Tag: Concrete

Fascinating possibilities in outdoor design come to light when exploring new materials.

An exciting way to bring renewed life to the exterior of your home, is by hardscaping.

Hardscaping is modern twist on the traditional landscaping techniques utilized for decades. By using concrete to create pavers, patios, retaining walls, flower beds, border edging and even water features brand new life is breathed into once basic spaces.

Enjoyable outdoor spaces

Fire pits and benches make for wonderful seating areas which were once boring and needless.

Gone are the days of outdoor spaces that are more form than function.

Property owners want to utilize their outdoor space and have it landscaped with herb gardens, water elements, reclaimed cobblestone gardens, and modern looking outdoor furniture

Larger Homes and Smaller Lots

The increased cost of residential lots has resulted in building a larger home on a smaller lot.

Yards are shrinking. Landscaping smaller spaces can require just as much planning, and in many cases, more careful design considerations.

Concrete is low maintenance and well suited for smaller yards.

Eco-friendly alternative

Americans have a love affair with sprawling green lawns. Although originally created by European aristocrats in the 17th century as status symbols, today’s lawns are a symbol of the American dream.

Unfortunately, they also can be a source of unnecessary burden for homeowners, which has led to a recent, and growing, interest in alternatives to grass in backyards.

Droughts, water shortages, and rising environmental concerns on fertilizer use are taking their toll. Lawn alternatives are a natural solution.

Final Thoughts

Concrete is an economical, practical and luxurious choice for anyone considering designing an outdoor space.

 

The wet weather on the Westcoast is known to cause reduced durability of building materials and a decrease in the length of time before various materials need to be replaced.

It is crucial to choose effective building materials when contracting a home and also when completing renovations. But even more so in a wet rainy climate such as that on the Westcoast.

Life Span

Concrete is used outdoors not only due to its beauty and engineered strength. It is also durable and long lasting.

Ideally, the average lifespan of any concrete structure is 75-100 years. But, it is considered that the average life of an apartment is 50-60 years while of a house it is 40 years.

Concrete homes are known not only for their durability but also for their cost-saving features.

Energy Efficient

In today's construction revolution, there is great demand to build high-performance homes. Homeowners can design a concrete home to look just like a wood-frame house, but they garner many other added benefits by choosing to build with concrete.

Homeowners can expect a 20 to 25 percent savings in annual heating and cooling costs versus standard stick-built homes, according to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development report.

The energy savings come from the outstanding insulating values for concrete walls (better thermal resistance than wood framing) and tighter construction.

Those who live in concrete homes say the absence of cold drafts and unwanted noise are the biggest pluses, even topping the energy-saving benefits.

In closing

If you firmly believe in the adage that your home is your castle, then why not build a true fortress—one that can withstand nearly any assault Mother Nature can dole out without sacrificing the comfort and design flexibility of a traditional home?