We are proud to announce that Archadeck of Columbus has been awarded the Unilock Authorized Contractor award for the second consecutive year!
Each year, Unilock awards a few select contractors the esteemed Authorized Contractor status. Here in Ohio and Western PA, only 125 contractors were chosen from a list of 3,000 Unilock dealers in the region. We are proud to announce that Archadeck of Columbus has been named an Authorized Contractor for the second consecutive year!
As part of being named an Authorized Contractor, we were also able to visit their plant that services the Ohio region. The visit was a very rewarding experience and we were able to see first-hand how their pavers are made. We were able to take a look at some of the new product line introductions and we are excited about working with their new products in 2014! Among the highlights of the visit was learning more about their Enduracolor line of pavers.
Enduracolor pavers are made from high-quality aggregate including quartz and granite. The process involves making a standard paver first where the top layer is high-quality cement then adding a pigmenting layer containing minimal aggregate. The result is a paver that has a compression strength that is 10 times stronger than poured concrete and looks fantastic. The Enduracolor line is definitely the “beauty and the beast” of pavers, as they provide strength and the aesthetics homeowners are looking for to use in their hardscape and patio designs.
The Avante Ashlar paver features a random, interlocking appearance.
Unilock started selling the Enduracolor line last year with a couple of products. They have introduced even more products to the line this year. The Enduracolor Plus line of products takes the concept a step further with the addition of natural stone like quartz and granite. The Enduracolor Plus colors in their ultra-high-end “select” line and include Richcliff, Umbriano and Copthorne. These pavers come with a guarantee from Unilock that their color will never fade.
This walkway was built using EnduraColor in Il Campo — beautiful!
In the Enduracolor line, the new color additions include from a khaki color all the way to darker brown which can be seen in their sycamore color paver. The trend to add darker pavers this year comes from the trend towards the use of darker colors within the market. The Enduracolor line includes Beacon Hill flagstone, Avante Ashlar, Il Campo and Thornbury.
Here at Archadeck of Columbus, we use a lot of the Beacon Hill series in our hardscape designs. Beacon Hill is popular with our clients and comes in three beautiful colors, River, Sierra and the new introduction of Sycamore. As an authorized contractor, Unilock backs up our warranty for two years in addition to the strong warranties we already have in place for our customers!
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
We are very proud, once again to be awarded as an authorized contractor. We will continue to provide the highest quality products to homeowners in building the patio, retaining wall or other hardscape structure of their dreams! Contact Archadeck of Columbus today to learn more. (740) 879 – 3730 westcolumbus@archadeck.net
See our beautiful hardscape and patio designs by visiting our hardscape and patio photo gallery located on our website.
Archadeck of Columbus discusses the color trends in hardscapes.
This CAD design rendering showcases some of the hottest trends in hardscape designs.
As an outdoor structure design and build company, we pay close attention to the color trends in all aspects of outdoor living spaces. Hardscapes in particular are ever becoming a more popular choice. Whether your vision of a hardscape is a retaining wall to border your landscape, or a patio, a path or seating wall, choosing the right color is important to your overall satisfaction with your new outdoor space.
This patio and deck combination matches the exterior of this home beautifully and also includes a sailor course border for added contrast.
Among the many color trends we are seeing in hardscapes are homeowner’s choosing colors that closely match their home. Choosing a color to closely match the exterior of your home is more easily achieved through stain and stamp style applications. Pavers have a lot more variations within each color because they are blends, which can be a little trickier to getting an exact match. Earth tones are being used more readily, which encompass a neutral base and allows for easier color matching options.
