ACROSS THE BOARD

THANKFUL

------------ BY PATRICK ADAMS

IS IT ME or has this been another crazy year? Is this the new normal? Maybe it’s just me who is going crazy?

We had basically two years where the world was shut down due to a “pandemic.” COVID is still around, but now we seem focused on other things. Like a recession, the stock market, real estate, cost of everything, labor shortages, and oh yeah, let’s not forget about Russia and China rattling their sabers threatening a new Cold War, or is it a cyber war, or is it nothing at all?

I’m sitting in my backyard on a Sunday morning as I write this. We had a rare and odd rain last night, and there is a hint of that fall crispness in the air. Birds are singing, my coffee is steaming, and my morning cigar is quietly smoking near my chair. I find that I have this internal battle with myself more often these days. On one hand, there is a lot of concerning data and information that I am processing. Given my nature, I tend to always be evaluating the environment around me and adjusting to manage (and prevent if possible) the “worst case scenario.” I know how that sounds, but from the life I have had it is something that just happens in the background of my mind. These days, however, I find myself for the first time in my life feeling like I want to shut off the noise. Actually not know what is happening in the world around me because it just feels like too much data that ends up not leading to a conclusion. Take COVID, for example. What did we learn, where do we go from here, and what happens next to make us more prepared? Not sure… nobody seems concerned about those questions. It just kind of stopped… without stopping.

On the other hand, I have also learned to trust my instincts. And in these days of news chaos, what do my instincts tell me? Am I scared or concerned? Do I fear for my family and friends? Is that sixth sense telling me that it’s time to gear up for another battle? Strangely, no. Our business remains healthy, the industries we serve remain cautiously optimistic as there is still far more demand than can be serviced for the necessities they provide this nation and overall, things are good.

But I learned a long time ago that when there is conflicting information that clouds my ability to form a confident plan, not to force a decision. Instead, I go back to what I call my foundation. My foundation is what I start every day with, and end every evening with and it’s simple. If I wake up, the first thing I do is think about how thankful I am that I have another day because honestly, I never expected to live this long. The last thing I do before I fall asleep is give thanks I made it through another day. That I had the chance to work and provide for my family and team. That maybe I did something to make a positive difference in the world around me. That I have the privilege of serving this great industry and the amazing men and women who serve in it. This is what brings me peace and calm in the midst of chaos.

I’ve also learned that in spite of my best attempts, control is an illusion. I can’t change the world’s illogical approach toward a pandemic, nor can I impact how the nation manages global threats. I can’t make costs go down, nor can I make young people passionate about dedicating themselves to a profession. Instead, I try to take the approach of “until it is at my front door, it’s not a problem worth worrying about.” This is mostly figurative (although if Russia shows up at my front door, it would be a literal problem to deal with) but helps me put things into a more healthy perspective. For all of our worrying, how often do those things ever come to be, or provide us with actionable data? Rarely in my experience and yet, we allow this worry to rob us of living in the moment where we usually find the most peace and happiness.

So, as we move into this holiday season I’m going to work very hard at giving myself the gift of being thankful. Not just when I wake up and not just when I go to sleep, but all day. We can all make the choice of the lens to view our world through and I’m choosing being thankful for the countless things that we all should be thankful for. Living in this great country where it is still better to be an American than live anywhere else on Earth. Having our health and another day to try to do better than yesterday. For having something greater than ourselves to serve.

As I get to this point of writing, my kids have come outside with our newest member of the family, the other extreme of German dogs, “Winnie” the dachshund (the kids think it stands for Winnie the Pooh, but it’s actually short for Winchester). I’m watching the kids chase Winnie, as Winnie chases our 100-lb., protection-trained German Shepherd, Kimber, who is running around like she’s a poodle puppy. There are laughs and all four of them are already wet, and muddy, and having a blast as I see my wife look out the window and shake her head with a smile as I’m sure she’s thinking about the disaster of clean-up as all four are likely moments from storming back into the house.

