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Patios and Hardscapes

Isobel Chambers November 24, 2023November 24, 2023Patios and Hardscapes

Patios: How To Plan Your Design And Decoration

It doesn’t matter what size or orientation they have. Patios can become an ideal green space to relax and disconnect from the daily routine after a long day. Look at these proposals and write down these tips to plan your design and decoration.
Big or small. Internal between party walls or with a garden attitude. Patios are little open air through which houses breathe; if used well, they can become green spaces for enjoyment, contemplation, and relaxation.
Although they are used much more in summer, if some recommendations are taken into account, they can be adapted to all seasons of the year.
So, this is the time if you want to renovate or plan its design and decoration from scratch.

Ideas And Tips To Plan Or Renovate Your Patio

First things first. As in any planning, it is essential to stop, measure, and consider the number of uses the space will be given. Once this is defined, it is time to divide it into sectors.

Relaxation area with some comfortable armchairs next to a stove
Dining area with barbecue, sturdy table, and chairs under a pergola

Pool area
Pond sector

Shaded area with tall trees
Orchard sector
Flowerbed sector with native flowers, etc.

think about a themed garden

Once you have defined the sectors, you can sketch your ideal patio. This way, you can better visualize how it will look and if replacing or leaving aside some sectors is better.

You can also think about a themed garden: Japanese, French, English, minimalist, modern garden, among others. Anything goes to bringing our imprint to this critical space that we will surely enjoy alone, with family or friends.

the flooring choice

Another super important issue is the flooring choice (if you put only some grass or gravel). At this point, the key is that it does not burn, is resistant to the sun, and does not slip. Today, in the current market, you can find a lot of varieties that meet these requirements and are economical. When choosing furniture for the patio, it is vital to remember whether they will be outdoors or not and pick them based on that.

proof your furniture

In any case, today, you can find divine wood furniture that is treated to resist some inclement weather. You can also choose nautical fabric to upholster some pieces. Another option is to design some built-in furniture. All this will depend on your tastes and budget.

House Color Palette

Regarding the colors of the party walls, if your patio is internal, they will depend on personal tastes. But the ideal is to choose options that take time to tire.

Earth and neutral tones

Earth and neutral tones, which go perfectly with the present vegetation, are most recommended. White is also a good option, but it saves on reflection.

choosing the perfect vegetation for this space

Now comes the favorite moment for those who love plants: choosing the perfect vegetation for this space. For that, we leave you some infallible tips:

Study how many hours of sun the patio receives in summer and winter. This will help you find the ideal type of plant.

Irrigation issue: It would be much better to have a micro drip or hoses with automatic irrigation. Otherwise, you have to think about an installation for the hose.
No matter how many square meters the patio has, creativity involves playing with the different textures of greens and shapes of the foliage of the plants.
Adding at least one fragrant plant is critical. You can also encourage yourself to add some pretty climbing plants with flowers to color the walls.
It is essential always to remember the year’s four seasons. If you can put up a small tree that shows the transition, that would be much better.
Be realistic. How much time are you going to dedicate to your garden? Look for species you know how to handle and maintain so that the park is not a burden but an enjoyment. Keep in mind if you need help to maintain it or can do it on your own.

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Decorate The Small Patio Of Your House

Isobel Chambers November 23, 2023November 24, 2023Patio Ideas

Small spaces are often a challenge. Is space, comfort, or style prioritized? Actually, at three. The key is to adjust to what is necessary and choose light pieces with character. The white wrought iron ones with a modernist imprint – like the ones in the image – will meet all your conditions.

Small patios with Moroccan style

Have you ever imagined turning your small garden into an authentic Moroccan living room? As you can see, this decorative style is super engaging for garden design.

We recommend using solid colors on the walls to achieve that Moroccan style. If we have a tile border, the effect will be much better. In addition, making contrasts in the windows with a different color will help you give greater depth to your terrace or patio. The rest, as we see, is about placing rugs and beanbag-style chairs. They are easy to obtain and even to manufacture. Among the keys to the Moroccan style, we can highlight using many colors and prints.

We can also opt for light colors; there will be no problem. However, try to make the textile have enough shades. Only in this way will we get that Moroccan air that we crave.

Hanging chairs in small patios

We may have a few square meters, but small gardens need more space to place exciting elements such as ceiling rocking chairs or hanging chairs. They are handy seats, which, in addition to decorating, create a perfect contrast with the rest of the outdoor furniture, not to mention that they are ideal for lying down and passing the hours, and we could even take a nap in one of these chairs.

Small patios with minimalist decoration

If you are looking for a minimalist garden, having options is unnecessary. You can always paint all the walls white or use some color that is as light as possible. Place two comfortable chairs to enjoy relaxing hours in this place and some plants to provide serenity.

