Hardscaping: The Foundation of Outdoor Living
While many homeowners relish the satisfaction of going hands-on with projects, certain enduring improvements – including the many facets of hardscaping – are best left in the skilled hands of experienced professionals. Consider hardscaping as the permanent architectural structure of your outdoor living area, from pathways and patios to fireplaces and retaining walls. Horticultural components such as flowers, shrubs, and trees comprise the more flexible and evolving living components of landscaping, known as softscaping. Brick, pavers, and natural stone features – places where you can walk, entertain, or have an entryway – serve as the centerpiece, and the landscaping is the softening of the hardscape. Together they create a beautiful and balanced effect.
Choosing a reputable full-service landscaping company ensures not only quality workmanship but saves time and money in the long run. With a solid understanding of the many particulars of hardscaping detail, a well-staffed team can offer expert advice, planning and management – and supply all the right tools and equipment – for optimal outcomes. Homeowners should be sure to ask about a warranty on installation and products.
Shaping Your Hardscape Plans
While many homeowners have some general ideas about potential hardscaping features and functions suited to their lifestyle – an inviting fire pit, a shady pergola, a grand outdoor kitchen or simple bar, even just a certain mood to be evoked – a good designer can assist in developing plans that enhance enjoyment of an aesthetically pleasing fresh-air living space. Ho-hum cookie-cutter results are avoided through vibrant creativity and customized planning. Being receptive to new ideas helps facilitate a flow of innovative energy.
Both sitting and retaining walls can be key elements of a property’s hardscaping. Whether curvy or angular, sitting walls can accent or define a patio and provide seating without cluttering the space with extra chairs. Multi-functional retaining walls can help prevent soil erosion, transform sloping terrain into evenly terraced areas or handsomely define property boundaries.
On some projects, a hardscape contractor might collaborate with an interior designer. “This allows both indoor and outdoor living experiences to work in harmony, and bringing in another expert’s opinion can maximize results,” explains Marcus Celiano, owner of Golden Wolf Landscape & Design, LLC. “Having a complementary space from inside to out integrates similar textures and tones, colors and accessories.”
Picturing the Future
To help visualize the end result of a larger project, a 2D CAD drawing provides a top-down view of proposed hard- and softscaping. For really expansive or complex projects, a lifelike 3D rendering presents a realistic image that can incorporate a cabana, patio, pool, and other sizable amenities – such as tennis courts – along with all landscaping features. These high-tech aids enable homeowners to better comprehend ideas and suggestions about scale and dimensions from designers or contractors.
Timing a Project
Homeowners who would like to tackle an expansive project in a piecemeal fashion should still create a master plan right from the start – and have a landscape professional identify the logical order for each project phase. This timeline allows a seamless installation when those phases are ready and underscores that fact that some things must be done before others to avoid extra work and needless costs. That said, doing everything at once is the most efficient practice, even though it means more of an upfront investment. (This can also avoid problems down the road due to supply chain issues or product availability.) Working with a landscape company large enough to offer financing can be a practical solution to those ready to start living the dream in their own backyard.
If you are not currently a customer of Golden Wolf Landscape & Design LLC, we would love to add you to our growing family of customers. Our focus is on residential and commercial properties in New Jersey. Our goal is to provide the best experience and value for each and every one of our customers. Contact us at (908) 578-1179. You can also fill out a request form for a quote on our website under our “Contact Us” tab. We're looking forward to hearing from you!