When I look at life through this lens, it’s almost impossible for me to understand how I became so blessed. I wasn’t supposed to have this life. I’m certainly not deserving of it. But, I am thankful it somehow found me. I’m thankful for each of you as well because serving this industry has been one of the great joys of my life. How each of you live, run your businesses, and openly share your stories serve as my inspiration to be deserving of your generosity.

As we start this holiday season, take a moment, borrow my “new lens” and look at your life through it. Now take a “picture” of what you see and hold on to it. I hope this image carries you through a wonderful, and thankful holiday season with those who matter most in your lives.

WHAT CLIENTS WANT IN OUTDOOR LIVING

TOP DECK BUILDERS PINPOINT BIGGEST TRENDS IN THE BACKYARD

DECKORATORS recently hosted a panel of top deck builders discussing the most important trends in outdoor living. “Imagine Outside: 2023 Outdoor Living Professional Insights” brought together four leading contractors—Blake Carter, California Deck Pros, San Marcos, Ca.; Sean Collinsgru and Catherine Lippincott, Premier Outdoor Living, Palmyra, N.J.; and Jason Varney, Dock & Deck, Lenoir City, Tn. The panelists identified homeowner demands that not only influence which products will sell, but also what new products are coming down the pike.

Calm & Collected

Sean Collinsgru: What we’re seeing with our clients is a sense that they want to relax and find a bit of peace from the day. I think that’s a little bit of a carryover from everything that’s gone on over the last couple of years. We used to see a lot of people’s wish lists were all surrounding entertainment, throwing parties. Now we’re seeing more

BUILT-IN coolers help ensure everything you might want to enjoy on your deck is at your fingertips. (Photo by Premier Outdoor Living) and more the requests are coming from a place of “we just want to have a space that’s peaceful and calming.” That’s leading to a lot of the trends that are more natural, more earthtones. I don’t want to say people are going away from a more modern aesthetic, but they want more texture, they want more of those calming tones and accessories that accentuate that.

Blake Carter: We’re using a lot of natural tone. People are focusing more on keeping it simpler, because using more of those natural tones will give us a timeless look. I think people are looking more long-term for this, because they’re throwing so much money into their outside space they want a color that in 10 years is not going to look dated. Doing a neutral tone you can get color by a lot of different textures and materials, and also pop the color from your furniture and accents, rather than the floor itself.

Bigger the Better

Jason Varney: What we’re seeing the most that is different from the past is the scale of the projects. There’s no holding back on what people are willing to do. Maybe it’s due to the amount of projects that have been introduced into the field and them not just getting enough with just one product. The scale of the projects in my business has doubled in cost, in material, and in the footprints. The outdoor living space doesn’t extend to a 10-ft. area for a barbecue any more. It’s pushed all the way to the edge of the property and, in my case, to the water.

Inside Out

Carter: People don’t want to go back inside their house. So we’re putting everything they have inside outside. That means they’ll have a barbecue, but they’re also going to have a sink so they can go wash their hands. We’re putting everything out on the deck you need inside. Were also putting heaters and fireplaces and

firepits, anything that you can to not only to prolong the time from day to night, but also seasons to keep people out there all year long.

Collinsgru: People want features outside. I always look at it like outdoor rooms, so when I go into a design consultation it’s not like “Tell me what you want,” it’s “Tell me how you want to use it? What kind of areas do you want? Do you want an outdoor living room? Do you want an outdoor kitchen?” By looking at it like that we can focus on the features that need to go in. The features are a means to the space. If you want an outdoor kitchen, that is going to lead to counter space, a grill, a fridge, trash. It starts with the intention behind the space, which for us starts at the design process and leads to everything we do. More and more people want everything that’s inside the house outside. So heaters, a built-in cooler in a bar top, kitchens, all kinds of stuff. As soon as people see that inspiration on Pinterest or Instagram, they immediately want all these features, and it’s our job to figure out how we can realistically do that and incorporate it into their project.

