From Vision to Reality: A Guide to Professional Hardscaping Services

What are Professional Hardscaping Services?

Hardscaping services refer to the design and installation of all the non-living, "hard" elements in a landscape. This is the architectural backbone of your yard. Our services include:

• Paver Patios and Walkways: Creating beautiful and durable outdoor living surfaces using high-quality concrete pavers or natural stone.

• Retaining Walls: Building engineered walls to hold back soil, create terraced gardens on a sloped property, or build raised garden beds.

• Stone and Boulder Work: Installing natural stone steps, decorative boulder accents, and other custom masonry features.

• Gravel Paths and Driveways: Creating charming and practical gravel surfaces for walkways and driveways.

• Fire Pits and Outdoor Kitchens: Building the foundational structures for custom fire pits and outdoor kitchen areas.

Our professional hardscaping services are a complete, turnkey solution. We handle every phase of the project, from the heavy excavation to the finest finishing details.

The Foundation of a Lasting Hardscape: Why the Base is Everything

In our New Hampshire climate, the single most important factor in a hardscape's longevity is the quality of its foundation. The freeze-thaw cycles of winter exert immense pressure on the ground. A patio or retaining wall built on an inadequate base will heave, shift, and fail in just a few seasons. This is where professional hardscaping services make the biggest difference.

The foundation of a proper hardscape involves:

1. Deep Excavation: We excavate the entire project area to a depth of at least 8-10 inches.

2. Geotextile Fabric: We lay down a layer of stabilization fabric to separate our gravel base from the native soil, preventing mixing and settling.

3. Layered, Compacted Gravel: We install a thick base of processed gravel in 2-3 inch layers. Each layer is thoroughly compacted with a heavy plate compactor until it is solid and unyielding.

This meticulous, labor-intensive process is the secret to a hardscape that will last for decades. It's a standard of quality that our hardscaping services team never compromises on. For more on these industry standards, the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) provides excellent detailed guidelines.

Our Process: The NorthPoint Approach to Hardscaping Services

When you partner with NorthPoint, you are getting a team with a proven, quality-focused process.

Step 1: The Design Consultation

The process begins with a conversation at your home.

• We Listen to Your Vision: We want to understand how you want to use your outdoor space. We’ll discuss aesthetics, functionality, and budget.

• Site Assessment: We will measure the area, assess the terrain and drainage, and identify any potential challenges.

• Material Selection: We can help you choose the right pavers, stone, and wall blocks from a wide range of styles and colors to perfectly complement your home.

• A Detailed Proposal: We will provide you with a comprehensive proposal that includes a design sketch and a clear, itemized quote for your hardscaping services.

Step 2: The Power of Professional Equipment

Once the plan is set, our team gets to work, and this is where our background as an equipment company gives us a huge advantage. We use our own fleet of modern, meticulously maintained equipment.

• Excavation: We use a mini excavator to quickly and precisely dig out the foundation for your project.

• Material Handling: A skid steer is used to efficiently move out the excavated soil and bring in the tons of gravel needed for the base.

• Compaction: We use a heavy-duty plate compactor to ensure your base is absolutely solid.

Step 3: The Art of Installation

This is where craftsmanship comes in.

• Setting the Base: Our skilled team lays and levels the final layer of bedding sand with precision.

• Laying the Pavers: We carefully lay each paver, ensuring tight joints and a perfect pattern.

• Precision Cutting: We use diamond-blade concrete saws to make clean, precise cuts for edges and custom shapes.

• Finishing Touches: We install professional-grade edge restraints, sweep polymeric sand into the joints to lock the pavers together, and perform a final compaction.

Step 4: Site Cleanup and Final Walkthrough

We take great pride in our professionalism. We will leave your property clean and tidy, with your new hardscape ready to be enjoyed. We perform a final walkthrough with you to ensure you are completely thrilled with the results of our hardscaping services.

Why Choose NorthPoint for Your Hardscaping Services?

• A Foundation in Equipment and Expertise: Our unique advantage is our dual identity. We are not just landscapers; we are heavy equipment experts. This means we have an unparalleled understanding of the most critical part of the job: the excavation and base preparation. We have the right machine for every task, from our powerful excavators and skid steers to our full range of concrete and masonry tools.

• A Commitment to Quality Over Speed: We build our hardscapes to last. We will never cut corners on the depth of your base or the quality of our compaction. Our goal is to provide you with a beautiful, durable installation that will stand the test of time and our harsh New Hampshire winters.

• Skilled, In-House Craftsmanship: Our hardscaping services team is composed of our own dedicated, experienced employees, not subcontractors. They are professionals who take pride in their work and are committed to delivering an exceptional finished product. For more on finding qualified contractors, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) is a great resource.

• Local and Accountable: As a family-owned business with locations in Tilton and Ashland, our reputation in the community is everything. We stand behind our work and are dedicated to your complete satisfaction.

• Two Convenient Locations:

  • Tilton: Our location at 185 Laconia Road, Tilton, NH 03276 is our central hub for providing hardscaping services to the Lakes Region and Central NH.

  • Ashland: Our store at 130 Main Street, Ashland, NH 03217 allows us to efficiently serve the White Mountains and North Country.

Let's Build Your Outdoor Oasis

Your dream patio, walkway, or retaining wall is closer than you think. An investment in professional hardscaping services is an investment in your home's beauty, functionality, and long-term value. Let our team of skilled craftsmen and equipment experts bring your vision to life.

The process starts with a simple conversation and a free, no-pressure design consultation. Contact the expert team at NorthPoint today.

Contact Us for a Free Hardscaping Estimate!

• Phone (Tilton): (603) 499-7926

• Phone (Ashland): (603) 375-4161

• Visit Our Hardscaping Page: www.northpointrentals.com/hardscaping-services/