Exploring Landscape Setups

Exploring Landscape Setups

Designing A Hardscaped Area? Factors To Keep In Mind

by Tanya Green

When you are designing an outdoor space, you have two basic elements to design. One element is landscaping. This includes items such as plants, grass and trees. The other element is hardscaping. This includes items such as concrete patios, paver walkways and stamped concrete pool surrounds. If you are designing your outdoor space for the first time, there are many factors that you need to keep in mind as you design the hardscaped areas. Learning what these factors are will help you consider factors that you may have otherwise overlooked. Here are four of those factors.

The Design for the Entire Space

Due to budget or time constraints, you may only be doing one section of your yard at a time. For example, you may only be installing a patio, and leaving any grass or walkways for later. However, if you are doing this, it is important to have an idea in your head of what you want the design for the entire space to look like when complete, even if it takes months or years to create. Many people make the mistake of taking it one section at a time, without pre-planning. If you complete just the patio on its own, you may make it too large, limiting the vision you saw for the rest of your space in the future. Planning out the design for your entire space, even if you can only complete it in sections, helps ensure that your vision comes together, and when complete, your yard is exactly what you envisioned and desired.

Drainage and Slope

Another important element to consider when you are designing a hardscaped area is how the slope of your yard and drainage will play into your design. If you have a yard that is filled with dirt or grass, these items will absorb moisture. However, items such as bricks and concrete may not. While you may not currently have any drainage issues in your space, you may find yourself with them when you remove land and replace it with hardscaping. Leveling out any sloped areas in your yard and/or mildly grading your patio, walkways or other hardscaped areas may prevent puddling. If you are installing a large amount of hardscaped space, or have a yard that slopes toward these areas, french drains may need to be installed to ensure pooling and puddling doesn't occur.

What Materials to Use

When you are designing a hardscaped area, you will have to decide what materials to use. There are many different materials you can use, including bricks, pavers, concrete, cement, slate and flagstone. There are pros and cons to each material. For example, slate is low maintenance and durable. But it can be slippery when wet, so if you live in a rainy area, it may not be ideal for you. Concrete is inexpensive and low-maintenance. However, it is quite common and the color may be considered dull by some. Weighing the pros and cons of different material types will help you find the type that makes the most sense for your space.

Do-it-Yourself Versus Hiring a Hardscape Service

The last factor you need to consider when you are designing a hardscaped area is whether this is something you can do on your own or whether you want to hire someone. Designing and installing a hardscaped space can be a lot of work. There are many elements you need to consider when making a plan, and failing to consider these elements can impact your entire design. And installing can be laborious, as many of the materials are heavy. Do research on the materials you plan to use to find out how hard they are to work with and then realistically ask yourself if this is something you can do on your own. If it isn't, hardspace services in the area are always there to assist you and give you the space of your dreams.

Hardscaping and landscaping can take a boring and bland space and transform it into a space that you can enjoy. It can transform a blank space into an outdoor kitchen and eating area or can turn a yard full of weeds into a lush outdoor oasis. However, before it can be transformed, plans need to be drawn up. As you design your outdoor hardscaped area, keep in mind your vision for the entire space, drainage and slope issues, what materials you want to use and consider whether this is something you can complete on your own.


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About Me

Exploring Landscape Setups

Hello, I am Manny Juanez. When I moved into my home, I instantly started to plan out my landscape features. I knew that I wanted a small waterfall leading to a pond for my fish. I also wanted to create a few raised beds around the sitting area by the pond. What I didn't know, however, was that the project would take a lot of manpower and a bit of professional help. My site will explore the process from grading the land to setting up the electrical components. I will also talk about building the garden beds with pavers and other found materials. The information I provide should help you create a beautiful layout in your back or front yards. Come back to my site whenever you need some inspiration.