Landscape Building
Does a Driveway Increase Property Value?
Some homeowners will go through home renovations to give their space the much-needed upgrades it needs to elevate their ranks in the market. And for some people, they would even consider adding a functional home exterior, such as a driveway. But the question is: will a driveway increase your home’s value?
After World War II, there has been an uptick in vehicles on the road year after year because it’s undeniably one of the most convenient forms of transportation. Because of this, it is expected that the number of vehicles will continue to rise in the future, increasing the demand for safe and secure parking spaces, even at home. For this reason, more homeowners are incorporating driveways in their homes.
Because there are many things to consider if you want to have a driveway in your home, it’s best to work with experienced landscape building services to help you get your driveway right and ensure that you’re following HOA and country road regulations.
If you’re considering having a driveway in your property and wondering if it would make a difference in your home’s value, keep reading. In this article, we’ll share what you need to know about driveways and if it can increase your property’s value.
How does having a driveway increase your home’s value?
Ideally, you’d want to avoid the burden of parking your car on the roadside and because of that, having driveways in your home is incredibly beneficial. Besides keeping your car away from other vehicles on the road, you also get lower car insurance and lower your risk of damage from roadside accidents.
When you have a driveway in your home, you’ll instantly impress potential homebuyers and reassure them that they can keep their vehicles safe. Besides, a home buyer makes up their mind on a house within the first few seconds of viewing, so if you have a driveway, you’ll get plus points right away.
How much increase should I expect?
Various factors come into play when knowing how much of your property value can increase by having a driveway. Some of the things you need to consider are your geographical locations, driveway’s size and surface. But generally, you can expect to see at least a 10% increase in value in your property.
How much should I invest in a driveway?
Building a driveway is a considerably big investment; however, the cost may still vary based on its size, location and surface. This is why you must work with credible landscape building services should you wish to incorporate a driveway into your home.
When you invest in a driveway, you’ll need to figure out its size or how many cars would fit in the space. Besides that, you’ll need to consider what type of surface you want, whether you want tarmac, resin, gravel or other options.
Working with a landscape building company will help you determine the right type of driveway and ensure that you’re adequately protecting your parked car, without compromising your home’s aesthetics.
Conclusion
Having a new driveway will definitely increase your home’s value, making it worth spending that extra money to help impress potential home buyers. To get the results and appearance that you want, it’s best to work with experts offering landscape building services for this home improvement project. So keep your cars safe, get a new driveway and increase the value of your home with one significant home improvement!
If you’re looking for landscape building in Bournemouth, check out Absolute Armour & Sons. We offer a full range of specialist building services such as groundworks, driveways, patios, concreting, block paving and more. Learn more about our services today!
Landscape building in Bournemouth – 4 Ideas for Privacy in Your Garden
Once in a while, it will work to your advantage to find a peaceful and quiet place to relax and be alone with your thoughts. It is increasingly getting more challenging to have a relaxing time alone because of all the technology, nosy neighbours, and the hustle and bustle of traffic noises. One way to block out these distractions is to have your private time in your own private garden. Below we have put together four ideas for Landscape building in Bournemouth gardens and with added privacy.
Having a garden will bring tranquillity and calm to an otherwise busy and stressful life. A garden is a perfect sanctuary for people who may sometimes need a break from their urban lifestyles. It is the ideal place to get away from prying eyes and clear their head. After reading this article, you will have an idea of the most practical landscaping themes to help you get started in building your own little garden.
4 Landscaping Ideas for Added Privacy in Your Garden
The first step is mapping out your ideas for your garden. Having a general idea of which plants, trees, and garden features will go where will make the process of constructing your garden an easier feat for you.
1 – Install a Fence
A fence will provide privacy for your garden. It is your first initial defence from nosy neighbours, and it will keep your garden safe from the elements when extreme weather befalls your neighbourhood. If you do not yet have a fence in the area where you plan to put your garden, it would be wise to install one. However, if you already have an existing fence, it may be best to take a look at it to see if it needs any repairs or reinforcement.
2 – Add a Trellis
A trellis will be a beautiful (and useful) addition to any garden. You can add vines and other climbing plants on it, and it will add an extra layer of privacy and protection for your garden once the vines fully envelop it. It will also provide a more aesthetically pleasing way to display other potted plants, as you can hang them on the trellis.
3 – Build a Pergola
A pergola is a shaded area that will protect you from the harsh sunlight should you want to take a nap outside on lazy afternoons. Pergolas can also be used to hang plants and have vines grow on them. If your fence and trellis are not enough in terms of privacy, a pergola will help you feel secure as you relax in your garden.
