ReportWire

Tag: hardscapes

  • Ask the Expert: Tom Eaglestone on How to Reuse Preexisting Materials in Your Garden – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    We’ve been noticing lately that a talent for stonework is more than an extra feather in the cap for garden designers. Wilder planting can stand or fall on the hard landscaping; crisp edges are one way of signifying that “here is a garden.”

    Ecological garden designer Tom Eaglestone, based in Bath, on the edge of the Cotswolds, is as stone-obsessed as he is plant-obsessed. The native stone there is glorious, but he uses other materials as well. It just depends on what he finds on site. “I’ve always tried to see what’s already in the garden and what we can find; that makes a lot of sense for me,” he explains. Crazy patchwork paving is one way of dealing with random shapes of stone: “It’s a funny thing—people think it looks complicated, or very hard, but when you work with what you’ve got, it’s so satisfying when exactly the right piece of stone fits into the jigsaw.”

    Below, we ask him our burning questions about how to be more sustainable in our approach to hardscaping.

    Photography courtesy of Eaglestone Gardens.

    How do you match your materials to your setting?

    Above: A Costswold home, through and through, from the ground up.

    Eaglestone is fortunate to live and work in southwest England, known for its honey-colored limestone. The buildings seem to rise out of the rock, and it follows that pathways, edgings, and walls would be made from the same materials. When gardeners import Cotswold stone to other parts of the country, it can look completely wrong. Stone should to come from a local quarry. Materials found on site, hidden under hedges, in flower beds, lying around here and there, lead the way.

    Above:  A water spout made from a boulder that was helped along. Tom loves to use stone that “just feels right.”

    “There is something deeply satisfying about taking characterful, trodden, marked, and weather-beaten stone—stone that must have been around a very long time—and repurposing into something new and cohesive and aesthetically pleasing,” says Tom. “It is very absorbing, tactile work.”

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • 10 Ways to Save Money on a New Patio – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    If you’re upgrading an existing landscape, you can reuse pavers from an old path or patio to create your new outdoor space.

    7. Build a patio in stages.

    Above: Photograph by Brett Wood, courtesy of Dirt Queen NYC, from Before & After: A Ditmas Park, Brooklyn, Backyard Reimagined.

    To save money on construction costs, build a patio in sections. If you need to have soil compacted to create a solid base for a patio, plan ahead by leveling the entire area. Then build the patio in stages, as your budget allows for expansion. In the meantime, you can cover the unused area with mulch.

    8. Mix and match materials.

    The concrete pad at the edge of the deck was existing when the homeowners bought the house. Photograph courtesy of Terremoto, from Before & After: From Desert to Redwood Forest, the Essence of California in One LA Garden.
    Above: The concrete pad at the edge of the deck was existing when the homeowners bought the house. Photograph courtesy of Terremoto, from Before & After: From Desert to Redwood Forest, the Essence of California in One LA Garden.

    “The first thing you do in a small garden project is to take inventory to do an analysis, so you can make decisions about the things that are existing and are good,” says landscape architect David Godshall of Terremoto, who elected to salvage an existing concrete patio as part of a garden rehab (shown above) in Los Angeles.

    Mixing materials—such as redwood decking and poured concrete—can add interest and texture to a patio (while saving money).

    9. Create a focal point with inexpensive furnishings.

    Ikea chairs flank a ceramic stool-turned-side table. Photograph by Matthew Williams.
    Above: Ikea chairs flank a ceramic stool-turned-side table. Photograph by Matthew Williams.

    Instead of expensive outdoor furniture, you can hang a hammock to create a focal point for the patio. Create a seating arrangement with flea market finds or outdoor furniture from Ikea—versatile pieces can do double duty indoors in the off season.

    1o. Define a patio’s perimeter with potted plants.

    Above: See more at Enchanted Garden: Whimsy and Wit at Palihouse in Santa Monica. Photograph by Bethany Nauert.

    Building a fence or wall around a patio is an expensive undertaking. A budget-friendly alternative to create privacy is to group together a few tall potted plants.

    See more ideas:

    N.B.: This post was first published January 2019; it has been updated with new photos, prices, and links.

    (Visited 3,735 times, 209 visits today)

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Ask the Expert: How to Invite More Good Bacteria Into Your Garden (And Your Gut) – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    Is your garden probiotic? In other words, is it teeming with beneficial microbes that vastly outnumber pathogens and keep you healthy? Looking at your landscape from this angle, suggests British ecological gardener and designer Sid Hill, can be an easy way to boost your gut health.

