it. Our employees live here, our kids grew up here, and our suppliers are here. Giving back isn't a marketing initiative; it's personal.
Jeff has focused his community involvement on youth: sponsoring sports teams, providing uniforms, and supporting local athletics across the region. The annual toy drive with Collegeville Bakery every Christmas brings a particular smile. "Anytime I can help kids do better," Jeff says, "I feel like I'm helping the community."
Beyond formal sponsorships, there's a quieter form of community involvement: mentoring. Kids have shadowed Jeff to learn about the industry. He talks to high school and college students about career opportunities in outdoor living, an industry most high schoolers never consider. It's the kind of relationship-building that defines a company after 43 years.
Blue Tree Outdoor Living was founded in 1983 in Norristown, Pennsylvania, by a high school friend of mine as a design and build operation to pay for college. I joined in 1989 after two years managing a restaurant, and I bought out the original partner in 1992. Chad Ochnich came on as a partner in 1995 and brought Flat Top Landscaping into the business. In 2008, after 25 years in Norristown, Blue Tree moved its headquarters to Schwenksville.
Yes. Blue Tree Outdoor Living is co-owned by Jeff Mattiola and Chad Ochnich, two partners from separate families who have been running this company together since 1995. The ownership structure has been stable for over three decades. Several members of both families work across the business: ownership, office, operations, and trades. Family-owned isn't a marketing line at Blue Tree. It's the literal structure that keeps the 13 to 14 year average employee tenure intact.
Three structural differences. Blue Tree Outdoor Living runs Pools, Landscapes, Hardscapes, Healthy Yards, and Premier Outdoor Services in-house under one roof, with one designer leading every project. The team carries 13 to 14 year average employee tenure and over 100 years of combined design experience across 8 or more degreed designers. Pricing is transparent: named ranges, itemized proposals, and a fixed-scope quote, instead of the contractor pattern of low-bid-then-up-charge. Forty-three years of Southeastern PA experience sits underneath it.
Designers, not salespeople. Blue Tree Outdoor Living has eight or more designers and sales professionals on staff with over 100 years of combined design experience. Several hold degrees from Delaware Valley College, Penn State, and similar landscape architecture or horticulture programs. The designer leads the discovery, draws the plan, manages the build, and stays with you through warranty. As Jérôme Besnard puts it, "We're more designers than salesmen." Compensation isn't structured around closing on the first visit.
Yes. Your designer is your point of contact from the first site visit through construction, final walkthrough, and warranty period. That's a structural choice, not a marketing line. With 13 to 14 year average employee tenure across the company, the person designing your project is likely still here when you call three years later about an addition. No handoffs between sales and project management. The designer's name goes on the project file.
The lifetime structural warranty covers the structural integrity of every concrete pool shell Blue Tree Outdoor Living builds, for as long as the original homeowner owns the property. Structural integrity means the shell stays watertight and intact under normal use. Cosmetic finishes like plaster and tile have their own warranty terms. The lifetime warranty exists because concrete pools, built right by certified construction managers like Mike Wadsworth (Certified Building Professional, concrete pool concentration) and Cliff Doratt, are engineered to outlast the homeowner's tenure in the home.
No. Blue Tree Outdoor Living builds custom concrete pools only. We don't do vinyl liner pools, fiberglass pools, or above-ground pools. The reason is structural longevity: a vinyl liner needs replacement every 5 to 10 years, and a fiberglass shell limits you to whatever shapes the manufacturer trucks in. Concrete pools, built right, carry a lifetime structural warranty. That structural confidence is why Blue Tree chose concrete only when we launched pool construction in 2011. Concrete and gunite spas integrated with the pool itself are in scope and serviced; standalone hot tubs are not on offer today.
Blue Tree Outdoor Living serves Montgomery, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Berks, and Philadelphia Counties across Southeastern PA. Our headquarters is at 4494 Skippack Pike, Schwenksville, PA 19473, and we design and install throughout the seven-county region. We know the township permit process in Skippack, Lower Providence, Worcester, Doylestown, West Chester, and the rest of our service area.
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