In many ways, the front yard is responsible for people’s first impression perception of your home. The look and feel of the front yard give a prediction of what the rest of the home is like. Aside from landscaping that doesn’t drown the house in shrubbery or grows over walking surfaces, the most important physical component of your front yard is the walkway up to the front door, which is where you’ll need some quality paved materials. This summer, you can give your Amherst and Hollis, NH front yard a new look with a noticeable paver walkway.
Related: 6 MASONRY IDEAS TO ENHANCE YOUR FRONT ENTRYWAY IN AMHERST, NH
Why Choose Pavers?
Masonry manufacturers have been perfecting patio paver technology for many years. Today, you can get pavers of incredible quality that will last as long as natural stone or clay brick. Still, many homes use poured concrete for the simple fact that it’s cheap and quick. The problem is that poured concrete does nothing for the aesthetics of most homes, and it lasts a much shorter time than quality pavers. In fact, freeze-thaw cycles in spring and fall can crack, and split a poured concrete walkway to the point it becomes an ugly tripping hazard.
Pavers, on the other hand, are arranged with spaces in between that will deflect the pressures imposed by the gradual movements of soil through the seasons. In between these spaces, landscapers have also developed techniques that allow excess water to pass through the surface instead of collecting on top. This is known as the permeable paver system and a variety of beautiful pavers are designed with this leap in technology in mind, to make a walkway that stays drier after the heaviest rains, and retains less ice in winter.
What Kinds of Pavers Are There?
As paver technologies improve, manufacturers have been able to create some elegant and modern paved surfaces. Similarly, they have been able to replicate many traditional masonry styles which give you more options in colors, shapes, and sizes than natural stone slabs or clay brick.
This versatility allows both landscape designers and homeowners the ability to match practically any architectural or landscape aesthetic. The whole spectrum between modern and traditional is also bridged by many shapes, color variations, sizes, finishes, and textures. If you can imagine what you want your walkway to look like, there is definitely a paver that matches what you see.
What Kind of Patterns Are There?
When you put together your front walkway, there are many different arrangements you can build with different types of pavers. Rectangular pavers (the traditional brick shape) offer the most variety of laying options including herringbone and running bond. Other pavers come in random bundles of three sizes/shapes that can be arranged in seemingly random patterns for a visually interesting walkway. And still others, such as modern large-format pavers, can be arranged corner-to-corner or corner-to-middle to vary the look.
How Can I Improve My Front Yard Paver Walkway?
To get the most out of your front yard paver walkway, you’ll need to have some proper landscape lighting techniques aimed at the paved surface. This is most important for safety, but it will also improve the beauty of the landscape after dark. Use walkway lights that are close to the ground to maximize efficiency.
Safety is a big concern. Make sure that the pavers you choose are non-slip when wet. Most are, which lets you create a cohesive look throughout your front and backyard pedestrian areas including the pool deck.
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