I’m Helen Reed from Let’s Tend The Garden, a new gardening blogger! Creating dramatic landscape lighting effects can be considered as a form of art. The reason for this is; it takes a considerate effort to bring out the piece of beauty. With lighting effects, you can create an outdoor design that will make you want to sit outside all night.
Below are some of the different ways to create dramatic landscape lighting effects.
As winter arrives and the temperatures drop below freezing, your hardscaping may be the least of your concerns. Yet, maintaining and protecting your hardscaping during the winter will save you time and money the following spring.
This article is a guest post, courtesy of Apex Waterproofing Inc. in Arlington, Virginia.
Example of a Slab Installation
Home foundation repair is one of the biggest things so few of us are really mindful of. Who thinks about the foundation of their home failing? It’s a little bit like a sinkhole just opening up and swallowing you while you’re walking down the street. We all believe our foundation will be fine … until it’s not.
When an incident happens, the thought can be to just fix your home at whatever cost. Totally ignoring a lingering problem is a bad idea; so is just running around with a spigot full of money to fix problems you may not need to.
There are three important questions you should ask yourself first:
Of course these and so many more questions are likely swirling around your brain. Don’t fret, though: Here are 5 steps to remember when you’re thinking of repaving and making an earnest structural repair in your home.
The home remodeling or improvement project that adds the most value to your home, behind only kitchen and bathroom renovations, is creating an inviting and functional hardscaped outdoor living space. If you have done work on your home recently, or if you are budgeting for an upcoming project, chances are you’ve searched the web for average project costs. Quite a few websites offer price ranges, most of which are loosely based on formulas, costs in your region, and average industry labor costs. Some even offer the dreaded “price per square foot” estimate that can leave you with more questions than answers.
When reviewing these websites, I found them to be severely lacking in both the information each provided, and the information each requested. They asked only for my zip code and the square footage (SF) of the patio. That’s it. Based solely on these two questions, I was given estimates ranging from $6 per SF to $15 per SF – not a helpful or informative range. No website asked me for my soil type and none seemed to care about the access to my property and to the project area (maybe they could just carry 50 tons of stone through my 3′ fence gate).
They didn’t specify, so I was left wondering if all paver types and styles cost the same. I also hope the fact that my yard drops 2 feet from one side of the house to the other side will not be a problem. In short, I was left with quite a few questions. Are there any special considerations because I am in a new home? What if I don’t want a square patio? Where will all of the runoff water go? What about adding steps, walls, stone pillars, or a fire feature? Do I need to worry about permits?
The bottom line is that dozens of questions need to be considered when budgeting and planning for your paver patio project. Only a qualified hardscape contractor is equipped to look at all the factors that affect price, functionality, and the feasibility of your dream outdoor oasis. An experienced, accredited contractor builds 50 or more projects like yours annually. He or she will determine what makes your project unique. And what makes your project unique will influence the price – never accept a generic estimate that is drawn up on a “price per square foot” basis. You want a unique project, so demand a unique design and a detailed price. Continue reading
If you have ever enjoyed sitting around a campfire, you will love the addition of a fire pit to your outdoor living area. Fall is the perfect time for adding a source of warmth to your outdoor environment. Building a fire pit can range from a simple do-it-yourself hardscaping project to an elaborate custom design.
Issues to consider in selecting an approach to your fire pit include:
In choosing the appearance you desire for your hardscaping project, you will determine the primary material. This selection will significantly influence the other issues above. Options for fire pit materials are extensive and include:
The chart below provides basic comparison of key elements of the different approaches.
Cutting concrete pavers is not difficult, but it does require special equipment and a certain level of skill to ensure that your hardscaping project turns out right. There are several methods for cutting. Read the article: Cutting Concrete Pavers: Overview for more general information. This article focuses on two methods which leave a rough edge to the cut paver:
1. Hammer & Chisel
Hammer & chisel is the simplest and most inexpensive method for a few cuts. Simply score the paver along a cut line using sharp but light blows. By repeatedly tapping along the same cut line, the paver will eventually snap leaving a rough cut.
Advantages: Inexpensive, rough finish, ease of use.
Disadvantages: Slow, non-precise rough cuts, possible breakage.
