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Hardscape 101: Design Guides

If you're designing a new outside area (or upgrading the hardscape you currently have), we'll help guide you, from starting to end.

Start by dreaming big-- you can check your wildest concepts later on, if need be. Make a list (even if it's a mile long) of whatever you desire in your landscape: deck, patio, swimming pool, outside cooking area, edible garden, outside shower. Then use our Style Guides to help you separate the musts from the maybes.

Read our Hardscape 101 style guides to see thousands of pictures of garden spaces to find what you love, with an eye to design, colors, materials, and furnishings. You'll see particular themes emerge-- and then you'll be prepared to set a budget plan.

Where to splurge and where to save? Some things worth investing in: a master plan, masonry to provide your garden excellent bones, quality products to stand up to the elements, privacy, and workmanship. Ways to conserve: usage gravel rather of pavers on paths, recycle existing materials (bricks, stone, pickets), buyer smaller sized plants, and utilize mix-and-match furniture.

Little details can have huge impact in a landscape. Make certain hardscape materials-- stone, pavers, concrete, gravel, wood, paint, hardware-- all work together, and likewise match your house's architectural design.

In our Hardscape 101 design guides, it's our objective to debunk garden style. And remember: it does not matter if you're a first timer or a master garden enthusiast: you can do this.

Hardscaping 101: Decks & Patios

Think about a deck or outdoor patio as an instantaneous extra space. Nothing will expand your living space faster.

The distinction in between a deck and a patio area? A patio is developed at ground level, on a flat surface, and normally is built of a "irreversible" material such as stone pavers, brick, or put concrete. A deck floats in the air, supported by footings, at a height of anywhere from a few inches to lots of feet and can be built on an existing slope.

Deck frames generally are constructed of wood or steel supports. Deck floor covering options include natural wood, composite products, bamboo, and pressure-treated lumber. For an introduction on choices (and their costs) see Montclair hardscaping ideas Everything You Need to Learn About Decking Products.

For more pros and cons, read our Hardscaping 101 guides on bluestone, brick, wood deck tiles, stone deck tiles, decomposed granite, and concrete (pre-cast and poured-in-place) to determine which decking material or pavers to use for your deck or patio.

Hardscaping 101: Driveways

Driveways typically get taken for given. They should have much better. When it concerns producing curb appeal, the entry roadway that links a house to the public thoroughfare is often a home's most popular hardscape function.

" An appealing driveway will increase resale worth if a property owner ever wants to sell-- and in the meantime will invite you home every day," writes our factor Kier Holmes.

Are you designing a brand-new driveway? Step one: Style and function need to wed. To lay out a driveway, start by studying the shape and shape of the land. Montclair hardscaping aquarium How big is your property? Exist dips and slopes to navigate in between the public roadway and the house? Consider the number of parked automobiles you will want a driveway to accommodate and whether you will need to allocate square video footage for a garage.

Your driveway's style will depend upon its size, shape, and the material you use to pave it. If you survive on a hectic street, consider a horseshoe driveway to make it much easier to take out into traffic. If your house is held up from the roadway, think about a curving driveway to develop a country-lane impact. On a smaller sized lot, an easy, straight driveway sited on the edge of the property might be the best option.

The material you pick to appear a driveway needs to match the architectural design of the house. Pavers, gravel, turf block pavers, asphalt, and poured-in-place concrete are all common choices. Which is the best option for your environment and surface? Read on: