Archadeck of Columbus wants to know: Have you joined the hardscape revolution?

At Archadeck of Columbus, we have observed three types of homeowners:

  • Those who have a paver patio and enjoy it to the max, practically living outdoors
  • Those who have an old slab concrete patio and are considering a change to pavers
  • Those whose yard contains no pavers or slab; they are desperately in need of a paver patio

Avante Ashlar interlocking has random appearance Archadeck Cols

Which group are you in? Over the past several years we have seen homeowners spending more and more time outdoors on their patios. That trend is not going to wind down any time soon. The kind of custom-designed hardscape outdoor living environment we build will never go out of style. People just enjoy them too much!

Group One: You own a paver patio

If you have one, you know: the paver patio is a thing of beauty. The artful arrangement of smooth, cool stones beckons you outdoors. The effect is almost hypnotic. There is nowhere else you would rather relax — or entertain — than there. The patio is an extension of your home, and it may be your favorite part of the home.

Sunbury OH Patio and Deck Combination

Is your hardscape environment complete? Perhaps as you enjoy entertaining outdoors, you notice there is never enough seating. Have you thought about adding a seating wall? Archadeck of Columbus can rim the patio with a low wall and top it with round-edged stones comfortable for seating. Supplementing your chairs with a seating wall keeps the patio from looking cluttered with too much furniture. You won’t need to bring additional chairs outside; the seating wall is always there.

Outdoor kitchen
Maybe an outdoor kitchen is the best accompaniment for your patio?

If you enjoy dining outdoors, it may be time to expand the paver patio to accommodate an outdoor kitchen. The chef and bartender in the family can enjoy more time with the guests without having to run back and forth into the house for food and beverages. Or, what about a fire pit or free-standing fireplace to take the chill off of cooler evenings? It may be time to elevate your outdoor living game, and it’s definitely time to begin planning for fall.

Design Excellence Award Winning Columbus Hardscape

Would your patio look better with built-in stone planters, decorative pillars or lighting for safety or ambiance? We can easily add amenities to an existing patio to enhance your enjoyment of time spent outdoors.

Group Two: Your old concrete slab patio is (past) due for an upgrade

While a basic concrete slab patio is functional, it is uninspiring and usually too small. Are you still entertaining guests on the builder-grade patio that came with your home? If so, you are more than ready for a custom-designed hardscape to replace that slab. We can meet with you to nurture your vision of how a bigger and better patio would suit your family’s lifestyle. We can help you to stop seeing only what is there now and start seeing what could be there.

Take a look at the before and after. They are different angles but we promise, this is the same house!

We have designed a variety of hardscapes in the Columbus area and can work with you to select the materials and design elements that will work with your budget.  Maybe you want to go “all out” with a stone fireplace and a full outdoor kitchen, or perhaps you would prefer to start small and add more space and amenities later (see above). With our phased building program, we can create a design for your long-term plan and then build it in stages as your budget permits.

Group Three: Your home has not experienced a patio

If your home is patio free, you don’t know what you’re missing! Or, if you’ve enjoyed socializing at a friend’s home with a hardscape outdoor living space, maybe you do know! Either way, you need to call us and get started as soon as you can. Don’t let another summer or fall pass without being able to enjoy relaxing, gardening or entertaining on your own paver patio.

plain-city-oh-patio-builder

Time spent outdoors with friends and family is precious, and an attractive and comfortable patio can help you enjoy it to the fullest. The stone or concrete pavers available today are amazingly beautiful and durable. It’s no surprise that pavers are the most popular choice for homeowners in the Columbus area who are considering a new patio or hardscape.

patio paver designs Columbus OH

What’s more, Archadeck of Columbus can design a hardscape environment around the size and shape of your outdoor furnishings so all elements are coordinated and the end result exudes harmony. If you are having trouble picturing a hardscape design that would best complement your outdoor furniture, we can create an architectural rendering including the furniture to help you achieve your vision.

Archadeck of Columbus team
The Archadeck of Columbus team.

Contact Archadeck of Columbus today to learn more about creating the right hardscape outdoor living space for your family. You can reach us at (740) 879 – 3730, or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net.

 

 

Archadeck of Columbus gives you an insider’s view of one homeowner’s master plan to the evolution of their dream backyard

Archadeck of Columbus highlights the master plan of a present clients phased building master plan. The project is underway now and we are giving you exclusive access into this Columbus, OH dream backyard project.

