Unilock Pavers – Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus

Our Newest Project in Galena, OH, Gives New Meaning to the Term “Dog Day Afternoon”

Archadeck of Columbus just completed a backyard transformation in Vinmar Farms, a neighborhood located in Galena, Ohio. When we originally met with the homeowners they had recently purchased the home and their existing outdoor living space consisted of only an 8x 10 builder grade deck. Not only was the deck small it created a boxed in feeling of not being able to turn around in the space, and it offered no access to the backyard from the deck itself. In order to enter the backyard you had to do so from the main level of the home. Since the home included a walkout basement, not having access to the backyard from the deck was an issue they wanted to rectify.

When we met with the homeowners to discuss upgrading their outdoor living space there was another prerequisite we needed to address. Aside from all the reasons associated with the size, flow and functionality of the existing space. The homeowners, being caring dog owners, wanted a space that would give their beloved canines, and themselves, an open space to spend time outdoors together and separate.

The final design we came up with speaks to all their concerns through a new (much larger) low-maintenance deck, spacious Unilock patio and under-deck space that could provide a shady spot on those dog day afternoons. The entire space flows from one into another and offers access to the backyard AND walkout basement.

The deck is built in durable TimberTech Terrain in brown oak, this color is not only easy on the eyes, it also helps mask any dirt brought onto the deck by muddy paws. The deck also includes a white vinyl rail with a TimberTech rail cap which unifies the design. We used a three-board tread step approach to the stairs to make travel up and down into and from the deck into the yard easier for the homeowner’s aging dogs.

Just a gentle walk below the deck is the stunning curvilinear paver patio which opens up the outdoor living space possibilities for man, and man’s best friend. The patio is built with Unilock Beacon Hill Flagstone pavers in platinum with a sailor course edge in Unilock Basalt Courtstone. The patio is finished off with a cropped rotary wall of Ledgestone which compliments the edge of the patio and adds a custom touch to the entrance into the walk-out basement.

As you can see, the patio floor extends the length of the under-deck area to provide a shady spot for the homeowner’s dogs to relax on warm days. The homeowner’s plan to add low-profile outdoor furnishings to help make the under-deck area easily accessible for the dogs too.

The entire space is built with pet-friendliness and extended outdoor living capabilities in mind. The homeowners are elated with their new backyard, as are their dogs. We look forward to revisiting this project in the months ahead and capture images of our four-legged clients enjoying the space too!

If you are ready to extend your outdoor living possibilities, for all members of your family to enjoy, Archadeck of Columbus can help! We can address any special circumstances and expertly refine an outdoor living space to address those needs. Contact us today to learn more at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net.

Our Hardscape and Softscape Project in London, OH, Merges New and Old Seamlessly!

There is nothing more interesting than when Archadeck of Columbus gets the chance to work on a historic home in our local geography. It certainly does present some challenges in terms of keeping the integrity of the home while providing homeowners with all the practical elements and benefits that are all about today’s outdoor lifestyle. We recently worked on a project in London, OH, with a home built in 1865 on 7.5 acres that has steep history during the Civil War/Antebellum era.

The house has been restored numerous times throughout its lifespan, and luckily the previous owner did renovations to the home to code back in 2000 after investing almost $750K to restore it, including the home’s stunning original brick veneer. This home’s newest owners also wanted to do right to the structure to continue its legacy in the proper way and preserve its integrity, but also add plenty of energy that would enhance the exterior. They wanted a masterful intermingling of new and old.

On a project of this scope, the homeowner’s needed a highly skilled company with expertise in these areas for a large-scale outdoor additions complete with landscaping that would elegantly blend the new upgrades so they would complement the existing look and feel of the home. The homeowners didn’t necessarily want to have a historically accurate renovation, but rather have the improvements to the outdoor entertaining areas marry beautifully with what was already in place. This delicate balance was struck with the addition of a large paver patio, retaining/seating walls and fire pit along with extensive landscape installation to create a tasteful and practical outdoor living space that would complement this gracious home and property without overpowering its handsome simple lines.

The home originally had an existing deck off the back which was long overdue for an upgrade, so we tore it down to make way for a whole new look that was more in keeping with the historical nature of the brick building. Archadeck of Columbus added a hardscape outdoor living environment with stunning curved tiered steps lead from one area to the other in a dreamy way that tempers the hard lines and materials. The project also includes all the softscape foliage landscaping as well.

The hardscapes are built solely using Unilock and Belgard pavers due to their beauty and hard-wearing nature. The patio features Unilock pavers from the Camelot series in the Riverblend color with plenty of natural hues. All the vertical hardscapes were built using Belgard pavers from their Bel-air line in the Fossil Beige color. Both of these beautifully complement each other and have a seamless feel. The softscaping installation pairs well with all the stonework and adds plenty of color thanks to gorgeous specimens of Hydrangeas, Lavender, KnockOut Roses, new trees and evergreens for year round green.