    Gardeners tend to have healthier microbiomes than non-gardeners, he says, since handling plants and soil and working outdoors increases our intake of the good guys, which easily enter our systems. Biodiversity in plants boosts the biodiversity of our gut flora. So, removing even just lowly moss or pulling little plants out of cracks reduces this access. Instead, as gardeners we need to make sure our landscapes invite more plant life, and one way to do this is by using materials that have bioreceptivity. It’s simpler than it sounds.

    Photography courtesy of Sid Hill.

    Above: Gardener Sid Hill demonstrates on his YouTube channel that even the ground can be full of beneficial microbes if allowed to support moss and other small plants.

    Sid is a gardener who also coaches other gardeners on how to make their spaces more effective in supporting biodiversity. His communication style is persuasive, seen to good effect on his YouTube channel and on Instagram. Growing up, Sid was home-schooled, traveling around Europe with his parents in a campervan. At age 15, he even set up his own gardening business. Sid’s style is thoughtful. He is not looking for instant fame.

    Recently, we asked Sid to tell us more about how something as passive as paving or a wall can support biodiversity.

    Why is it important to encourage plant life in overlooked places?

    Above: Sid Hill lives in Totnes, Devon, historically a part of the ancient rainforest around the western edges of the British Isles. It’s mossy and the trees are covered with lichen. “Use materials that naturally host life on their surfaces.”

    “Science is showing that our own biology is closely linked to the health and diversity of plants in the landscape. We are constantly exchanging microbes with the environments around us. When those environments are thriving with plant life, that microbial exchange helps to strengthen our personal microbiome. And diversity is key.”

    What materials in a garden are bioreceptive?

    Above: Sid made this paving using local slate and stone, and aged wood as seating. In a bucket of water, he broke up moss that he gathered nearby and applied it to the cracks, which soon became green.

    “Natural stone, weathered wood, and other organic materials are bioreceptive in the sense that they have the ability to host life. Surface texture is a huge factor in whether something supports life or not (the ingredients for this are shelter, water, and nutrients). That’s why cracks in paving are so successful: those crevices provide shelter from disturbance, hold moisture, and capture organic matter, which offers nutrition for mosses and other plants to establish.”

    How do you reduce the impact of paving?

    Above: To bind together pathways, Sid uses soilcrete. “It creates a semi-permeable surface which helps soften hard landscaping and bring life back into those built areas.”

    “I’m an experimental gardener, always testing ideas and playing with new theories. The idea behind ‘soilcrete’ is to create a mix of roughly 5:1 garden soil to cement instead of using sand. Sand extraction has a huge environmental footprint, although, of course, cement is even more impactful. It’s very easy to use, but natural builders I’ve spoken to have since suggested using lime instead of cement. I haven’t tested that yet, so for me it’s still open for experimentation.”

    How can we adjust or improve the hard landscaping we already have?

    Above: Resist the impulse to tidy every crack and crevice.

    “The key is to make plant growth look intentional. Allow moss to grow in a geometric pattern through paving cracks. Lift a few paving slabs and plant herbs or ornamental grasses in those gaps. Or you can sow wildflowers into the cracks so you end up with a patio that offers bursts of flowers through the season, rather than something that feels neglected or overgrown.”

    See also:

    (Visited 592 times, 592 visits today)

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Trend Alert: Beautiful Low-Impact Pathways – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    We all need to get from A to B, but paving—like a lawn—is best when it’s kept proportionate. Even better is a pathway that can aid water absorption, instead of an impermeable layer that puts pressure on drains during storms. And a path that uses locally-appropriate materials will add to a garden’s sense of place. Here are some ideas for ecologically seamless pathways, courtesy of designers and horticulturalists featured in our new book, Gardenista: The Low-Impact Garden.

    Photography by Caitlin Atkinson.

    Step lightly with level changes.

    Above: A garden in Mount Washington, Los Angeles, designed by Danielle VonLehe of Terremoto.

    At this Los Angeles property designed by Terremoto, risers in gravel, rather than an engineered flight of steps, minimize visual and environmental disruption. “These are six-by-six timbers that are green pressure treated, which is usually what we use,” says Dani VonLehe of design group Terremoto. “They are rebarred straight into the ground. The treads are graded soil with gravel on top.”

    Mix it up.

    Above: Three different gradients of pink aggregate were used by Terremoto in this Los Angeles garden.

    Creeping Ceanothus ‘Yankee Point’ wanders across three gradients of gravel. This detail provides a loose yet effective definition as the pathway bleeds out to rougher ground. Here, pink is mixed with some black. A mixture keeps it more lively; a color that doesn’t relate to its surroundings can be jarring

    Shop your property.