4 – Put Hedges and Shrubbery
Hedges and shrubbery may also be used in place of a fence. Shrubs and trees are a more natural way to create a private space for you to go when you need time to think. The only disadvantage that plants and shrubbery have is that it may take some time for them to grow and fully obscure the garden and your personal space from people peering in from the outside. However, with patience, your shrubbery will grow into a natural fence that will complete the overall look and feel of your garden fortress.
You may opt to install a fence first while you give your shrubbery a chance to grow. When you feel confident that your trees and shrubbery will be tall enough to provide ample privacy, you may choose to remove your fence.
Conclusion
Whether you want to test your skills as a green thumb or if you want to have a private space where you can go to relax and clear your mind, you can achieve these goals if you have a garden. Following the above-mentioned tips will increase the privacy of your garden and make it a safe sanctuary you can retreat to when you need it.
Absolute Armour and Sons provides a full range of specialist building services to a large number of domestic and commercial customers across Bournemouth, Poole, Southampton, and throughout Dorset and Hampshire. Interested clients who need landscape building in Bournemouth may contact us today!
What You Need to know About a Gravel Driveway
Roads, driveways, and pathways have indeed come a long way in the path construction industry over the years. Today, there are various materials used for these—from concrete to asphalt to pavers down to composite pavements.
What about gravel driveways? Perhaps you haven’t heard much about them. Essentially, they’re a path made of gravel materials. There’s no doubt that gravel has remained a perennially popular material for driveways because they are aesthetically pleasing, highly durable, long-lasting, and relatively affordable.
In this article, we’ll share with you what you need to know about a gravel driveway and its benefits:
Strength and durability
A gravel driveway is notable for its strength and stability due to its materials. It is particularly ideal for a location with excess moisture brought by frequent rainfall or high humidity. As the materials allow the moisture to drain away rather quickly, the driveway remains solid and stable. Furthermore, it doesn’t easily get subject to wear and tear over time, even with the presence of a changing climate and extreme weather conditions.
Stability and longevity
As mentioned above, gravel is a very durable material. When it is used for your driveway, you can expect it to last for as long as possible. Not only does it withstand the weather, but it’s also capable of enduring constant impact and high traffic. As long as you take good care of it through regular cleaning and maintenance, you can prolong its lifespan, ensuring that its lifespan increases longer than expected!
Constant maintenance
Yes, a gravel driveway is notable for its durability and longevity. Yet, keep in mind that it needs to be regularly cleaned and maintained. Proper care usually involves removing debris like leaves and sticks from the driveway regularly and fixing any cracks or potholes at least every year. Ultimately, regular upkeep doesn’t only ensure it will last long but also preserve its overall aesthetic appeal.
Accessibility and availability
What’s great about the gravel materials is that they are readily available in today’s market and come in various types based on shapes and sizes, colours, and designs. For this reason, you can certainly choose the right materials best suited for your driveway construction project. With their accessibility and availability, you can easily and quickly pursue this project and make sure that it fulfils your goals!
Affordability
As mentioned, a gravel driveway is an affordable option compared to other materials in the market, such as concrete, pavers, and composite pavements. If you’re looking to save up on your driveway construction, then a gravel driveway can be your best bet. Given all the remarkable features discussed above, you have all the right reasons to install it while saving up in the long run!
Conclusion
At this point, we’ve covered all you need to know about a gravel driveway in terms of its strength and durability, stability and longevity, constant maintenance, accessibility and availability, and affordability. When looking to install a driveway, remember that gravel materials can be your best bet due to its many benefits. To that end, be sure to get this material from a highly reliable supplier and work with a professional installer for its construction so that the gravel driveway will kick your curb appeal up a notch!
We’re your go-to landscape building company in Bournemouth, offering a wide range of outdoor construction services for residential properties such as general landscapes, gardens, groundworks, pavings, and driveways. If you’re looking to have a gravel driveway, get in touch with us today to learn more about our services!
2 Essential Tips When Building a Garden Pond: Our Guide
No matter what type of home you have, whether it’s big, small, wide, or narrow, any British house with a nice, sprawling lawn will always be made better if there’s a garden pond out front.
When executed properly, the average pond can add a significant amount of beauty, elegance, and interest to a yard because of how impactful the seemingly-simple addition can make. As you continue to dabble into the idea of building a garden pond, it will make even more sense to have one built right away since it can only get more attractive as time passes by.
A few tips for building the perfect garden pond
Whether they’re used for meditation and reflection or for glitz and glamour, garden ponds will always need to be built in the right way, or matters can turn quite unsightly if the plans are not done well.
