Landscape Architect Articles

LASN September 2011 PMBR: Trends in Modern Hardscapes 08-31-11 | News

Trends in Modern Hardscapes

by Christi Simoneaux, Contributing Writer for Belgard Hardscapes
Photos: ???????(R)???????(C)Chipper Hatter

Homeowners are trending towards larger scale pavers with the look of natural stone. These Mega-Arbel pavers emulate the color and texture of flagstone. The 3-piece system creates the look of multiple random sizes of flagstone with the use of false joints and a laying pattern that rotates from a central axis. To enhance the natural look, the edge can be left jagged as shown here. To create a cleaner, more tailored look, the edge is saw-cut and bordered with an edger or a course of complementary pavers.

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As outdoor improvements continue to be on the top of the homeowner wish list, the hardscape industry continues to evolve to meet the ever-changing demands of the modern world.

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With an optional large-scale fourth piece and slate-like appearance, the Lafitt?EUR??,,????'?????????????? Patio Slab addresses the trend for larger scale pavers with natural texture, but offers a thinner profile for more economical usage and opportunities to overlay existing patios. Because of the thinner profile, it is recommended for foot traffic only.

Bigger and Better
As sophisticated home design becomes more the rule and less the exception, homeowners are trending towards hardscapes that offer the look of natural stone. Ahead of this trend, Belgard evolved their manufacturing process to provide a number of products that incorporate stone-like appearance and texture with the affordability of manufactured hardscapes.

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In conjunction with a more natural look, homeowners are also trending towards larger scale pavers. This creates additional considerations in both the manufacturing and installation processes in order to provide quality hardscape surfaces and installations. For residential installations, larger format thinner slab units would be considered for walkways and patio areas; but for residential driveways, 80mm-thick units would be appropriate.

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On roadways that sustain high traffic indexes, the use of larger scale units would require an increased unit thickness.

This increased thickness would be dictated by a maximum 3-to-1 aspect ratio (length divided by the thickness) that the ASCE promotes in their Structural Design of Interlocking Concrete Pavement for Municipal Streets and Roadways publication.

Decorative edging options are very popular for homeowners. In this multi-level installation, the Highland Stone???????(R)???? wall product has been used to create the seat walls and fire pit as well as fascia and edging of the upper patio. The patio is paved with the larger scale four-piece slate-textured Mega-Lafitt?EUR??,,????'?????????????? pavers.

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The green industry continues to become more mainstream, making its way into both the commercial and residential worlds. With PICP (Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement) helping to secure LEED???????(R)???? credits and often increasing usable space by decreasing the need for a retention pond, more developers are turning to PICP for their paving needs. In addition, many municipalities are developing green initiatives, like Chicago?EUR??,,????'?????<

More homeowners are becoming aware of the environmental effects of Permeable Interlocking Concrete Pavement (PICP) systems and opting for permeable pavers to control stormwater and reduce pollution. This photo of the company?EUR??,,????'?????<

Over the Edge
Although concrete edging is still the standard in paver installation, homeowners are beginning to trend towards other options to create a more decorative look. These options can include edging with a complementary paver or with natural stone, such as mortar-set granite curbing. In addition, the xompany has developed a line of edging stones that are specifically designed for edging applications.

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