Category: Northern VA

Driveway Design in Northern Virginia

Ask any Realtor – they will inform you that the driveway style at your Northern Virginia house impacts its curb appeal. If your driveway looks terrific – then it adds worth to your house. However if your driveway looks terrible – in disrepair, split, and stained/discolored – you’ll discover that purchasers will be most likely to walk away from your house. When it does finally sell, you will get less for your house.

Here are some excellent driveway styles that might include excellent curb appeal for your Northern Virginia house:

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

Colored and Stamped “Brick” Concrete – concrete can be colored and marked to develop a “brick” appearance, for about half the expense of a brand-new brick driveway.

Stained and/or Textured Concrete – house owners can pick from a wide variety of colors to enhance their house, patterns can be marked and textures included for a personalized appearance.

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

Combined and Matched Materials

Some property owners are opting to blend a brand-new asphalt driveway with an ornamental border of bricks, pavers, or stamped and/or stained concrete.

To find out more about driveway style in Northern Virginia, please contact Premier Paving. Began in 1987, Premier Paving & & Planting, Inc. offers complimentary price quotes, and provides a complete compliment of high quality paving and landscape services, consisting of the setup of permeable and non-porous paver and hardscape surface areas and structures. NCMA and ICPI licensed, Premier Paving is certified and guaranteed, and brings an A+ ranking from Angie’s List.

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Do Flagstone Patios Perform Well in Northern Virginia?

Some folks considering flagstone wonder, “Do flagstone patios perform well in Northern Virginia?  The answer is yes – if they are installed and maintained correctly. For the purpose of this article, we will be talking about Bluestone flagstone, the most popular flagstone in the mid-Atlantic area.

Naturally Strong and Beautiful
Bluestone is a type of sandstone used in flagstone patios in Northern Virginia. Bluestone is naturally strong and beautiful; it comes in shades of blue, gray, and purple.

Bluestone flagstone can be cleft into flat slabs, which can be used to create a free-form natural looking patio. Or, if you prefer a more formal looking patio, Bluestone flagstone can be cut into 1-4 foot squares and rectangles, with straight edges and corners. Whatever type of Bluestone flagstone you choose, it needs to be at least 2 inches thick in order to avoid breakage.

While cleft Bluestone flagstone can be installed with sand, mortar is typically used. And when mortar is used, the patio needs to be installed on top of a stable slab. For a cut flagstone patio, mortar is always used.

Bluestone flagstone patios can be covered or left completely open. They can support heavy grills and outdoor kitchens, and are easy to keep clean. However, they do require a proper sealing to preserve color, to resist chlorine or salt water, and to protect from scratching and staining.

Weather Performance
Flagstones are natural stones, and flagstone patios hold up well under our weather in Northern Virginia. Flagstones do not expand and contract due to heat or cold, and that are not easily damaged by hail. Flagstones reflect the sun, and when temperatures soar, the stones can be quite hot on bare feet.

In the Fall and Spring, Bluestone flagstone patios should be swept and cleaned with a mild detergent. Any repairs needed should be done by an expert, such as Premier Paving & Planting. If flagstone patios in Northern Virginia haven’t been resealed in the last 5 years, a call to the Premier Paving & Planting can get that done quickly.

For more information about flagstone patios in Northern Virginia, please contact Premier Paving. Established in 1987, Premier Paving & Planting, Inc. provides free estimates, and delivers a full compliment of high quality landscape services, including concrete work and lawn and garden services, along with installation of permeable and non-porous paver and hardscape surfaces (such as flagstone) and structures. NCMA and ICPI certified, Premier Paving is licensed and insured, and carries an A+ rating from Angie’s List.

 

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.

 

Landscape Contractor: Retaining Walls Solve a Multitude of Issues in Northern VA

The experts at Premier Paving & Planting (a landscape contractor in Northern VA) know that retaining walls are a solution for many challenging landscaping and hardscaping issues.

While usually thought of in the context of fixing uneven or sloped terrains, retaining walls can be used in a multitude of situations. Got a flat yard? Retaining walls can be used to add dimension and interest around trees. Or you can use retaining walls to add some raised or tiered garden beds.

Retaining walls can be used with patios, steps, walkways, and driveways. For instance:

  • Retaining walls can be used to define a patio or multiple tiers of a patio, and for built-in seating. 
  • Retaining walls can be used to carve out an area for a specific purpose – such as an outdoor fireplace, fire pit, spa, pool, or play area. 
  • Retaining walls to establish boundaries or hold back earth for new stairs, walkways, and driveways.

For more information from a landscape contractor about retaining walls in Northern VA, please contact Premier Paving & Planting.