Not all pavers are created equal! While we often think of concrete as more durable, some clay pavers – like the one shown at left – have triple the compression strength of a typical concrete paver. That makes for more durability and better wear over the long run on your patio or driveway. […]
Category: Features and Details
How to Make Sure a Paver Matches Your Home
Will my patio paver match my home? […]
Choosing a Paver: Wire-Cut or Pressed Clay
Wire-cut clay pavers have a more textured surface that can be helpful for high-traffic areas like your driveway or sidewalk. Pressed clay pavers might be more suitable for your patio. Learn the difference in this video with Jeff True. […]
Choosing a Paver: Flat or Smooth Surface
Pavers with a smooth surface work well on a patio or walkway, where chipping is unlikely. “Tumbled” or “cobbled” pavers have a rough surface, so that if chipping does occur if won’t stand out like a sore thumb. They’re an excellent choice for your driveway, where an errant snow plow could cause the occasional chip. […]
Pavers with Lugs
Pavers with lugs – raised areas like the ones on the paver above – are best used in driveway construction. The lugs allow for slight shifting during freeze-thaw cycles, so your pavers won’t grind and chip when you drive on them. […]
Concrete Pavers Changing Color Over Time
Different concrete pavers weather differently over time. This one changes color noticeably over time, as you can see by comparing a new paver to the same paver after some time outside. Whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing is for you and your landscape architect to decide. […]
Up and Away: Vertical Elements for the Garden
Many gardens remind us of their counterparts indoors—a living room, dining room or kitchen. The garden typically has a floor, walls and a ceiling made with plants and hardscape elements—things like pavers, decks, arbors and fences. Ground covers, such as hostas and ferns or coneflowers and catmint, along with the lawn, serve as the garden’s […]
Four Fire Pits for Chicago Landscapes
Fire pits are about as old as humankind – here at Hursthouse, we like to say that the first backyard fire pits were used to roast brontosaurus steak. People have always been drawn to fire for its beauty and warmth. And in the Chicago area, you can relax around an outdoor fire year-round. The same […]
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Paths to Beauty
Some gardens are more fascinating than others. They’re intriguing and inviting. The secret is often a well-designed path that leads to an interesting vista or focal point. “Paths are one of the most important elements in a garden,” says landscape architect Bob Hursthouse. Whether it’s made of brick, cut bluestone, slabs of limestone or grass, a […]