FOR BRaEAKING tNEWS VIhSIT WWWo.QNS.COmM e MARCH 15, 2018 • THE QUEENS COURIER 49
4 ways hardscapes can add value to your home
Outdoor hardscape projects add resale
value to a home as well as bring extra
enjoyment to homeowners while they
are living in the home, according to the
“Remodeling Impact Report: Outdoor
Features” by the National Association
of Realtors (NAR) and the National
Association of Landscape Professionals
(NALP).
Th e report confi rms that investing in
landscaping and hardscaping is a winwin,
whether you plan to stay in your
home or prepare it for market.
“Th is report validates that outdoor
remodeling and landscaping improvements
are a necessity when it comes to
improving your home’s resale value,” said
Missy Henriksen, NALP vice president
of public aff airs. “Homeowners working
with a landscape professional to embark
on renovations - whether that means
enhancing their turf and growing a lush
lawn, overhauling their entire landscape,
or incorporating new features like patios
or exterior fi replaces - can rest assured
that they are making a smart, worthwhile
investment.”
Curb appeal
Real estate agents suggest that a home’s
fi rst impression is paramount when preparing
it for sale. Simple updates such
as adding retaining wall units or paving
stone edging around gardens add value
and curb appeal. More ambitious projects
like a front paving stone entrance
with patio and a seat wall or two add
major curb appeal plus the enjoyment
factor from adding a beautiful, functional
front yard.
Varying hardscape colors and textures
in the front outdoor living space lends
maximum visual appeal. Hardscapes also
can make routine maintenance easier,
such as creating a tree ring from retaining
wall units and surrounding it with
pavers to reduce the need for trimming
aft er mowing.
Making unusable space usable
A family in Maple Grove, Minnesota,
had a hill behind their home that sloped
down to a pond. Th ey knew that excavating
would be required and contacted
Villa Landscapes in St. Paul to help them
decide how best to make use of the space.
“Th e Versa-Lok Standard retaining
wall system was perfect for retaining the
soil behind the garage when we excavated
to create their outdoor living space,”
said Lonny Sekeres, a designer with Villa
Landscapes. “Th ere are no voids in the
units to backfi ll, and the top-down pinning
system made the installation easy.
By back-splitting the retaining wall units,
we easily created matching freestanding
seat walls around the fi re feature area
too. Plus, the same unit was used to create
columns that provide a base for a pergola
while giving a nice defi nition to the
outdoor living space.”
Prevent erosion
Damage to your property can devalue
a home plus create major headaches.
Retaining wall systems are essential in
preventing erosion, controlling grade
changes in a yard, and preventing damage
to the landscape, and in certain environments,
even damage to your home.
One homeowner in Apple Valley,
Minnesota, had a steep, unusable backyard
that sloped toward the home’s foundation.
Over the years, water damage to
the foundation occurred.
“Th e negative fl ow caused water damage,
a leaky foundation and the accumulation
of dirt that had been eroding down
the slope for years,” said Paul Devine,
owner and principal of Devine Design
Hardscapes in Rosemount, Minnesota.
“Th ere was no fl at, usable area at the
base of the hill, and the client had never
been able to grow grass because of constant
erosion. Th e Versa-Lok wall design
created a positive fl ow away from the
home’s foundation, steps to the top of
the hill, and a fl at, usable area for a backyard.”
Devine created a tiered retaining wall
design with ample space for perennials
and a staggered staircase with landings
that feature seat walls for resting.
Safety and privacy
Seat walls can add a measure of privacy
and protection against the elements,
and energy-effi cient landscape lighting
can be installed along patios, paver walkways
and under retaining wall caps for
nighttime ambiance and functionality.
Landscape professionals can suggest how
adding these and other hardscape elements
can increase value and off er measures
of safety and privacy.
In the end, investing in your home’s
landscape with hardscapes is a long-term
win-win, no matter how long you stay
in your home or if you are preparing it
for sale. Says Henriksen: “Further, that
investment is coupled with the immediate
happiness received by beautiful landscaping
and the long-term enjoyment of
outdoor living spaces, which are priceless.”
Courtesy BPT