5 Things to Consider Before Getting a Water Features

Water Features are beautiful additions to any outdoor living space they bring tranquility, add class and increase the overall aesthetic of your outdoor living space. Here are 5 things to consider when you are planning to add a water feature to your outdoor living space. 

1. Type of Water Feature:

There are plenty of different water features that you can add to your outdoor living space: waterfalls, fountains, artificial creeks, water/fire features and much more. Water Features can be tailored made to fit any theme or style of your backyard so that it perfectly compliments the rest of your outdoor living space. 

2. Design:

It is vital that your water feature suits the aesthetics of the rest of your outdoor living space because you want to maintain the aesthetic and feeling of your outdoor living space without making the water feature look out of place. So it is imperative that you think carefully about your existing features and how the water feature you would like to add will look alongside the rest of your existing features.

3. Safety:

Safety is imperative so if you have young or elderly family members it is very important that you have safety in mind when deciding what water feature you’d like in your outdoor living space. If you have small children maybe a large climbable water feature maybe wouldn’t be the best investment. Or if you have elderly people it is important you consider the placement of your water feature as some tend to splash water which can produce a slippery surface. Essentially you shouldn’t just tailor your water feature to the aesthetic of your backyard but also tailor it to the people whom are going to be enjoying it.

4. Longevity:

Durability is an important thing to consider when deciding on your water feature. It is important that your water feature is high quality because you want to make sure it lasts a long time so you can enjoy it for years to come. Which is why it is not only important to make sure your water feature is made of durable material but it is properly maintained. Be sure to talk with your contractor about the proper maintenance steps needed to maintain your water feature so that you can enjoy it for years to come. 

5. Budget:

Make sure you have a firm budget plan for the water feature project so that there is no misunderstanding with your contractor and so that your contractor can present you the best options for you that fall within your budget because you want open dialog with your contractor that way you are not only happy with your water feature but your wallet stays happy because it is nice and full

Do not hesitate to fill out our FREE Estimate form so we can help you come up with a plan for your water feature but also make it a reality.

10 Things You Must Know About Landscaping!

Layout a Plan

Create a plan. There are a lot of things that go into remodeling your landscape so having a plan laid out will allow you nothing is overlooked and keep things organized.

Budget

Budget out what you are willing to spend and then plan your landscaping project according to your budget because you do not want to end up spending unnecessarily and exceeding your budget. Hiring a landscaping professional will help create and keep your landscaping budget so that project stays within budget. 

Understand the Soil Type

An important thing to know is the type of soil in your yard. Understanding the nature of the soil in your yard allows you to plan your landscape project in a way that best compliments the soil making your landscape more sustainable and easier to manage. Understand the nature of the soil and plan your landscaping in a way that best complements the soil. If you lack the knowledge, you might want to seek professional advice.

Understand the Design

Design is the major component to landscaping that will dictate the overall look and feel of your yard. Understanding the dimensions of your yard is vital so you can optimally design your landscape. Figure out the theme you would like your landscape to have so you can figure out which patterns, colors and style are perfect for you and your space.

Softscape

Softscape is the horticultural element of landscaping, which includes flowers, plants, shrubs, trees, etc. Softscape is meant to complement the overall landscape and design of the backyard. There are various design themes when it comes to softscaping including ones that are sustainable, drought tolerant, luxurious, etc. 

Hardscape

Hardscape is the hard landscape element of landscaping, which includes driveways, paved areas, retaining walls, stairs, walkways and any other additions to the landscape that are made of  wood, stones or concrete. Hardscaping, essentially, structures and establishing the general layout of the yard. Hardscaping fundamentally alters the foundation of the yard meaning that the hardscaping needs to be done before the softscaping can be done. 

Appropriate Texture

It is essential to keep in mind the texture you want your landscape to have. The way you achieve having the perfect texture to you is by having the right combination of soft and hard landscaping coupled with the correct color tones.

Choosing the right color combination

Having the right color palette is one of the most important aspects of landscaping. The color palette is vital to accentuate and compliment the other aspects of the landscape like the softscape and hardscape aspect of the landscape design.

Maintenance plan

Maintaining your yard is a given so having a maintenance plan will give you a leg up when the time does come. Keeping a maintenance plan in place will allow you to better care and track the health of your plants. We highly recommend you consult a landscape professional about the maintenance that your yard will require so you can have a detailed idea of what needs to get done. Different plants require different levels and different kinds of maintenance. 

Why you may want to Invest in a Patio over a Deck

There are a multitude of different options when it comes to making ones outdoor space more functional but by far the most popular options are either a patio or a deck. Without a doubt, both patios and decks are wonderful choices if you are looking to create more space in your home for entertaining guests or simply relaxing with the family. Many professionals, however, recommend patios over deck to their clients. Find out why they recommend patios over decks. 

1. Patios are more budget friendly

Patio’s on average cost about $15 for every square foot, while a basic deck using only treated wood will cost on average $30 for every square foot. If however you decide you’d like to use cedar, or mahogany any other high end wood as the basis for you deck the price is about triple the price of the basic deck. 

2. Patios are easier to maintain

Patios are much easier to maintain. Sealing your pavers or deck is vital to protect your investment because both are susceptible to the elements meaning they both require regular maintenance. The difference between pavers and decks is their maintenance schedule, decks need to be resealed every year, while patios need to be resealed every 3 years.  

