Spartan Mowers Releases 2025 Product Lineup
Jessica Schwartz
Get Equipped: Hardscape Projects
This assortment of equipment and solutions for hardscape projects can add value to your professional lawn care and landscaping services. ClifRock™ Panel System The ClifRock™ Panel System utilizes engineered molds that save money and time, while preserving the same strength, aesthetics, and durability of natural stone. ClifRock precast panels are taken from exact impressions of real stone pieces that were hand-selected by a stone mason with 20 years of experience. Featuring the natural texturing, color, and finish of real stone, they can be made in almost any color and profile—from rough-cut sandstone to chunky river rock. ClifRock collaborated with one of the world’s leading concrete chemists to develop a panel mixture that provides resistance to higher temperatures, stability through freezing temperatures and ensuing thaws, and superior strength. The Panel Masonry™ technology used combines the appearance of stone with simplified installation and lifetime durability. Eco-Promenade® Permeable Paver from Unilock® Unilock’s Eco-Promenade plank-style permeable paver is appropriate for residential or commercial projects, including pedestrian or vehicular applications. The Eco-Promenade paver employs spacer bars to create a 7mm gap between the units. When installed on an open-graded base with a fine stone chip joint infill, Eco-Promenade pavers allow water to flow directly through to the earth and away from storm drains and sewer systems. Utilizing Unilock EnduraColor™ technology, the refined surface is achieved with a two-step manufacturing process that combines a base of coarser aggregates with concentrated color and wear-resistant finer aggregates. This process protects the appearance from fading over time because the ...
Hardscape Trends For Outdoor Living
As homeowners embraced outdoor living during the COVID-19 pandemic, they prioritized functional outdoor spaces to relax, work, and spend time with family. And, according to a recent study, 85% of experts1 believe that homeowners are more willing to invest in outdoor living spaces this year. Spaces that were normally neglected or barely used for months at a time have become essential to at-home life, giving contractors the opportunity to work with on a variety of projects. One of the top trends this year is the shift from designing spaces for entertainment purposes to functional, everyday areas. Prior to quarantine and social distancing, most outdoor living areas were used for entertaining. Now, four in five homeowners in the aforementioned study reported wanting to make changes to help them enjoy and use their space more often, with 35% saying outdoor is at the top of their wish list. With the shifting mindset of how homeowners utilize their outdoor living spaces, projects that support remote work, exercise, cooking, and dining are popular. The integration of technology should be a significant consideration for contractors when planning with their clients. For example, when creating an additional work-from-home space, homeowners need a stable Wi-Fi connection and accessible electrical outlets for laptops and other devices. Heating and cooling elements as well as lighting are also crucial to ensure usability year-round. In fact, experts predict 48% of outdoor spaces2 will be adapted to allow for use during any season. Bigger Spaces, More Patterns As more homeowners seek ...
Inspire Customers With Hardscape
Fresh air and natural, healthy surroundings can be a powerful motivator. Months of pandemic-related self-quarantining and work-from-home routine have ushered in tremendous interest in improving home environments—particularly those that let homeowners enjoy their outdoor spaces. At the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), what we see now is a sharp increase in demand for outdoor living rooms, dining rooms, kitchens, and more. It is all about converting unused outdoor spaces into comfortable living and entertainment spaces. The goals for most of these projects, both small and large, are familiar. Enjoy The Environment An easy and elegant way to bring a home up to date and expand the outdoor living area is with the many options that colorful, durable concrete pavers provide. Professionally designed and installed hardscapes can improve quality of life now and curb appeal later when the time comes to sell a home. Wherever pavers are installed, real estate experts say, it can be easy to recoup the cost when a home is being sold. Many homeowners and prospective homeowners consider pavers a much more attractive option than other pavement systems. Pavers are also easier to maintain and last longer without needing to be repaired. There are many ways outdoor living spaces can be created using hardscape elements. These include concrete pavers, segmental retaining walls, kitchen and fireplace components, built-in seating, and water features. Pavers also provide a safe, slip-resistant surface in various colors, shapes, and textures, as well as blends with flashed tones to harmonize with a home’s exterior ...
