As you look out at your outdoor living space, you probably don’t’ distinguish between the aspects that are alive and those which aren’t. But, essentially, when you look at your landscaping and then your hardscaping, that’s what you’re doing. In effect, landscaping refers to those elements that are living. Your landscaping encompasses your trees, shrubs, flowers, and plants.
On the other hand, your hardscapes are those things that aren’t alive. They are the large, constructed projects that are typically connected to or associated with your home. Hardscapes include those things that are intended to give support to other structures such as your patio that may need to support your hot tub.
Even your driveway that supports your vehicles is considered a hardscape. It fits the bill, right? It’s somewhat attached to your home and support other things. This means that hardscapes are essential to a complete outdoor living space and it is vital that they are constructed with the highest possible quality of materials and expertise.
But how do homeowners – who typically are not a hardscape professional – know what technical information is vital in order to ensure the new hardscaping they’re installing will be constructed with the highest amount of professionalism, quality, and expertise?
Getting the following information – in advance – from the licensed contractor you are planning to hire, will help assure the quality and integrity of your next hardscape project.
Find out what base material will be used and its compaction process. A granular stone base should be the basic consistency of the base material to be used. This means that pea stone and slag sand do not meet the standards of acceptability. The base layer should be compacted while under construction which ideally is after every two to three inches of the base is installed.
Inquire about the quantity of base material that will be used. There is a range of base depths that goes from 4 inches to 12 inches based upon the traffic volume of the area and conditions of the soil.
Ask how the preparation for the sub-base and excavation is conducted. Ask if Geotextile fabric will be used and if so, where it will be used. In the case of a typical hardscape, the excavation should ensure that the hardscape is built on soil that is undisturbed. Regarding sub-soils, what is called Geotextile fabric segregates the base materials. The sub-soils also have to be compacted.
When it comes to edge restraint, find out what material will be used. There are generally two choices – concrete or plastic, if you ask your contractor this question and the reply is concrete, you’ve been given an unacceptable answer. Concrete cracks – especially in four-season climates. It is widely recommended to use vinyl edge restraint and – in four-season climate – steel spikes are also widely recommended.
In addition, you’ll want to know the kind of jointing sand that will be used. When you ask this, you’ll want to hear Polymeric (acrylic) or standard angular jointing sand.
Schedule a Free Hardscape Quote Today!
Give JJW Brick a call today to learn more about hardscape design at 1-800-BRICK-PAVERS. We can answer any questions that you may have and can discuss options that interest you regarding hardscape.
