A “hardscape” refers to solid materials used in the design of outdoor spaces, such as natural stone, tile, brick, wood, Asphalt, and concrete pavers. These products can be used to build various projects, including driveways, walkways, patios, retaining walls, decks, water and fire features, outdoor kitchens, and more.
What is the difference between “softscape” and “hardscape”?
“Soft landscape” refers to any living, growing element in your landscape. This is anything soft to the touch and continually growing in your space, including trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers. This differs significantly from a hardscape, involving inorganic elements such as natural stone and concrete pavers, which retain their shape and are hard to the touch.
What are the benefits of hardscaping?
Hardscaping carries several significant benefits. Smit House Construction pavers require very little maintenance to keep them looking as beautiful as the day they were installed. A beautifully designed hardscape can help increase the value of your home while adding additional layers of dimension to your outdoor space.
Permeable pavers are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional pavers that can help stormwater management on your property. By absorbing excess rainwater underground, permeable pavers help prevent pollutants, such as pesticides, from returning to lakes, rivers, and oceans. Our extensive Unilock pavers also come in various styles, colors, and finishes to make any outdoor project aesthetically pleasing and highly durable.
Does landscaping add value to a home?
Absolutely! Regardless of your home’s size or market value, designing an outdoor space with Smit House Construction pavers will enhance the overall appeal of your home. As with any outdoor project, prices can vary depending on the size and scope of the job. While the cost of investing in concrete pavers may be a deterrent for some, it pays big dividends over time. We encourage you to work with a Smit House Construction Authorized Contractor who can help you choose practical products from a budgetary standpoint.
What is the best material for landscaping?
Concrete is considered the perfect material for virtually any challenging surface design project. For example, concrete can be printed with different designs and textures to resemble natural stone. Concrete pavers do not require sealing unless you appreciate the look of a sealed paver; in this case, you may need to reseal every 3 to 5 years.
Unlike Asphalt, whose surface wears and cracks over time due to foot traffic and seasonal changes, it is much easier and more cost-effective to install a concrete paver installation. This way, damaged or worn pavers can be replaced individually instead of dismantling an entire asphalt patio or driveway.
What is the cheapest landscaping material?
Poured concrete is one of the most popular and affordable materials to build a complex surface patio. While poured concrete patios are initially inexpensive, they require much more maintenance and will wear, fade, and crack over time.
Concrete pavers, however, are a little more expensive than traditional poured concrete, depending on the style and finish you choose. However, Smit House Construction pavers are durable and aesthetically pleasing and can be easily replaced if a paver is damaged or worn. Smit House Construction also offers a transferable Lifetime Warranty on the structural integrity of pavers, slabs, and wall elements. Any material installed and maintained by our guidelines, and subject to normal wear and tear proving defective will be replaced at no cost to you. Color match cannot be guaranteed, and replacement labor is not included.