Hardscape Maintenance – Paver Care Keeps Outdoor Living Space Vital

Mature trees are wonderful for cooling your outdoor living space but they demand a commitment to hardscape maintenance when their leaves fall.

Even something as rugged as brick pavers doesn’t stay looking like new without attention to a few basic hardscape maintenance requirements. In Madison WI and the surrounding area, where everyone’s outdoor living space is subject to the whim of the weather, basic paver care keeps patios, walkways, driveways and structures looking like new for decades.

What’s to be considered routine maintenance should be a part of your original hardscape/landscape planning  process. Some designs require a lot more upkeep than others. What you hope to get out of your finished hardscape is a key to how much you can expect to put into it.

Hardscape Maintenance Equals ROI

What do you get back from time and money invested in paver care and hardscape  maintenance?

Consider:

• You retain the curb appeal of the original installation

• You maintain the property value

• You maintain or enhance the overall appearance of your property

• Your efforts make it possible for your outdoor living space to last longer

Don’t Underestimate Paver Care

A simple, basic paver patio adds to the curb appeal of new home and requires very little in paver care or maintenance – but offers room to grow.

As you create your list of wants, needs and “must have” elements for a new backyard, there are two concerns that must be addressed first:  Budget and future HardscapeMaintenance. Each of these can make or break your vision.

Budget deserves to be at the top of the priorities list. Knowing what you can spend dictates all the remaining steps. Working with a professional with years of experience in hardscape design is a wise investment. A seasoned pro knows the ins and outs of getting the most from every budget. And, a design pro can create unique, stylish outdoor living spaces even in confined, small years. There’s big potential for entertaining in small spaces with the right planning and vision.

Hardscape Maintenance requirements are often overlooked as a hardscape design first moves from a vision to details on paper. Homeowners don’t usually have the experience to relate to what it will take to keep their hoped for creation looking like new. Maintenance demands will include:

• Labor – somebody’s going to do it

• Time – weeding flower beds, planting, replanting, pruning, mowing, sweeping, etc.

• Money – even if you don’t pay a professional crew, there are tools and materials required on a seasonal, annual basis

Routine Maintenance and Repairs

There are some tasks that will be done more regularly than others – like sweeping or blowing fallen leaves or grass clippings. Others are seasonal and some are related to more unexpected activities. Consider these common hardscape maintenance and paver care actions:

• Structural repairs – pavers can be cracked or maybe dislodged by the freeze/thaw cycle or a wayward lawnmower

• Edge repairs/replacement – maintaining a solid edge around all hardscape installations and these can be damaged or warn

• Replacing joint sand and base layers – over time, these materials filter out of the area and need to be built up

• Cleaning – pressure washing and scrubbing are regularly on the agenda as routine paver care, especially in high-traffic areas or in shaded areas where mold or moss can build up.

• Sealing – periodic sealing with an appropriate commercial-grade sealant keeps pavers looking new and holding their color.

More Complex Installation Require More Hardscape Maintenance

The soothing sounds of moving water add to the relaxing nature of an outdoor space – but pool, ponds and water features also add to the level of everyday maintenance.

Not all outdoor living spaces require the same level of hardscape maintenance – and since you already have a backyard, you’re dealing with some of the demands right now. Here are examples of various maintenance levels to consider:

Higher Maintenance Designs — A landscape/hardscape design that includes extensive plantings, flower beds, raised planters, water features, outdoor lighting, outdoor buildings (gazebos, pergolas, etc.) and large seating areas with furnishings require more attention. Combined with traditional lawns getting to and from the areas to be trimmed, etc. can also be a problem. These large, complex designs very often include walkways for access and a variety of shapes and contours. Each element may include different building blocks, each with its own paver care needs.

Average Maintenance Designs — Any area with fewer planting  beds, fewer trees to drop leaves and fewer areas to keep clean – water features, etc. – require less maintenance. In most cases, the more complex the design, the more it takes to keep every element at its best. But don’t be fooled, all backyard living spaces require hardscape maintenance to stay vital.

Low Maintenance Designs — A backyard with limited plantings, few trees and few outdoor furnishings provides the least demanding maintenance (unless you count mowing the large lawn space). This kind of landscape is what you’re likely to find in a newer home where homeowners haven’t been there long enough to develop their vision of an inviting yard. While today’s hardscape maintenance is limited and light, that future vision can easily change that.

In most cases, the level of maintenance becomes a tradeoff for an increased level of style and satisfaction when it comes to creating a hardscape design that enhances the overall outdoor living space.

Professionals to Create What’s Right For You

To expand your outdoor living space or get started on a backyard makeover, Call Proscapes LLC today to get creative with a hardscape design and landscape plan. You can evaluate your hardscape maintenance options and benefit from years of experience and dependable professional landscaping services. Proscapes LLC creates outdoor living space in Madison WI and throughout south central Wisconsin.

Contact us at (608) 244-6464 or email us for insights into how adding outdoor living space will expand your paver care and hardscape maintenance commitment in Madison WI.