How to choose the right backyard for you
If you’re the proud new owner of a new backyard ripe for landscaping, you may find yourself wondering what kind of backyard you really want. Are you an outdoorsy type and enjoy gardening? Or do you want something that makes your yard look pretty without requiring lots of care? There’s a few options you can choose from, and the best one for you is a garden, deck or courtyard that suits your family, lifestyle and needs.
Rod Schiefelbein from eco-friendly decking business Trex Company Australia has some tips and advice for picking the right set up for your backyard.
The pros and cons of lawn, decking and garden pavers
Lawn
“Fresh green lawn comes as part of the Australian dream. Lawn is a great option for families – kids and pets can roam free and safely, plus it gives you a place to relax in the quiet oasis of your own backyard. Studies have even shown that lawn can increase the resale value of a home by up to 15 per cent.”
“However, there is a lot of maintenance required to keep your lawn looking fresh all year round. We know that many homeowners are looking to increase their environmental sustainability – the water usage involved in maintaining high volumes of lawn can be higher than you would expect. If you aren’t the best at keeping up with weeds, grass cutting and watering, you may want to rethink the design of your backyard and instead cover part of the area with hardwearing outdoor floor options”
Decking
“Decking is great for those homeowners that especially love entertaining, as a decked area off the garden creates the perfect space for hosting dinner parties and creating an inviting space that extends the indoors, outside. Decking is installed at the same finished floor level to the inside of homes, which – when combined with low profile door sills – can create a seamless transition from indoor to outdoor; perfect for all-ages access to the home. Something like this can add approximately 15 per cent resale value to your home as well.”
“The most popular decking option in Australia is timber or composite decking. For the environmentally-aware homeowners who aren’t looking to re-stain their deck every few years, high-performance composite decking is ideal. Trex decking, for instance, is made from 95% recycled material and requires just an occasional cleaning with soap and water to keep it looking like new.”
“With quality comes investment. Decking will generally require a higher initial investment than lawn or pavers. In a warm climate composite decking is a low maintenance, durable alternative to traditional timber decking as it won’t warp, twist, rot, split, splinter or scratch – also making it a nice option for those with little ones who will be using the deck to play!”
Pavers
“Durable, long lasting, and good for Aussie climates, pavers offer unique design benefits for your outdoor area. Pavers can be laid in many different ways and can split the home to showcase a deliberate indoor-versus-outdoor area. Pavers aren’t recommended for smaller homes or homes with kids, as they can get quite hot underfoot, especially in Australian summers.”
“Installation and upkeep of pavers can be quite expensive, with weeds tending to grow through pavers within fertile areas. A great tip is to purchase more pavers than you need to cover your area, especially if the design you choose is unique. These will be on-hand to replace any that split or crack during install or throughout the years of wear. Of course, while this means an initial higher cost of investment for materials, the final design can look quite wonderful!”
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