Enhancing your landscape is an important investment not only in your property value, but in your lifestyle. Adding a sense of permanence and elegance with masonry features will make your backyard the perfect reflection of your style.
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A Fresh Patio
A patio sees a lot of hard use: food and beverage spills, for example, require a masonry surface that can withstand the heaviest use and still maintain its good looks. Today, you have choices. You could choose natural paving stones such as bluestone, flagstone, sandstone, or limestone; or find an alternative in a concrete paver inspired by these and other materials.
Both natural stone and concrete pavers are available in a huge variety of colors, sizes, shapes, and textures to suit any design style, which makes the hub of outdoor living a beautiful focal point as well. Since they can be sealed, masonry patios are a low-maintenance and much more durable alternative to wood or composite decks.
Modern trends include the use of permeable pavers, which sit on top of a special base that allows surface water to seep through to the ground instead of puddling or running off. These pavers also come in a variety of styles, and will keep your patio drier and reduce slipping hazards.
Another trend favors large format pavers (or natural stone). Whether your patio is large or small, large pavers reduce visual clutter and expand the space visually. If you’re choosing natural stone, larger slab sizes showcase the individual characteristics of the material.
An Outdoor Kitchen Perfect for Your Lifestyle
No matter your cooking or entertaining style - whether you grill occasionally or love to prepare extravagant meals for family and friends - the right outdoor kitchen will make alfresco cooking and dining so much better. Narrow your appliance choices to the ones you will use most often, and then splurge on one special feature such as a wood-fired masonry pizza oven to create a cooking space you’ll love to spend time in.
A Soothing Water Feature
To drown out sounds of traffic, nothing is more effective and timeless than a masonry water feature. Whether you prefer the soft trickle of a tiered fountain, or the drama of a sheer descent waterfall, a fountain is a stunning addition to any backyard. A fountain can be any size or design. Add one to your front entry, too, to add a soothing welcome!
An Elegant Paver Driveway and Front Walkway
Add significant curb appeal with a paver driveway and front walkway. Whether you use a unified theme (the same paver for both the driveway and walkway) or use different materials for each element, you’ll get a lot of value for your money. Concrete pavers are much more durable and longer lasting than poured concrete or asphalt, and of course much better-looking. Pavers are available in dozens of colors, textures, finishes, and sizes, which means that your design choices are virtually endless.
Some pavers can be installed on a permeable base to keep your driveway and walkway drier and to ensure standing water seeps into the ground rather than running off into the landscaping.
An Alluring Fire Feature
A fire feature is one of the best investments you can make in your landscape. Whether it’s a fire pit, fire table, or outdoor fireplace, you’ll create an instant focal point, a feature that draws your friends and family to enjoy the outdoors, and significantly extends your ability to enjoy your outdoor spaces in the cooler months.
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