Written By Kimberly Liddick-Byrnes
As summer rolls in, cookouts and crab feasts are common occurrences. But the backyard cement slab with a grill and a table is quickly becoming a thing of the past. Many homeowners are striving to create outdoor living spaces that rival the aesthetics and functionality of the rooms inside their homes. And professional hardscaper and owner of Carroll County-based Outdoor Additions, Tom Powel, encourages his clients to do just that.
“I encourage people to think of their outdoor living space as an addition to their homes,” said Powel. “People want to spend time outside and they should create something that both meets their needs and is aesthetically pleasing.”
As opposed to the plant life, which is called softscaping, hardscaping has to do with all the non-plant design elements of a yard: paved walkways, walls, patios, fences, outdoor lighting, shelters (such as gazebos) and rocks. Hardscaping often represents the foundation and anchor of landscaping plans.
As hardscaping has become increasingly popular in the past couple decades, the selection of materials has also expanded. Powel explains that consumers have many choices, including natural and manmade materials. Natural stones include Bluestone, Flagstone and Travertine.
“Manmade materials come in a range of colors, shapes and sizes that really mimic natural stone. Which product you use depends on the project and the existing site. You want to be sure that the materials are appropriate for the home,” said Powel. “You might not want to use synthetic stone around a log cabin.”
Homeowners should first consider the intended use of the space when determining the type of hardscaping work they want done. And a good contractor will offer solutions and suggestions. Will the space be used to entertain frequently? What kind of access is needed and from what parts of the property? Are there children to take into consideration? Pets?
Craig Naparstek, owner of Harford County-based Rock Solid Hardscaping, urges consumers to hire certified professionals to complete hardscaping work. He said that, if done right, hardscaping projects should hold up for decades.
According to Naparstek and Powel, anyone being hired to complete hardscaping work should have a State of Maryland home improvement license, as well as being ICPI (Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute) certified. Powel also suggests that homeowners check recent references of anyone they are considering for hardscaping work. You may also come across certifications offered by the National Concrete and Masonry Association (NCMA). Naparstek believes that is especially important for anyone building retaining walls.
“When people think of hardscaping, they tend to think along the lines of landscaping, but really, hardscaping is more along the lines of construction,” said Powel. “The difference between a good job and a bad job is what you can’t see when the check is cashed, but rather a year or two down the road when things settle and start to fall apart.”
If it is done right, hardscaping can be expensive. Naparstek explains that there are a lot of variables that determine pricing. Depending on the quality of the paver and the quality of the installation, a basic project could cost in the ballpark of $15-$20 per foot.
But some trends in creating outdoor living spaces are definitely going beyond basic projects. Contractors sometimes build complete outdoor kitchens, upright fireplaces, brick ovens, multilayered gardens and patios, and unique water features.
Hardscaping can certainly add aesthetics to a property, but it can also make an outdoor space more livable. For example, fences and walls can offer privacy and add an appealing boundary or division between properties.
Walls can also improve the general topography of a yard. Steep, awkward slopes can make a yard uncomfortable and unusable. Retaining walls can help correct the problem by turning the yard into a functional space. Hardscaping elements, such as gazebos and overhangs, can also provide shelter that allows people to remain outdoors in a light drizzle or find shade on hot, sunny days.
And perhaps one of the best features of hardscaping is the fact that it is low maintenance. Although landscaping often requires upkeep, pruning, mowing, and watering, hardscaping requires very little, if any, upkeep and maintenance.
Hardscaping is a growing trend in creating beautiful and livable outdoor spaces. Paired with softscaping, or planting, a yard can become an attractive and functional addition to a home. Crab feasts and cookouts are finding comfortable, and at times even lavish, new homes in hardscaped yards.