Small patios with floor changes

A great way to make your patio feel larger and thus create areas with different functions. You can opt for other tiles, use natural or artificial grass, add a wooden deck, and create separate locations within the same outdoor space.

Use plants and details to take a look upwards at your patio

Using the upper space to decorate your patio makes the view go upward, and the room feels higher. In addition, it is a good idea to take advantage of this place, and incorporating plants into your small patio is a good idea. You can install a wooden beam and add climbing plants to create a dream patio.

6.-Stand out with the texture of your patio wall

With a textured wall covering, you can add design to your small patio without taking up space. Stone walls are often used in the decks, which give them an excellent rustic style and look great with the contrast of the green of the plants. With this idea, you create a focal wall, which will attract attention, whether inside or outside.…

What is Hardscaping?

Isobel Chambers November 22, 2023November 24, 2023Hardscape Project

A “hardscape” refers to solid materials used in the design of outdoor spaces, such as natural stone, tile, brick, wood, Asphalt, and concrete pavers. These products can be used to build various projects, including driveways, walkways, patios, retaining walls, decks, water and fire features, outdoor kitchens, and more.

What is the difference between “softscape” and “hardscape”?

“Soft landscape” refers to any living, growing element in your landscape. This is anything soft to the touch and continually growing in your space, including trees, shrubs, grass, and flowers. This differs significantly from a hardscape, involving inorganic elements such as natural stone and concrete pavers, which retain their shape and are hard to the touch.

What are the benefits of hardscaping?

Hardscaping carries several significant benefits. Smit House Construction pavers require very little maintenance to keep them looking as beautiful as the day they were installed. A beautifully designed hardscape can help increase the value of your home while adding additional layers of dimension to your outdoor space.

Permeable pavers are an eco-friendly alternative to traditional pavers that can help stormwater management on your property. By absorbing excess rainwater underground, permeable pavers help prevent pollutants, such as pesticides, from returning to lakes, rivers, and oceans. Our extensive Unilock pavers also come in various styles, colors, and finishes to make any outdoor project aesthetically pleasing and highly durable.

Does landscaping add value to a home?

Absolutely! Regardless of your home’s size or market value, designing an outdoor space with Smit House Construction pavers will enhance the overall appeal of your home. As with any outdoor project, prices can vary depending on the size and scope of the job. While the cost of investing in concrete pavers may be a deterrent for some, it pays big dividends over time. We encourage you to work with a Smit House Construction Authorized Contractor who can help you choose practical products from a budgetary standpoint.

What is the best material for landscaping?

Concrete is considered the perfect material for virtually any challenging surface design project. For example, concrete can be printed with different designs and textures to resemble natural stone. Concrete pavers do not require sealing unless you appreciate the look of a sealed paver; in this case, you may need to reseal every 3 to 5 years.

Unlike Asphalt, whose surface wears and cracks over time due to foot traffic and seasonal changes, it is much easier and more cost-effective to install a concrete paver installation. This way, damaged or worn pavers can be replaced individually instead of dismantling an entire asphalt patio or driveway.

What is the cheapest landscaping material?

Poured concrete is one of the most popular and affordable materials to build a complex surface patio. While poured concrete patios are initially inexpensive, they require much more maintenance and will wear, fade, and crack over time.

Concrete pavers, however, are a little more expensive than traditional poured concrete, depending on the style and finish you choose. However, Smit House Construction pavers are durable and aesthetically pleasing and can be easily replaced if a paver is damaged or worn. Smit House Construction also offers a transferable Lifetime Warranty on the structural integrity of pavers, slabs, and wall elements. Any material installed and maintained by our guidelines, and subject to normal wear and tear proving defective will be replaced at no cost to you. Color match cannot be guaranteed, and replacement labor is not included.…

What Can Be Used Instead Of Concrete For A Hardscape Project?

Isobel Chambers November 21, 2023November 24, 2023Hardscape Project

Several other ways exist to build a new patio or driveway without using concrete pavers. These may include:

Poured Concrete or Asphalt – Poured concrete is the most common and economical alternative to complex surface design. Poured concrete can also be stamped to resemble any number of paving materials. The most common place you will see Asphalt is in driveway applications.

Natural Stone – Smit House Construction produces a series of Natural Stone slabs that are aesthetically pleasing but offer low water absorption, freeze-thaw durability, and flexural strength. Pierre Naturelle is suitable for pool decks, patios, steps, and copings for vertical elements.

Porcelain – Smit House Construction offers a stunning line of premium porcelain in unique colors and designs. These products are suitable for wood decks and concrete siding and should not be used on driveways.

Dirt or Gravel – Depending on your location and the weather conditions in your area, dirt or gravel can be used to build impressive, low-maintenance patios or driveways. Stone can be considered a semi-permeable, durable, and affordable solution. Soil On the other hand, dirt may require a little more maintenance as rain or snow can cause puddles or freezing on the surface, which can be dangerous.

