Signs That Your Yard Needs A Retaining Wall

by admin | Jan 19, 2018 | Blog

What Is A Retaining Wall?

A retaining wall allows for additional support to stop the earth from moving downhill with erosion. Retaining walls are often found anywhere that needs extra protection from natural weather occurrences. Most commonly, they can be found in areas that allow for protection from water seeping into gardens or nicer areas in your yard.

How Do I Know If I Need One?

You might need a retaining wall if you’re experiencing any downhill erosion in your yard, or excess water runoff.

If your home is on a sliding hill vs. a flat surface, a retaining wall might also be a good idea.

If you are remodeling your backyard, it might be time to look into this feature as an upgrade.

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A RETAINING WALL?

New Land To Use

Retaining walls can create a terrace to use on a land slope. Landscaping becomes much easier with a level area in your lawn, which this wall surface can provide.

Manage Water Runoff

Retaining walls help manage the flow of excess rain.

Extra Seats For Friends And Family

Depending on the location in your yard, this might be your new favorite spot to pop up on and enjoy the greenery of your garden or view from your yard.

What Can I Do If I’m Interested In A Retaining Wall?

Contact our team of professionals to give you an estimate and discuss what remodel inclusion of a retaining wall can do for your yard. We can find the best fit to optimize your yard and keep natural erosion and rainwater from impacting your plants or greenery.

Retaining walls can come in a variety of shapes and materials including timber walls, interlocking blocks, poured concrete, or natural stone.

Give Outdoor Hardscapes a call today at (251) 214-9166! We will help your hardscape dream ideas come to life. We have the experience and know-how to create amazing outdoor spaces and we will take your outdoor living to the next level. Visit our website at www.outdoorhardscapesgroup.com or email chaves716@gmail.com.

Hot Tub Health Benefits

by admin | Jan 5, 2018 | Blog

Do you own a hot tub or spa? If so, you’re in luck – if not, you may want to consider the investment as we transition into the new year for health.

Health? Yes! You may be surprised to know that a relaxing evening in the hot tub or a quick ten-minute dip can actually provide you with a multitude of health benefits.

What types of health benefits can you look forward to from spending time in a hot tub?

Improved Sleep

Try a late night dip, without your electronics (blue light from phones, iPads and more can keep you awake) – just like a relaxing bath, the warm water can soothe the body and prepare it for sleep. Cold bodies tend to be disrupted throughout the sleeping cycle, while warm ones fall asleep quicker and stay asleep.

Relaxed Muscles

The bubbles in your hot tub aren’t just fun for kids to play with – the hydrotherapy actually relaxes muscles and relieves pressure from your nerves. Through the hydrotherapeutic cycle in a hot tub (powerful jets) you can relieve stress and feel more relaxed like after a massage.

Find Your Glow

Not only do the jets help with muscle recovery and relaxation, but hot tub hydrotherapeutic jet circulation enhances blood flow in the body as well. Spending time relaxing will also improve your circulation, therefore digestion and skin tone.

Release Anxiety

Warm water, cozy snuggles.. No phone or email to distract you – ah, temporarily relaxed! However, studies show that the combination of relaxing hot water, jets and feeling supported by the water reduce mental and physical stress resulting in less anxiety.

Help with Blood Sugar

The New England Journal of Medicine states that people with type 2 diabetes who spent 30 minutes in a hot tub for 6 days a week, over three weeks saw a drop in blood glucose levels by almost 30 mg. Common hypothesis around this has to do with the similarity between hot tub soaking and exercise.

Now, who is ready for a nice evening dip?

TIPS FOR PLANNING THE PERFECT OUTDOOR KITCHEN

by admin | Dec 14, 2017 | Blog

If you turn on any home and garden TV channel, it won’t be long before you hear the term “bring the outside in.” We spend so much time and energy making the insides of our home feel like an extension of nature when all we really want to do is be back in said nature. It’s the instinctual desire that had led to the popularity of outdoor living spaces. We yearn to spend as much time surrounded by the fresh air and vegetation as possible. Eventually, we must eat, thus was born the outdoor kitchen. This “room” is a throwback to how food was prepared centuries ago while marrying the old ways with modern conveniences. It takes a lot more than just the swipe of the screen seen on those renovation shows though. It takes foresight and Outdoor Hardscapes is here to help with that by letting you in on these tips for planning the perfect outdoor kitchen.

Provide Proper Food Storage and Prep

If you’re going to truly give yourself an outdoor kitchen then don’t limit yourself to just a grill. Bring the entire kit and caboodle to nature. While you don’t need a sub-zero industrial refrigerator, a mini-fridge can be helpful to store wine or condiments while the rest is being cooked. And just like inside, you want to give yourself plenty of room to prep whatever food is required. The space can be used to prepare everything from cheese and crackers to hamburgers. When laying out your outdoor space, remember to plan for what you’ll need to include this. Electricity and/or gas needed for the cooktop, fridge will need to be close to the house or nearest power pole and gas tank. By planning ahead to run electricity and gas to your kitchen, you’ll be able to incorporate a lot of the following elements as well.

