When you daydream about your beautiful new paver patio, you don’t imagine somebody tripping over a crooked paver and tumbling into your avocado corn salsa.
That’s because in your daydream, your pavers are expertly installed. No uneven pavers sticking up, or sunken pavers, or cracked pavers.
If we check your Instagram, will there be photos of you smiling and posing, draped across a retaining wall?
Probably not. Retaining walls aren’t very exciting.
Once you know what hardscaping is, the word makes perfect sense.
It’s the hard elements in your landscaping — the paver patios and walkways, the fire pit, the structures like decks, pergolas, and pavilions.
Planning your big new Florida landscaping project? Man, there’s a lot to think about, right?
How much will it cost? What do you really need? Your head must be spinning.
Maybe head outside and relax on the paver patio, or chill beneath your poolside pergola while you sort it all out.
Sure, if you’re pretty handy you can design and install your own paver walkway.
You’ll need some tools, from easy stuff like a shovel, work gloves, and hand saw to more specific things like edging, gravel and, if you have an old walkway to tear out, a jackhammer.
Everybody loves a good shortcut, right?
But it doesn’t always work out.
Like that peanut butter and jelly swirled together in one jar. That just seems wrong.
Same thing with installing pavers over concrete. It sure sounds easier than jackhammering out your existing concrete, right?
Unless you’re an otter, you’ll probably spend more time on your pool patio than actually in the pool.
Is yours perfect?
Lots of pool patio areas aren’t very inviting. Outdated concrete squares are pretty common. And not very exciting.
You can do a lot better than that.
Pondering pavers but have some concerns?
Maybe you know a guy whose pavers started sinking.
Maybe your neighbor had a paver driveway installed but the color faded.
Worried about paver drainage? Tripping? Weeds sprouting in-between?
Everybody loves a patio. It’s a relaxing space to lounge with a good book, host a dinner party, or watch the neighbor mow his lawn while you happily do nothing.
But what material to choose? Concrete? It’s cheap, right? More money to buy steaks to grill.
Or pavers? Pavers look pretty fancy. They’d make the whole yard look better. And they make a really stunning driveway. But can you afford it?
If you’ve decided to add a built-in fire pit and all you can think about now is s’mores, we don’t blame you.
In fact, save us a couple, will you?
Meanwhile, there are a few things to keep in mind, besides watching for a sale on graham crackers.