Permeable Pavers – Permeable pavers are very durable, elegant and eco-friendly. Aside from their obvious sustainability benefits, permeable pavers are a cost-effective paving solution. Some municipalities may even offer tax savings incentives to encourage porous applications.

Advantages of having a house with an interior patio

The advantages of having a house with a lower patio are almost infinite; the benefits are both in terms of living, comfort, energy efficiency, and thermal regulation.

Having a house with an interior patio is synonymous with a healthy home, and its advantages include the following:

Natural ventilation: natural ventilation is a very efficient passive cooling strategy, especially in areas where the climate has high temperatures. Interior patios are spaces that will regulate ventilation inside the home since the wind remains stable in a continuous direction regardless of the outside air.
Communication between spaces: the interior patio becomes the space that organizes the other areas of the house.
Natural lighting: natural light increases the quality of life in a house, helping to create very particular and stimulating spaces.
Contact with nature: having an interior patio allows us to be close to heart since we can include plants, trees, pools, fountains, or even a garden to grow our food.

A house with an interior patio will provide us with the ideal conditions to generate a natural interior space that will improve the quality of life of everyone who lives in the house.

Interior patio: virtues of a healthy environment

Whoever has an interior patio has a treasure. Whether in our home, in the office, in a hotel, or any establishment open to the public. It is a space worth taking advantage of with a design that turns it into an oasis. An environment in which to enjoy our time and that benefits the rest of the rooms, directly or indirectly, and the uses we make of them.

A space’s interior design can generate emotions, enhance its qualities, and provide nuances, both aesthetic and functional. When we inhabit it, we find comfort, serenity, tranquility, or even fantasy and play, depending on the uses of the space. In the case of interior patios, as they are a means of communication with the outside, they can provide numerous benefits.

One of the main ones is natural light. We recently discussed some keys to lighting in interior design. Please take advantage of natural light to increase our well-being and comfort inside buildings. The interior patio is also an ally of sustainability. For example, during the hot months, it can generate air currents that cool the rooms as a natural fan. For its part, during the winter, it allows us to enjoy an outdoor environment that, when protected, can offer us more pleasant temperatures.

It is a space that, in general, generates a healthy environment. A pleasant environment to live in, in which, for example, we can place plants that give us comfort, where we can meet with friends or enjoy our privacy, to name a few.…

Dynamic Patios And What They Can Include

Isobel Chambers November 20, 2023November 24, 2023Patio Ideas

What is the schoolyard if not a place to plant the seeds of the skills we will have as adults? Rethinking the role of recess has been one of the crusades of pedagogue Gey Lagar, who has focused her efforts on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Lagar realized the importance of this space when it comes to socializing for children – not just those with ASD traits – and decided to create the concept of a dynamic playground, which questioned one of the most immutable institutions of the school: recess.

The fact that a degree of freedom is traditionally allowed when it comes to socializing and undirected play, as well as going outside the classroom rules, makes recess one of the most conflictive moments among students, which can even lead to violence between them.

If its recommendations are followed, social relationships become closer, without prejudices or stereotypes, and spaces for understanding, dialogue, and democracy are encouraged when carrying out activities because inclusive playgrounds are based on group play.

Schools that have implemented them in their recesses have seen how cooperation, leadership, and creativity increase and how conflicts are reduced by looking for alternatives to classics such as soccer or racing. In addition, it is an effective way to reduce noise pollution, another of its great benefits.

The essential objective of inclusive playgrounds is to generate social inclusion, so it will be necessary that, at least at the beginning, there is a teacher – preferably always the same one – to act as a guide for the activities. This position can eventually eventually be rotated to include all teaching staff, but ASD students must know who to turn to at all times.

The first step to energize a patio is to apply pictograms to the different elements. Pictograms are a simple way to identify something, whether it is a patio, a field, or some stands. This may be evident for students not on the autism spectrum. Still, it is appreciated for those who do present traits, as it is much easier to recognize the associated spaces and activities.

However, it is not enough to have dynamic elements to create a vibrant playground; it is necessary for all students to feel safe and supported. Not all students like the same games; the difficulty lies in establishing healthy dynamics for everyone.

In this sense, during the day, the interior patio is a place where you can enjoy a bright outdoor environment, which can also provide natural lighting to the adjoining areas, to a greater or lesser extent, depending on its orientation. Designing these spaces by planning how to make the most of natural light is critical for well-being when living in them.One idea that can be taken to create a dynamic playground is to implement new games every five weeks. They can be new sports, like dodgeball, or activities like hide-and-seek. It should be changed when it is detected that some general activity is problematic or not liked.

For this type of recess to work well, the patio can be divided into several different areas, each with an other activity. If you are thinking about delimiting spaces in your school, one of the best ways to do it is through painting and murals, which can also include elements such as long jumps or targets to practice aiming.

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