When it comes to residential property design, most homeowners desire a blend of landscaping and hardscaping elements. Before you consider your next project, learn what hardscaping is and how it improves your property’s aesthetics and function. Your local ready mix concrete supplier can provide and install the materials you need to create an eye-catching exterior design.

What Is Hardscaping?

While landscaping involves green elements, such as flowers, shrubs, herbs, and trees, hardscaping uses non-living components made of concrete, natural stone, metal, brick, and wood. Concrete retaining walls, brick patios, wooden gazebos, metal fences, and stone walkways are among the most popular hardscape options. Water features, such as stone and clay pot fountains, also fall under the hardscape umbrella. Most hardscaping projects require professional installation due to the intense labor involved, such as laying a patio or erecting a retaining wall.

Why Should You Consider Hardscaping?

• Low Maintenance: Other than periodic cleaning with a garden hose, hardscaping elements require little maintenance. There’s no mowing, pruning, or replanting required to keep hardscape elements looking great. 

• Water Efficient: Because hardscaping features do not need water to flourish, they keep your utility bills reasonable and reduce your household carbon footprint. Since retaining walls and other hardscape features from your ready mix concrete supplier do not require water, other nutrients, and specific weather conditions to survive, they look fantastic year-round. 

• Increased Property Value: Hardscaping elements add value to your property by creating outdoor living spaces. Patios, for example, increase square footage while providing more usable space outdoors. 

• Added Dimensions: Staggered retaining walls, pathways leading to groves of trees and shrubs, fencing, and pergolas add dimension to flat properties. They increase privacy while creating visuals that stimulate the senses. 

• Erosion Prevention: Soil erosion can lead to foundation damage and standing water on your property. Your ready mix concrete supplier will help you plan a hardscape project that controls this process to save money, time, and aggravation. Erosion control also keeps soil and silt out of local waterways. 

Whether you need a retaining wall or other concrete hardscaping elements to enhance your property, count on Schreiter Ready Mix & Materials. The ready mix concrete supplier is one of the few in the O’Fallon, MO, area that adds color and decorative rock to blends. Visit this Redi-Rock® authorized supplier online for more product information or call (636) 240-2600 to schedule concrete pouring. Get additional hardscape tips on Facebook.