Masonry Landscaping for Your Backyard

Masonry goes back hundreds of years to the very first century, when the Romans built the coliseum by using materials that resembled concrete. Stone specialists made the popular roads of the Roman Empire. Masonry can add a beautiful personality to your backyard.

The most commonly used masonry materials for this type of construction are brick, granite, tile, concrete, limestone, marble, limestone, stucco, and stone. The advantage to this kind of landscaping is that there is no painting required, it is heat resistant, can have a life of over 500 years, and is resistant to extreme weather, such as hurricanes and tornadoes. There are a few disadvantages that include frost damage, which could cause decay of the materials. The materials are heavy, so the foundation must be strong enough to support the weight of the structure.

Backyard walkways, as well as patios, make a beautiful and tranquil space for the family to spend cool evenings relaxing or a place for summer barbecues. If you have young children or pets and you have created a stunning space in your backyard for flowers and shrubs, having a stone or brick walkway will define what is off-limits. Building a walkway or patio is an easy task that you can do yourself as part of a weekend project.

If your goal is to have a walkway that is permanent, it is suggested that you pour concrete or mortar down first and then use brick on top. You can then seal the walkway in place by using mortar to fill in the joints. If you want to change your walkway design every once in a while, you can pour a layer of sand down to create the walkway design you want and then lay whatever type of material you are going to use over the sand. To secure the materials in place, you can use sand in between the joints.

If you want to build a fireplace pit or waterfall fountain in your backyard, you can do so by using either concrete or crafted stones. If you are building a fire pit, you need to check local buildings codes in your area for building regulations. You also have to be sure the materials that you choose for the fire pit are fire-approved because there are some materials that crack under extreme heat.

Creating an addition to your floral garden can be done by using concrete blocks that have no mortar. These are preferred because they are weather resistant and cost less than regular designer materials. Mortar-less bricks are also often used for wall elements to protect walkways or driveways from eroding. Some people also use these as a wall that follows a staircase leading up to a home or down to a pond. It creates an elegant and beautiful view.