    Above: A garden in Knox County, Maine, designed by horticulturalist James McCain.

    In this Maine cottage garden, James McCain made paths that are just wide enough for necessary landscape management. James found some of the granite slabs on the property; they are “solid and timeless,” adding to this garden’s sense of place. Relaxed level changes make navigation easier on sloping ground, while generous steps like these act as small terraces, slowing storm water as it flows downhill.

    Make it mossy.

    Above: A woodland garden in St Helens, Oregon.

    Tamara Paulat (who blogs as Chickadee Gardens) cultivates a moss path on compacted ground that is tangled with tree roots. Observing how well moss grew in patches, Tamara began to consolidate it, first scraping, and sometimes bulking up soil. Moss requires an absence of leaves and weeds, which for Tamara is easily done with a few minutes each week on a battery-operated leaf blower (the only reason to use one).

    Choose ground cover over grout.

    Above: Detail from the parking area of a property in Pasadena, designed by Terremoto.

    A relaxed hardscaping mosaic of irregular pavers and gravel around the edges of a parking court is home to self-seeders that are easily thinned. Wild European thyme (Thymus serpyllum) thrives along hot rock edges, with daisy-like Erigeron karvinskianus, ambitious lamb’s ear (Stachys byzantina) and Gaura lindheimeri.

    Upcycle dead trees.

    Above: Edwina von Gal’s pathway made of sliced tree trunks, in East Hampton, New York.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Outdoor Showers: Our 20 Favorite Ideas for Bathing Outside

    [ad_1]

    Is there any greater luxury than bathing outdoors? You don’t need much more than a shower head and a modest enclosure (ideally one that offers a glimpse of the sea). We combed through the many outdoor showers we’ve come across over the years and selected the most memorable. Here’s our top 20: Martha’s Vineyard Charm […]

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • A Secret Garden—and Glass Extension—in London’s Tufnell Park – Gardenista

    A Secret Garden—and Glass Extension—in London’s Tufnell Park – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    We’ve long admired the work of New York architects Messana O’Rorke, so when we inquired about the glass-wall extension and surrounding landscaping of an impressive project in London’s Tufnell Park, we were led to the work of landscape designer Joanne Bernstein. The project is Bernstein’s own property and when she took it on, the garden was an abandoned mess. The 120-foot south-east-facing garden is shaded by the large London Plane trees in the grounds of flats behind as well as a group of established trees within the garden. The challenge was to create a natural progression from the sunlit section to the shaded section towards the rear of the property. Bernstein designed three garden “rooms”, each with a slightly different atmosphere and texture but unified by hardscaping material and a single sensibility towards planting.

    With a previous career as an art historian and curator, Bernstein holds an interest in modernism and strong geometry which continue to translate into her garden layouts along with a reduced palette of hardscaping materials. This is all balanced with “exuberant textured planting of both perennials and shrubs with a naturalistic, slightly wild, feel to soften the hard lines of the layout,” she describes. Join us for a walk through Bernstein’s garden.

    Photography by Joanne Bernstein, except where noted.

    Above: The garden walls are the original Victorian walls dating back to 1870s when the house was built. Says Bernstein: “The first three to four meters of the walls nearest the house are taller than in the rest of the garden to provide more privacy. The trellising adds more privacy and the climbing plants now cover the walls and trellising both.” The pavers throughout the garden are Sawn York stone from Stone Heritage in Derbyshire. Photograph by Sarah Cuttle for Joanne Bernstein.
    Messana O
    Above: Messana O’Rorke played a key role designing an extension to support the transformed landscape. They extended a wall with a transparent cube made a glass steel frame and flat roof. The dining area is set on a two-level platform that steps down to a small terrace with pavers leading to a second terrace, defined with transitional planting and then into the back-most, shaded section of the garden.
    The flat roof of the extension functions as a living roof.
    Above: The flat roof of the extension functions as a living roof.
    Here, two perpendicular glass panels create a seamless corner that slide open creating, as Bernstein explains
    Above: Here, two perpendicular glass panels create a seamless corner that slide open creating, as Bernstein explains “a direct and continuous relationship with the garden experienced inside the extension.”
    The grasses are Miscanthus sinensis
    Above: The grasses are Miscanthus sinensis “Hermann Müssel”. Yarrow planted here was Achillea “Mondpagode” but only lived a couple years due to the heavy clay soil. It’s since been replaced with Sanguisorba officinalis “Red Thunder.”

