Everyone wants to host a garden party. The backyard is the hangup. Getting the space in presentable condition takes a ton of work. And then an unexpected thunderstorm rolls in and erases weeks of toil in a few minutes. Very defeating!
Therefore, when choosing exterior landscaping materials, it is crucial to keep durability at the forefront. Which products will withstand the elements? Keep reading for additional insight on this crucial garden design concept!
What to Look for When Choosing Outdoor Materials
Brick. Concrete. Steel. These “tough” products likely come to mind as it pertains to withstanding the forces of nature. To be sure, they do have some benefits. But let’s look at some more specific traits that homeowners should weight when considering a durable landscape makeover:
- Moisture resistance – Rain. Humidity. Ground contact. Each of these can elicit mold, corrosion, and deterioration. Materials that repel or withstand moisture exposure limit the need for frequent repair or replacement.
- UV stability – Sun rays may produce lush greens in your plants. Everything else? Fading. Discoloration. Cracking. Structural breakdown. Look for UV-resistant features to keep your backyard strong and vibrant.
- Ease of maintenance – Exposure to outdoor elements naturally leads to dirt buildup and weathering. Too many homeowners don’t have the free time to commit to these concerns. This makes low maintenance exterior products crucial.
- Structural durability – Set it and forget it. That’s the dream when designing an outdoor space. Get a leg up in this regard by selecting products that can withstand the full spectrum of exterior forces.
When taken in totality, these factors contribute to sustainable exterior design. Not only do they make life easier for the homeowner, but they minimize ongoing resource requirements in the process to approach zero-trace exteriors.
6 Examples of Durable Outdoor Materials
Circling back to brick, concrete, and steel. They are definitely durable options, but there are a host of innovative, modern materials that can effectively mitigate diverse elemental challenges while promoting top-notch aesthetics all the while.
1. Bamboo Deck Boards
Homeowners love the warm, organic look of hardwood decks. They don’t love the upkeep requirements. Standard cedar should be stained every 2 to 3 years to maintain its moisture and UV resistance. This timeframe comes around far too fast for most homeowners.
As a result, many households are exploring the benefits of innovative bamboo decking. Engineered for density and durability, thermally-modified bamboo deck boards offer the same rustic charm of hardwood decks, only with enhanced durability. Due to their elite pest, moisture, and fire resistance, bamboo thermo decking actually performs closer to metal than timber products.
2. Fiber Cement Siding
The issue homeowners have with cedar decking also plagues wood plank siding: maintenance. Planks should be painted or stained every 5 years or so to maintain their protective properties. A lower maintenance alternative that offers a wide range of aesthetic flexibility is fiber cement cladding.
Made from a blend of cement, sand, and cellulose fibers, it holds up exceptionally well against moisture, UV exposure, and temperature swings without losing its structural integrity or appearance. Rot. Warping. Fire. Pests. Fiber cement protects against the gamut of outdoor threats for an ongoing pristine backdrop against which to set your backyard.
3. Louvered Pergolas
An exterior oasis without shade? That’s a bit of a stretch. Beyond comfort for daily enjoyment, shade plays a crucial role in protecting outdoor furniture and landscaping from extended UV exposure. Few products can match louvered pergolas in terms of element control. Their adjustable slats provide flexible protection against:
- Sun
- Rain
- Wind
- Projectile debris
Typically constructed from powder-coated aluminum or other weather-resistant materials, they resist rust, fading, and warping far better than traditional wood louvers.
4. Hogwire Railings
Deck and porch railings offer more than fall protection. They define space. They evoke a sense of privacy. They ensure compliance with local codes. Unfortunately, too many railings quickly fall into disrepair. Wood railings dry out and splinter. Metal railings corrode. One trending material that transcends these concerns is hogwire cable railings. Popular for their low profile and unencumbered sight lines, stainless steel hogwire is also exceptionally durable, resisting rust, corrosion, and impact in all kinds of weather.
5. Aluminum Gutters
Corrosion and UV resistance. Notice a theme? Add aluminum gutters to the parade. Lightweight yet strong, aluminum gutters hold their shape through temperature fluctuations and seasonal storms without cracking or warping. They protect a home’s exterior and surrounding garden beds while contributing clean lines and a polished, cohesive look to the overall exterior design.
6. Permeable Gravel Walkways
Concrete is traditionally the most popular exterior hardscaping material. The reasons? Affordability. Versatility. Durability. This last point includes something of a disclaimer.
Yes, concrete does a fine job of withstanding traffic and other compressive forces. However, it performs quite poorly when confronted with the shear and tensile forces wrought by erosion. Concrete, without regular sealing, is also quite porous. This leaves it susceptible to staining from sediment and cracking during the freeze/thaw cycle.
Therefore, more and more exterior hardscaping projects (sidewalks, patio floors) are exploring the benefits of permeable gravel options. The system uses a series of durable substrate paving grids that hold surface aggregates in place. This eliminates the rutting inherent to traditional gravel surfaces while leveraging the elite drainage properties of crushed stone for ongoing aesthetics with few intervention requirements.
Create an Exterior for All Occasions with Strategic Material Selection
Building stunning, high-function exterior spaces takes a lot of work. Work that can be eradicated in a matter of minutes by Mother Nature without careful material selection. From bamboo deck boards to permeable gravel walkways, consider any of the durable product ideas listed above for garden design that will withstand the elements. For more of the latest trends in home and design, explore the content at Shop Room Ideas for inspiration today!
