If you look into your yard and feel that it has a boring appearance, hardscaping could be the perfect thing to liven up your yard space. Creating an outdoor architectural space with the best hardscape materials has the power to offer a more inviting and visually pleasing area to you and your guests.
Choosing hardscape materials is difficult, so let’s look at some of the best hardscape materials to get you started in your yard transformation process.
What Are Hardscapes?
Hardscaping involves using non-living pieces to make durable man-made aesthetic structures, like pathways and patios, which come in various hard surfaces ranging from stone and gravel to decking. These materials are easily accessible, too, as you can find most of the best hardscape materials at your local hardware store.
Landscapes, or softscapes, involve living elements like plants and greenery. To create the ultimate oasis in your yard, we strongly recommend combining hardscaping and landscaping to create a harmonious space.
Considerations When Choosing the Best Hardscape Materials for Your Yard
Before you begin your hardscaping project, you need to keep some things in the back of your mind. First, you’ll need to know what you’ll be using the space for, who will use it, and how you plan to maintain it over the years. You need to pick the best hardscape materials that align with your personal needs.
Let’s look at why these considerations are critical when thinking about hardscape material options.
What Will You Be Using the Hardscape Space For?
The first thing on your mind when choosing hardscape materials should be the purpose of the hardscape you’re creating, as all hardscape material options have specific uses and varying levels of strength. Do you have children or pets? Do you invite people over often? Here are a few purposes for hardscaping:
- Gardening
- Hosting gatherings
- Extra seating
- Outdoor dining area
If you plan to make a patio, the best hardscape materials would probably be smooth stone, tile, or concrete. Choosing hardscape materials that are flat allows you to place furniture on them with minimal wobbling. If you’re making a walkway, brick or pavers would be the best hardscape material options, as they offer traction. Gravel would be best for filling in gaps.
If you have small children and pets, choosing hardscape materials to make a closed-in deck or a fence might be a great idea to keep them safe. The best hardscape material for this would be composite wood, as it doesn’t splinter and tends to be stronger than regular wood.
You need to seriously think about these things before jumping into a big project like this because it’ll help you pick the best hardscape materials for your needs, and you’ll be able to price out the cost. Contacting a professional might be a good idea, too, so you can discuss your hardscape material options.
Think About Your Local Weather
Weather is a huge concern when it comes to choosing hardscape materials. If you live in an area with severe weather, you must pick strong and heavy materials. Concrete is one of the best hardscape materials for this.
Along with extreme weather, you should think about water drainage too. Poor rainwater drainage can damage the ground beneath your hardscape paving materials, causing them to lift, break, and shift. Pooling water can be detrimental, so you must ensure your yard has no drainage issues before installing your hardscape.
Think About Balance
Don’t fill your entire yard with hardscaping. To make a natural-looking hardscape, try incorporating the plants and trees that you already have in your yard, which will create some balance.
You want your hardscape to blend in with the flow of nature rather than stick out like a sore thumb. The greenery you already have will also help with water drainage by absorbing the extra rainwater. One of the best hardscape materials for blending in is natural stone. This kind of stone is rough and has a rustic look.
The Best Hardscape Materials
After addressing the above ideas, picking the right hardscape material options is next on your list. Here are some of the best hardscape materials that can turn your yard into the oasis you’ve always wanted.
Concrete
Concrete may be a basic material, but it is extremely strong and can hold together for years, making it one of the best hardscape materials to use. It can hold up to 3,000 pounds psi (per square inch) and handles temperature changes rather well.
This cheap material might be a little visually boring, but you have the option to shape it as you wish. You can also paint it or get the concrete stamped to make a more aesthetic design.
Pros
- It is cost-effective
- Strong and lasts long
- Customizable shaping
Cons
- It can be a little visually unappealing if you don’t paint or stain it
- It can chip
Tile
Tile is one of the best hardscape materials because it has a strong adherence to the ground, and it is visually appealing. You also have multiple options to choose from, including:
- Porcelain
- Ceramic
- Stone
- Slate
- Granite
- Travertine
- Limestone
- Sandstone
- And more
One of the best hardscape material options for tile is either porcelain or ceramic tile because they both derive from thick, dried clay, which is quite durable. Tile also offers room for creativity, as you can use it to create designs and movement.
Pros
- It’s a beautiful material
- Strong and durable
Cons
- It can get slippery when it is wet
- It requires a lot of time to install
Stone
Stone is a nature-made material that is naturally hardy, and it’s one of the easiest and best hardscape materials to use. You can find stone in the shape of bricks, tiles, and slabs, offering a natural earthiness to your yard.
Flagstone, like slate and natural stone, is a popular option for patios, walkways, and fire pits because they’re aesthetically pleasing and easy to clean with a simple broom or hose.
You can use stone pieces by mortaring them to the ground or using stone and gravel in tandem. The gravel would act as a loose mortar to fill in the cracks between the stone pieces and aid in water drainage.
Pros
- Rustic-looking and easier to blend in with nature, making it one of the best hardscape materials for aesthetic reasons
- Easily available and easy to use
- It’s very durable
- Stone has good traction
Cons
- Smooth stone like slate can get slippery when wet
- Natural stone is rough and uneven, so it may be hard to walk on
- The installation process can be time-consuming, especially if the stone pieces are oddly-shaped
Brick
Brick is a common material used by contractors and DIY-ers alike, as it stays sturdy throughout the years. In addition, this material is very weather resistant and can offer a decorative look. Brick is one of the best hardscape materials for structures such as walls and walkways. Easily install bricks with mortar to create a beautiful geometrical pattern.
Pros
- Low-maintenance
- Long-lasting and durable
- Easy to install
Cons
- Can be expensive
- Weeds can poke through the crevices
Pavers
Pavers are one of the best hardscape materials for patios, as they offer a uniform look and a great flat surface for furniture. The best part is that there is a large variety of colors and materials for you to pick from, ranging from concrete to marble and travertine. Using pavers, you can easily match the color of your outdoor hardscape with your home.
Pros
- Low-maintenance
- Durable and versatile
- Visually appealing
- A long list of colors and materials are available
Cons
- They can be expensive
- Weeds can poke through the crevices
- Installing can be time-consuming
Gravel
If you need to fill in crevices and spaces, gravel is one of the best hardscape materials for that purpose. If you don’t want to spend time creating a walkway, then gravel is the perfect material to fill in the path for you with minimal work. It’s also much cheaper when compared to other options on this list, making it more affordable.
Pros
- Highly affordable
- Great drainage
- Easy to use and versatile
Cons
- It can sometimes look messy, as you can easily displace the pebbles
- Not the best material for high-traffic areas
Decking
When it comes to decking, you have two primary choices, which are wood decking or composite decking. If you’re wondering what composite decking is, it is artificial lumber created using small wood fibers and plastic (usually a version of polyethylene or vinyl). The plastic makes the decking stronger and more durable and prevents splintering.
Because composite decking doesn’t splinter or buckle, it is one of the best hardscape materials for people with children and pets. Wood decking provides your yard with a more natural and rustic look, is easily accessible, and is cost-effective. You can customize the wood by staining or painting it as well.
Pros
- Composite decking doesn’t splinter
- Both materials are strong
- Both materials are low-maintenance
- Wood decking is cheap
Cons
- Composite decking is expensive
- Wood decking can crack and splinter
Contact Us Today for Perfect Hardscape Materials
Choosing the best hardscape materials for your home can be difficult because it’s hard to figure out what works and looks best in your yard. Get in touch with a professional, so you can figure out what your hardscape material options are and create a plan. Contact ALD today to get a headstart on your hardscape oasis.