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • 10 Things Your Landscape Designer Wishes You Knew About Gravel (But Is Too Polite to Tell You) – Gardenista

    10 Things Your Landscape Designer Wishes You Knew About Gravel (But Is Too Polite to Tell You) – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    My clients are often in love with gravel, or at least with the idea of gravel. But as a landscape designer, I have a love-hate relationship with the paving material.

    The other day I visited a clients’ newly purchased house—and realized that the sellers had put pea gravel between the entry pavers to “dress it up.” Instead of neatly tucked between paving stones, the gravel was scattered everywhere, making for an uncomfortable walking experience. I thought: right material, wrong place.

    Here are 10 things I wish all my clients knew about gravel:

    1. Not all gravel is created equal.

    Above Beth Chatto
    Above Beth Chatto’s gravel garden in Elmstead, Essex. Photograph by Clare Coulson, from Expert Advice: 11 Tips for Gravel Garden Design.

    After you decide to add gravel to your landscape, the next question to ask yourself is: what kind? Each type of stone has its own distinct look and textural appeal, and its own purpose. Your selection will vary regionally, so I recommend the first step should be to visit a local stone quarry to see what is available.

    2. Get to know the three most common textures of gravel.

    Pea gravel in a courtyard. Photograph courtesy of Verne, from Steal This Look: An Artful Gravel Garden in Antwerp.
    Above: Pea gravel in a courtyard. Photograph courtesy of Verne, from Steal This Look: An Artful Gravel Garden in Antwerp.

    After you settle on a variety and color of stone, you will need to consider size and texture: decomposed granite, crushed stone, or pea gravel?

    In a nutshell: Decomposed granite (or DG, as it’s known) is a powdery granite that makes a fine texture of silt and little rocks. DG is a popular option for paths and patios. Usually yellow-gold and fading to tan in color and relatively affordable. Crushed stone is probably the closest to the typical idea of what a gravel driveway looks like. This material is also used for patios, retaining wall drainage, back fill, and grading. Pea gravel is tricky because its name has the word “gravel” in it, but some note that pea gravel is actually a small and smooth river rock.  See Hardscaping 101: River Rocks to learn more.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Landscaping on a Budget: 10 Ways I Saved Money on My Garden Remodel – Gardenista

    Landscaping on a Budget: 10 Ways I Saved Money on My Garden Remodel – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    All week, we’re republishing some of our favorite Garden Visits that have a personal connection to our writers. No public gardens here, no vast estates, no professionally designed landscapes—just the backyards, vegetable patches, and flower beds that remind our writers of home. This story by Gardenista founder Michelle Slatalla is from 2017.

    Whether it’s a new patio or a complete garden overhaul, any landscaping project can quickly outgrow its budget unless you plan ahead. I speak from experience.

    In the six years since I moved into my house on a small lot (0.15 acres in downtown Mill Valley, California), I’ve changed nearly every aspect of the outdoor space, from the backyard to the front garden. The upgrades included a new patio, garden beds, paths, a gate, and a privacy hedge. Every step of the way, there were decisions to make on where to splurge and where to save.

    As with most budgets, mine required more saving than splurging. Here are the top 10 ways I saved money on landscape design without cutting corners.

    Photography by Matthew Williams for Gardenista.

    1. Don’t toss; transform.

    My backyard gate is a repurposed vintage iron trellis, which we discovered leaning against the facade soon after we moved to the house and began to liberate the garden from years of overgrowth.
    Above: My backyard gate is a repurposed vintage iron trellis, which we discovered leaning against the facade soon after we moved to the house and began to liberate the garden from years of overgrowth.

    “Don’t toss; transform” is a lesson I learned from my friend Jean Victor, who wrote the chapter on Expert Advice: Garden Design in our Gardenista book: “Avoid the temptation to rip out and discard everything in your existing landscape,” Jean recommends. “Repurpose bricks from a planter for a new pathway; use old fence pickets to make a gate; dig up hardy perennials and move them to a new bed.”

    2. Embrace the slippery slope.

    Rather than trying to change the grade of my sloping front garden, I planted perennials and grasses that would accentuate the lay of the land.
    Above: Rather than trying to change the grade of my sloping front garden, I planted perennials and grasses that would accentuate the lay of the land.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Landscape Visit: The Ultimate Indoor-Outdoor House on 36 Acres in Coastal Maine – Gardenista

    Landscape Visit: The Ultimate Indoor-Outdoor House on 36 Acres in Coastal Maine – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    “There isn’t another site like this available anywhere near Portland, Maine,” said Russell Tyson of Whitten Architects, “and it’s the site that makes this house so unique.”

