What are the Best Materials for Hard Landscaping Projects?

By John Rischmiller

What are the Best Materials for Hard Landscaping Projects?

Hard landscaping is what gives your outdoor space structure and function. While plants, grass, and flowers add softness, it’s the solid features that turn a yard into a space you can use every day. These are the built parts of your backyard that are designed to last.

Some of the most common hard landscaping projects are:

  • Patios
  • Decks
  • Driveways
  • Pool surrounds
  • Paths, walkways, and steps
  • Garden structures like arbors, pergolas, and gazebos
  • Water features such as ponds and waterfalls

Each of these projects depends on the materials you choose. Pavers, natural stone, retaining walls, and other hardscape materials will decide how durable, stylish, and low-maintenance your outdoor area becomes.

We’ll explain what hard landscaping means, go through the main materials, and show how they’re used to create the other outdoor living spaces that bring lasting beauty to your home.

 

What Is Hard Landscaping?

Hard landscaping is a subcategory of landscaping. The two terms are often used together, but they don’t mean the same thing.

Landscaping covers everything that improves an outdoor space. This includes planting trees, grass, shrubs, flowers, and shaping the ground.

Hard landscaping refers only to the nonliving, manmade parts of a yard. These are features like pavers, natural stone patios, retaining walls, walkways, and outdoor kitchens. They’re built with durable hardscape materials that withstand weather, weight, and daily use.

In other words:

  • Hard landscaping = the solid, permanent surfaces and structures.
  • Soft landscaping = the living parts like lawns, plants, and mulch.

Both are important in landscape design. Hard landscaping creates the structure, while soft landscaping adds color and life to the outdoor area. Together, they make a backyard functional, balanced, and inviting.

 

What Are Hardscape Materials?

Hardscape materials are the building blocks of any outdoor project. They create structure, shape, and durability in spaces like patios, walkways, retaining walls, and driveways. For beginners, it helps to think of them in four groups: surface, structural, support, and finishing.

Surface Materials

These are the materials you see and walk on.

  • Pavers are one of the most common choices for patios, walkways, and driveways. They are durable, stylish, and come in many colors and patterns. Some homeowners also use permeable pavers to improve drainage and create a more eco-friendly outdoor area.

  • Natural stone, such as granite, slate, limestone, or porcelain, is a premium option that brings lasting beauty and a classic look. It’s often used for patios, pool surrounds, seating walls, or fire features because of its timeless style and strength. Although more costly, it adds natural aesthetics that elevate the overall landscape design.

  • Concrete and brick are cost-effective choices, especially for driveways or DIY projects. Concrete can be poured into slabs or shaped into blocks, while brick offers a classic design and patterns. Both are durable and practical, making them popular for functional outdoor areas.

  • Gravel is affordable, easy to install, and widely used for paths, garden walkways, or as a base layer under pavers. It provides excellent drainage but often needs edging to keep it in place. To keep planting areas balanced, you can also explore what mulch does for your soil.

Structural Materials

These are the elements that give strength, support, and shape to an outdoor space. They form the backbone of hard landscaping and allow you to build both functional and stylish areas in your yard.

  • Retaining walls. Used to manage slopes, prevent erosion, and create flat, usable levels in the backyard. They can be built with block, brick, or natural stone. In some designs, they double as seating walls for added functionality.

  • Outdoor living structures. Permanent features like fireplaces, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens fall into this group. While they aren’t holding back soil, they are still structural because they’re built to last and become fixed parts of the outdoor living space.

Together, these structural materials make it possible to design outdoor kitchens, stunning patios, and fire features that balance strength, style, and functionality.

Support and Base Materials

What’s underneath matters just as much as what you see on the surface.

  • Geo grid and underlayment. These create a stable base that helps surfaces withstand heavy use. They prevent shifting and improve drainage, which is especially important for driveways and high-traffic areas.