Columbus open patio outdoor fireplace deck
This ultimate Columbus, OH dream backyard is the master plan of one homeowner’s staged building project currently underway.

Our last story provided insight into our phased building program. Phased or staged building begins with a master plan to your ultimate backyard which can be built in phases, or over years, to accommodate your budget and your lifestyle. Phased building allows you to feel like you have a new backyard during each stage of your backyard extension. Take a look at this master plan and and the phased plan to achieve this dream space. This particular project is the epitome of a dream backyard space.

Phase one

Phase one begins closest to the house with the deck and pergola. It is always a good idea to begin your master plan working outward from your home. The primary reason for starting closest to your home is to ensure less lifestyle interruption. It also ensures that all primary structures are tied into your home structurally as you build out from the initial phase. There is less room to overcome unforeseen obstacles that may arise when you begin a job working from the outside back to your home.

Columbus dream backyard with deck patio outdoor stove
This dream backyard begins with a stunning low maintenance deck and pergola combination.

On the low-maintenance composite deck you will see a picture frame border with decorative inlays. To define the dining area on the new deck we are integrating a secondary color inlay for definition and contrast. The deck will include built-ins for added convenience such as a bench with storage underneath. Little touches like this that add convenience to your outdoor living space and will enhance your enjoyment for years to come. The skirting around the base of the deck includes the lines needed for the future pool addition underneath. Preparing the space for future development will ensure there is no reason to tear the skirting out when the conduit and plumbing are installed for the pool. The first phase also involves planning ahead for the intended landscaping design.  It is important to have a design plan drawn up along with our master plan to ensure we are able to integrate the inline landscaping along with your design. Archadeck of Columbus will work in unison with your landscaper and your pool or spa installer to ensure every detail is accounted for and to facilitate each phase of your project. We also work with your electrician and plumber to get all your lines placed in advance to avoid retrofitting in the future. Laying the foundations for the additional phases of your master plan is an important part of the first phase of your project.

Completing the pergola is also an important part of the initial phase. The pergola in this project attaches to the existing home and will provide shade to the deck. The pergola also adds beauty and character to the deck and rear of the home. This pergola will serve as much for function as aesthetics as part of the completed master plan.

Phase two

Phase two includes the addition of a backyard pool and the paver patio surround. This includes the patio area which will become part of the poolside pavilion. This phase is set to take place during this calendar year. The hardscape spaces will include two distinct rounded patio areas. One of the patios will serve as a spot for a large dining table or lounge chairs and the other rounded patio will serve as outdoor entertaining space. The patio construction will include running conduit underneath for the pool as well.

Since the Conduit and lines for the pool are already ran under the deck and patio areas installing the pool will not disturb these completed areas during this, the second phase of the project. We anticipate the pool installation to run smoothly because of the prior preparations during this phase and phase one of the project.

Phase three

This phase is to include the covered patio next to the new pool and the execution of the homeowner’s landscape design. The covered patio is to be built using a hip roof to match the roof of the existing home. The roof will be supported by round fiberglass columns. The design also allows the interior of the pavilion an open, airy cathedral ceiling. The completed covered patio will also boast large exposed cedar beams along with a cedar tongue and groove ceiling. These features will add a rustic flair to the covered patio design. Abundant lighting and ceiling fans are included in the finished interior space. The preparations to accommodate the electrical plan for the covered patio were planned as part of our previous phases so this portion of the phase will run smooth as silk.

The final chapter

The final phase of the master plan to this dream backyard includes an outdoor kitchen and outdoor fireplace within the covered patio completed in the previous phase. The outdoor kitchen area will give the homeowners a bar area that can also serve for additional seating and food preparation. A bar element within your outdoor kitchen allows the person preparing the food and the ones dining to share the same space instead of having separate spaces. It has always been said that the kitchen is the heart of the home and in this outdoor kitchen design the same rings true. Delivering two functions in one space enhances the whole experience.

the ultimate columbus dream backyard
The final phase of this project will include the addition of the outdoor kitchen and fireplace within the covered patio completed in phase three of the project.

The outdoor fireplace will provide a perfect spot for relaxing as well as entertaining. Nothing says relaxation quite like the crackle of a fire! Since the fireplace is under the chimney and there is an existing gas line to the chimney the homeowner plans to incorporate the gas into the chimney during the final phase of the project.

To be continued….