Varney: With the scope and the size of the projects that we’re doing now, people are making such a huge investment it’s like if you were to build a new home these days, you wouldn’t build just a bedroom and a kitchen, you’re going to have all the extras because the cost is so grand because of the scale that they want. There are no limitations. Their designs are over the top and they literally don’t back down at all on what they want. Now it’s more of can we get the product and can we get it done in the timeframe so they can use these huge areas, that’s the biggest push.

The Full Picture

Catherine Lippincott: Our entire business is based around the whole backyard build, because it really sets off a project. Just adding simple things like landscaping and lighting can make a $30,000 deck look like a $75,000 deck. Most people, if they’re spending all this money, want it to look the best that it can, so having something to set off other features like lighting or landscaping really draws the eye to how beautiful a project can be.

Collinsgru: Our biggest objective has always been making sure the project looks like it’s supposed to be there. A lot of times you’ll see a deck that’s built off the back of the house and it might be well integrated with the architecture of the house, but not into the landscape. It’s should be a bridge between the house and the landscape. By incorporating things like planter beds around the deck you can not only soften that hard look of this big structure out there, but it helps to integrate it. When we’re done, we want it to look like it was always meant to be there. A finished look. That this is the spot for the deck, it makes sense that it’s there, and it seamlessly transitions from house to landscape.

Lippincott: Also, things like patios add more usable space. So if one space lends itself to the next and if you’re thinking about it more cohesively, you just get more space out of it.

Carter: A lot of the jobs we’re doing are big, elaborate projects that take up basically all the backyard. But we don’t want one thing to take up the whole yard. We put in some greenery to soften the hardness of the hardscape. We want the patios and the decks to be proportionate with the yard. We also want to utilize other textures so that it looks like we have a cohesive design, and it doesn’t look like something that we didn’t plan, like we just plopped it in the backyard. And we want to actually make it usable. You can build a whole project, but if it doesn’t function, it’s a waste of space.

Also in terms of are we going to be out here when it’s 110 degrees? Well, probably not unless we install some shade. So we combine everything from the deck to the patio, the pool, an area to play some games, an adult area, an area for the kids, we’re thinking about all of those things when we’re designing.

Varney: Our projects start at the back door and extend all the way to the waterfront. They used to say, “It’s got great curb appeal.” Well, a lot of these projects people don’t see from the curb. We try to make the dock or deck their front door now, and if you look at a lot of images these days out on social media, what you see is the backyard. You don’t see the curb appeal per se, what everybody saw 10, 15, 20 years ago. Now it’s shot from a drone showing their entire backyard. The homeowner used to open the front door and want to show people how pretty their foyer was. Now they’re trying to shove you as fast through their house as they can to get back to this ultimate outdoor living space in the back. MM

NATURAL NEUTRALS—including Deckorators Voyage composite decking in Sedona, ALX cable railing, muted hardscape, and western red cedar privacy wall—help create a tranquil, integrated space. (Photo by California Deck Pros)

HOT IN HARDSCAPES

HOMEOWNERS MOVE TO TEMPLATED DESIGNS

------------ BY JOE RABOINE

BEFORE JUMPING into what’s hot in hardscapes for this year, it is essential to evaluate the state of the outdoor living industry from a higher level. High demand and labor struggles are beginning to define the industry. Most contractors are booked for months or even seasons, with some stating they cannot take any more consultations this year. Thirty-five percent of contractors reported turning down work due to skilled labor shortages in a 2021 survey by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

To move forward and meet these heightened expectations and demand, we must rally around establishing new best practices and learn how to button-up project planning in a way that emphasizes efficiency and simplicity.

