Hardscapes - A New Business For Landscapers

Online, January 20, 2011 (Newswire.com) - Have you ever looked in the magazines for landscapers and seen the beautiful pergolas, terraces and gazebos? Ever wonder what the correct word for that type of work is? It is called hardscapes, and it is taking landscapers by storm. Landscapers are doing more than just soft scapes, which usually entail plantings and flower gardens. The new trend is in hardscapes. The trend towards hardscapes has created a new business opportunity for landscapers. Clients want hardscapes along with their soft scapes to complete their landscape design. Hardscapes include pergolas, terraces, retaining walls, gazebos, fencing and outdoor kitchens. Landscapers have found that when they meet with a client, they are having great success by including at least one hardscape in their design.

You may be asking, what are the advantages of using a hardscape. Your landscapers will inform you of the many benefits. If you choose to have your landscapers build an outdoor kitchen, you have created not just a beautiful outdoor space but a functional and useful space. Landscapers call it outdoor living space. Your landscapers will inform you of the options they provide during your consultation. Landscapers use many types of products when constructing hardscapes. Landscapers may choose to use, wood, natural stone, precut stone, vinyl, and manufactured wood. Work with your landscapers to determine the right material for your job.

Since the industry is trending more towards hardsapes, landscapers need to have a background in construction to fully understand how to incorporate them into a clients plan. It's common for landscapers to sub-contract this type of work if it's not in their area of expertise. Not all landscapers are comfortable with the hardscape products. If landscapers have a client that wants a poured patio or poured retaining wall, the landscapers will hire a sub-contractor that specializes in concrete work. Same goes for wood decking, fencing and pergolas. If your landscapers are not discussing this option with you, you should bring up to them. Ensure your landscaper is well versed in construction if you are considering a hardscape. It's critical to the success of your project. If your landscaper doesn't have the necessary experience and is going to sub-contract the job, check the work of the sub-contractor to ensure it's high quality.

The most popular type of hardscape landscapers are seeing is outdoor kitchens. Landscapers are seeing requests that range in complexity from a built in grill, to a full functioning kitchen placed outdoors. Landscapers need to know what they are capable of when it comes to hardscapes, and hire a subcontractor and seek education when they are working outside their area of expertise. Hardscapes have opened a whole new avenue for landscapers. The traditional job that you think of when you think of landscapers has been changed. It now consists of hard and softscapes, everything from plantings to construction. Next time you think of contacting landscapers to quote your project, be prepared to consider a hardscape for you own outdoor living space.