The area around your house is a welcome sign, serving as a greeting to visitors and passers-by. It can truly transform the look and feel of your home, determining whether your curb appeal is fabulous or lackluster. When you decide your yard is due for a makeover, it can feel difficult to design and curate the lawn of your dreams. One part of the landscaping process which can make a huge difference to your yard as a whole is hardscaping.
Hardscaping refers to any man made, non-living element within landscaping. This includes anything made of pavers, gravel, stone, and countless other materials. Some of the pieces found within hardscaping are gazebos, patios, walkways, decks, and more. These hard design features can add an incredible amount of movement and structure to your yard. Interested in learning some hardscaping tips as you plan your perfect lawn? Discover our five tips to outline the best hardscape for you!
1. Get inspired
Before you can start planning your own yard, start by taking a look at the beauty around you and the hardscaping work that speaks to you aesthetically. Seek inspiration from the homes, gardens, parks, and anywhere else in your area that displays a gorgeous lawn. If you’re lacking sources of expression in your proximity, turn to photo-sharing websites or landscaping books to see the creativity others have shown in their yards. This can really help to get your ideas flowing and give you an idea of what’s possible. By viewing what hardscaping elements other yards incorporate, you can think of things you want for yourself that may not have even occurred to you otherwise.
2. Sketch it out
Even if you aren’t particularly artistic, it doesn’t matter when you’re planning your yard. Starting with a sketch or a blueprint of your outdoor space and the potential features you can include within it, you will start to form a much better idea of how your plans will pan out. Your blueprint can be as detailed or as vague as you want. What really matters is that you have a good idea of the sizing of the lawn itself so you can assess the scale of the hardscaping you would like to add. An advantage of doing this ahead of time and making sure your drawing properly depicts the spacing is that you won’t be caught off guard by the way your plans pan out. Nothing will surprise you by being too big to fit or much smaller than expected as long as you’re somewhat meticulous about drawing to scale.
3. Consult a professional
Although there are plenty of projects you can DIY, sometimes it’s best to consult a professional who has expertise and experience in the landscaping industry. A professional hardscape service will be able to review your options with you and give insight on what’s possible in the space you have. They can also provide feedback regarding anything that won’t work due to the conditions of your soil or the slopes within your yard. Especially for any elements that involve electricity, drainage, or irrigation, landscapers can provide a lot of valuable assistance. Finding a trusted company to rely on for this process is crucial, even if you’ll be completing some of the projects on your own so you can have experts to rely on.
4. Budget your expenses
Once you’ve established some of the possible hardscaping projects you want to include in your yard, you can move forward to calculate your expenses and determine which costs will need to be cut. Be realistic about what you can afford during this process, as you may also have some unexpected costs come up during the projects if any issues occur. Be sure to create a comprehensive list of expenses so you don’t forget any tools or pieces you’ll need to buy.
Another benefit of consulting a professional will be that you can get a better idea of how much everything will cost, making your budgeting process a bit more straightforward. It’s also a good idea to get a second or third opinion on any large projects you’ll have a service complete for you, just to make sure you receive the best price possible.
5. Create a list
Now that you’ve calculated costs, it’s time for the final part of your planning process – creating a final to-do list of the projects you want to complete! Ideally, this list should be in order of priority, putting your most important projects first. The smaller projects or the ones that you don’t necessarily need to complete right away can wait until the end. Once you have your list created, you can start purchasing supplies and booking any contractors whose assistance you’ll need to complete these tasks.
Get excited – it’s time to create the yard of your dreams, featuring all the hardscaping elements you’re envisioning for your beautiful space. If you’re seeking a trusted source for quality hardscaping materials, consult Pillar Aggregates for your needs. Pillar is committed to supplying customers with the best of the best supplies to ensure your projects turn out gorgeous and stand the test of time. Contact us to request a quote today!