At Absolute Armour & Sons, we’ve seen our fair share of clients who jumped right into the building process without any preliminary planning or proper consideration of all the right tips. Although these ponds operate as great focal points in any property, they can be quite demanding in terms of adherence to basic guidelines because of how strict matters can get for a perfect finish.
If you’re keen on outfitting your front lawn with a new aquatic fixture, here are two tips that you can use to assure yourself of a perfect, attractive finish:
Tip #1: Settle on a depth before all else
Often, the costliest adjustments (or the most mistaken and unsightly ones) in any garden pond project will come from an inability to settle on the right depth to work with. This is why it pays to settle the shallow-deep debate quickly.
The main reason the depth of your garden pond is a critical decision is that it heavily affects the cost and appearance of a pond. For instance, deeper ponds will call for a few design adjustments and cost reconsiderations because their bottoms won’t be as visible, meaning you’ll need to focus more on the top area. Shallow ponds, on the other hand, will make it more crucial to display decorative rocks to bring it all together while also requiring a system that makes it easier to handle the accelerated algae build-up.
Once you get to decide on a specific depth to work with, it becomes easier to tinker with the other factors that follow because of the subsequent adjustments and decisions!
Tip #2: Understand reconciling eventual pond size with the pond liner size
One of the most significant factors that we emphasise on when helping clients put their dream garden pond set-ups together is the relationship between the size of a pond and its liner.
The main fact that most people need to understand when placing a still water fixture in their lawn or yard is that a garden pond can only be as large as the size of its underlying pond liner. Before you get to digging, you’ll need to account for your liner size so that you accurately attain the right finish size instead of getting a fixture that does not fit!
Conclusion
When it comes to creating a garden pond, attaining a perfect finish boils down to following the right steps to ensure that no unwanted issues or unsightly finishes follow suit. Through the help of the two tips mentioned above, you can keep your building and planning processes airtight so that you end up with the kind of finish that you’ve always dreamt of having for your home!
If you’re looking for landscape building in Bournemouth, we are the experts who will make your garden pond project happen with finesse. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help transform your property with our passion for making visions come to life!
5 Ideas on How to Kick Your Patio Space up a Notch
When it comes to having a residential property makeover, many homeowners prioritise their living space, kitchen, or bathrooms, and most of them tend to neglect the property’s outdoor area. What many fail to realise is that the outdoor space can actually kick the curb appeal up a notch and increase the overall property value!
Installing a patio can make all the difference and how this can be achieved by recruiting a landscape building company in Bournemouth to help.
A patio is a paved area located directly on the ground made of various materials, such as concrete, brick, flagstone, pavers, and gravel. This area can serve as an outdoor place for dining, family bonding, barbecue party, outdoor gathering, and so much more.
If you want to install a patio in your residential property, here are five bright ideas for you to consider:
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Have seats around a fire on a flagstone patio
When it comes to installing an outdoor patio, choosing durable materials for hard surfaces will make a difference in your efforts. For this reason, selecting a flagstone material can be your best bet. While you’re at it, be sure to construct a structure for a small bonfire and have several seats around it to give you and your loved one a romantic night under the moonlit sky.
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Have a sports area through a brick patio
It is good to have an outdoor space that will allow you and your kids to play sports outside. When it comes to this, installing a brick patio will be beneficial for your activities. Sure, it may not appear as aesthetically pleasing as a flagstone, but it will surely be highly functional for any outdoor sports. What’s good about it is that it is relatively easy to install and maintain in the long run!
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Install a running bond for your brick patio
The “running bond” is a specific pattern for bricks that are commonly used in outdoor construction. This pattern can be perfect for your outdoor patio, which is notable for its soothing effect and aesthetic appeal. When considering this design, you can have a resting place in the middle of a garden filled with flowers, shrubs, and vegetation.
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Carve sophistication through a tile patio
If you want your outdoor space to look elegant and sophisticated, then you may want to consider a tile patio. This can be a hard-surface option for your outdoor space, but be wary of the materials you’ll opt for so that it doesn’t become counterproductive. For this reason, choose tile products meant for the outdoors to avoid any hazard risks and promote the utmost safety.
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Create a Zen-like outdoor patio
Zen practice has been all the rage these days, which is the practice of meditation to achieve, peace, harmony, and balance. Communing with nature in your outdoor space can make all the difference in your home ownership experience. If you want to have a place for Zen in your residential property, consider having a Zen-like outdoor patio instead!
Conclusion
At this point, you now have several unique ideas when installing a patio in your home to take it to the next level. As outlined above, all it takes is to have seats around a fire on a flagstone patio, have a sports area through a brick patio, install a running bond for your brick patio, carve sophistication through a tile patio, and create a Zen-like outdoor space. With these options, you can go through each of them to determine that best one for your property!
