“Hardscaping,” consists of the inanimate elements of landscaping, especially any masonry work or woodwork. For example, natural stone walls, flagstone walkways, arbors, interlocking paver patios, koi ponds and waterfalls, fieldstone stepping stone paths, rain water harvesting, outdoor fire pits, kitchens, or chimneys, and even landscape lighting would all be considered part of the hardscape. ALB has experience with all of these projects and can perform them correctly the first time. We avoid shortcuts, many other companies use to lower the price because we offer a lifetime transferrable warranty on all of our segmental retaining walls and paver walkways, patios and paver driveways.
Don’t feel like shoveling snow ever again we can install a heated walkway and driveway apron with smart sensors. They will monitor humidity and air temperatures and only come on when the snow begins to fall. As the flakes land on the heated pavers they will melt away.
Our waterfalls, streams and ponds come in many sizes, styles and shapes because we use the thick free-form rubber liners. We can install just a stream and waterfall that disappears into the rocks. The pondless waterfalls can be turned off when you are not outside, because there is no biological reason to leave them running. You get the look and sound of the waterfalls but without the fish. But, if it is fish you like, we can create a complete biosphere and ecosystem in your back yard. We not only deliver Koi and fancy goldfish, snails, minnows, etc but also shallow, deep water and floating aquatic plants and a large variety of river rocks, flat stones and boulders. When we duplicate Mother Nature, it greatly reduces your maintenance requirements so you can just enjoy the fish.
Night Lighting: ALB landscape lighting design decisions are dependent on proposed uses for the lighting…for safety, security, property value, or enhancement of the beauty of the garden and structures. So, before deciding how and what to light, we must first ask, “Why light?” Most likely, the answer will be a combination of two or more of these uses. A technique can be employed to satisfy more than 1 requirement…for example; up-lighting a prominent tree near the house entrance will provide aesthetic enhancement, security, and safety. Landscape lighting design is similar to the design of the landscape itself: we must determine traffic patterns, focal points, use areas, mood, style, etc. We need to consider how the proposed lighting will enhance the color, form, and texture of the soft and hard landscape elements. Lighting should serve to unify both interior and exterior design themes, conceal what may be unattractive and shape the view of the landscape at night. The design process should begin with a site map, showing all landscape features and areas that need lighting. Fixtures and lamps are chosen for each area based on the desired effects …path lights for safe passage along walks and stairs, wash fixtures for silhouette effects against a wall, etc. One common mistake is to overlight; low levels of light create subtle beauty, and are often also sufficient for safety and security and save brighter lighting effects for focal points. After deciding on the placement and size of lighting fixtures, the electrical system is designed. The heart of the system is the transformer, which converts the household 120 volts into safe, efficient 12 volts, and delivers this voltage to several circuits. Using appropriately sized cables and approved connectors; fixtures are connected to the transformer. We use a variety of high quality manufactures and offer both incandescent and the new generation of LED’s (that last 10 times longer and use 1/10th of the energy.
FEATURED HARDSCAPING PRODUCTS
Techno-Bloc
http://nicolock.com/explore-products/
Ephenry.com
Belgard.com