London OH hardscape outdoor living environment — Just look at the vantage point the family now has to enjoy the view!

The family is beyond overjoyed at their new outdoor living environment, and you can see it looks heavenly. These homeowner’s are now in the process of adding a tranquil backyard pool to further their enjoyment and are currently in discussions with Archadeck of Columbus to design and build a paver pool surround, pavilion and a pool house — they are so excited, and we are too!

Not only did we meet their challenge of merging old and new, but the property now boasts a multi-faceted and multi-functional outdoor living space that increases the livability of this stately 18th century home.

Got a challenging project for us? Give Archadeck of Columbus a call today for a free consultation at (740) 879 – 3730. We look forward to your call. Please also visit our website at http://columbus.archadeck.com.

Archadeck of Columbus scores a triple-play on this screen porch, patio and deck combination

Archadeck of Columbus is able to create three seperate outdoor structures that work as one. This double deck, patio and screen porch have the harmony and fluidity that many single structures lack, covering all the bases of style, design, quality workmanship and function with this winning triple-play.

Columbus_OH_large_double_deck_over_screen_porch — This large double-deck sits directly over the gorgeous screen porch and patio.

It is not often that you have a combination of structures that work together effortlessly to create not just a grouping of spaces but an entire outdoor living area. These Columbus, OH homeowners definitely scored a triple play with this stunning second story double-deck, rustic screen porch and beautiful paver patio. Every inch of these structures are built with quality and style and they also create the feeling of one large, multi-functional outdoor structure despite the fact that they are actually three separate structures. These structures work together with harmony and fluidity as they flow effortlessly into one another, making it perfect for intimate get togethers and entertaining on a grand scale as well. Here is a video to experience to experience this entire outdoor living space.

Columbus_OH_large_paver_patio_with_screen_porch_and_deck — This photo shows how each of the structures by Archadeck of Columbus work together as one.

Archadeck of Columbus used composite, low-maintenance TimberTech XLM decking in Sandridge to cover the second story double-deck and accented it with black aluminum railings. On the lower level, a rustic screen porch welcomes you with its breathtaking and aromatic cedar walls and trim. The floor of the screen porch is finished with large concrete slab pavers that resemble tile to carry on the rustic theme, we also used Unilock pavers around the porch itself. The screen porch spills out onto a beautifully designed patio . As always, Archadeck of Columbus paid close attention to every important detail of this outdoor oasis by making sure the roof between the deck and screened porch below is a dry roof to keep out moisture that could cause damage to the structures. For the final touch we added small flush mounted low voltage lighting for safety and ambiance.

If you are ready to turn your backyard into an extension of functional beauty and style, contact Archadeck of Columbus to learn how to create an outdoor oasis of your own. (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net

Color Choices and Trends in Hardscapes are Keeping an Artful Eye on Design

Archadeck of Columbus explores the world of color choices in hardscapes. What is popular and tried and true here in the midwest, and how to put together the right color palette for you.

Hardscape stone wall w/ composite deck — This hardscape wall shows a beautiful neutral brown to taupe color combination

Archadeck of Columbus prides itself in keeping up with the new design trends when it comes to hardscapes and other aspects of outdoor living design. Recently, I was fortunate enough to speak with Guy Lane, who is the design consultant for Outdoor Living by Mr. Mulch. He was able to let me into the world of colors with his artful eye on design and expertise. Speaking with Mr. Lane gave me the insight on what direction consumers are going in terms of color palettes for hardscapes.

Hardscape patio and seating wall — This hardscape patio and seating wall by archadeck of Columbus, has a lighter neutral taupe based color combination

Naturally, the popularity of certain colors depends mainly on your demographics. Here in the Midwest the popular hues consist of neutral browns and taupe based beige. These neutral tones are most often accentuated by charcoal gray, and very dark gray tones used for banding and accents. When a customer is installing a patio, or other hardscape structure you mainly want to stick to a basic, classic, tried and true color palette because you want the landscaping and flowers to be your focal point. Too much color going on in one area will make your focus uneasy, and will make it difficult for your eyes to be at rest. You can use complimentary colors to make your basic color scheme “pop” through the use of outdoor accent furniture and accessories. The outdoor living industry has grown in leaps and bounds and there are designs, patterns, textures and colors available to suit every taste.

Hardscape patio showing detailed soldier course (outside bordering) — Hardscape patio which takes advantage of the neutral brown, brick red and charcoal combination ( notice the soldier course detailing on the outside border)

Sometimes when you think hardscapes the first image that pops into your mind is that of a terra-cotta paver. The terra-cotta palette of hardscapes is not used that often anymore. Brick red, and richer red accents however, are commonplace and used in accents, borders and banding. Even though the light gray family of colors, with its more commercial and contemporary feel is not a very popular color choice on its own, when paired with the brick-red, it becomes stunning.

