The Best Hardscaping Materials for Homeowners in Illinois

Hardscaping is a kind of feature for your backyard that offers practical, aesthetic, and economic benefits. It is incredibly durable, has lower maintenance as opposed to organic materials (like plants and lawns), and helps increase your usable outdoor space and property value. Hardscaping offers a lot of pros and can truly transform your landscape. But what kind of hardscaping materials should you seriously consider, and how does that impact your landscape? With this handy article, we’ll be able to provide helpful insights that will provide you with more clarity for your next big outdoor project. So, let’s dig into the most highly recommended materials we like to use, especially for homes in the Davenport, Bettendorf, & Moline, IA, areas!

Strong Concrete Pavers for Your Hardscaping Material

What are the Benefits of Using Concrete as a Material?

Concrete is a very popular hardscaping material, and for good reason. It is incredibly tough, which comes in handy during extremely cold winters in the Midwest. If they are installed properly, they won’t be vulnerable to cracking or shifting. They are able to support heavy foot traffic, furniture, vehicles, and even snow plows. Just because they are durable and strong doesn’t mean they aren’t flexible. In fact, they offer a lot of options and ways you can customize them. You can stamp, stain, or polish them to look like natural stone, tile, or wood.

Compared to other options, concrete is also rather cost-effective. By being priced between $110–$180 per cubic yard, it is a good option for homeowners who are on a budget. While you do have to factor in delivery fees, the type of concrete, where you’re located, and the size of your project, concrete still proves itself to be a cost-effective option you can consider for your backyard, front yard, or both. Since it can last well over 30 years, it’ll be a worthwhile investment for your home. One that won’t be impacted by weathering, lose its color, or weaken if it is installed properly and with high-quality materials.

Best Ways That Concrete Pavers Can Be Used for Your Yard

There are many ways that you can use concrete pavers. One of the most popular options are patios. Concrete pavers can be used to create patios of all shapes and styles. You can arrange them into fancy patterns and different colors if you want a more vibrant, unique design. You can style them in an organized manner with just plain grey colors for a more modern, sleek look. You can even integrate fire pits and built-in seating into your concrete to make a space more welcoming for friends and family. Additionally, since concrete is able to withstand a lot of weight, you can use concrete pavers for your driveway. They also offer better drainage than poured concrete. This is because the pavers have more spaces in between them, as well as having a more cost-effective way of repairing them since individual pavers can be removed.

Other ways you can use concrete outside of just patios and pavers are by using them as borders or edging. They can border and define the edges of your flower beds, lawns, or pathways. This helps make your yard look neater while also serving the practical benefit of keeping mulch and soil in place. You can use them as retaining walls to manage slopes and create retaining walls for your garden beds. These retaining walls can be used to sit on, prevent soil erosion, and make your yard look more neat and well-structured. Lastly, you can use concrete pavers if you want to install an outdoor kitchen. Since concrete pavers are durable and easy to clean, they’d make a welcome addition to any cooking or eating area you might want to incorporate in your yard.

Classic Brick Pavers for a Timeless Aesthetic Hardscaping

Why Should You Consider Getting Brick Pavers?

Brick pavers bring a kind of warmth and traditional charm that many homeowners still gravitate toward. They’re especially ideal if you’re aiming to keep your landscape design more timeless rather than chasing trends. One of the best things about brick pavers is their color retention. Since the color of a brick paver comes from natural clay rather than artificial dyes, they hold up well against fading over time, even through years of spring hardscaping and summer sun. They’re also quite strong, especially when used in walkways or patios. While they can chip in some cases, they’re easy to replace and don’t typically crack the way poured concrete does. That makes maintenance more manageable. Although they don’t have the customization options that concrete offers, their natural texture, rustic color, and reliable performance make them a classic choice that fits just about any yard.

Excellent Ideas for Using Brick Pavers in Your Yard

Brick pavers can be used in a wide range of ways, from patio bases to charming pathways that guide you through your garden. Many homeowners love how brick pavers give their yard an “established” feel, as though the landscape has matured and settled into its space. If you want to create a focal point, you can even use brick pavers to outline a fire pit area or build walkways that wind their way toward a seating area under a pergola. You can also use brick pavers to build small retaining walls or border plant beds. It’s a smart way to define spaces while still maintaining a cohesive, natural look. When paired with the right greenery or flowering plants, the earthy red and brown tones of brick can make your landscaping feel vibrant and grounded. In Illinois, where seasonal changes can be harsh, brick pavers also hold up well and can add structure during spring cleanups or replanting efforts.

Get Natural Stone to Provide a Natural Style for Hardscaping

What are the Best Kinds of Natural Stone for Your Yard?

Natural stone is one of those materials that almost instantly elevates the look and feel of a yard. It blends well with both formal and rustic designs and feels right at home in natural landscapes. Some of the most commonly used types include flagstone, slate, limestone, and bluestone. Each of these comes in unique colors and textures that allow you to create a one-of-a-kind layout for your outdoor space. Flagstone is popular for patios and pathways because of its flat shape and rugged texture. Limestone, on the other hand, has a smoother finish and lighter tones, which can brighten shady areas in your yard. Bluestone is incredibly dense and great for colder climates, making it ideal for spring hardscaping tasks that might involve expansion and contraction through temperature shifts. Each option has its strengths, so it really depends on the look you’re going for and how you plan to use the space.

Creative Ways You can Use Natural Stone for Your Landscape

The beauty of natural stone is that it doesn’t try too hard. It just works. You can use it to build a custom patio, create a natural-looking path to your garden, or line a water feature with smooth river rock. In fact, many homeowners like to use different types of stone together for texture and contrast. Large slabs of flagstone can be laid for a patio, with smaller pebbles filling the gaps, giving you a look that feels curated but organic. Natural stone also works well in vertical structures like garden walls or water features. Because no two stones are exactly alike, the finished product always feels custom-built. You can also use the stone to build steps on a sloped yard, keeping your space accessible while still blending in with the environment. Whether you use it as the main material or as a supporting feature alongside brick or concrete pavers, natural stone always makes a visual statement.

Conclusion

In conclusion, there are so many choices you can choose between for your hardscaping project. From classic brick pavers to solid concrete pavers, we’re sure you’ll be able to find the perfect material for your backyard. By thinking carefully about your hardscaping and what materials you want to use, you can create a backyard you’ll love to look at and be in.

However, many homeowners can be undecided about what they want or concerned they’re not factoring in important details into their decision. We get that, so that’s why we’ve got your back.
At Green Acres, we consider ourselves experts at anything involving landscaping, lawn care, and hardscaping. By employing our services, you can be assured you’ll always have a landscape built with precision and passion. We always keep our customers up to date and never stray from our customer’s unique vision. If you’re interested in having us help bring your hardscaping ideas to fruition, you can contact us today, and we’ll get back to you ASAP.