Month: February 2016

Erosion Control for your Northern Virginia Home

Erosion control is important because it preserves the structural integrity of your home, keeps your basement from flooding, and prevents the destruction of your landscaping.

What does erosion look like?

  • Worn away soil near structures
  • Flooded basement
  • Muddy water in the gutter or driveway
  • Bare spots on your lawn or property
  • Exposed tree roots
  • Small rills or gullies on slopes
  • Soil splashes on your windows and outside walls
  • Sediment that collects in low areas or on pavement

What can you do to control the erosion?

  • Add downspout or sump pump extensions (non-perforated corrugated plastic pipes) can be attached to the downspouts to direct flow further from the house. The pipes can either be laid on the ground surface or buried underground.
  • Have permeable pavers and other porous natural materials installed to minimize storm-water runoff from driveways, walkways, and patios
  • Plant vegetation that is better suited to your landscape conditions. Plant groundcover in areas difficult to mow (as opposed to leaving the site bare). Plant hardy shrubs  and trees with deep roots, and add mulch or compost to manage moisture around roots.
  • Add a french drain – a long trench dug into the ground that is filled with gravel to redirect water away from an area and carry it elsewhere.
  • Amend soil where needed to make it more stable, less likely to run off.
  • For areas with heavy foot traffic, stepping stones or a gravel or mulch path can be used to cover and protect eroded areas.
  • For steep slopes, consider adding retaining walls or terraces, with good drainage
    systems.

For more information on erosion control in Northern Virginia, please contact the erosion control specialists at Premier Paving & Planting. They will come out to your home, assess the situation, and discuss a solution tailored to the needs of your home, landscape, and budget.

 

Driveway Design Affects the Curb Appeal of your Springfield VA Home

Ask any Realtor – they will tell you that the driveway design at your Springfield VA home affects its curb appeal. If your driveway looks great – then it adds value to your home. But if your driveway looks awful – in disrepair, cracked, and stained/discolored – you’ll find that buyers will be more likely to pass on your home. And when it does eventually sell, you will get less for your home.

Here are some great driveway designs that could add great curb appeal to your Springfield VA home:

Driveway Patterns – using pavers to create concentric circles, basket weave patterns, sunbursts, or patterns within borders.

Dyed and Stamped “Brick” Concrete – concrete can be dyed and stamped to create a “brick” look, for about half the cost of a new brick driveway.

Stained and/or Textured Concrete – homeowners can select from a multitude of colors to compliment their home, patterns can be stamped and textures added for a customized look.

Porous Pavers or Paving Bricks – with the addition of hardy ground covers, such as blue star creeper (Isotoma fluviatilis) and Corsican mint (Mentha requienii), you can have a natural looking driveway that melds into your landscaping.

 

Mixed and Matched Materials

Some homeowners are choosing to mix a new asphalt driveway with a decorative border of bricks, pavers, or stamped and/or stained concrete.

 

For more information about driveway design in Springfield VA, please contact Premier Paving. Established in 1987, Premier Paving & Planting, Inc. provides free estimates, and delivers a full compliment of high quality paving and landscape services, including the installation of permeable and non-porous paver and hardscape surfaces and structures. NCMA and ICPI certified, Premier Paving is licensed and insured, and carries an A+ rating from Angie’s List.