August 26, 2017 By Eitan Abu

Why an Interlocking Driveway is the Only Option You Should Consider

When faced with the prospect of resurfacing your driveway you have a number of choices including asphalt, concrete slab, stamped concrete, gravel and interlocking pavers. They all have their upside but none so much as interlocking pavers. While interlocking pavers may set you back more up front than some of the other options what they bring to the table aesthetically, practically and in terms of a value-added proposition simply cannot be beat by any other form of driveway surface. This is where an interlocking driveway by a professional Toronto landscaping company can come to the rescue.

An Interlocking Driveway is Your Best Long-Term Value

Interlocking is the kind of thing that tends to sell itself once people are able to see it up close and witness how it can transform a simple driveway into an experience. For the purposes of this post however, we’ll have to make our argument with words, though truth be told that won’t be all that difficult.

Looks/Versatility – There is simply no contest between the look of a beautifully designed and installed interlocking driveway and any other type of surface you care to mention. The design possibilities are, literally, unlimited. You can vary the color, size, shape and texture of the pavers. You can create custom patterns within the surface using these different styles of pavers. Every type of look from classical and restrained to personalized post-modernism is available to you. The only limit is your imagination.
Durability – When properly installed interlocking pavers will stay where you put them, doing their job for decades and longer. Paving stones installed around colonial era homes are still in use today as are some pavers laid down by the Romans nearly two millennia ago. The determining factor in how long your pavers last will be the company that installs them.
Maintenance – If the sub-layers have been properly constructed your interlocking driveway will be practically maintenance free. Interlocking pavers are not subject to the wear and tear meted out by the freeze/thaw cycle in Toronto like concrete or asphalt. Even if a block should somehow become damaged replacing it is a straightforward process that will take minutes and cost virtually nothing.
Price – Pavers will typically cost more than other options as mentioned but that statement comes with an enormous asterisk because when you’re on your 3rd or 4th asphalt resurfacing your interlocking pavers will still be looking good and doing their job. The value of pavers is both immediate in the curb appeal they provide and the boost they’ll give to your home’s value and long term due to the decades of maintenance free performance you’ll enjoy.

Other questions people have about interlocking pavers include:

Can they be installed over existing asphalt or concrete? – Yes.
Can I install interlocking on my inclined driveway? – Yes.
Can I install a snowmelt system under the pavers? – Yes.
Can I change the interlocking pattern without redoing the sub-base? – Yes.

For all of these reasons and more interlocking driveway pavers are the only option a discerning, value-conscious homeowner should consider when it comes time to resurface the driveway. Every other method will wind up costing far more in the long run and add virtually nothing to the aesthetic and bottom line value of your home the way interlocking pavers will.

M.E. Landscaping has been building custom decks, devising and constructing stunning landscapes and installing interlocking driveway pavers for homeowners in the Toronto area for more than a decade. We take great pride in our interlocking work and regularly pass driveway pavers we installed years ago that are still doing their owners proud. Call us on 416-455-9296 for a free, no-obligation consultation, and find out more about the many advantages of interlocking pavers.

August 26, 2016 By Eitan Abu

Turn your dream into reality with a landscaping contractor

The greatest dreams we have are the ones we build from scratch ourselves and truly make our own. To shape a space as our own and fill it with the pieces of our lives in a way that suits our own, individual needs is the dream.

From the exact angle in which the sunrise can be best viewed from while sipping morning coffee, to the trick in opening up more space from the deck all the way to the pool for when friends and family are over – you can take charge of the little surprises your own home holds.

Own your dream dwelling place down to the core with a Toronto landscaping contractor who has worked on just about every type of landscape design there is, and would gladly discover new ones with you. Make a partner out of your landscaping contractor, and allow them to help translate your vision into reality.

Your dream dwelling can be anything you would have dreamed of having at five years old playing in the park and raising your eyes to giant skyscrapers; or everything you wanted to express when you were twenty and lived above your parents’ garage to get one foot out of the door and on to real independence and growing up.

The best part is a landscaping contractor in Toronto, will listen to your story and understand your dreams. This will be the key to a blissful escape away from the city.

We have years of experience creating landscape designs and helping Toronto homeowners completely change the overall look of their outdoor space.

August 8, 2013 By Eitan Abu

Custom Landscaping and Deck Design by Toronto Decks and Fence Company

We recently responded to a call from a client in Toronto who wanted extensive landscaping performed in his back yard, as well as the design and installation of a new custom deck. He called us after learning of our sterling reputation as one of the premier landscaping companies in Toronto, and he wanted only the very best company to work in his lawn. He was reinventing his entire lawn and wanted our creative input as to where to go next, and we set up an appointment to sit down with him and discuss his design ideas and style preferences. After checking out his home and listening to what he had to say, we came up with a landscaping plan that added new hedges, several new trees, and a variety of other additions to his lawn. Our client also wanted a custom deck design created and constructed, and we recommended Toronto Decks and Fence company!

Learning about Toronto Deck Design so You Don’t Have To

In order for us to stand behind another company and offer our recommendation, that company has to stand out above the pack. They have to demonstrate their commitment to only producing the highest quality results and focusing exclusively on the satisfaction of their customers. They must take the same level of pride in their work that we do, and they should only hire workers and specialists with years of experience. When we at Custom Landscaping recommend a company, we are putting our own reputation on the line, and we don’t do that for just anybody! That’s why we are always proud to connect our landscaping customers with Toronto Deck and Fence for all their deck design and construction needs!