    He’s describing a jaw-dropping 36 acres perched along the oceanfront in Scarborough, Maine, the site of many native habitats—rocky coastline, woods, wetlands, and meadows included. Most of the land is in a conservation trust to preserve its natural character, but that didn’t deter the owners, a young couple with two children who wanted a weekend retreat that was “the antithesis of their high-rise life in New York City.” Two acres could be developed, so they removed an existing 1980s house that had “no sort of relationship to the landscape,” said Tyson, the project architect. In its stead, they designed a four-bedroom, mostly single-story house and detached car barn with guest quarters above.

    Whitten partnered with landscape architect Todd Richardson to create a strong connection between the house and landscape. They knew each other well and had collaborated before, so they designed the project’s indoor and outdoor elements in tandem. “Here, the exterior spaces were just as important as the interior ones,” said Tyson. Let’s take a look.

    Photography by Trent Bell except where noted, courtesy of Whitten Architects.

    Above: At the entryway, a Rockport granite boulder directs visitors from the parking court toward the front door just off to the right. A small apple orchard flanks the walkway.

    The site was once part of a farm, full of rolling meadows that drop down to the shore.

    Above: In the front garden are salvia and ornamental grasses mixed with lawn. “The walls extend outward from the house to throw the architecture out into the landscape,” said Richardson.

    The previous house had an asphalt parking lot prominently featured in front; in contrast, said the architect, “we wanted you to park your car and forget about it for the rest of the time you are here.”

    Above: Flanking a porch off the bedroom wing: A birch tree at far left hovers over highbush blueberries, northern bayberry, low huckleberry, lowbush blueberry sod, and hay-scented fern. The patch on the right side of the walkway also includes black chokeberry, rhodora, and cinnamon fern.

    The landscape architect chose native plants that thrive in this part of Maine.

    Above: Each bedroom has a porch to encourage residents and guests to head directly outdoors in the mornings.

    The house is framed in Douglas fir and stained in Cabot Nantucket White. The decking is water-resistant ipe wood, and the roof is standing seam metal in slate gray.

    Above: Bordered by full-height sliding glass doors, the living room links a courtyard in front of the house to a patio on the opposing side. The landscape architect planted pitch pine here, centered on the axis of a single large pitch pine hovering over the water’s edge—the only tree along the waterfront for about 1,500 feet, visible beyond the living room.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Wood Decks: Everything You Need to Know, Pros and Cons

    Wood Decks: Everything You Need to Know, Pros and Cons

    [ad_1]

    Would you like to add an extra 250 square feet of living space without spending tens of thousands of dollars? Read on to learn everything you need to know:

    Above: An indoor fireplace transitions into the exterior stone wall of a picturesque deck by mwworks. Photograph by Kevin Scott, courtesy of mwworks, from Outside In: A Multi-Generational Retreat on Whidbey Island Welcomes Nature Inside.

    What is the difference between a deck and a patio?

    A patio is built at ground level, on a level surface, and typically is constructed of a “permanent” material such as stone pavers, brick, or poured concrete. A deck floats above the ground, supported by footings, at a height of anywhere from a few inches to many feet and can be built on an existing slope.

    Typically, a patio is considered more of a permanent feature–and is more expensive to build. For instance, a 250-square-foot bluestone patio costs $3,797 to build (including materials) on average, more than twice as much as the $1,882 price tag to build a wood deck of the same size, according to Homewyse.

    A redwood deck in a garden designed by Talc Studio in San Francisco. Photograph by Jorden DeGaetano, courtesy of Talc Studio, from Landscape Design Visit: ‘Moving Art’ in a San Francisco Yard by Talc Studio.
    Above: A redwood deck in a garden designed by Talc Studio in San Francisco. Photograph by Jorden DeGaetano, courtesy of Talc Studio, from Landscape Design Visit: ‘Moving Art’ in a San Francisco Yard by Talc Studio.

    OK, a deck. How do I design a deck?

    Pros know: Start the design process by consulting a landscape architect or designer, who will help you come up with a design based on how you want to use a deck and the physical properties of your land (Does your yard slope? Is the ground marshy? Do you want to build around existing trees without causing them damage?). A professional also will know if you need a permit for a deck and whether local building codes require a railing.

    Attached vs. freestanding: You can build a freestanding deck on your property, but if you plan to use a deck as an extension to everyday living space, consider attaching it to the house for indoor-outdoor flow. Use string and stakes to lay out the design to make sure you like the size and shape.

