The beautification of outdoor spaces needs a soft approach and a hard approach. A soft approach in the sense of a symbiosis with nature and hard in the sense of an intrusion into natural spaces by adding man-made structures for people to use. Hardscaping is a hard approach to enhance the design of your outdoor space, and it refers to any solid structure in a landscaping design that is not made up of plant life but of inanimate objects such as wood, gravel, brick, and stone. Some examples of features made through hardscaping include driveways, walkways, patios, and courts. While softscaping involves using organic materials like shrubs and flower beds and manipulating the natural environment to great standards, landscaping generally can only be completed with hardscaping. Here are some benefits of hardscaping you might like to peruse.
Curb Appeal
The visual appeal of a curb is hard to compete with softscaping, and it elevates your curb appeal to another level. It would be best if you had the presence of man-made walkways and driveways for added functionality. After all, curb appeal is not just about the visual aspects but also functionality. In other words, it must be a place people can quickly move around and appreciate without a hassle.
Increased Accessibility
As was mentioned above, landscaping is not just about aesthetics but also about functionality, and the function of your outdoor space has to be met. To meet this function, your landscaping design must accommodate accessibility by using hardscaping features like walkways and driveways, allowing you to easily access and tour your outdoor space.
Little Maintenance Needed
One of the most well-acknowledged benefits of hardscaping over softscaping is the required level and cost of maintenance. For proper softscaping, the growth of shrubs, flower beds, and grasses has to be adequately monitored and controlled to avoid a situation where you begin to see overgrowth or brown patch vegetation. Whereas in the case of hardscaping, once installed, the slabs, stones, and pavers require little to no maintenance.
Erosion Management
Hardscaping is a way for homeowners to improve water drainage and reduce soil erosion. This is all part of a proper landscape design, and some hardscape features, such as retaining walls and stone pathways, help direct the water flow, especially after a heavy downpour. These features redirect water away from buildings and the soil, reducing the risk of erosion or waterlogging and allowing the soil to retain its health.
Improved Safety
The presence of nature in the form of well-structured shrubs, beautiful flower beds, and well-cut grass can be endearing and welcoming. Still, the truth is that a yard filled with grass and bare soil can be dangerous, especially when you have an important and boisterous activity being held there. Hardscaping can be used to remove these dangers and maintain safety. In this case, adding patios, decks, and outdoor kitchens reduces the risk of furniture sinking into the ground or kids getting in touch with allergens.
Improved Lighting and Warmth
Hardscaping provides an opportunity to add structures that provide stable ground for things like outdoor lamp posts and other features. The reflection of the light over the surfaces of pathways and walkways allows the light to reach places it wouldn’t usually reach, allowing you to see in the dark. These man-made structures from hardscaping are also good at retaining heat, and the addition of outdoor fire pits allows you to have a summer-filled winter.
Contact DeLuca Masonry Construction to Upgrade Your Outdoor Space
Your outdoor space deserves the best attention, and DeLuca Masonry Construction is the best bet. Contact DeLuca Masonry if you are a resident of the Greater Boston Area or located on the North Shore to get the best hardscaping your money can buy. Call our team today at 781-269-9709!