3. Patios last longer

Pavers are more durable than decks because patios are made from pavers, while decks are made from wood or composites. Pavers are more resistant to the elements unlike wood which is much more susceptible to temperature extremes. Furthermore, patios have an average lifespan of 25 years meaning you will definitely enjoy your patio for a long time with minimal maintenance 

Whether you are in the market for a patio, a deck or are still debating between the two speak to one of our professionals about your project get your dream outdoor entertainment space fill out our FREE Estimate to get started!

5 MOST Common Mistakes New Homeowner Makes In Their Yard

Choosing the wrong set of plants

One of the most common mistakes that people make is not choosing the right set of plants. This ranks as the most common mistake made by first time landscapers. Things to consider when selecting the plants for your yard are the size of your yard and the size of the plants, if your plant is natural to where you live, and the over-all aesthetic that you want your landscape to convey.

Mismatched Elements

An important thing to keep in mind when designing your yard is to make sure the elements that comprise your landscape match and that your yard is symmetric. If not done properly from the beginning this issue will not become apparent until after the project is done. 

Not having a plan for your plants

A vital thing to have is a plan for your plants. Having a plan for your plants allows you to figure out how much water they need, their watering schedule, when you will need to hire a gardening service to prune your plants all of this will allow your plants the best opportunity to flourish.

Inappropriate use of aesthetic

The misuse of aesthetics may cause problems. You need to choose what kind of Landscape design you’d like whether that’s formal garden design (symmetry, tight structure and orderliness) or informal garden design (wild riot color and a disdain for obvious organization). Once you have chosen which aesthetic you’d like make sure you stick with it to best accentuate the aesthetic of your landscape 

Forget about fall and winter

Most people don’t take the fall and winter months into consideration when planning their landscape design meaning they tend to be disappointed with the aesthetic of their garden because the lack of vegetation

How to Clean your Patio

Backyard Patios are the ideal space to entertain guests, spend quality time with the family, or simply relax and enjoy the outdoors. Maintaining your patio clean is relatively easy. Routine maintenance will ensure your patio will last for years to come. The proper steps needed to clean your patio depends on the material that your patio is made out of.

Poured Concrete:

Concrete is a very porous material, meaning that concrete is susceptible to stains and discoloration. For that reason, properly maintaining your concrete patio is important to maintain the aesthetic of the patio and your investment.

If you make sure that you routinely practice proper maintenance, which includes sweeping away debris and hosing the patio down with water, that should be all that is required. 

If you happen to have not kept up on the maintenance using a mixture of soap and water, along with a little elbow grease and a synthetic bristle brush should do the trick. Keep in mind that you should not use a wire brush because those have a tendency of scratching the concrete.

If you happen to have tougher stains to remove, we’ve included a few more tricks you can use to get rid of even the toughest of stains. 

Spraying oven cleaner on stains directly and letting it sit for 4 hours, then rinsing it off with a hose should help lift the stain.

Sprinkling a mix of Laundry detergent and a bit of water on the stain and then scrubbing it with a brush until the stain begins to fade, then rinsing off the mixture with water should help lift the stain. 

If you happen to have oil stains, cat litter does wonder to remove oil stains. Grind the cat litter into the stain with a block of wood or something similar, allow the cat litter to set for a few minutes to absorb the oil and then sweep up the cat litter and hose down the area. 

Stamped Concrete:

Stamped Concrete is much easier to clean than poured concrete because stamped concrete is protected by a sealer, making it waterproof and and stain resistant meaning stamped concrete requires minimal upkeep.

Just like poured concrete you want to start out by sweeping away all the dirt and debris, the reason why this is important is because if debris such as decaying leaves or wood is left on your patio for too long it can stain your concrete. 

We recommend using a simple solution of dish soap and warm water and nylon brush to scrub the stains away. And then simply hose it off with your garden hose. The ratio for the soup/water solution should be 1 cup of soup for every half gallon of water. 

Another great alternative is using a pressure washer to remove the stains and debris.

Your stamped concrete patio should be resealed every 2-3 years to protect it and keep it looking new.

Natural Stone:

Natural stone is a very good option. Natural stone is a stain resistant and maintenance is also very fairly simple. 

A good way to clean natural stone is to scrub the stain with a strong brush and use a solution of 1 part bleach and 1 part water and then rinse it off with your garden hose. Be careful rinsing the solution off though because the bleach/water solution has a tendency to kill grass and plants. If you’d like a more plant friendly solution replace the bleach with white vinegar. 

Another good option is to pressure wash your natural stone patio. 

If you’d like an extra level of protection natural stone can be given a sealant which would protect it against stains, making it even easier to clean. 

Paver Stones:

If you are looking for the most low-maintenance option paver stones is your best bet. Paver stones don’t require a lot of maintenance work to keep it looking fresh and clean and chemicals are usually unnecessary.

To clean paver stones we recommend simply scrubbing the stain with a deck brush and simple solution of regular dish soap and water. Keep in mind that the binding agent used to keep the pavers in place is sand so be careful when rinsing off the stone because you do not want the sand to wash away which is why we do not recommend using a pressure washer on paver stones. 

An awesome plus of paver stones is if your patio is fine except for a couple of paver stones that are cracked or badly stained you can easily replace those couple of paver stone and your patio back to being good as new

If you found that your patio or driveway needs more than cleaning reach out to us and you’d like to remodel your patio. Fill out our contact form for more information and a free estimate.