    Photograph courtesy of Mason St. Peter. For more of this raised deck (including construction photos), see Outbuilding of the Week: A Bohemian Surf Shack in Topanga Canyon.
    Above: Photograph courtesy of Mason St. Peter. For more of this raised deck (including construction photos), see Outbuilding of the Week: A Bohemian Surf Shack in Topanga Canyon.

    Can I build my own deck?

    After you have a plan in hand, if you are extremely handy you may want to build your own deck. But keep in mind there is more to building a deck than sawing and nailing lumber planks. In a cold climate, you will need to dig piers below the frost line to support the deck and make sure it doesn’t heave in winter as the ground freezes and thaws. If you are not Bob Vila, you probably will be better off (and save money in the long run) by hiring a contractor or master carpenter.

    In Carmel Valley, California architects Sagan Piechota and contractors Stocker Allaire designed a multi-tiered batu wood deck. Photograph by Joe Fletcher courtesy of Sagan Piechota Architecture, from Design Trend: 15 Wooden Decks That Disappear Into the Landscape.
    Above: In Carmel Valley, California architects Sagan Piechota and contractors Stocker Allaire designed a multi-tiered batu wood deck. Photograph by Joe Fletcher courtesy of Sagan Piechota Architecture, from Design Trend: 15 Wooden Decks That Disappear Into the Landscape.

    Is wood the best material for a deck?

    Wood is our favorite choice for a deck because it’s a natural material that complements the surrounding landscape; left untreated, wood decks will fade to a soft silver color that plays a supporting role to the garden that surrounds it. Other than wood, the best choice for a deck is a composite material–made of a combination of wood and recycled plastic–which has its own pros and cons.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Brick Patios: The Pros and Cons of Choosing Brick for Outdoor Flooring

    Brick Patios: The Pros and Cons of Choosing Brick for Outdoor Flooring

    [ad_1]

    We learned this young: When the third little pig chose brick, he knew what he was doing. As a building material, brick has stood the test of time. It’s hardworking, aesthetically versatile, easily maintained, eco-friendly, and affordable. Although it’s sometimes considered a formal look for a patio, that depends on the type of bricks, the color, the pattern, and the application.

    Here’s everything you need to know to design a brick patio:

    What types of bricks are good for a patio?

    Above: Bricks are ubiquitous in the Netherlands. See 10 Garden Ideas to Steal from Amsterdam’s Canal Houses.

    Most bricks are composed of clay soil combined with lime and sand. Although red bricks are the most common, bricks come in many colors, including cream, grey, tan, buff, pink, brown, and black.

    The color varies according to several factors: the relative proportion of lime, the color of the sand, and the temperature and duration of the firing. One strong attribute is that brick color doesn’t fade with age or wear.

    If you’re looking for a weathered look and don’t want to wait years to get it, you can buy tumbled bricks. Used bricks are another option–try searching under “building materials” on Craigslist. But don’t buy unless you’re assured that any residual mortar has been cleaned off. Whatever you choose, make sure they’re bricks that will work well for a patio–they’re not too porous, for example, or prone to flaking in freezing temperatures. If in doubt, check with a stonemason or stoneyard worker.

    What are some patterns for laying a brick patio?

    A brick patio featuring a double basketweave pattern. Photograph by Gillian Steiner for Gardenista, from Pretty in Pink: An Artist’s Dry Garden in LA’s Topanga Canyon.
    Above: A brick patio featuring a double basketweave pattern. Photograph by Gillian Steiner for Gardenista, from Pretty in Pink: An Artist’s Dry Garden in LA’s Topanga Canyon.

    Your choice of pattern will be largely determined by how much space you have and how much money you want to invest. Here are the most common patterns, from the least expensive and labor-intensive to the most:

    • Running bond just means bricks laid in simple rows. Concentric squares or rectangles are variations on running bond; these are appealing if you have enough space to show them off. In smaller spaces, a concentric pattern can look busy.
    • Basketweave is a classic pattern that’s slightly more labor-intensive than running bond. It comes in many variations. To make the pattern work, you’ll need bricks that are twice as long as they are wide (plus any mortar joint). That also reduces the number of bricks that will need to be cut.
    • Herringbone is a timeless look that works well for both pathways and patios. A herringbone set at 45 degrees is somewhat more expensive because the bricks on the edges all need to be cut. Herringbone set at 90 degrees involves less cutting.
    Common brick patterns, courtesy of Rubio’s Masonry and Construction. For more information or an estimate, see Rubio’s.
    Above: Common brick patterns, courtesy of Rubio’s Masonry and Construction. For more information or an estimate, see Rubio’s.

