The Ultimate Guide to Hardscapes
Hardscapes are the structural, nonliving elements of your landscape design such as outdoor kitchens, patios, stone walls, ponds and walkways. Hardscapes bring functionality, structure and visual interest to a space that compliments the living aspects of your landscape to create an amazing outdoor living space. These structures can help prevent soil erosion, address drainage issues and create more usable space in your yard. Additionally, these projects can add value to your home. According to the National Realtor Association, high quality hardscaping projects have a 60-80% ROI, meaning hardscapes are worth the investment as long as they are well made and meant to last. Since these projects tend to be large dollar investments, it is worth it to understand what to look for in hardscaping to determine good quality, and what you should look for in the company you choose to have install it.
Common Hardscape Structures
Before we dive into what you should look for in high quality hardscapes and how to find an excellent hardscaping contractor, we should take a look at the most common hardscapes and their benefits. Overall, hardscaping serves as the base of your outdoor living space. Hardscaping is the landscape equivalent of the foundation of your house, providing structure and support to the space, whereas the living elements serve as your décor. Both are necessary to create a functional and beautiful home.
Outdoor Kitchens
Outdoor kitchens have been rising in popularity over the last couple of years due to the increased functionality you can get out of your outdoor living spaces with them. You can grill and host barbeques with ease. You can install a pizza oven and spend time with loved ones making wood fired pizza in your own backyard.
Firepits
Firepits are also rising in popularity. They provide a center for gathering with loved ones around a bonfire to make smores or just chat. They also help increase the functionality of your outdoor living space by providing heat, allowing you to comfortably use your space in a wider range of temperatures.
Stone Walls
Stone walls can serve both functional and aesthetic purposes. Stone walls can be used to define property lines, as additional seating in patio areas or to simply add a charming touch to your outdoor living space. Stone walls can give a more natural and rustic look that blends seamlessly into the rest of your landscape. Stone walls can be used to help improve the usability of your landscapes and account for grade changes.
Patios
Patios are a great way to create a nice, even base for your outdoor living space. They are also great because they are much lower maintenance than grass, and you will have less lawn mowing to do.
Walkways
Create safe and defined pathways in your outdoor living space. Walkways can create a warm and inviting atmosphere that beckons you to explore the outdoor space while also making your outdoor space more accessible to children, the elderly and anyone with physical limitations that would make terracing uneven terrain difficult. Walkways also protect your lawn from wear and tear and prevent compacting, meaning you won’t have to aerate your lawn as much. Additionally, a walkway can also keep your shoes cleaner as you won’t have to walk through the dirt or mud.
Stairs
Stairs are a necessary part of life. Most homes are not build with the front door directly at lawn level so allow for proper drainage and therefore most homes will require stairs to safely access their outdoor space. Stairs are a common hardscaping project.
Ponds
Ponds bring a sense of peace and tranquility to a property. Many people want a stunning pond to be a focal point of their outdoor living space. Ponds require careful planning and drainage to ensure your pond’s water stays where it should be but are well worth the effort. Think about the relaxing sound of water trickling from your backyard!
Waterfalls
Waterfalls bring a beautiful and calming sound of running water to your own backyard. If you don’t want the maintenance of a pond or worry about having a body of water due to young children or animals, you could even have a pondless waterfall installed, where you get the charm of a waterfall without all of the hassle of a standing water pond.
Pool Decks
Pool decks are another common hardscaping project. Most pool companies only deal with the actual pool and do not deal with the deck that surrounds it. If you want more than a builder grade concrete deck, reaching out to a contractor is a great next step, and therefore pool decks are a very common hardscaping project.
Materials
Materials make a big impact on your hardscaping project. Which material best depends on what the project is and what your goals are for your outdoor living space. Below, we look at some of the most common materials used in hardscapes and their pros and cons.
Natural Stone
Natural stone brings a beautiful natural element in your hardscape while still being durable. The cost depends largely on what kind of stone you decide to go with. Pavers are a great option for patios as it provides a smooth base for your outdoor living space and is on the lower end of cost. Granite or bluestone are highly durable and great for high traffic areas such as walkways or front steps. They are higher priced than flagstone but a great investment. Stones are a great choice for hardscape material because they are low maintenance and when well done, stone hardscapes can last for generations.
Brick
Brick is a classic look that never goes out of style, especially in Massachusetts. We also do a lot of work in the historic towns on Lexington and Concord, where brick would perfectly match the historic charm of the town. Standard bricks are relatively cost effective and great for patios. Specialty brick may be a bit more expensive but can bring a lot of visual interest to the space. Well installed brick can easily last over twenty-five years.
Concrete
Concrete may recall images of industrial looking gray slabs, that is not the only form of concrete. Nowadays, concrete can be stamped to look like stone or stained various colors. Concrete has a wide range of pricing. Basic concrete is pretty cost efficient, whereas architectural concrete with patterns and colors can have a much higher price tag. With proper drainage and resealing every couple of years concrete can last from 20-30 years.