2. Block Splitter
A block splitter is basically a large mechanical chisel or guillotine cutter. By using the leverage of a long handle, you can easily “snap” a paver, wall block or wall cap leaving a rough finished edge. Block splitters generally can snap material up to 6” thick. This is a great tool to use for creating corner wall blocks or caps where the cut side will be visible. Most hardscaping project contractors will use splitters when building walls to help create finished corner pieces.
Advantages: Ease of use, inexpensive to rent, attractive finishing tool, can cut on project.
Disadvantages: Non-precision cutting, must cut at least 2” to get “straight” cut.
Cutting concrete pavers is not difficult, but it does require special equipment and a certain level of skill. There are several methods for cutting. Read the article: Cutting Concrete Pavers: Overview for more general information.
This article focuses on four methods which leave a smooth edge to the cut paver:
Circular Saw with Masonry or Diamond Blade
Table Concrete Saw
Gas Powered Cut Off Saw
Grinder with Masonry or Diamond Wheel.
1. Circular Saw
A circular saw will make cutting more than a few pavers much easier than rough cut techniques. Note you will need to equip your saw with a masonry or diamond blade. Start by making a pass with the saw at ½” depth. Make additional passes increasing the depth of the blade each time.
Advantages: Inexpensive, faster than hammer/chisel, tool readily available, more precise.
Disadvantages: Slow for large amount of cuts, only works on 2” or thinner material.
2. Table Saw
If the job requires a lot of cutting, consider renting a table top concrete saw. Concrete saws are readily available at most rental facilities for approximately $70-80 per day. Tabletop concrete saws make precise, fast cuts for most pavers and wall caps. Most saws are also equipped with water pumps which will spray the paver with water while making the cut to help control dust and prolong the life of the diamond blade. Cutting can be done without using water, but will be quite dusty if water is not used.
Advantages: Fast, easy to use, precise cutting, minimizes dust.
Disadvantages: Need to rent, usually only good for 3” thick cuts or less, can be messy, need electrical hook up.
A gas powered cut off saw will easily cut through any size paver, wall block or wall cap. While this powerful saw is fairly easy to use, it is somewhat heavy and takes a strong back if doing more than a few cuts. Because of the weight, holding the saw along the desired cut line can be difficult making bad cuts which require recutting common. Cut off saws can be difficult to start, so you should always have the rental company test it to ensure it works before leaving the store.
Advantages: Portable, powerful, maximum cutting depth, great for “in place” cutting.
Disadvantages: Loud and dusty, heavy, higher percentage of bad cuts, can be hard to start.
Types of Cutting Tools:
Hammer/Mallet and Chisel/Brickset
Block or Paver Splitter
Circular Saw with Masonry or Diamond Blade
Table Concrete Saw
Gas Powered Cut Off Saw
Grinder with Masonry or Diamond Wheel
For more information on the differences between these tools, see the articles on Cutting: Rough Cut or Cuttting: Smooth Cut.
When using power equipment, you should always take safety into consideration and the use of safety equipment is a must. Safety equipment includes:
Safety Glasses
Hearing Protection
Dust Mask
Gloves
Finishing Technique:
Note that most cutting will leave a very clean cut line. Most pavers have a tumbled or chamfered edge and the clean cut line will be very noticeable. Using a hammer or scrap piece of paver, you can “chink” or tumble the edge to give a more finished look. Roughing up this clean edge will make a huge difference in the overall appearance of the project.
Disposal, Dust and Advice:
Cutting pavers can be a very dusty, messy experience. You may want to set up a cutting area away from the project and your house to keep dust cleanup as easy as possible. Also take notice of which way the wind is blowing and how the dust will affect your neighbors.
Disposal of the scrap concrete left after cutting can be a challenge. In Phoenixville, Cedar Hollow Recycling will take your concrete waste and recycle it for other uses for a nominal charge. If you are not in the Phoenixville area, check your local phone book for waste disposal.
If a lot of cutting is necessary for your project, make sure to order extra material (5-15% is typical). Please note that not all materials are returnable. Understand what you distributors policy is on returns before ordering material. If the material is non-returnable, you may want to under order and pick up more material when needed. Be careful…some special order colors or slow moving product may not be readily available and you may have to wait if you need more material.