    Should a brick patio be set in sand or mortar?

    Above: A stylish pairing of pea gravel and brick. Photograph by Laure Joliet, from Garden Visit: At Home with LA Artist Kelly Lamb.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Hardscaping 101: Solar Panels Pros and Cons – Gardenista

    Hardscaping 101: Solar Panels Pros and Cons – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    How much does a solar energy system cost?

    The cost of a photovoltaic system is an up-front investment; the exact amount depends on how much electricity you use and what percentage of that you would like your solar energy system to supply. The more electricity you require, the larger the system required (see chart below for a ballpark figure).

    Government-funded solar incentive programs vary from country to country and even from state to state. Some solar-incentive programs pay you back over time based on the energy you generate. Other solar incentives are one-time payments of rebates or credits. To find out the incentives in your area, consult Wholesale Solar’s Solar Incentives by State.

    The average cost of installing a solar system varies across the US, and some of the differential is due to these local, regional, and state incentives. But estimates show that solar energy systems create monthly savings across the board: According to EnergySage.com, the average savings from use of a solar system over 20 years can range from $7,000 to over $30,000 (but varies, depending on locale). For estimates based on your specific area, try Google’s Project Sunroof feature, which allows you to plug in your home address for personalized figures.

    Above: The photovoltaic panels in this building have been integrated into the standing-seam metal roof. Photograph via Fabral.

    How much can I expect to save on utility bills?

    The answer depends on what you currently pay for electricity and how much credit your utility company will give you for the amount of power you don’t use. This estimate can be determined by approximating how much power your solar system will provide compared to your current usage.

    Are solar panels ever good-looking?

    Don’t like the bulky look of solar panels? The next generation of solar products, Building-Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV), show great promise: photovoltaic cells are being incorporated into shingles, windows, siding, and other building materials, enabling structures in the future to have seamless solar solutions.

    Tesla’s latest solar roof is disguised as charming slate tiles; see Tesla Solar Roof: Is It Worth It? on Gardenista.Tesla’s latest solar roof is disguised as charming slate tiles; see Tesla Solar Roof: Is It Worth It? on Gardenista.
    Above: Tesla’s latest solar roof is disguised as charming slate tiles; see Tesla Solar Roof: Is It Worth It? on Gardenista.

    Solar Panels Recap:

    Pros:

    • Good for the environment
    • Reduced utility costs
    • Lessens our dependence on fossil fuels

    Cons:

    • Relatively high initial cost
    • The amount of savings is not straightforward
    • Not traditionally aesthetically pleasing

    Had firsthand experience with solar paneling? In the Comments section, fill us in on your finds.

    On Telegraph Hill, in San Francisco, a flat-roofed building by Feldman Architecture has solar panels mounted at an angle to catch the sun’s light. The optimum angle to mount a solar panel varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and geographical location. In an ideal world, solar panels would track the location of the sun minute by minute to optimize their harnessing capacity, but this is expensive and energy consuming. Instead, the panels remain stationery at an angle that is calculated to achieve optimum overall performance within the constraints.
    Above: On Telegraph Hill, in San Francisco, a flat-roofed building by Feldman Architecture has solar panels mounted at an angle to catch the sun’s light. The optimum angle to mount a solar panel varies throughout the year depending on the seasons and geographical location. In an ideal world, solar panels would track the location of the sun minute by minute to optimize their harnessing capacity, but this is expensive and energy consuming. Instead, the panels remain stationery at an angle that is calculated to achieve optimum overall performance within the constraints.

    For more on eco-friendly upgrades, see:

    N.B. This post is an update; the original story ran on Remodelista on July 3, 2014.

    (Visited 443 times, 1 visits today)

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Hardscaping 101: Natural Swimming Pools – Gardenista

    Hardscaping 101: Natural Swimming Pools – Gardenista

    [ad_1]

    Have you ever swam in a natural swimming pool? There’s no chlorine, no chemical taste or smell, nothing to sting your eyes. Recently architect Alan Barlis, who designed one for a client in New York’s Hudson Valley, described the experience like this: “Incredibly blissful. Once you swim in one of these things you feel like you’ve been so refreshed. It’s like being in a Brita for an hour. It’s like taking the best shower of your life.”