We’re a landscape building company in Bournemouth, specialising in outdoor construction services for residential properties, such as general landscape, garden, groundwork, paving, and driveways. If you’re looking to transform your outdoor space through a patio, get in touch with us today to see how we can help!
6 Amazing Ways to Boost Your Outdoor Space: Our Guide
When talking about a home renovation project, it typically conjures an image of your house getting reconstructed and redesigned. At times, you pay particular attention to your bathroom, kitchen, bedroom, and other parts of your house for a remodelling project. However, did you know that giving your outdoor space a facelift can make a huge difference in your property? Not only will it improve your property’s curb appeal, but it will also increase its overall value!
If ever you think about boosting your outdoor space, here are six awesome ways to do so:
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Add in some lighting
Proper lighting is the best way to illuminate your outdoor space at night. Whether it is general, task, or ambient lighting, it allows you to create the perfect ambience and set the right mood. There are various types of lighting you can install outside, such as spotlights, path markers, and patio string lights; you just have to see what works best for your property. However, be sure to opt for solar or LED lighting fixtures for energy efficiency.
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Utilise weatherproof furniture
It’s best to set and arrange pieces of furniture in your outdoor space where you and your guests can sit and relax in a cosy ambience. If you have a patio and deck, you have all the right reasons to invest in these furniture pieces. However, be sure that they are made of weather-resistant materials like powder-coated steel, teak, and polyresin wicker. That way, they can withstand the harsh outdoor elements and last for as long as possible.
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Install an outdoor kitchen
Why not consider having an outdoor kitchen for some grilling and cooking sessions? It’s a great idea to have your family gather around outside for a weekend bonding activity or invite some guests for a barbecue party. With mouthwatering grilled foods coupled with a few drinks, the space will be absolutely amazing and functional!
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Have an entertainment space
It’s an excellent idea to turn your outdoor space into an entertainment hub. As long as you have a balcony or an extended roof in your patio, you can have an outdoor living space with some entertainment appliances and systems installed. With these fixtures, you and your family or guests can watch a movie or enjoy playing video games, even outdoors!
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Build and design a garden
Why not consider having a garden to grow some seasonal flowers and vegetation? If you have a green thumb, doing this can be such a great idea, particularly if you enjoy gardening as a hobby. Ultimately, communing with nature through simple gardening and cherishing your green surroundings can give you the utmost peace of mind.
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Install a patio and deck
If you haven’t constructed and designed your outdoor space, it’s best to have a patio and deck outside of your house. While a deck is an open outdoor porch without a roof, a patio is a paved area situated directly on the ground outside your home. While both serve functional purposes as an outdoor space, they can also significantly enhance the curb appeal of your property!
Conclusion
At this point, you now have an idea on how to boost your outdoor space and also the property’s value. As outlined above, all it takes is to have some lighting, use weatherproof furniture, install an outdoor kitchen, have an entertainment space, build and design a garden, and install a patio and deck. With these in place, you’ll now have a visually appealing and highly functional outdoor space that will kick your property up a notch!
Are you looking to transform your outdoor space with the help of a landscape building company in Bournemouth? You’ve come to the right place! We provide a wide range of outdoor construction services for residential properties such as general landscape, garden, groundwork, paving, and driveways. Get in touch with us today to learn more about our services!
3 Benefits of Building a Garden Pond in Your Garden
In recent years, the range of possibilities that UK homeowners can capitalise on when trying to beautify their home is nearly endless. From top-quality siding projects and garden paving concepts to living room revamps and kitchen overhauls, you’ll never run out of different ways to personalise your property. Whether you’ve got a tight budget, an unforgiving sense of style, or an unfathomable determination to transform the way your humble abode looks and feels, you’ll always have the resources and services to depend on.
Nowadays, there’s one home renovation project that many providers get more inquiries about more than any other: Garden ponds.
What’s so special about having a garden pond?
Although it may seem like a simple project idea at first, the truth is that garden ponds have a significant impact over the look and feel of a property.
Despite the advent of “Zen” trends and a push towards the irresistibly-minimal nature of Japanese architecture, the truth is that their appeal extends far beyond being that of a mere trend. If you’re keen on having a garden pond soon but aren’t sure if the opportunity is worth jumping at, here are three crucial benefits that will convince you to leap:
Benefit #1: They look fantastic in any property
One of the biggest benefits of garden ponds is that their appeal is universal, meaning that they’ll always sit well in any type of home.