Gravel
Gravel can be used in multiple different ways. Larger pea gravel can be used to create pathways or patios, and smaller gravel is great for drainage under hardscaping projects. Gravel has a wide price range so you can find a type of gravel that matches your needs at any price point. One big disadvantage of gravel is that it can be displaced easily. But gravel can be more easily replenished than other materials and is great for drainage.
Structural Considerations
When installing hardscapes into your outdoor space there are a few structural elements that should be fully addressed. These components will determine how high-quality and long lasting your hardscape will be.
The Base
Hardscapes use very durable products such as pavers, bricks and bluestone. But the base and its installation will determine the longevity of the work. A base with the depth of at least 8 to 10 inches and the correct amount of compaction is critical. Base compaction is what supports your hardscape the same way your foundation supports your home. The use of ¾ of an inch angular crushed gravel as a base material compacts very well, but still allows for drainage. Gravel and base materials should be compacted after every 3 inch layer has been installed. Compacting more than 3 inches of base materials at a time does not lead to good compaction. It is more time consuming to compact base material at 3 inch lifts, but the increased longevity is well worth the extra time invested.
Drainage
Another key component to think about in hardscaping jobs in the drainage and pitch. Unlike soil and grass, hardscapes are made from impervious elements that do not absorb water. This means that there needs to be a plan on where the water should go, otherwise you will have to deal with puddles, erosion, or even runoff water flowing towards your home’s foundation which could create massive structural issues. To avoid this, the general rule of thumb is a slight pitch away from your house is needed. The ¾ inch compacted angular gravel forms a solid base material that allows for drainage.
Your Contractor
Although it may be possible to DIY a lot of outdoor projects, hardscaping is typically best left to the professionals. There is a high risk of error if you do not know what you are doing. So that is why you should not only look for a contractor to help bring your vision to life, but you should find a high-quality contractor that provides outstanding craftsmanship and excellent customer services. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unreliable contractors who cut corners when completing projects. However, if you take the time to consider the factors below, you have a much higher chance of working with a fantastic contractor.
Longevity of Your Contractor
When looking at different contractors to install your hardscape, one factor you should take into consideration is how long the company has been in business. Most contractors fail within five to ten years. So successfully being in business for longer than ten years already distinguishes the business and demonstrates they have the expertise to deliver satisfactory products to their clients. The longer they have been in business, the more knowledgeable they likely will be through years of experience.
References
When hiring a contractor, it is worth it to take the time to ask for and call their references. Online reviews can give you a good sense of their work, but taking the time to call their clients and speak with them will give you a much better sense of the quality of their work. Are their references glowing or simply lukewarm? Do they have a long list of references or just a few? These are the types of questions to be asking when looking for a quality contractor.
Detailed Estimate
Estimates can also reveal a lot about the contractor. Does the estimate provide you with enough details and specifics of the proposed work so that you feel comfortable knowing what you will be getting? A detailed estimate is a sign of a quality contractor because transparency and making sure everyone is on the same page from the start will create a much smoother process overall and will result in you getting exactly what you want. Vague estimates leave room for interpretation. Having the specifics in writing prevents you from having a project that doesn’t meet your expectations.
Insurance
Ask to see current copies of workman’s comp and liability insurance so that you know you are protected. If a contractor is not properly insured and an accident happens on your property you may be at risk. High quality contractors make sure that all their employees and equipment are properly insured.
For additional tips, check out our page on ten points you should insist upon from your contractor in order to ensure you have a great experience and you get the outdoor kitchen, patio or stone wall you have always dreamed of.
Conclusion
Hardscapes are the non-living structural elements of your outdoor living space such as stone walls, patios or outdoor kitchens. Although hardscaping can have a high price tag, it provides a high return on your investment and you get to use and enjoy it whenever you want! In order to bring this investment to fruition you need to make sure your hardscaping is high quality and done by a knowledgeable contractor.
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Perennial Landscape Corporation | Winchester, MA | Concord, MA | Lexington, MA | Andover, MA
Perennial Landscape Corporation
The Quality You Expect and the Service You Deserve
Perennial Landscape Corporation is a family-owned business that has been creating distinguished landscape environments in Winchester, Lexington, Concord, Andover and surrounding Massachusetts’ communities since 1995.
Perennial Landscape Corporation was named after a category of plants called perennials. Perennials are plants that have a lifespan of two or more years, meaning they come back each year. Just like a perennial, our aim is for you to be able to count on us year after year.
Here at Perennial, we pride ourselves on providing excellent landscaping and outstanding customer service. Our motto is “the quality you expect and the service you deserve”. That is the mindset that permeates every aspect of our work.
Perennial Landscape Corporation
Creating distinguished landscape environments since 1995
Winchester, MA | Concord, MA
Lexington, MA | Andover, MA
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