Few things compare to enjoying time with family, friends, or having a glass of wine alone sitting next to a fire pit on a relaxing evening and watching the flames dance. Fire pits are more than that! You could cook an outdoor dinner over the fire pit, warm yourself on a chilly fall night, or watch the stars as they move across the sky as the fire pit keeps you warm. You want your fire area to last for many years, so choosing between a custom fire pit and store-bought models may be difficult. Here are some facts to consider.

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One of the important components of your property is the driveway. Most homeowners settle to have their driveway paved, but what you pave it with is usually a question for debate. Concrete drives tend to be among the most cost-effective options. With a low maintenance schedule and a long lifespan, concrete tends to be the top choice. Here are the benefits of having a concrete driveway installed.

Easy to Maintain

Don’t worry about wasting your time on driveway maintenance. One of the biggest benefits of a concrete drive is that you spend less time on maintenance and more time enjoying the new look. With concrete, it requires less upkeep and repair. You can take care of it simply through sweeping and rinsing it of debris when necessary.

Highly Valued

A well-maintained and beautiful concrete driveway can seriously increase your property value and curb appeal. Whether you are looking to sell your home or you simply want a driveway that you’re proud of, concrete accomplishes your needs. On the one hand, they do not require much maintenance, which makes them more appealing to potential buyers. Your home simply has more value when you utilize concrete.

Long-Lasting and Durable

The durability of concrete is what makes it stand out to commercial and residential property owners. It can take a lot of traffic but also, it lasts for a long time. To have to put in an entirely new driveway is a pain. It’s better to do it once and not to worry about it for a while. With a concrete drive, you can have it up to 20 years.

A driveway needs to last. It has to be able to withstand the elements, traffic and anything else. One of the most solid and long-lasting materials that does the trick is concrete. When you invest in professional concrete driveway installation, you’re investing in the future of your home.

Wooden decks are beautiful, but they often require lots of maintenance and will need to be repaired and replaced over time. In contrast, a concrete patio can last a lifetime as long as they are regularly cleaned and there are no cracks for water and ice to get into.

Compared to wooden decks, concrete patios are also more cost-effective from building to maintenance. Even so, many homeowners dislike the sometimes bland appearance. Still, there are several methods you can use to spice things up.

Concrete Imprinting

Imprinting could leave you wondering if you ever used concrete at all. From creating wooden looks to brick features and even adding a touch of color, this can create a perfectly unique style that complements your home’s current decor.

Add Stain

Staining a concrete patio is a nice way to add a protective coat while giving it a fresh new look. Many homeowners go for an aged look that resembles centuries-old stone. It is important to note that stain will need to be reapplied occasionally as it doesn’t always hold up well to the elements. The upside of this is that you can always allow it to fade and then change the stain.

Concrete Scoring

This creates a geometric design that often mirrors the look of tiles. The squares can be as large as a parking space or as small as a brick. Concrete scoring may be most common on commercial properties with large outdoor spaces, but when used appropriately, it also makes a beautiful design for the home.

Smooth Finish

If you love the simple and minimalist industrial look, ask your contractor about a smooth finish. Acid etching and sandblasting are two useful ways to soften the concrete and create a stunning floor space.

It doesn’t take much to beautify a concrete patio. Coupled with low cost and high durability, concrete is one of the best materials you can use to build your outdoor spaces.

If you’re wondering how to hardscape your yard like an expert, you should probably call one for expert advice. Hardscaping takes non-plant elements and implements them into the landscape for a completed look. The following are some ideas to get your yard started.

Collect All the Pro Tips

Before you jump into a hardscape layout, it’s important you take some time to learn all the pro tips. Speak with a professional hardscaper beforehand to find out what elements you can tackle on your own and which should be handled by the professionals. You’ll want the hardscaper to take a look at the area you plan to improve so an accurately measured layout can be designed. With all the expert advice in hand and a design to work with, you can begin your part of the improvement.

Choose Your Elements

There are a lot of hardscaping elements you could implement in your plan. Speak with your hardscaper to find out what you have available to use. Are you looking for a certain type of stepping stone? Do you plan to implement a water feature anywhere in the design? Is there a particular statue or sculpture you think would add the perfect touch? Make sure these things are part of the design process so they don’t end up looking out of place.

Trust the Professionals

Whether you’re having a hard time making your part of your hardscape look good, or are worried about trying to handle it on your own, never be afraid to trust the professionals. With experience and knowledge in hand, they can take care of the portion they have previously committed to, and can probably help you with your portion as well.

Clearly there’s a lot to consider when you are working on hardscaping your yard, but you don’t have to do it alone. A professional hardscaper can give you all the tips you need, help you choose your elements, help you create a design and then work their magic. Contact the pros today to get started.

Many homeowners spend a lot of time perfecting the décor inside their home, ensuring it complements their personality and makes them feel at ease no matter what room they’re in. Why not take that same idea to the outdoors? If you own your home and want to give it that extra pizzazz, consider hardscaping when you come up with your perfect landscape.

What is a Hardscape?

A hardscape is part of your landscape, but consists of non-plant elements. This could include stepping stones, a rock garden, a sculpture, ceramics or a birdhouse. Hardscape elements are often easier to maintain and can add imagination to your yard.

How to Add Your Personality

When it comes to hardscaping, how do you add your personality? When you check out some local hardscape companies, you’ll quickly realize there are a lot of elements with a lot of different styles. Do you like a modern, sophisticated look? How about a zany, colorful scheme? The sky’s the limit and you can almost always find something that’s a non-plant element to work in conjunction with the things you like the most. If you’re unsure what to choose, speak with the professionals. Let them know some things about you, about the way you live and about how you see the world. Chances are they’ll have the perfect idea.

Pulling It All Together

After you have some hardscape elements to use in your outdoor space, pull it all together with your interior design. If you have a color scheme throughout your house, include it in your outdoor space. If you have a floral theme in your dining room, continue that floral theme out onto the patio, using metal flower sculptures to surround the area.

As you can see, it’s easy to create a hardscaping scheme that complements your personality when you know where to start. Contact your local hardscape company to find out what’s available and to learn more about how to create the perfect outdoor space.

You know all about landscaping, but have you heard of hardscaping? Generally, hardscape refers to the man-made or nonliving features applied to any landscaped environment. It also includes still and moving water features, such as ponds, falls and fountains. When you add these types of elements to your residential property, you can enhance its aesthetic and real estate value.

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Nothing says outdoor elegance like gracious flagstone patios. With the trend of transitional living spaces on the rise, adding a patio can increase your home’s value, as well as adding beauty and functionality to your outdoor living area.

 

Over half of the people looking for a new home said one of the things they are looking for is outdoor living space, whether it be a patio, or a full outdoor kitchen. It’s easy to see why. Having a beautiful garden filled with flowers, family and friends makes a great place for gathering.

 

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