Whether you’ve got a large home, a small one, a wide one, or a tight one, getting a garden pond in place will undoubtedly transform your curb appeal right off the bat. Contrary to other upgrades that are just as-is, such add-ons bear an even higher level of attractiveness because they have a rippling surface that makes for a beautiful focal point in your front-side greener, especially when flowering flora surround it!
Benefit #2: They help fill in the gaps
When it comes to understanding the practical side in looking at the bigger picture of why you should opt for a garden pond, it’s crucial to realise that it’s an excellent way to use up any available space.
If you have a plain patio or an empty lawn that yields no more than greeneries when you look at it, take this as a sign to have a beautiful garden pond built so that you can maximise your outdoor space. With the help of this critical visual upgrade, you can fill in the gaps and prevent your property from losing its appeal over an overabundance of space that makes the whole facade look incomplete!
Benefit #3: They increase your property’s value
Speaking of curb appeal and attractive facades, did you know that having a garden pond also adds a significant amount of padding to the value of your property?
When done by a trustworthy expert with years of experience in pond design and creation—such as Absolute Armour & Sons—a well-constructed patio or lawn piece will cause your property’s market value to skyrocket. Whether it’s a small edge in a highly competitive home market or adding a “wow” factor that will make your property pop, having a well-constructed pond in place will help a ton once you decide to sell your home!
Conclusion
Out of all the different ways that you can upgrade the way your home looks and feels, none can be more impactful than the presence of a garden pond, and the benefits explain why. With the help of this breathtakingly-beautiful lawn fixture, you can start reaping the countless advantages in no time while you stare at your revitalised outdoor space!
If you’re looking for landscape building in Bournemouth, we are the experts who will make your garden pond project happen with finesse. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help transform your property with our passion for making visions come to life!
5 Great Ideas to Kick-Start Your Outdoor Living Remodel and landscape building
Your outdoor living space is one of the first things people see, so sprucing with some Landscape Building it up should be one of your priorities as a homeowner. A well-kept yard or driveway prevents the growth of mould and mildew, creates an excellent first impression on visitors, and raises your home’s resale value.
Some homeowners, though, do not know where to start with remodelling their yard. If it is your first time to plan for a major home improvement project like this, here are some ideas to get you started.
Get a pool deck or landscaping
If you already have a pool, create an outdoor oasis by installing a deck or having the area landscaped. A dip in the water is perfect for warm days, so you should prepare as early as now to get your space ready for next year’s spring and summer. A contractor for landscape building can seamlessly integrate your pool in the foliage or the paving.
Create a space for outdoor parties
You could also opt for a terrace or patio area. Homes that don’t want to have a pool can create living spaces for dining or lounging, and beautifully-designed decks and patios can complete the look of a house.
Cobblestone, interlocking blocks, stone paving, and other rugged natural materials can make your home look like it is part of the environment. If you want something more polished, there are options like concrete, clay brick, porcelain paving, and more.
Add an area for gardening
Whether you’re a seasoned hand or are just starting, getting into gardening is a rewarding lifelong hobby. If you have space, incorporate a place to plant shrubs and flowers. Raised garden beds on your deck or patio will get you spending hours outside in spring.
Paving specialists can help you partition your yard so that the garden and living areas look balanced. Aside from this, you can also place a wall along the edge of your property. A fence can be part of your landscaping or gardening; some plants like honeysuckle and wisteria grow beautifully when you let them climb posts and walls.
Consider an outdoor kitchen
For people who are not that into gardening, perhaps an outdoor kitchen is a great option. Lunch or dinner with friends is always better at home, where you can relax and be yourself.
If you enjoy cooking meals for loved ones, a kitchen in the patio allows you to entertain people while you prepare the dishes. Though you can certainly do that indoors, an outdoor space lets you enjoy the fresh spring or summer air while you work. It is also easier to decorate an outdoor space, and you don’t need to worry that much about spills and messes.
Other things to think about
Pavers are among the most reliable materials you could use for yards. You can replace these easily if you need to repair pipes or trim roots underneath. There are also several textures, colours, and styles which you can match to your home.
Porcelain slabs and artificial turf are great for people who live near the beach, or who have active lifestyles. Porcelain is low maintenance, and artificial grass can be cleaned quite easily.
Conclusion
Everyone wants a beautiful, comfortable home. Though your indoor living spaces are the ones that contribute the most to your home’s ambience, your yards are also an essential factor. Whether you’re fond of sports or gardening, quiet afternoons alone or lively parties, modifying your outdoor living spaces will help you enjoy your pursuits fully.
Transform your outdoor space today when you partner with Absolute Armour & Sons. We provide residential landscape building and paving across Dorset, Wiltshire, and southern Hampshire. Browse our previous projects or contact us today for more information.