Another design trend we are seeing is the use of chocolate browns to add spots of color to a design. That same chocolate can be seen throughout outdoor living accents and fabric industry as well, where it is often paired with spa blue for a relaxing and soothing effect. Generally, blues are not a popular hardscape color. Blues in hues from slate all the way to your darker blues are rarely seen used in hardscapes.

Hardscape patio, seating wall and fire pit — Notice the refreshingly subtle use of light beige and gray here in this color combination

The use of white and creams are used marginally here in the mid-west. We do see a certain amount of customers who do like them, Says Lane, but it is minimal. Even though this palette gives an essence of crispness and cleanliness, people are sometimes hesitant to use these hues simply because of the upkeep factor. They feel it is a harder color to keep clean.

Color guidance is an important tool to have when deciding colors for you new outdoor structure. Whether you decide to use the ever popular and classic neutral brown and taupe based tones, or decide to think outside the box, choosing your color palette is a fun experience. Another key is to remember you can always change out you accessories to suit your taste much easier and at a minimal expense, when comparing the headache of changing out the colors in your hardscapes. That being said, using a classic neutral color choice can also allow you the freedom to experiment or even seasonally change your accents and just have fun with it. Your hardscapes can serve as your artist’s canvas, and then the rest is only limited to your imagination.

If you are planning the addition of an outdoor structure in your future, give Archadeck of Columbus a call to help design and build your next work of art.(740) 879 – 3730
or email us @ westcolumbus@archadeck.net

Decisions in Hardscapes- the Who’s Who and the What’s best

Archadeck of Columbus, OH explores the trends in pavers. Pavers are used on a wide scale to construct floors, patios, retaining wall, pillars and outdoor fire pits and fireplaces.

Dublin_outdoor_patio_landscaping — Rendering and design plan for outdoor patio done in pavers

Everyday we are asked about hardscapes and pavers. Hardscapes have become very popular recently. With the choices and styles sometimes it can be quite a chore just to make a selection for your upcoming project. One of the things we love to do as design consultants, is to aid in making your selections. I do want to take an opportunity to share some of my thoughts and experience on pavers and hardscapes with you, in essence a “who’s who” and “what’s best”.

belgard3 — Soothing water feature in Belgard

Most pavers come in different sizes, and when considering pavers you usually will have at least two different sizes in each style and color so that you can create lots of different looks. Pavers come in various colors as well, this makes it easy to either contrast or blend your colors. Each paver is not a single, solitary color. Each will have variation and different tones throughout the paver itself. This is due largely in part to the fact that pavers are concrete molds and they will tend to vary in color due to the aggregates. Most

patio and fireplace w star hardscapes — Patio and outdoor fireplace done in hardscapes

pavers come in either a smooth surface or a more rustic surface, which is referred to as “tumbled”. Stonehenge and Brussels are a good representation of the “tumbled” pavers. Various styling trends such as the lane pattern’s and Curvilinear are popular. Curvilinear is a little more expensive because there is more cutting involved. Styles such as these a larger and more like tiles or slabs that mimic the look of natural stone. Belgard also has a line of natural “stone”- like pavers as well.

Of course when considering building with pavers, foundation, as is the case with any construction, is very important. The advantage of using a concrete paver over a concrete pad or stamped concrete. With a paver you don’t run the risk of a cracking foundation because when using pavers you have a joint that acts as an expansion joint, and if potentially something goes wrong it is an easy fix.

Dublin_OH_patio_design — Paver patio designed by Archadeck of Columbus

In the Midwest the most popular pavers are Oberfields and Unilock. Both are good concrete pavers, however over time Oberfields will lose some its color. An inexpensive color will start to show more of the aggregate within the paver much more quickly than a higher quality paver will. The aggregate color which usually comes forth is a concrete-type grayish tint and this is the reason we generally don’t recommend using Oberfields.

retaining wall hardscape — Hardscape retaining wall

Another important aspect when considering pavers is water drainage and elevation.You always want to keep the water away from your house. We add a slight slope with installation of each paver to ensure that the water is flowing away from your home. When elevation is an issue, for example if you have a slope in your backyard, there will be a necessity to create a retaining wall(s). In this case we usually suggest a fall of 6″ or more. Another choice for keeping water away from the house is Belgard and Unilock’s permeable pavers. They are the new “green” thing in pavers. They are slightly wider and water goes through them, however they do require a different type of installation.

patio with outdoor kitchen hardscape — Hardscape patio with outdoor kitchen

A great facility to view pavers here in Columbus, OH is Mr. Mulch. They are a retailer with about 25,000 feet of display area which includes Techno-bloc and Unilock pavers. Another place is Wellnitz. My grandfather was Harry Wellnitz and he actually started the company, they now specialize in landscaping and carry Belgard products as well. Belgard is a high-end product that is not only used for paver floors but also seating walls, pillars and the ever popular fire pits and outdoor fireplaces.

large_Dublin_OH_patio_design — Another view of this great rendering for a hardscape patio by Archadeck of Columbus

Last but certainly not least are Techno-bloc pavers. Believe it or not this is the only paver that will withstand salt being applied to it. This paver will come in handy to use if you live in area that requires a great deal of de-icing each year.

