Hardscaping Design Services
Outdoor Patios and Living Spaces You’ll Love
When you create an outdoor living space, not only have you found new ways to cook and entertain, but you’ve also increased your home’s living space. Maybe that’s why so many homeowners are getting attractive, durable hardscaping installed in their front and back yards.
What is Hardscaping?
Hardscaping is a term for all the outdoor elements in your home other than landscaping (which is also called softscaping.) As outdoor entertaining gets more and more popular, hardscaping has evolved to include a lot of different features. While homeowners have always loved patios, walkways, paths, and retaining walls, they’re now adding outdoor fire pits, fireplaces, and pizza ovens. Water features such as fountains, fountain walls, waterfalls, reflecting ponds, and fish ponds are also becoming part of more backyards. Outdoor kitchens and built-in grills make it even easier to live outdoors all year long.
What Kind of Materials are Used in Hardscaping?
Since hardscaping must be exposed to the elements in summer and winter, R & L Irrigation suggests rugged, durable materials that will look great for decades. Many hardscaping materials get an attractive patina over time, making them more beautiful as the years pass. While you can choose from almost any material, R & L Irrigations recommends a select group of materials for use in Delaware and East coast climates.
Brick is a tried and true material that has been around for centuries. In Delaware, we regularly see all kinds of structures created with brick, including buildings, roads, patios, pathways, and walls. Bricks can be laid in a variety of patterns to create formal or informal designs. Used or reclaimed brick is an environmentally friendly choice for outdoor projects.
Homeowners often think of concrete as a boring surface primarily used for foundations. But this inexpensive and rugged building material can also be stained, stamped, texturized, or even and embedded with other materials such as pebbles. Texturized or decorative concrete is usually less slippery than the smooth finish, making it a smart choice for walkways and driveways.
Loose materials are often an attractive choice for paths, driveways, or around fire pits. Pea gravel, river rock, small stones, gravel, and even recycled rubber mulch are all excellent choices for loose-material hardscaping.
Stone is beloved throughout Delaware, making it a good choice for almost any type of hardscaping projects. Many properties use limestone, brownstone, or granite blocks for structures, retaining walls, or walkways. Flagstone and slate cut into flat sheets are an attractive choice for outdoor patios, courtyards, and walkways in our region. Whenever you choose natural stone for your project, you can take advantage of interesting textures that can include ridges and varying heights and weights. Irregular stone can be used for a more rustic look, but most stone can also be cut into smooth, geometric shapes for a more modern, sleek look.
Composite decking is another smart choice for outdoor spaces. Because it is a mix of wood and synthetic materials, it lasts much longer than wood. Composite decking won’t splinter and resists insects, mold, and rotting. And because water doesn’t damage it, you won’t need to worry about sanding or resealing.
Wood is an option for outdoor hardscaping, but maintenance is an ongoing issue. However, many people prefer the warm, luxurious look and natural feel of wood, and use it to build walkways, decks, patios, retaining walls, siding, and more. Wood touches are also popular for trims and decorative features.
Finally, tile offers thousands of looks and patterns to choose from, making it a popular choice for outdoor projects. But traditional ceramic tile will not last for more than one season in the chilly Delaware climate. Instead, look for tiles specially created to resistant slipping, chemicals, and harsh weather conditions. Special substrates and grouts must also be used.
We Make Your Outdoor Living Dreams Come True!
When you’re ready to make your dream outdoor entertaining project a reality, call R & L Irrigation. Our experienced teams will help you choose the right materials and specifications for your project, so you’ll have a space you love for years to come.
