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Allow the experts at Hardscape.com, to guide you through your project planning process.

As a homeowner, starting your outdoor living project, including renovating your driveway, adding a patio or pool deck can be a daunting task. Allow the experts at Hardscape.com, to guide you through your project planning process. When starting an outdoor living project there are many decisions you must consider such as your budget, timeline, design, materials, and choosing the right professional to complete your project.

With over 25 years' of installing know-how of both porcelain pavers and natural stone pavers and as an industry leader in manufacturing, we will guide you through the toughest decisions on design and the choices that will make your project a success.

Before and after a Hardscape project

Planning before Planning after

SOME IMPORTANTS PROJECT CONSIDERATIONS

If you are a new homeowner, renovating, or building a new house, there are many aspects of any outdoor living project to consider when starting a new project. Whether you love looking at home design magazines or watching home renovation shows, it can get you thinking about what you want in your home's curb appeal or backyard oasis.

At Hardscape.com, we want to offer our customers not only high-quality and beautifully designed porcelain pavers, but we also want to educate you on what important things to consider when starting a driveway renovation, patio, outdoor kitchen or pool deck.

Here are some homeowner planning tips for your Outdoor Design Project:

  • 1. Do your research. Choosing the right material can be difficult with all the different choices available. Always remember to think about all the seasons your area experiences. If you live in the northeast, you have to think about frost-resistance, slippage, mold, and mildew. For Florida homeowners, anti-slip, extreme temperatures, mold and mildew will be important factors when choosing a material. Manufactured with perfection, Hardscape.com's porcelain pavers are built to last in any season. Our porcelain pavers are frost-resistant, 10 degrees cooler than concrete, anti-slip, made to withstand heavy loads, durable and resistant to mold, mildew, and moss.

    When choosing materials like stone pavers, travertine, granite, or marble you must also think about the cost of sealant and general maintenance over the life of the material. With our maintenance-free porcelain pavers, there is no need to lay sealant to keep your patio or driveway looking like new. Your initial investment in our superior product will save you money and time in the long term.

  • 2. Choose the right professional. Get at least three quotes from different contractors to ensure you understand what you want and the cost. When speaking to the contractors, try to understand industry terms and ask questions. Take notes while speaking with them to ensure there is no miscommunication in project expectations. Once you have narrowed it down to your top choices, make sure to ask for customer referrals.

  • 3. Plan your design and include the "Extras." When planning a driveway renovation or new build, most homeowners regret not going wider when redesigning or designing their driveway. Having extra space between parked cars, or enough room for a golf cart can make all the difference in the curb appeal. Adding extra space to your current driveway design will be a decision you do not regret.

    Think about your future plans when building your outdoor patio. As your family grows, the space you need will grow too. Plan for the expansion by already including extra square footage around your pool or outdoor living area for a later added kitchen or gazebo.

  • 4. Download our Hardscape.com Project Planning Guide. Before starting your project, download our easy to read Project Planning Guide to create your perfect plan.

Budget

Budgeting properly will set you up for success from the start of your project. See below the list of items that should be considered when building a budget for your driveway, patio, or outdoor living project:

Surprises

Always budget an additional 5-8% for surprises or issues that you may run into during your project. This may include broken sprinkler lines, extensions of contracts due to delays, or destruction of current landscaping. If your project ends well and you don't spend the overage on the project, splurge a little and buy something you've always wanted for your outdoor living area.

Materials

Make sure that a contractor measures your new outdoor living space or driveway properly and includes an overage of 10% on materials to ensure that you will not have to have unexpected expenditures.

Permits

Renovating your driveway, patio, or pool deck will most likely require a permit. Ensure you speak to your contractor to see if the permit cost is included in your contract. Alternatively, contact your local municipality to see how much the permit charge is and include it in your planning.

Furniture

If you're planning an outdoor patio, make sure to include the cost of new furniture in your budget. Umbrellas, patio sets, and outdoor furniture can get expensive. Once you have your new outdoor living area designed with beautiful hardscapes, you will want it furnished to fully enjoy it.

Landscape Lighting

Landscape lighting will make your design pop. Make sure to include this into your project budget so you can make your design shine.

Prepare for your Budget to Change

No project ever stays exactly on budget. Homeowners that expect that a budget will change always feel better about the final result of their completed project.