Hardscape Design: A Landscaping Art Form To Complement Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina Nature

Take a closer look at the beauty and versatility of concrete. From driveways to pool decks, concrete can turn your outdoor space into a stylish and practical living space. Concrete is much more than boring gray slabs. It can be textured, colored, or patterned to create an intricate and inviting look that shines with personality. Use concrete to beautify these different elements of your landscape:

• driveways
• parking pads
• walkways
• patios
• pool decks
• outdoor living spaces
• stairs
• fountains
• outdoor fireplaces

Explore the Different Options in Concrete

The options for patios, pool decks, and other outdoor living spaces are endless when you choose to hardscape with concrete pavers. From acid-etch stains and color admixtures to concrete etching and overlays, the science and art of concrete appeals to many homeowners. Acid, polymer and other chemical stains are not paints or coatings; they are a coloring process that initiates a chemical reaction with a cementitious surface.

Another option is a water-based concrete stain. These are typically composed of acrylic resins that do not react chemically with cementitious materials. Instead, they deeply penetrate the concrete surface, thus coloring it and protecting it against harmful elements. Water-based acrylics resist fading and abrasion and comply with even the strictest air quality regulations due to their very low VOC (volatile organic compound) content.

Have you ever heard of tabby concrete? Tabby was a type of concrete first made in the seventeenth century. It was created by burning oyster shells to create lime, then mixing it with water, wood ashes, local sand and broken oyster shells. Actually, Beaufort, South Carolina was both the primary center and the location of the earliest British tabby in the southeastern United States. Examples of tabby's history include a smokehouse on Botany Bay Plantation, located on Edisto Island in South Carolina. Beaufort County, South Carolina, is thought to be home to the most tabby ruins, including Retreat Plantation where the tabby ruins extend 150 feet and stand three stories high.

Now, when we talk of tabby concrete, we talk about a hybrid of the original that has been strengthened to be more resilient. Today's tabby concrete has broken shells visible in the finished product as a nod to the oyster shells used in the original concrete. It is commonly used in driveways, stairs, fountains, and outdoor fireplaces.

Combine Elements for a Unique Installation

One hardscape solution we find particularly attractive is a walkway constructed of stone. Choose from paving stones, flagstone or bluestone. Or, be a little different and combine stone with pavers and concrete! Whichever technique you choose to fit your vision and budget, our landscape installation crew will fit it perfectly into your landscape.

Replace Old, Unattractive Concrete Elements with Something You Love

Does your home already have elements of concrete that have seen better days? Give your landscape a fresh new look by replacing that old, uninviting, cracked concrete with a new and durable installation from Pleasant Landscapes. Our products are always high quality, and our service is always first rate. We aim to please! See more about our Service Guarantee and Customer Service Commitment.