06 Jun Sun Valley’s Guide to Selecting the Best Hardscaping Project for You
At Sun Valley, we believe in creating “landscapes for life” that go beyond just greenery!
Hardscapes, or the non-living elements of your landscape, add style and personality to your property while increasing its value and enhancing your quality of life.
But with so many options out there, how do you choose the right hardscaping project that’s worth your investment? Follow our helpful guide to identify your objectives and find the perfect hardscaping project that will take your outdoor space to the next level.
Choosing the Right Hardscaping Project
Choosing the right hardscaping project can be challenging, but we’re here to help you navigate through the decision-making process! It all starts with identifying your main objective for your outdoor space.
Are you looking to expand your entertainment area? Do you envision cozy evenings by a fire pit? Or perhaps you need to address functionality and uneven terrain?
To guide you in the right direction, let’s explore some common objectives to narrow down your perfect hardscaping adventure:
OBJECTIVE #1: I WANT TO EXPAND MY ENTERTAINMENT SPACE
If you want to create an outdoor space for relaxation and socializing, a patio is the perfect solution. Patios offer ample room for furniture and outdoor cooking, making them a go-to gathering spot for you, your friends, and your family.
When it comes to building a patio, selecting the right material is crucial. At Sun Valley, we provide a variety of popular options including flagstone, concrete, and pavers to suit our client’s preferences. While there are many great natural stone options to choose from, it’s important to note that pavers excel in withstanding our Omaha climate. They are specifically designed to endure the freeze-thaw cycles experienced in our region and are built to last a lifetime, offering exceptional durability and resistance to wear and tear.
The Sun Valley team is committed to using only the highest quality materials, including renowned brands like Belgard. One popular choice among homeowners is Belgard Origins Pavers, which not only possess the look and texture of natural stone but also function as durable pavers. Available in a range of colors such as brown and ashy hues, greys, blacks, and beige tones, they effortlessly complement any desired style.
Another common option is Belgard Dimensions, known for its sleek, clean lines and linear surface, perfect for creating a contemporary style with ease. This particular paver was designed to provide maximum design flexibility in 3″ increments, resulting in fewer cuts, less waste, and faster installation. It comes in an array of attractive colors, including amber beige, dark grey, deep browns, blacks, sand tones, as well as gray and white hues.
Rest assured that at Sun Valley, we prioritize your preferences. Whether you have a fondness for pavers or a preference for natural stone, our team will carefully select top-notch materials that surpass your expectations. Our aim is to craft a patio that is not only beautiful but also sustainable and long-lasting. To ensure your complete satisfaction, we even offer physical samples, allowing you to make an informed decision that you will be satisfied with for years to come.
OBJECTIVE #2: I WANT TO IMPROVE MY LANDSCAPE FUNCTIONALITY
Retaining walls may not always steal the spotlight, but they play a vital role in improving the functionality of your landscape. These walls provide structural support, prevent soil erosion, and create level outdoor spaces on uneven terrain.
At Sun Valley, we pride ourselves on using high-quality materials for our retaining walls, including products sourced from reputable vendors like Belgard. One of the materials we highly recommend is the standard Highland Stone retaining wall system. This versatile stone system is specifically designed for grade changes, making it a perfect choice for transforming uneven terrain into level outdoor spaces.
The standard Highland Stone retaining wall system offers a six-inch system that provides a wide range of possibilities for your outdoor hardscape. With its practicality and aesthetic appeal, this stone system effortlessly blends functionality with visual appeal. Available in colors such as marble, granite, mocha, white, and various shades of grey, the Highland Stone allows for flexibility in creating retaining walls that complement your landscape.
In addition to the Highland Stone, we also offer the Concourse block as another excellent option for retaining wall construction. Known for its simplistic design and modern appearance, the Concourse block is both durable and easy to install. It not only serves its practical purpose in grade changes but also adds value to your home’s landscape. Available in colors such as marble, midnight, mocha, and white, the Concourse Block offers a range of choices to suit your aesthetic preferences.
Above all else, we prioritize craftsmanship and the use of durable materials when it comes to retaining wall selection and installation. Whether you choose the Highland Stone or Concourse Block, you can trust that we pay special attention to proper backfilling, base work, and strategic drainage planning. Additionally, we stand behind the quality of our work with a 5-year warranty on retaining wall installations. Our goal is to create a retaining wall that not only provides structural integrity but also enhances the visual appeal of your space.
OBJECTIVE #3: I WANT TO IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY IN MY LANDSCAPE
Enhancing the accessibility of your landscape involves creating well-designed walkways that seamlessly connect different areas, offering both functionality and aesthetic appeal. When it comes to material selection, we carefully consider the specific purpose of each path.
Pavers are an excellent choice for practical or stunning walkways that connect directly to your patio, lead to your front door, or extend from your walk-out basement. While they require extra base work to ensure a solid foundation, once in place, pavers are incredibly durable and can withstand heavy foot traffic with ease.