Like with many of our completed phased building projects, there is usually room for additional outdoor living space in the future. These homeowners may decide at a later date to add a pergola over one of the circular paver patios, or even an area to facilitate a spa. Once their space is complete they can enjoy all the outdoor living opportunities to come.

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

If you have a vision of your dream backyard but you’re not ready to complete it all at one time, our phased building program is the perfect answer. We can bring the backyard of your dreams to life one beautiful stage at a time. Contact Archadeck of Columbus to learn more about our innovative approach to outdoor structure building. Call now for a free consultation (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

For more inspiration on creating your ultimate backyard visit our decks photo gallery and our outdoor living photo gallery located on our website.

With Archadeck of Columbus’ staged building program you can be a winner too!

As the time ticks away to enter our Archadeck Dream Backyard Makeover contest, we urge you to dream big. Our staged building program can also deliver the backyard of your dreams over time and according to your budget making you a winner no matter what the contest results say.

Dream backyard makeover by ArchadeckThe end of March is just a short time away and our Archadeck 2013 Dream Backyard Makeover contest is still going strong. Two more finalists have yet to be chosen for March so now is the time to enter. Unfortunately there will be a lot of people who enter the contest that will not win, but our advice is to dream big and keep those entries rolling in! When you visualize your dream backyard, think about all the use and functionality of the spaces you want before you submit your entry. For example you may want to start with the primary structure such as a deck or porch and allow your other areas to feed off this to further function and enjoyment of your dream space.

With our staged building program everyone is a winner

Many of our customers design their outdoor spaces using staged building.  Staged (or phased) building enables you to plan your dream backyard over time. With staged building we can develop a plan that encompasses an entire outdoor space to be built in stages as your budget and lifestyle allows. We assist in planning your perfect outdoor oasis and ensuring all the structural footwork is in place to facilitate future additions. Archadeck of Columbus met with a homeowner just last week that wanted to build multiple structures over time. We prepared a grand plan showcasing the project in its entirety. We then priced out different segments as a starting point to his dream backyard. Archadeck of Columbus can also work with your pool company, lighting company and your landscaper on the structural components we need to proceed with your grand backyard design. When the time comes and you want to explore what a staged building project might cost you can contact us. Our primary goal during our initial consultation is to understand your needs, wants, budget and priorities to come up with a plan for you.

Columbus OH Timbertech deck in Sandridge
This outdoor space incorporates many levels of function and beauty in it’s design. A good example of a dream backyard.

Set the stage, dream the dream

Being in the business of outdoor living, my wife Carol and I have mapped out our dream backyard. It will include a screened porch to deliver safety from inclement weather and insects. We would incorporate an adjacent deck flowing from the screened porch. Our ultimate outdoor dream includes a rustic inspired outdoor fireplace with a multi-level patio used in conjunction with the deck. We would use the deck or patio to house tables and chairs for dining and designate the lower level patio for relaxing and conversation. We even have a vision of that lower level including an exterior fire pit or custom water feature. Even though we haven’t built our outdoor oasis yet we would consider the orientation of the sun to our home. For example, our home faces south therefore we would want a roofed structure to provide shade.

Patio with sailor course edging adjacent to Deck Columbus Ohio
This patio and deck combination matches the exterior of this home beautifully and also includes a sailor course border for added contrast.

A dream is as personal as the one who dreams it. With that being said we hope our dream backyard inspires you to dream as big as we do. Our dream backyard space includes a porch,  however  if a porch is not your cup of tea then you may consider an open outdoor structure instead. With a myriad of hardscape textures and colors available it is easy to coordinate your decking to the pavers. Another viable option when planning your dream backyard is to create accents through the decking and pavers, and even matching the colors you use in these areas to the trim on your home. The possibilities are endless…

To learn more about making your outdoor dreams a reality through our stages building program contact Archadeck of Columbus. We can create a custom master multi-year plan that will enable you to get a new backyard each year until your goal is reached. Call for a free consultation today(740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

Archadeck of Columbus has seen a huge amount of interest from the Archadeck 2013 Dream Backyard Makeover contest. Just to clarify the contest specifications it is important to follow the instructions when entering. Entries must include one picture of your existing backyard and a brief description of what your dream backyard would be by utilizing decking, pavers and outdoor lighting. You can enter the 2013 Dream Backyard Makeover contest here

Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus

Please visit our decks photo gallery and our patio and hardscape photo gallery located on our website for more dreamy backyard ideas.