Diamond Certified Experts: Building Your Backyard

Spring is in full swing and summer is just around the corner. If you want to be ready for fun in the sun, you’ll need to get the ball rolling on your backyard building projects. Whether you’re installing a patio or a pool, you can benefit from Helpful Expertise provided by industry professionals. We talked to six Diamond Certified Expert Contributors to gain insight on various aspects of backyard building.

Patio

The patio is the main hub of any backyard—a place to relax and enjoy the ambience of the outdoors without actually leaving your house. However, if your patio is outdated or disheveled, it may not make for much of an oasis. In this case, it may be time for a remodel. There are many material options for remodeling a backyard patio, including the following:

Concrete

When most people think of a concrete patio, they think of a plain, gray hardscape. In reality, there are countless ways to enliven a concrete patio, including different colors, decorative finishes and patterns. Russell Calhoon, project manager at Paradigm Concrete & Construction, Inc., gives a tip for choosing a pattern design for a stamped concrete patio. “Concrete installations typically have scored joints—thin, uniform lines that help decrease cracking,” he explains. “For this reason, when it comes to stamped concrete, it’s usually best to choose a random pattern. Uniform, linear patterns often don’t look right when applied to surfaces with scored joints because the lines in the pattern clash with the joint lines.”

Interlocking pavers

Pavers are an especially versatile patio material—they’re available in a wide variety of colors and textures and they can be arranged in custom patterns. Hayley Johnson, owner of The Legacy Paver Group, recommends choosing permeable pavers because they make paving stone features more environmentally-friendly. “By allowing water to drain through the paver joints and filter down into the ground, they help replenish the water table,” she explains. “Regular pavers allow for a little bit of this, but they’re graded in a way that causes most of the water to run off. Plus, some cities actually require permeable pavers.”

Outdoor porcelain tile

“Outdoor porcelain tile differs from its indoor counterparts with attributes like increased thickness and nonslip engineering for safety underfoot,” says Roger Van Alst, president of Black Diamond Paver Stones & Landscape, Inc. “It’s extremely durable and eye-catchingly beautiful. It can be finished to simulate different types of wood and natural stone, and manufacturers have even developed a screen printing technique that makes it look absolutely stunning in outdoor environments.”

Shade

Everyone enjoys a little sunshine, but without some kind of shade, it can quickly become too much of a good thing. Chih Ling Han, owner of Acme Sunshades Enterprise Inc., goes over some shade options for your outdoor living space:

Awnings

The most traditional shade solution, awnings provide rain protection and shade for patios, entryways, and windows. They’re available in different styles, including fabric or metal standing seam, as well as stationary or retractable. Retractable awnings can be motorized to open and close via remote control.

Canopies

Canopies are similar to awnings but they extend further out to shade larger areas. This makes them ideal for pools, patios and decks. Like awnings, canopies can be fabric or metal as well as stationary or retractable.

Roman shades

Exterior Roman shades are low-profile options that can be installed onto any freestanding wood or metal pergola. Available in solid fabric or mesh, Roman shades are fully adjustable and easily detachable for removal as needed.

Artificial Lawn

The popularity of artificial lawns has risen steeply over the last couple of decades, largely thanks to the wide range of practical benefits they provide. While the most obvious benefit of synthetic turf is water conservation, Troy Scott, owner of Heavenly Greens, says this is just the tip of the iceberg. He lists the following benefits:

No mowing, watering, fertilizing, reseeding or general maintenance
No pesticides, fertilizers or emissions from gas-powered maintenance equipment
Reduces the effects of allergies (artificial grass doesn’t generate or hold pollen like real grass does)
Prevents gopher infestations
Enables children to be active year-round
Pet-friendly

When choosing an artificial turf product, Mr. Scott says most people focus on aesthetics, but it’s also important to look at functional aspects like the installation’s base. “An artificial lawn requires a strong base underneath to provide support. It also needs to be permeable in order to facilitate proper drainage. It’s recommended for most artificial turf installations to have a base that’s at least three inches thick.”

Mr. Scott recommends looking into specialty base options like AirDrain (a cellular grid that provides superior drainage), Gopher Guard (which protects against rodent damage) and PDS Tile (which ensures proper drainage for turf that’s installed above nonpermeable surfaces).

Outdoor Kitchen Island

If you want to take your backyard living experience to the next level, an outdoor kitchen island may be just the thing. Mr. Van Alst lists some important aspects to address when designing an outdoor kitchen island:

Seating

When designing your outdoor island, be sure to consider the entertaining area. You want to make sure your guests have the best possible view, so consider what they’ll be looking at while they’re seated. You should also consider the proximity of the barbecue to the seating area.

Countertops

Countertops are important for aesthetics, but they also play a crucial functional role. Granite is a popular choice because it offers both beauty and durability. Tile is another popular choice with several options available, including outdoor porcelain tile.

Features

Outdoor kitchen islands can accommodate an almost limitless number of features. Fire features (such as a fire table) provide ambience and warmth on cooler nights. Refrigerators and icemakers make it easy to store perishables and serve cold beverages.

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