For walkways that see less frequent use, like paths leading to a trash pad or extending to garden or stand-alone seating areas, flagstone is a natural and versatile choice. Its lighter base and ability to handle movement make it capable of tolerating foot traffic while adding a decorative touch to your landscape.
OBJECTIVE #4: I WANT TO CREATE A COZY OUTDOOR SPACE
If you’re craving a snug gathering spot, a fire pit is an absolute must-have. They keep you and your guests warm, create a focal point for your yard, and can even help keep pesky bugs at bay in the summer months!
When it comes to fire pits, a wide range of shapes, sizes, and colors are available. Concrete blocks, in particular, are a popular and reliable choice, available in deep browns, marbles, granite, and even crisp whites to match your design preferences. For a touch of luxury, consider veneer and natural stone options, providing sleek looks in an array of shapes, sizes, and colors like copper, black, silver, grey, and white.
But before you start envisioning marshmallows toasting, let’s not forget the key factors in fire pit installation. Finding that ideal spot, approximately 10-15 feet away or more from your foundation, is crucial for creating a safe fire pit (remember, we want cozy, not crispy!).
Additionally, it’s important to have the fuel line properly buried, which can be easily handled by a local plumber or with a Sun Valley subcontractor!
OBJECTIVE #5: I WANT MY OUTDOOR SPACE TO BE PEACEFUL
Water features can be a fantastic addition to create a peaceful and serene outdoor space. Whether you opt for a small bubbling boulder or a grand waterfall, these features have a calming effect and can enhance the aesthetics of your backyard.
The mechanics behind these features typically involve an underground pond or basin, with a reservoir lined by rocks. Inside the reservoir, a pump is used to recirculate the water, creating a continuous flow that cascades down the waterfall or gently bubbles up from the boulder.
To ensure the proper functioning of the water feature, it’s essential to have an electrical outlet located near the water feature. The Sun Valley team, along with our subcontractors or trusted electricians, can assist you in setting up the electrical components, including the installation of underground wires to power the pump.
Maintenance is necessary to keep your water feature in top condition. Sun Valley understands the importance of taking care of your water feature, which is why we go the extra mile by offering the first shutdown of the season at no charge with every new water feature installation.
In addition to spring start-ups for the season, there are other essential maintenance tasks required for your water feature installation, such as managing algae growth in the water. This can be easily accomplished by utilizing algae cleaners.
Regardless of the size of the water feature that you desire, they both result in creating a tranquil ambiance, which turns your backyard into a calming retreat!
OBJECTIVE #6: I WANT TO IMPROVE OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND SAFETY
Outdoor lighting is the secret ingredient that can truly transform your outdoor space. It goes beyond aesthetics – lighting creates ambiance, improves safety and security, and adds that extra “wow” factor to your property.
We believe in using the best products for our customers, which is why we exclusively use Kichler landscape lighting. As an industry leader, Kichler provides exceptional contractor support and offers the best factory warranties, ensuring our customers receive top-quality lighting solutions.
We exclusively use Kichler landscape lighting, an industry leader known for exceptional contractor support and the best factory warranties. With advanced LED technology and integrated bulbs, our lighting fixtures offer long-lasting, energy-efficient illumination without the need for frequent bulb changes.
Outdoor lighting serves as the perfect solution for illuminating your water features, brightening pathways, eliminating dark corners on your property, and adding a touch of elegance when placed underneath retaining wall caps to accentuate the architectural details of your hardscaping
By incorporating lighting in these key areas, you’ll not only bring your outdoor living vision to life but also seamlessly tie together all the elements of your landscape
Protecting Your Investment
We understand that investing in a hardscaping project is just the beginning of the journey. We recognize that maintaining your hardscaping investments is an ongoing commitment, and we’re here to support you every step of the way. That’s why we offer our Landcare program, as a standalone package or it can also be included in our year-round maintenance program!
Our Landcare program encompasses all aspects of hardscaping maintenance, in addition to lawn care and maintenance. This means that we take care of every detail to ensure your outdoor space remains in pristine condition.
From fire pits to outdoor entertainment areas, we diligently monitor, activate, and shut down specific hardscaping features according to your needs. Water features receive regular monitoring, activation, winterization, and thorough filter cleaning to maintain their optimal functioning.
When it comes to outdoor lighting systems, we go the extra mile to keep them shining brightly. Our team handles bulb replacements, and adjustments, and conducts regular monitoring and inspections to ensure your lighting system remains in perfect working order.
The Sun Valley team is here to help you to protect your investment!
Ready to Get Started?
Feeling ambitious and ready to start your hardscaping project? The Sun Valley team is filled to the brim with talented landscape designers who can’t wait to bring your vision to life!
Whether it’s a jaw-dropping patio where you can wine and dine under the twinkling stars, a whimsical bubbling boulder that adds that touch of zen to your oasis, or a sturdy retaining wall to anchor your outdoor space with style, we’re the masters of the trade.
Our design and build team is packed with the skills, expertise, and creative prowess needed to turn your hardscaping project into reality. Don’t keep your outdoor paradise waiting any longer!