I hope these helpful hints and suggestions help you to better identify the current trends and choices in pavers. If you still have some questions you need answered our design staff is always here to help you with all your hardscape needs. Give Archadeck of Columbus a call to plan your next paver project.(740) 879 – 3730

A Deck/Patio Combo in Columbus turns out to be just what the Doctor Ordered

Archadeck of Columbus pairs together a deck and patio combination that suits these Columbus, Ohio homeowners to a “T”.

Columbus paver patio deck and landscaping

Here at Archadeck of Columbus, we recently completed a deck for this homeowner in Gahanna which is located in Columbus, Ohio. This customer decided to install a deck and patio combination because they liked the idea of having two different living areas and having adjoining seating areas to enjoy throughout the season.

Patios can be installed in the Columbus area from about March 15^th until the first freeze which is usually around mid-December. The ideal is to wait to begin a patio until March or early April to make sure the ground is not frozen, or in some cases muddy from melting snow or ice.

We constructed the deck using TimberTech XLM in beautiful “river rock” gray and used a cedar rail for a wonderful contrast. We completed the deck prior to the stairs because we wanted to make sure the stairs are all the same height.

Columbus_paver_patio_builder — Design rendering in detail

The upcoming patio will be oval on one corner and the other corner will be a straight rectangle to accommodate a small retaining wall. Due to the excavation that is necessary for the patio’s installation there will be excess soil that needs to be removed. In most cases we can use excavated soil as topsoil to create planting beds or an upgrade at a later date around the perimeter of a structure such as this patio. In the case of this customer, they wanted to add planting beds that they could go ahead and plant in now. This worked out perfectly for this customer. We will also be adding a spading edge to the planting beds and mulch.

umbriano_winter_marvel — Umbriano "Winter marvel"

Archadeck Columbus paver patio architectural Rendering

The patio itself will be finished using Uni-lock Umbriano pavers. These are concrete pavers but are made to look contemporary, the end effect resembles slabs with a larger pattern. This type of paver has been quite popular in the Columbus area. The color these homeowners chose is “winter marvel” for the field area and the soldier course ( perimeter/border) is “midnight sky”. We anticipate this combination will be breathtaking when completed.

The choice to include a patio with the deck area is clearly a design that can be integrated into any landscape whether it is single or multi-level. Having multiple living areas is a growing trend. The two structures harmonize together beautifully.

If you are considering a deck, a patio or both, give Archadeck of Columbus a call and we can meet with you to discuss placement, design and materials. We can give your backyard that same harmony. Give us a ring for a free consultation (740) 879 – 3730
or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net.

Archadeck Enhances Services with Landscape Design and Installation

Archadeck Welcomes Rob Mitchell!!

Archadeck of Columbus is constantly striving to improve our business, as well as diversify the type of projects we offer.

Through the years we have worked with several quality landscape companies to assist us with hardscapes, such as paver patios, seating walls, outdoor fireplaces and firepits. Starting in 2011, we are taking the information we have learned over the years and will be providing those hardscape services right here at Archadeck!

We would like to introduce Rob Mitchell, our Outdoor Living Design Consultant. Rob has a 16 year background in landscape/hardscape design and installation. Archadeck of Columbus has had the pleasure of working with Rob on numerous projects over the last 10 years. Impressed with his attention to detail, ability to listen to client’s needs, customer service skills and knowledge, his services are just what we need to assist us in our continued growth.

Rob has been involved in the design, installation and management of projects such as paver patios, retaining walls, seating walls, firepits, fireplaces, outdoor kitchens, natural stone patios, natural stone retaining walls, boulder accents, masonry applications, low voltage outdoor lighting, bed formations and plant installations. His product knowledge and vast experience will be a tremendous benefit to our clients.

We would like to welcome Rob to our team and urge you to consider Archadeck of Columbus for “All Your Outdoor Living Needs”.

Archadeck of Columbus

Paver Patio with Composite Deck — Synthetic Deck with Hot Tub and Paver Patio

(740) 879-3730

Web: www.columbus.archadeck.com

Email: westcolumbus@archadeck.net