We scheduled an appointment between our client and the workers at Toronto Deck and Fence to sit down and discuss the best options for the client’s home. After a lengthy conversation and inspection of the client’s home, they got to work creating a custom design and returned a short time later with a plan that incorporated all of the client’s ideas and blended in perfectly with the landscaping work we had performed. The client was overjoyed with the result, and asked them to get started bringing the design to life right away!

When you call us at Custom Landscaping for all your landscaping needs, you are getting so much more than a simple lawn service. You are gaining a partner who is just as committed to making your lawn as beautiful as it can be as you are!

Click here to learn more about the deck design of Toronto Decks and Fence

July 23, 2013 By Eitan Abu

Coming Up With the Perfect Deck Design for Your Custom Deck

For those of you out there who have having your custom deck designed and installed, the one question in your head may be, “Where do I start?” Since most of us are not professional deck contractors, we would be at a loss as to where to begin with our deck design. Do we look at materials first? Do we look at layout first? Or, do we perhaps look at both at the same time? Well, fret not, because we are here to help and guide you through the entire process.

Step 1: Make Sure That You Are Actually Allowed to Build Your Custom Deck

Some buildings and local building codes do not permit any additions to properties. To avoid disappointment, read up in advance on any legal proceedings you need to complete to obtain a permit to begin the construction of an addition to your property before you start planning out your custom deck. Also, do take note that your deck design must comply with your local building codes.

Step 2: The Style of Your Custom Deck

As any deck contractor knows, the very first step in deck design involves, choosing what style you would like your custom deck to be. This depends not only on your preference, but also on the style of your home. You wouldn’t want to have a rustic style deck with a modern style house, or vice versa.

The following are some popular styles you may want to consider for your custom deck:

Colonial – A colonial style custom deck borrows elements of classical architecture. A typical look would be having white molded railings, with the rail posts topped with decorative post caps. Colonial style custom decks are also often lined with accent features such as benches, planter boxes and sometimes even pergolas.
Contemporary – Contemporary style custom decks usually have one rule – less is more. As with most contemporary style designs, contemporary style custom decks are usually sleek and minimalistic. Deck contractors go for a sparse, modern design with clean lines and basic shapes. This makes the custom deck not only aesthetically pleasing, but also easy to clean.
Traditional – Traditional style custom decks usually resemble the traditional image of cottages out in the country. Traditional style custom decks normally employ the use of shapes such as octagons with chamfered corners to give the custom deck a ‘warmer’ feel, with softened sharp corners. To give a more ‘traditional’ feel, routered rail caps and trim moldings are often used, coupled with decorative post caps for rail posts.
Coastal – Especially for those who live by the sea, a coastal style custom deck can work wonders for opening up your view. With glass and cable rails, coupled with white railings to give a pristine, ‘coastal style’, the coastal style custom deck is perfect for blending into the landscape.

Step 3: Materials for Your Custom Deck

After deciding on the style of your custom deck, the next thing you want to do is to decide on the specific design of your custom deck. Decide how exactly you want your custom deck to look. This includes not only the shape and the size of the custom deck, but also the materials that you are going to use in your custom deck.
Choosing materials can be a confusing time for those of us who are not deck contractors or deck builders. There are just too many available materials for us to choose from! Of course, your choice of style has already limited the range of materials you are going to choose from. For instance, if you want a traditional style custom deck, you should use redwood or cedar, which both have a beautiful warm look that gives your deck a warm and rustic feel.
But even if you have already decided on a particular type of wood, let’s say, cedar decking, you still need to decide which grade of cedar decking you are going to purchase.
This is where your budget comes in: do you want to choose a higher grade of cedar decking, which will definitely cost you a significantly larger amount of money or do you want to choose a lower grade of cedar decking, which will not burn as big a hole in your pocket? Of course, a higher grade of cedar decking looks better and is more durable, but you need to weigh the pros and cons. Is it really worth it?
If price is an issue, but you are worried about investing in a lower grade of decking only to have it spoil after a few years, hunt around for deck builders or deck contractors who provide you with warranties. Do take note of any specific factors or issues that may void the warranty as well.
Also, ensure that you apply a coat of finish to your custom deck after the deck builders have completed it. Do engage a professional deck contractor or deck builder for this, as applying finishing is a delicate process; a slip of the hand could cause your deck to have an uneven and unsightly appearance. Also, different types of finish are better suited for different climates. Do engage the help of a professional deck contractor to discuss what type of finish is ideal for your particular climate.

Step 4: Other Features and Issues You Should Consider

You should also consider adding lighting to your custom deck so that you can enjoy a relaxing evening outside without getting lost in the pitch dark. There is a whole range of lighting options to match different deck styles. For instance, a warm yellow light would be perfect for a traditional style custom deck. Also, a drainage system can be added to drain excess water, especially after a storm. This will help to maintain the condition of your deck floor.
The following are some other factors you might want to take note of when coming up with your deck design:

Potential Locations For Your Custom Deck – do consider issues of property and privacy when deciding on a location for your custom deck, especially if you are intending to install a hot tub on your custom deck!
Another important factor to take note of is that if built in certain locations, your custom deck will show signs rapid of wear and tear due to a high amount of exposure to damaging elements of nature, such as direct sunlight (specifically, ultra violet rays), rain, strong winds, and insects that attack wood. To prevent damage, consider using more durable materials (for instance, if you live by the sea, you can consider using low maintenance materials such as composites and PVC materials, which can easily withstand the strong winds).