    It sounds as if we all should be swimming in natural pools, for our health and the environment’s. So why aren’t we? For one thing, natural swimming pools cost more to install (on average 10 percent more than conventional pools, says an industry spokesman). Perception is another problem, because some swimmers equate chlorine with cleanliness. Finally, a lack of uniform guidelines and rules in the US may make the idea of installing a natural swimming pool seem, well, murky.

    On the other hand: incredibly blissful. 

    So read on for everything you need to know to decide whether a natural swimming pool is for you.

    What is a natural swimming pool?

    In Switzerland near Lake Lucerne, a natural swimming pool supported by a retaining wall on a steep slope “appears to almost float weightlessly out over the valley,” the designers say. Photograph courtesy of Biotop.
    Above: In Switzerland near Lake Lucerne, a natural swimming pool supported by a retaining wall on a steep slope “appears to almost float weightlessly out over the valley,” the designers say. Photograph courtesy of Biotop.

    Think of a natural swimming pool as a chlorine-free zone. Instead of relying on chemicals to keep the water clean, natural pools have water gardens with plants that naturally filter and clean the water.

    Industry pioneer Biotop, headquartered in Europe, has installed more than 5,000 natural swimming pools worldwide during the past three decades. Other industry players include Ellicar (formerly Ensata) in the UK, and Bio Nova and Total Habitat in the US.

    How does a natural pool work?

    A natural pool at Plane Trees Lodge in Australia has a water depth of 6 1/2 feet. Photograph courtesy of Biotop.
    Above: A natural pool at Plane Trees Lodge in Australia has a water depth of 6 1/2 feet. Photograph courtesy of Biotop.

    [ad_2]

    Source link

  • Laughter Family Hardscapes: Asheville’s Fastest-Growing Outdoor Living Experts

    Laughter Family Hardscapes: Asheville’s Fastest-Growing Outdoor Living Experts

    [ad_1]

    Professional Outdoor Design and Hardscaping Services in Western NC. Known Locally As ‘Designers Who Build’

    Press Release
    –

    Mar 4, 2022


    ASHEVILLE, N.C., March 4, 2022 (Newswire.com)
    –
    Laughter Family Hardscapes is Asheville’s #1 fastest-growing hardscape company in the region. They provide premier outdoor living services in Western North Carolina. Their expert contractors are dedicated to providing the residents of Asheville, NC, and surrounding areas, with premium hardscaping and design services.

    The experts at Laughter Family Hardscapes are known in Buncombe County as “designers who build.” When using this company, rest assured that all outdoor projects will be completed by knowledgeable and experienced professionals that put the customer first every time. Whatever vision a person may have in mind for landscape design, their team of experts can make that vision a reality.

    They provide a wide variety of services, including hardscaping, masonry, landscape design, and softscaping. All of these services are designed to transform any ordinary outdoor space into a beautifully crafted landscape homeowners can be proud to call their own. 

    Laughter Family Hardscapes functions on several core values with the completion of each project. Honesty, integrity, and ethical business practices are at the center of their work. They use only eco-friendly products and materials to keep their carbon footprint small. Every outdoor project they complete is guaranteed to be sustainable for both the environment and for long-term maintenance.

    All projects completed by Laughter Family Hardscapes follow a meticulous process from beginning to end. Customers can expect excellent quality in every aspect of their business, from the initial consultation to project completion. They source their building materials from reputable suppliers as well to ensure they’re of the utmost quality.

    Any property owners in the greater Buncombe County, Henderson County, and the western North Carolina area looking to design/redesign an outdoor space, call Laughter Family Hardscapes today at (828) 708-9828 or visit their website at laughterfamilyhardscapes.com. 

    What is “Hardscaping” and how does “Outdoor Living” relate to it?

    The most straightforward definition of outdoor living is: “Expanding your lifestyle into your yard. It’s about taking elements of everyday life that can happen outdoors. Outdoor living means actively using your garden as a place where you spend time.” Hardscaping is a process that creates patios, walkways, sitting walls, retaining walls, water features, fire pits, lighting, grill surrounds, pergolas, and any other custom-built features for any outdoor living space. – (sourced from: www.designer-landscapes.com), (sourced from: www.takeayard.com) 

    Laughter Family Hardscapes is a local, family-owned business located in Asheville, NC, that believes in quality, trust, and integrity in every aspect of its operations. Their team of contractors has YEARS of experience building everything from stone patios, fire pits, and retaining walls, to topiary and floral installations.

    Contact

    Justin Laughter

    justin@laughterfamilyhardscapes.com

    (828) 708-9828

    Source: Laughter Family Hardscapes

    [ad_2]

    Source link