Starting a Hardscape Project
When people think of landscaping, they tend to picture lawn care, flowers, and shrubs. While these living elements are certainly a major part of landscaping, did you know that non-living elements, such as your patio or deck, are also considered ‘landscaping’?
Solid surfaces and structures are commonly referred to as hardscape, or hardscaping. This is one of the two major categories that make up landscaping, with the other being softscape. Both elements are important to incorporate into your overall landscape design, adding balance and visual interest.
Well-designed hardscape elements are a great way to make a statement in your yard, as well as create functional spaces for you to use and enjoy. Plus, hardscape additions are an investment that will add lasting value to your home.
If you’re considering any decorative or practical outdoor structure for your property, give our hardscape contractors at Greenway of Nashville a call. We’re exterior experts with more than ten years of experience constructing residential hardscapes for homeowners in Middle Tennessee.
Hardscaping projects can be a major undertaking but when you call Greenway of Nashville, we’ll do the work until your goals are met. Our team will sit down with you and discuss your ideas, preferences, and how you plan to use the structure, in order to draw up a design best-suited to your needs. From there, we’ll handle the rest. With our attention to detail and focus on customer satisfaction, hardscaping has never seemed easier.
Types of Hardscape Projects
‘Hardscape’ is a broad term because it encompasses any non-living surface or structure on your landscape. From walkways to fences to your driveway, every ‘hard’ design element you can imagine is considered hardscape. The possibilities are endless, which can make it difficult to narrow down your options and visualize what might fit best in your outdoor space.
For this reason, our hardscape contractors have explained some of the most common types of projects that can enhance your landscape:
Patios
Retaining Walls
Driveways
A brick or stone patio can act as another room of your house, extending your living space into an outdoor lounge area. If you love to entertain, a picturesque patio will be your best friend. From barbecues to cocktail hours, a patio is the perfect hardscape addition that will make your guests never want to leave. Our patio contractors in Nashville can help you choose the best material and construct the spacious patio of your dreams.
Driveways
Retaining Walls
Driveways
Many people think of their driveway as just a slab of pavement to park their car. However, your driveway is actually more important to the curb appeal of your home than you might realize. From asphalt to concrete pavers, we specialize in driveway installation and repairs. If your driveway is cracked or crumbling, our paving experts can construct a surface that will look appealing and last for many years.
Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls
Retaining Walls
Retaining walls can serve a number of functional purposes from stability to privacy. Whatever your practical needs may be, adding a retaining wall will also have a big aesthetic impact on your landscape. Quality material is important to ensure your wall doesn’t become a large eyesore on your property.
Walkways
Fire Pits
Retaining Walls
Walkways are one of the most aesthetically pleasing and inviting hardscape elements that you can add to your property. Incorporating a beautiful, hard-surface path will provide a sense of direction to your landscape, breaking up grassy areas and other softscape elements on the way to your front door or backyard.
There are many different materials you can choose from for a walkway. Our hardscape contractors can help you select the option that will complement your home.
Fences
Fire Pits
Fire Pits
A fence is commonly used to provide homeowners with a sense of privacy and security but it can also serve aesthetic purposes. Whether you prefer wood planks, metal, or a rod iron design, there are countless options to ensure your fence marks the perimeter of your property in style.
If you would like more privacy or a closed area for your dog or kids to play, our fence contractors can install a sturdy design that doesn’t take away from the beauty of your landscape.
Fire Pits
Fire Pits
Fire Pits
A well-designed and constructed fire pit can add a sense of luxury and comfort to your landscape. Imagine a cozy night by the fire or roasting marshmallows with your kids at a beautiful stone fire pit. Our exterior professionals will make your fire pit your favorite place to relax when you’re at home.
Hardscape Installation
Now that you have an understanding of the wide scope of hardscaping and the types of projects you can do, let’s talk about the installation process. Constructing hardscapes is hard work and the labor can be overwhelming, especially in the hot summer months. What’s more overwhelming is some projects require heavy, specialized equipment.
For this reason, it’s in your best interest to enlist the skills and knowledge of professional hardscape contractors. At Greenway of Nashville, we work with some of the most skilled and qualified tradesmen in the area. We know how to manipulate difficult materials, like stone, brick, and concrete, and turn them into strong, yet beautiful structures.
More importantly, our team is backed by a strong reputation and years of experience. When installing hardscapes, it’s absolutely vital to know what you’re doing. Hiring an inexperienced contractor or attempting to “DIY” difficult projects, like walkway construction or pouring a concrete driveway, is not worth the risk. If hardscapes are not installed properly, it can lead to serious damage and expensive repairs later down the road.
When it comes to hardscape installation, you need someone you can trust to do the heavy lifting. Our exterior professionals at Greenway of Nashville handle both hardscape and softscape installation. We use only the best construction techniques to deliver results that will last.
How to Budget for a Hardscape Project
Depending on the type of work you’d like to do, hardscape projects can get expensive if you don’t budget appropriately. At Greenway of Nashville, your budget is important to us, and will be a top priority throughout the entire design and installation process. Our team will meet with you to determine the scope of your project and provide you with a 100% guaranteed quote for the scoped services. You will never have to worry about a inexperienced hardscape contractors adding unnecessary costs to your project again. We always strive to have honest conversations about cost with our clients. Here are a few tips to help you budget for your next hardscape project:
Hire a Professional
While there are many home improvement projects that can easily be done yourself, hardscaping is not the time to experiment or play the guessing game. There are many complex factors that must be considered in the design stage and executed properly during the installation process.
For example, drainage systems are incredibly important in a number of hardscape projects. However, it’s underground, so many homeowners and inexperienced contractors either underestimate its importance or attempt to cut corners. This can lead to serious damage and expensive repairs.
Therefore, one of the best ways to prevent costly mistakes and save money in the long run is to hire hardscape contractors who will get it right the first time. A professional will create a detailed plan based on your preferences, goals, and, most importantly, your budget. Having a detailed plan in place helps you see a clear picture of the steps it will take to achieve your vision and how much each of those steps will cost.
Prioritize Your Needs & Goals
During the planning stages, it’s important to consider which features are going to have the highest value. What will be used frequently or bring you the most enjoyment? Answering these questions will help you pinpoint the hardscape elements that are most important to you, so you can avoid splurging on those that aren’t.
Be Upfront About Costs
Another important tip to budgeting for hardscape projects is to be upfront about cost from the beginning. Before we start work on your landscape, our leaders are happy to sit down with you and discuss the best materials and designs to fit within your budget.