Pathways give you a way to move through your landscape without damaging it. They also keep your feet clean, even during muddy, wet days. There are several different ways to create pathways to complement your landscape. Here are some of them.
Use big stepping stones
Stepping Stones
Stepping stones are a common and economical way to build a pathway. It is important to make them close enough and big enough to easily use them. Flagstones or large pavers make nice stepping stones. To ensure the stones make an easy and walkable path, we say, “Go big or go home.” Tiny stones mean you must tiptoe through the tulips. Stepping stones are an economical way to move people through your landscape. One issue you can find with stepping stones is that grass, mulch, or obstacles can get on and between the stones. They can be harder to navigate for the elderly and those using wheelchairs or walkers.
Gravel Paths
Gravel paths are another simple way of making a path through your garden. They are also economical and are environmentally friendly. Water can soak through the gravel into the soil. Most pathway gravel is recycled from other quarry activities, too. However, gravel paths can be difficult to roll strollers or wheelchairs on. The gravel tends to get into nearby beds and lawn along the path, and weeds can grow through the gravel. You also may need to add gravel every few years.
Concrete paths
Concrete is low maintenance and easy to keep clean. That makes it great for entryways or sidewalks. It is easier for strollers and wheelchairs to navigate than steppingstones or gravel paths. You can color and stamp your concrete, so it matches your house. Concrete can also be poured and fashioned with nice, crisp lines. Properly installed concrete paths can last a long time and weather most storms. Over time, the soil moves, and the concrete expands with hot temperatures, so it may crack. Rebar must be used to make the concrete strong. Before the concrete is poured, a wooden form must be made. For the best results, concrete should be installed by professionals who have the proper tools and training.
Paver paths look good in front of the house
Paver Paths
If stepping stones are not your style, try a solid paver path. These paths give a simple sidewalk or path some flair. They are nice going up to the front door. They also make a nice path from the front walk to a pool in the back, so people do not have to come through the house. Pavers come in a variety of sizes and styles and can be used to blend in with the architecture or to contrast to it. A paver path is easier to roll your cooler into the backyard than steppingstones or gravel. Pavers can be laid in amazing patterns and have more personality than plain concrete. You can replace a single paver if it heaves or cracks. However, laying the path and keeping the pavers level is harder than it looks. You may also have to touch up the sand between the pavers every few years.
A classy way to cross over water
Bridges & Ramps
Does your pathway cross a drainage swale, creek bed, or water feature on the property? You need a bridge. You have many choices for the building material: wood, composite, PVC, stone, tile, or pavers. We can make the bridge really shine, whatever material and bridge style you choose.
Ramps make areas more accessible. They can be used in the place of stairs or right beside them. We can make the ramp an integral part of your paver pathway so the elderly or disabled friends can reach the whole landscape.
One thing all these paths have in common is that the land must be prepared before you can lay them. That means the sod is removed, gravel or sand put down, then the path material can be laid. This is a lot of work, and it needs to be done right the first time to have good pathways that stay level and useful. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping has the tools, experience, and crew to do this right. Our team can design the perfect path, complete with bridges, ramps, and other important features. Contact Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today and schedule a consultation with our professionals on what path option is best for you.
Hardscape is a design term that means the inanimate parts of the landscape. Softscape means the living parts of the landscape. Generally, the hardscape is installed before the softscape, so it doesn’t damage any of the plants going in. We will usually install at least one, but possibly all, of the following components.
Patios
Decks
Fire Features
Pergolas and Roof Structures
Patios
The patio is a paved outdoor area adjoining the house. It can be made out of natural or man-made materials. We use three different types of material to make a patio. Each has advantages and disadvantages.
Concrete
Concrete is easy to work with and is the cheapest material we install. However, as the soil freezes and thaws, it can move under the concrete. This can cause it to crack. Also, if there are pipes or wires under the concrete that need repair, you will have to hammer out the concrete for access to them. This can quickly get expensive.
Pavers
These are our most popular patio material. Approximately 80% of the patios we install are made of some sort of paver. Pavers are individual concrete pieces that are laid in a pattern to form a patio. They come in all shapes and sizes. Our favorite paver manufacturers are Belgard and Unilock brands for their quality and range of products available. Pavers are more expensive then concrete but are much more durable. They are a flexible pavement, which means they can move with soils instead of cracking. They can be dug up to get to pipes or wires below them and then reinstalled, instead of being destroyed as they are removed.