Protection from Weather

Being in nature means you have to prepare for actually being in nature. You don’t want to shut down the party because a summer shower pops up or it gets a little cold in the fall. Think about the environment in which you live and then plan accordingly. This could mean mosquito netting around the sides, a rain top, or a propane heater…or all of the above! The key is to work with the weather that can be expected with being outside instead of fighting against it.

Find Good Landscape and Views

Part of the beauty of having an outdoor kitchen is being able to enjoy all the natural wonder. But, just like the weather, you need to work with it, not against. If you’re going to build a deck in the mountains, find a plateau large enough for your plans. Build up off the shifty sand on the beach. In the city, head to the roof for more square footage. Find a good landscape to support your space. And definitely make sure you have a decent view. That’s part of the fun of being outside.

Hang Adequate Lighting

Once night falls, stay outside to soak up the stars and evening sounds. If you’re still going to be cooking or hanging out in a group, you’re going to need some light. It doesn’t have to look like an airport runway, but just enough to provide a bubble. String up some market lights or just post torches at the corners to cast a glow that works well under the velvet sky. You can put them on timers or make them manual so you can check out the stars when the mood hits.

Incorporate Natural Elements

There’s nothing that looks stranger than forcing an element where it doesn’t belong. When planning your outdoor kitchen, take account of the landscape around you and build from it. This can mean using limestone for flooring or wood beams as a pergola. Whatever your style, you want to create a natural flow from your outdoor space back into nature.

There are few things as pure as the great outdoors. Live your life in the fresh air as much as possible and make the transition seamless with these tips for planning the perfect outdoor kitchen from Outdoor Hardscapes. Don’t forget to throw in the fire pit to really tie the bow on the whole area!

If you are considering an outdoor kitchen or renovating an existing one, give Outdoor Hardscapes a call today at (251) 262-2591! We will help your landscape and hardscape dream ideas come to life. We have the experience and know-how to create amazing outdoor spaces and we will take your outdoor living to the next level. Visit https://outdoorhardscapesgroup.com.

The Importance of Drip Edge in your Landscaping

by admin | Nov 17, 2017 | Uncategorized

As a homeowner, you do everything you can to make your house look presentable. It can be very frustrating when you pull into your driveway and see unsightly dirt and water stains on the foundation of your home. You may also wonder why you have a problem with termites, carpenter ants, or other unwelcome critters. You dread when it rains, knowing that water will seep into your basement and that your trim, sills, and window frames along the bottom perimeter of your house are becoming more rotted. Are any of these happening to your home?

Why does this happen?

Moisture from rain and the elements are retained at the bottom of your home, causing dirt, mulch, and mud to splash on the foundation. Not only does it leave an unattractive appearance, but your foundation slowly wears away each time moisture is retained. Plantings also may be a culprit, allowing moisture to accumulate. Plants often act like a sponge into the base of your home and should be relocated.

What can I do about it?

Your home may be your biggest investment. Costly repairs year after year can wreak havoc on your bank account and morale. Fortunately, a simple solution exists. A drip edge landscape will prevent unsightly stains, critters, and water from seeping into your home.

What is a drip edge?

A drip edge landscape is comprised of loose or crushed gravel placed one foot out from the perimeter of your home. Some drip edge landscapes are designed with pavers or bricks. When water drips off your roof, it lands in the crushed stone as opposed to mulch. A drip edge provides protection against water by directing water away from your foundation. The edging is typically commercial grade metal, either aluminum or steel, affixed deep into the ground. Plastic is not recommended.

Many different types of stone exist to create a nice contrast between your home and your other landscaping. It comes in a variety of different sizes and colors, leaving you with personalization options. Drip edge landscaping could also be a beautiful barrier between your home and your garden. You could also add nonporous garden décor throughout for a little flair.

Drip edging also adds an element of safety to your home. Mulch and dry tinder are flammable and can be a fire hazard. Some communities have banned mulching up to the house foundation or require the mulch to stop 1-2 feet from the home. Smokers may also be neglectful and carelessly throw cigarette butts into the mulch, igniting a fire. Having drip edge landscaping negates this dangerous outcome.

In need of drip edge landscaping?

Outdoor Hardscapes will help your drip edge landscape ideas come to life. Our professionals will work closely with you to create, install and help you achieve your landscape goals. Drip edging is not only economical, but also provides functionality for keeping your foundation free of water and dirt. It provides a pleasing, easy to maintain aesthetic that will leave your neighbors green with envy.

If you are considering an outdoor renovation, give Outdoor Hardscapes a call today at (251) 262-2591! We will help your hardscape dream ideas come to life. We have the experience and know-how to create amazing outdoor spaces and we will take your outdoor living to the next level.

Stone Work

by admin | Nov 15, 2017 | Services

Stone work can include outdoor steps, retention walls, walkways, patios, pavers or more. We can even create a beautiful fireplace or waterfall feature for your yard, When it comes to building materials, stone has stood the test of time for longevity and beauty. Check out our gallery to see some of the beautiful stonework we have created or call us today to get a free in home consultation.

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