Contrasting colors are also popular with hardscape designs. One way to incorporate contrast through color is by adding a border to your hardscape. Soldier course and sailor course borders are popular. A soldier course involves the brick, or paver, used as a border or edging standing up, whereas a sailor course lies down flush with the patio. With borders, like a sailor course, darker ribbons around the edges of your hardscape not only add a stunning contrast, but they also serve as an outline to indicate where the edge of the patio ends. Texture is just as important as color and is also a great medium used to add contrast. Right now the old Chicago style street banding is being requested frequently. This style involves changing the color in the banding to deliver a vintage look. We are seeing a lot more variations in banding by using red bricks too. You may also consider using two different color pavers, with different textures to add contrast to your design. A good example of this approach is using a standard brick with a soldier course in tumbled brick, or using a traditional clay paver with an embossed finish. Choosing a hardscape professional that is inclined to “think outside the box” will help you achieve a unique contrast within your hardscape structure.
Among the most popular multiple living structure combinations is the deck and patio.
In order to get a beautiful, on trend hardscape you don’t always have to use contrast. You can still achieve a stunning effect by playing up the darker and lighter tones of the same hardscape material. When using pavers, the same pallet will hold different degrees of dark and light pavers within the same color base, and when installed to play up these difference you can create a breathtaking finished project.
The curved seating wall and fire pit is a great way to add vertical dimension to this patio in Columbus, OH.
Along with color, texture and contrast there are still a myriad of ways to bring out the individuality in your hardscape. A great way to add vertical interest to areas like retaining and seating walls and built-in grills is to use different kinds of curving. If you have a slightly raised bed outside your patio there are curving products that can add dimension and elevation to the patio. Among my personal favorite of growing trends are multi-level outdoor spaces that include fire features, seating walls and even pillars. Pillars add drama and vertical dimension and can even include lights in them to shine down on the face of the pillar. We often see coach lights used on top with different bands which can be used at both ends of a seating wall or to define an entrance into the backyard or a walkway leading to a patio. Curving can even be used on the front of your home to add flair; this can be achieved through concrete steps, or even adding a new paver walkway that leads to your entry. Hardscapes in the front of your home will also add a tremendous amount of curb appeal.
Throughout 2012, and continuing into 2013 multiple living spaces remain big. This includes combinations of hardscape spaces and deck or paver spaces. As we look into the New Year we anticipate the popularity of solar paver lights to increase. These pavers have replaceable batteries and can last for up to 100,000 hours. Unilock offers a solar paver, as well as a line of glowing pavers that charge during the day and glow at night giving the appearance of “glowing in the dark”. These unique additions to the Unilock line of quality products are great for creating ambiance.
Michael Reeder, Archadeck of Columbus
Let Archadeck of Columbus keep you up to date on the latest trends in outdoor living designs. We specialize in creating a space for you that provides function and beauty beyond your wildest dreams. Contact us today for a free consultation (740) 879 – 3730
westcolumbus@archadeck.net
This composite deck in Washington Courthouse, OH is so much more than a deck. It is an outdoor oasis that is so functional and breathtaking in it’s design it has gained media attention and won numerous awards. Archadeck of Columbus was able to weave a cohesive design using the highest quality materials and expert craftsmanship that indulges the senses with a deck that incorporates a hot tub deck flanked by a pergola and privacy wall, an outdoor fireplace, grilling area, custom planters and retaining walls, and every expert detail you could imagine.
This composite deck by Archadeck of Columbus is a virtual fantasy of relaxation and elegance.
If you were to imagine the backyard of your dreams, what would it look like and what functions would it address for you and your family? Imagine being able to soak in the hot tub on your custom hot tub deck on a cool autumn evening while listening to the crackling of a fire burning in your own outdoor fireplace. This outdoor structure takes advantage of mingling two of nature’s most mesmerizing elements – fire and water.
Archadeck of Columbus has created a masterpiece of design with this multi-level deck complete with an outdoor fireplace for the ultimate in backyard enjoyment.
This outdoor living area flows effortlessly in a carefully planned series of functional vignettes that make the structure a joy to use for these Washington Courthouse, OH homeowners, and indeed a feast for the eyes as well.
