The best antidote to spring fever is a healthy dose of the great outdoors.
For existing surfaces, a deep cleaning makes the yard more appealing to use and enjoy. If you’re considering a new patio, deck, pavers or other outdoor features, now’s a great time to begin conversations with contractors and get on their schedules. Keep in mind conversations started now may mean project start dates in the fall.
“I think hardscaping has made a comeback for outdoor” uses, said Jaimie Meehan, a Realtor at Melissa Healy Group at Keller Williams Real Estate in Doylestown.
Power and soft washing are not the same.
Power washing uses intense, high-pressure sprays. Soft washing makes use of less force or pressure and includes surfactants in the spray which may also include mold- and mildew-inhibiting agents to make the most of your cleaning project.
“The first thing I think about is power washing to get things cleaned up. It’s remarkable what power washing will do, and it’s one of the cheapest options” to transform your outdoor surfaces, said Leigh Nunno, a Realtor and associate broker at Melissa Healy Group.
Power or soft washing for landscape surfaces like patios, pavers and other hardscape features removes dirt and debris left behind from last year’s use and winter months. It’s especially important if you’re thinking about listing your home for sale.
Decks, patios, walkways, even solid driveway surfaces can be power washed.
Check with professionals about the services offered as well as the types of chemicals, surfactants or solutions used in the power or soft washing process.
“It’s a big bang for your investment,” Nunno said.
Considering a new patio? Think about placement. Do you want plenty of sunshine to grow container gardens, vegetables, herbs or for spending time in the sun? How about a restorative shady corner for relaxing and enjoying late spring breezes or to watch summer rain?
“In our area, people are trying to maximize that outdoor living space,” she said.
Properties with sloping yards and enough space can benefit from patios and hardscaping positioned underneath high decks to create restive, shaded areas, Nunno said. Pavers and concrete patios, including stamped concrete which can be patterned to look like stone and other surfaces are popular treatments that elevate the look and feel of humble concrete surfaces.
“Concrete stamped and painted to look like stone (the patio) can make a really cool look,” Nunno said.
Meehan said newer coverings for decks or patio areas may include performance canvas features, while an uptick in requests for pergolas or roof extensions indicates the desire to enjoy shaded and partially shaded outdoor spaces.
“Shade tents that extend a roof…have become part of conversations about projects, while coverings could be the second or third part of a project – and something providing shade,” she explained.
Nunno said some new patio and walkway paver products are intentionally porous or permeable, so they may not count against a property’s impervious surface ratio. Check with your local municipality to confirm requirements for your property and select the right materials for outdoor hardscape projects.
Every municipality has its own rules around the total space you can cover with impervious or nonporous material on your property.
It’s called an impervious surface ratio. Consider pervious pavers — or those that allow water to pass through them — to reduce the nonporous surface impact on the project — and ultimately your property.
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