What to Expect During Hardscape Construction and Installation
Adding hardscaping features like patios, walkways, and retaining walls can greatly enhance your outdoor living space. However, as with any major home improvement project, hardscape construction and installation is a complex process with many steps and details to manage. Having realistic expectations will help ensure your satisfaction with the final outcome.
Planning and Permits
The initial planning and design phase is critical for a successful hardscaping project. Decisions made here regarding layout, materials, drainage considerations and more will impact the rest of the process. Professional landscape designers can help develop ideas and plans tailored specifically for your property. Once a design is finalized, permits from your local building department may be required if certain specs like height or square footage are exceeded. Permit approval can take a few weeks or more.
Site Preparation
Constructing the hardscape elements requires excavating and preparing the installation site. This involves removing grass, plants or other existing landscaping features. The ground may need grading or leveling to accommodate the planned design. Some projects also require installing an aggregate base for drainage under structures like concrete patios. Proper soil preparation helps prevent sinking or cracking hardscapes later on. Expect the site to look messy during this phase before the beautiful finished project emerges!
Materials Delivery & Installation
Whether concrete, pavers, stone or other materials are specified, coordinating delivery and staging the products onsite is a key step. There may be numerous truckloads coming in over multiple days depending on the size and scope. The installation process will also vary considerably based on the hardscaping products used. For example, concrete is poured and finished onsite while pavers are laid by hand row by row. Any delivery or installation issues can quickly get the project timeline off track, so buffering the schedule is wise.
Clean up and Landscaping
In the final stages, the construction mess and debris gets hauled offsite and cleaned up. Finishing touches like grouting and sealing may also be needed. Then it’s time for the landscape design magic to complement the fabulous new hardscaping! Plants, trees, lighting and other features pull the whole outdoor living space together beautifully. However, installing the landscaping typically takes another few weeks or more after the major structural work is done.
Inspections and Payments Throughout the process there will likely be various inspections required per local building codes and to approve payments. For example, the grave base preparation, completion of drainage and hardscape installation may need separate sign-offs before continuing. Most contractors schedule payments tied to project milestones rather than one lump sum upon completion.
Hardscape installation brings lots of construction activity and variables to manage. Working with experienced pros makes a significant difference in keeping your project on track. They know how to coordinate all the moving parts seamlessly while keeping customers informed and minimizing disruption onsite. Thorough planning and understanding what to expect will lead to outdoor living dreams becoming reality! Reach out for a consult today on maximizing the possibilities with hardscape installation.
