Why You Should Use A Hardscape Company Instead Of A Landscape Company When Installing An Outdoor Living Space
Wow! That’s a long title, but let’s jump right in…
When you start to look at adding a hardscape to your outdoor living area, you’ll quickly realize that the costs can add up pretty quickly. So if you’re looking to spend $10,000, $20,000, or more on your new outdoor living area, don’t you think you should work with a company that focuses solely on hardscapes?
Hardscape companies typically work 5-6 days per week only dealing with concrete, gravel, pavers, pergolas, wall blocks, fire elements, water features, retaining walls, and more. Because of this narrow focus they get really good at what they do. What I like to tell people is that it’s no different than attorneys. To an outsider who doesn’t understand the different kinds of law that attorneys practice, there might not be a noticeable difference between an attorney who practices mergers & acquisitions vs one that practices family law where most of their clients are divorcing partners. And sure, the mergers & acquisitions attorney “could” handle your divorce, but the divorce attorney will know the in’s and out’s of the smallest divorce laws to insure it goes smoothly.
It’s the same thing for hardscapes. Sure, the company that mows your grass, plants flowers, and puts mulch down could figure out how to put a paver patio down. I mean, they already have crews, trucks, and access to pavers, but does that mean they have an expertise in hardscapes and a deep understanding of each element that goes into your outdoor area? A hardscape company understands what materials to use based on your budget, your tastes, and your climate. There are different base materials used in different parts of the country. They understand how to install each element properly so that you don’t have issues a few years down the road. They understand how deep drainage lines go, how much gravel is required behind retaining walls so that they won’t bow years later.
Believe me when I say that we come across homeowners that have spend $10k-$20k on an outdoor living space that needs $5k-$10k in repairs just a couple of years later. It’s actually heartbreaking to have to tell the homeowner that the company that installed their project didn’t know exactly how to do it and it now needs to be taken apart and redone.
You could try to save a few bucks by using a landscape company for your hardscape project, but if it’s me and my money, I want to use the company that works with these materials every day and can insure that my outdoor living space looks incredible 10 years from now, not just right after they leave. They last thing I want to do is spend an additional $5k on repairs a couple year later when I could’ve just spent an extra $2k and gone with the professional the first time.
