Some of the most functional and beautiful elements on your property can be the walkways, driveway, sidewalks and paths..
WALKWAYS & DRIVEWAYS adding beauty to functionality
Building walkways or pathways may be an ideal option for homeowners looking to connect point A to point B in a landscape. Is foot traffic across a portion of your lawn causing unsightly wear marks on your grass? Including a walkway or pathway in your landscape design could be just the answer to solve this problem.
What is the difference between a "walkway" and a "pathway?" Pathways tend to meander and are often used in more natural settings, while walkways are more permanent additions that often serve a particular purpose. Many times, walkways lead to a place, such as a door, while pathways are used for less formal settings as a way to enjoy the atmosphere.
Pathways and walkways are commonly constructed using different types of materials. Natural materials such as loose gravel or mulch are common choices in pathways, whereas walkways are usually formed from stable materials like poured concrete, large slabs of stone, or pavers. A final foundational difference between walkways and pathways is their width. Walkways, 4- to 6-feet wide, are typically much wider than pathways, 2- to 3-feet wide, to allow for side-by-side walking.
Driveway paving materials fall into two main categories: solid-surface (i.e., smooth, seamless, even surfaces) and aggregate-surface. The most popular options lie in the first category, led by asphalt and concrete. Aggregate-surface driveway paving materials include gravel and crushed stone.
Driveway pavers lie somewhere in between these two main categories. Although they are individual components pieced together to form a whole, some types of driveway pavers can, if laid properly, form an almost seamless even surface, with no raised areas to give your snowblower fits. The "odd ball" of driveway paving materials is tar-and-chip. It is similar to asphalt, but it doesn't provide a smooth enough surface for snowblowing.
Why Bother Landscaping Driveways?
The entrance to your driveway is also the entrance to your yard, as a whole. How your driveway entrance is landscaped, especially when a property is bordered by a fence or wall (thereby focusing attention on the entrance) sets the tone for the viewer's perception of the whole yard. Moreover, in terms of square feet (relative to the rest of the yard) and visual prominence, a driveway can be a major component of a yard. That's a good reason for landscaping a driveway along its entire length. Passing up the opportunity to do so relegates the driveway to the status of a long scar running up and down your yard, a scar you're just trying to forget about. Landscaping driveways with attention and creativity is a cornerstone of successful curb appeal.
Our designers can help you with all types of choices of material and design on driveways, walkways, sidewalks and pathways!