Hardscape Plans

The term hardscape refers to any permanent structure on your landscape. Hardscape plans involve construction of both functional and decorative outdoor features. Color and texture are interwoven into many of these forms to compliment architecture and natural flora.

Any material, including stone, metal, bricks, and concrete can be used to build these outdoor elements. If not done properly, they can cost you an enormous amount of money to rebuild. However, if designed and constructed by professional landscape architects, they can increase your home value with a minimal amount of maintenance.

Hardscape plans frequently constitute up to 60-70 percent of a master landscaping plan. Due to the complexity and variety of forms this includes, it is important that you plan assiduously and work with an established landscape design firm such as Exterior Worlds. Our professionals are experts in architecture, irrigation, drainage, garden design, swimming pool remodeling, and outdoor building construction. Thorough knowledge of these many disciplines is necessary to create a truly superior and memorable Houston outdoor living experience for your friends, family, and neighbors.

Hardscape plans should establish the overall theme of the landscape and should be developed first before adding vegetation. It is important to work with an expert organization like Exterior Worlds to ensure that everything is drawn to scale and affords appropriate amounts of space to which to add gardens, flower beds, hedges, and even trees later in the project.

Ideally, hardscape plans should focus on making functional elements that also convey a high-level of aesthetics to the eye of the viewer. This requires a very thorough knowledge of materials in order to achieve the delicate balance between building something durable that works and something that simply looks good.

Even the most common concrete structure like porches and motor courts can be rendered visually appealing with techniques like brushing. Common bricks can take on an entirely new aesthetic when arranged in complex designs such as the running bond pattern that is popular around homes with a rustic look or historical period theme.

Other important functional elements of the hardscape plan include patios and walkways. Both forms are crucial to the success of home entertainment events. Patios provide gathering and seating areas, and walkways provide safe transit at night between outdoor buildings, swimming pools, garden areas, entry gardens, and courtyards.

• Fencing
• Decks
• Outdoor buildings
• Walkways
• Driveways
• Outdoor kitchens
• Retaining walls
• Built-in grill
• Patios
• Walls
• Sports Courts
• Driveways

Again, working with a professional landscaping company with an advanced knowledge of design will ensure that some of the more taken-for-granted elements can be built in a manner that immediately catches the eye and contributes its own unique sense of beauty and proportion to front yard and back yard design features.

Taking the time to communicate with an advanced team of professionals who will hold themselves strictly accountable to the highest standards of materials, design, and construction will ensure that your property value increases and remains an asset to both your lifestyle and your original home investment for many, many years that follow.