When choosing a material for a hardscape for your yard, you want one that will be durable and beautiful. It should match the style of your home while being easy to work with as a b
Benefits of Pavers in Your Yard
Pavers are the same thickness, so they’re easy to lay down as a patio or walkway. You can use gravel or sand without mortar, and the pavers will stay in place. Pavers can be manufactured to appear as your favorite brick or natural stone.
Paver Disadvantages
While they’re easy to set in the ground, many installers do not use the best procedures as established by the local industry professional associations. Make sure the contractor you utilizes has professional certifications.
Concrete for Your Hardscape
This is an incredibly durable surface. It can be poured into any area of the yard to create a hard surface. Concrete can be stained beautiful colors and stamped or scored to change the bland look of the concrete. It’s less expensive than other options for your hardscape too.
Disadvantages of Concrete in the Yard
Unfortunately, while the concrete is a durable surface initially, it can crack over time. This is especially true if the area sees frequent freezing and thawing. The stain can wear off in high traffic areas too.
Natural Stone is the Most Durable
When it comes to natural stone, you’re getting the most durable surface for your hardscape. It comes in a variety of colors as well as textures. There’s slate, flagstone, limestone, travertine and bluestone as your choices for a backyard hardscape. The type of stone you choose will depend on the style and color you want. Some stones are more irregular, which means they’ll have to be set further apart, but they’ll look more organic.
Working with Natural Stone Hardscape
One of the biggest disadvantages is cost, but overall, you won’t have any issues with durability in the future. Other hardscape choices will require maintenance and possible replacement in the future, which makes them initially cheaper in the beginning, but more expensive in the long run. The stone has to be quarried and transported to the site. The uneven surfaces of the stone can make them a bit more difficult to install too.
Initially, you might make the choice to have a cheaper material like concrete in your yard because it is a durable material. Over time though, concrete and pavers can have issues that a durable natural stone won’t have. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of the material you choose for your hardscape. For a durable material, you really can’t beat natural stone in your backyard.
