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WALLS,
WALKWAYS AND PATIOS
Define
your outdoor living space with patios, walks and walls. These
hardscape features can be constructed of a variety of materials
that vary widely in cost and durability. Here's a look at
some of the more popular choices:
Brick: For that warm colonial look your material of
choice is brick. Brick is available in huge selections of
colors and textures. Generally, two sizes are available: modular,
to be finished in mortar so the finished size per brick is
4"x8". The second size is actually 4"x 8"
and is set mortarless (for walks and patios). For an equivalent
square footage, brick is the most expensive because there
are more small pieces and more labor overall. In general,
a brick wall will run between $70 and $80 per square foot
and a brick patio will cost between $15 and $50 square foot
depending entirely upon whether it is mortared or dry-set,
curvilinear or straight, or has a complex or simple pattern.
Stone: Nothing bridges the home to the landscape better
than stone. It is available in wide selection of colors, sizes
and textures. It lends itself well to curvilinear forms and
can be set "dry" or mortared in. An example of a
popular application is dry-stack garden walls where thin stone,
roughly 8x8 inches but in irregular cuts is laid flat to form
the wall. The wall appears loose or dry but is actually bonded
from behind with an application of mortar. The top layers
are sealed with mortar or construction adhesive. The finished
look is reminiscent of a cottage garden. Use the same stone
selection in larger sizes for a garden patio. Connect the
patio with stone walks to deck areas or garden paths. Another
look for a stone retaining wall is stone applied as veneer
to a base construction of concrete block. This is a good choice
when you want a larger stone look to match a veneer application
on your home or have a larger (3' or higher) retaining wall.
Achieve a look of higher relief in your patios by screeding
brick chips or stone screenings between the larger stone instead
of mortar. This is one way to reduce cost and is suitable
for walkways as well. Or try just setting the stone directly
in the sod; the effect is great for preserving as much of
green as possible yet still providing a hard surface for walking
or entertaining.
Pre-Cast Concrete: The term cast concrete brings to
mind large sections of pre-stressed concrete used in bridge
construction. But it can also mean concrete pavers or 'engineered'
stone. Early products looked rather unappealing, but new offerings
have the appearance of natural hewn stone or cobblestone.
Special patterns are available, such as circle kits, and the
product can even be bought distressed to enhance the natural
look.
One popular retaining wall is provided by Versalok. Stones
are produced in four different sizes and can be laid in a
pattern that rivals stone in appearance. But the real virtue
of these systems is that they are pre-engineered to withstand
the stress imposed by a holding back a large embankment and
can be built as high as ten feet. The paver systems for patios
and walks provide a matching texture and look and are durable
and relatively care free. Because they are mortarless systems,
weed seed can fall between the cracks in the pavers, but round-up
and a hosing should keep that down.
Wood: Treated wood provides the least expensive solution
for retaining walls and walks, but it also the least durable.
Expect to replace wood retaining walls in 15-20 years. The
cost per square foot is roughly $14.
A drawback to wood is that you are generally limited to straight
walls and edges. This can be somewhat restrictive in the landscape
design and sense of flow. But where the budget is the overriding
concern, treated wood can provide a quick and least-cost solution
and provides a natural textured look and feel.
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