Natural Stone
This is the best choice as stone will weather the best. They can be in shapes, irregular pieces, or as squares or rectangles, depending on the formality of the landscape. They never go out of style as they are from the earth. We lay them in a mortar bed on a concrete base or dry lay on an aggregate base. We use polymeric joint sand to fill the gaps between them when laid on aggregate. Natural stone is more expensive than the other two materials but will last a lifetime.
Decks
A deck is an elevated structure adjacent to the home. They are often built so that you can enjoy a view, such as by a lake or creek. There are several different materials you can chose for your deck.
Wood
Wood decks are probably the most common. You can use pressure treated wood to repel insects that might eat the wood, such as carpenter ants or termites. A more organic solution is cedar wood, which naturally repels insects and is also resistant to rotting. Wood is normally the cheapest material to build a deck with, but lumber is in short supply right now and is quite expensive. This can add to the price of a deck, so quotes may need to be adjusted based on the current price of lumber. Decks do require periodic sanding and re-staining as the sun makes the stain fade. Or you can let the wood age naturally for more of a grey tree bark look overtime.
Composite material This is a blend of wood fiber and PVC. It looks like wood but is much more durable. It does not need to be sanded or stained as the color is added when the product is manufactured. Composite boards come in many different colors. You will need to sweep debris such as leaves off it regularly and hose it off periodically. Composite material is more expensive than wood and cannot quite match the warm glow of natural wood.
PVC boards These boards look like wood but are all PVC. PVC boards are strong, durable, and low maintenance. They are more expensive than wood or composite material and do shrink and swell during temperature fluctuations.
Alternatives
Decks don’t have to be constructed with wood or wood lookalikes. We can use a steel frame and put pavers, stone, or tile down instead of wood. These types of decks are long lasting and the lowest maintenance of the choices we install. Since they are unusual, they are great conversation pieces, as well.
Fire Features
Fire features usually go on top of patios and decks. They add to the enjoyment of evenings outside. Fire features can use natural gas, liquid propane, or wood. We install several types of fire features.
Fire pits
These are structures that contain fire in a bowl or pit inside the structure. They are great for sitting around on a cool evening or making marshmallows. They are an inexpensive way to add fire to your outdoor space.
Fireplaces
We can build a gas fired or wood burning fireplace in your outdoor living space. These look like the traditional fireplaces inside a home, but do not have the size constraints home fireplaces do. They add a warmth and depth to your outdoor space. We can even put a spit in the fireplace so you can roast your food over it.
Fire Tables
These tables have a fire inset that burns while you eat. It can be used as a flame to prepare a meal or just to enjoy one by. The tables are usually resin, metal, or stone and use natural gas or liquid propane as a fuel. They can include a glass wind guard, so the flames are not blown out by a breeze.
Outdoor kitchens and pizza ovens
Southern homes used to have summer kitchens outside that had a roof and were enclosed by screen. This meant the house was not heated up by the stove and ovens when it was already hot. It also gave the cooks some relief from the heat. We don’t have to worry about that now but having an outdoor kitchen and/or pizza oven can make preparing for a crowd easier without the cook having to miss the party. Pizza cooked over an open flame just tastes better than one cooked in a conventional oven.
Pergolas and Roof Structures
Pergolas are structures, usually made out of wood, that cast shade so you can enjoy the outdoors without the heat of the direct sun. They must be designed and oriented for your lot to cast shade when and where needed. Often people grow vines or vining roses up and over the pergolas for a stylish look and added shade. There are several styles available to choose from.
If you want shade and protection from rain, we can install a roofed structure. Often called pavilions, the roof allows for additional amenities such as fans, lights, and heaters. Pavilions can be screened in to protect from insects while allowing cooling breezes to flow through the space.
Hardscapes provide elements to improve your outdoor living space. Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping can design and install any of these components for you. We can advise you on what the best hardscapes are to facilitate your goals for your outdoor living space and show you what that would look like. Book a consultation with Royal Creations Architectural Landscaping today to get started.