When we began to plan and design the structure we were given a blank canvas to work our magic on because the home was brand new. The landscaper had completed the landscape design and brought us into enhance the home and landscape for the homeowners with an outdoor structure design that would bring out the best of every attribute of the stunning home and the landscape. The homeowners were looking for a design that would be great for entertaining on a grand scale with plenty of room for a crowd as well as the capability to play on the structures ability to create intimacy in a way that would be comfortable for a smaller crowd. Another crucial design element the homeowners wanted is a planting area incorporated into the deck.
Here is an awe-inspiring view of the entire structure from the backyard of the Washington Courthouse, OH home.
In order to achieve complete harmony in relation to the home the color selections played a huge role and tied everything together. We matched the brick used on the outdoor fireplace to the brick on the home. We also chose a color for the large composite deck that would blend beautifully with the stonework and columns and pillars that were used to create this magnificent outdoor structure. We even matched the lanterns that are used throughout the structure atop the caps on the retaining walls to continue the neutral, rustic feel that is present throughout the design of the entire structure.
This image shows the beautiful colors and the realistic wood grain of the composite decking used on this fabulous deck.
We chose to use composite decking material on the deck. Composites are ultra low maintenance and don’t require staining or sealing. Composites are also scratch and stain resistant, and many are impervious to insects, mold and mildew as well. They are also long-lasting and cannot be damaged by the moisture which is present when you use the hot tub. With this particular deck, using composites gave us the freedom to install the decking boards on a beautifully interesting angle which only adds to the appeal of the deck.
Notice how the design and placement of the hot tub deck, pergola and privacy wall offers shade and intimacy for the homeowners when the hot tub is in use.
The pergola which is placed above the hot tub to add character and offer some shade in deflecting the suns rays is made from vinyl by Mt. Hope Fence, Ltd. The privacy wall which matches the pergola, is also constructed of vinyl as well. Vinyl is a durable material which offers many of the same attributes of composite decking in that it is durable, maintenance free and won’t succumb to rot, insect damage and decay like wood can. The choice to use vinyl alongside the composites means this deck and the details used within the deck will give these Washington Courthouse, OH homeowners many years of carefree enjoyment without the worry of painting or staining in the future.
Careful attention was paid to every detail from the columns to the paver border used on this entrance into the home from the deck.
The stone surround and retaining walls were constructed using Celtic retaining walls by Belgard. The retaining walls gives strong concrete elements and uses the aspects of old stone to create an elegant old world appeal. By using this high quality innovative retaining wall system by Belgard, Archadeck of Columbus was able to facilitate the creation of curves within the retaining walls surrounding the deck that would not have been possible by using natural stone or other materials.
Archadeck of Columbus paid close attention to every detail within the composite deck and accompanying structures. From the color choices made to paint the columns and pillars that help frame the beauty of the deck’s entrances into the home, to the use of custom paver borders used to outline and enhance the grill area. No stone was left unturned in terms of the use of cohesive design within this structure. The pairing of stone, composites, vinyl, and detailing truly creates a match made in heaven for this home in Washington Courthouse, OH.
The perfect place for a backyard barbecue.
We were able to create a masterpiece of beauty, design, functionality and enjoyment with this outdoor structure. The homeowners continue to enjoy their new deck and all it’s amenities more and more each day. This is truly the outdoor oasis of their dreams, and they get to live the reality each day, and for many years to come as well.
If you have a dream of creating an outdoor oasis within your backyard, contact Archadeck of Columbus to turn that dream into a reality. Call us at (740) 879 – 3730 or email us at westcolumbus@archadeck.net to learn more.
Each year, Unilock awards a few select contractors the esteemed Authorized Contractor status. Here in Ohio and Western PA, only 125 contractors were chosen from a list of 3,000 Unilock dealers in the region. We are proud to announce that Archadeck of Columbus has been named an Authorized Contractor for the second consecutive year!
Columbus Decks, Porches and Patios by Archadeck of Columbus 