  • Fabric layers. Landscape fabric is often used beneath gravel, pavers, or stone to stop weeds from growing while still allowing water to drain.

  • Edging. Whether it’s plastic edging, stone borders, or metal strips, edging keeps gravel, pavers, and mulch in place. It also gives outdoor areas clean lines and a finished look.

  • Erosion control products. On sloped areas, erosion control materials help hold soil and rock in place. This not only protects the structure but also keeps the landscape design neat over time.

For larger projects, erosion control materials are often added to stabilize soil and protect slopes. If you’re handling installation yourself, it helps to have the right landscaping tools to make the work easier.

Having the right support materials is just as important as choosing pavers or natural stone. They make the difference between a hardscape that shifts and cracks and one that stays durable and low maintenance for decades.

Finishing Products

These are the details that lock everything in and protect your investment.

  • Polymeric sand. This is swept into the joints of pavers to keep them from shifting. When activated with water, polymeric sand hardens slightly, helping block weeds and insects while keeping surfaces low-maintenance.

  • Sealers. Paver and stone sealers protect against stains, fading, and water damage. They can also bring out the colors and textures of natural stone, concrete, or brick.

  • Caps and edging stones. These provide a finished look to retaining walls, seating walls, and garden borders while protecting the core materials underneath.

For soil-based projects around your hardscape, understanding the benefits of bagged compost can also help keep planting areas healthy.

Hardscape products in these categories all work together to build outdoor areas that are strong, low-maintenance, and designed to last.

 

Designing Stunning Patios and Outdoor Spaces

The right mix of hardscape materials can turn a simple backyard into a functional and stylish outdoor living space. A good design balances durability, comfort, and aesthetics, so the area works well for everyday use and special gatherings.

Patios are often the centerpiece, built with pavers, natural stone, or brick to create a surface that can withstand weather and heavy use. From there, you can add features that bring life and character to the space:

  • Fire pits that creates a cozy spot for relaxation.
  • Outdoor kitchens that makes entertaining easy and practical.
  • Seating walls that provide structure and extra room for guests.
  • Water features like fountains or small ponds that adds movement and a calming sound.

When planning, think about durability, style, and functionality as a whole. Mixing natural stone with permeable pavers, or pairing retaining walls with outdoor kitchens, can create an outdoor living space that looks great and works well for years.

 

Plan Your Next Hardscaping Project in Colorado

Hard landscaping gives structure and durability to an outdoor living space. With the right mix of pavers, natural stone, retaining walls, and other hardscape materials, you can create patios, walkways, or outdoor kitchens that are built to last. A thoughtful design not only adds style but also makes your backyard easier to enjoy every day.

You can stop by Rivendell Distribution at 3961 Co Rd 114, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601 or browse our hardscaping materials online. We carry trusted brands and ship nationwide, so you can get the right supplies for your project no matter where you’re located.

 

FAQs About Hardscape Supplies

What is the difference between soft and hard landscaping?

Hard landscaping includes the built features like patios, retaining walls, pavers, and walkways, while soft landscaping focuses on plants, trees, and lawns. Both are important in landscape design, since the hardscape materials give structure and the softscape adds beauty and life. A balanced outdoor space usually blends the durability of stone or brick with the color and texture of plants.

What is the best cost benefit hardscape material?

Concrete pavers are often the best mix of cost and durability, giving you stylish patios or driveways without the high price tag of natural stone. Gravel is another affordable option for walkways or DIY projects, especially if you already have landscaping tools like shovels, wheelbarrows, and gloves. If you want lasting beauty, natural stone such as slate or limestone adds elegance, but it comes with a higher cost.

Is hardscaping a good investment?

Yes, hardscaping is usually a smart investment because it adds both function and value to your home. Features like patios, outdoor kitchens, and fire pits create usable outdoor living spaces that buyers often look for. With the right planning and durable materials, the return on investment comes not only in property value but also in years of enjoyment.

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