Understanding industry trends and predicting future needs is a good place to start. There has been a notable shift in overall thinking about outdoor living, related to health and well-being, which gives a strong prediction for the industry’s future. Science shows us that quality design provides better space and improves our health. Thoughtful, holistic design helps us create spaces for homeowners to connect with nature and those around them. This connection to nature improves mental and spiritual health and makes a backyard something that can truly transform people’s daily lives. In this style, hardscapes and landscapes blend in what is known as entangled, or biophilic, design. It uses true natural elements or materials that mimic nature to create a more organic look and feel.

The past few years of heavy self-isolation pushed homeowners to reflect on how they interact with their environment, driving them to find the most efficient, cleanest and happiest ways to function in their home. A common resolution of these considerations is a motivation to increase the functionality of the space. For backyards specifically, this is where hardscapes come in.

By anticipating this shift to functionality, contractors can approach homeowners with plans to elevate their designs through elements like lighting, sound, Wi-Fi and shade structures. These features are critical to ensure your customer can spend time carrying out any task outside. Contractors equipped with this knowledge and the tools to support it stand out from the rest—and can secure larger budget projects.

GEOMETRIC SHAPES from Belgard come in multiple shapes and colors— Charcoal, Foundry and Linen.

ARTFORMS modular paver system showcases an outdoor kitchen.

So, how can we use hardscapes to help design spaces that are great places to entertain, as well as relax and function for everyday use?

Templated & Modular Designs

It can be challenging to implement a more thoughtful and complete design, especially during busy seasons. However, we are seeing the launch of new tools, products and innovations that can support this initiative while boosting efficiency.

For example, the industry is working to move away from entirely custom designs, and instead encouraging a templated approach to simplify the process for contractors—therefore positively impacting homeowners.

One way we are doing this is through the availability of templated outdoor room designs, including individual

LARGE ANGULAR PAVERS can provide a clean outdoor living space.

rooms and multi-room spaces. We see defined rooms, like kitchens and living rooms, as a priority for homeowners, including fully functional micro spaces, which have become a dominant form of renovation in cities where lot sizes are small.

With a templated approach, contractors can create a design based on the homeowner’s style preferences to streamline the process. Unnecessary time and resources are saved due to the automated process, giving contractors more opportunity for growth and profit.

Homeowners want turnkey solutions to make it easier and quicker for them to enjoy a cohesive space. Integrating hardscapes that elevate the design, such as a fire pit in the outdoor living room, a bar in the outdoor kitchen, or a modular wall around the deck, can make the space feel more complete.

On the other hand, custom designs result in the need for contractors to re-invent the wheel for each project regarding style, feature, scale and budget. It is much easier to meet homeowners where they are and emulate how they are already shopping in their daily lives. Starting with a templated approach to a kitchen, dining or living room and modifying elements based on needs yields a much higher and quicker conversion rate.

Beyond operational benefits, material and design quality also improves with this approach. The templated designs are built with intention and supported by data, ensuring it will streamline the installation process with less room for error or delay. Modular, linear design is essential here—and a preferred design style among today’s homeowners. Modular, geometric standard patterns comprised of clean lines and simple formats create an uncluttered aesthetic that aligns with a more modern design.

Created in true inch increments, each piece is made to fit within its counterparts, allowing for extreme

MIRAGE QUARZITI and Mega-Arbel pavers from Belgard were used around this fire pit to create a cohesive space.

NATURE WALK was built using Belgard’s Mega-Arbel pavers.

design versatility and intricate installs with no cuts. More pavers and outdoor living solutions are being designed with these uniform dimensions to make the installation easier and faster, allowing contractors to maximize time and customers to enjoy their outdoor space sooner. Simplified quoting and design capabilities makes it easier to manage integration of other products with the hardscapes and leaves room for contractors to play with more creative patterns.

The scale of pavers has also increased, thanks to continued innovation in the industry. Products that feature large format expansion with narrow joints make installation quicker and more efficient. Larger pavers have more surface area and allow contractors to install an increased amount of square footage quickly and efficiently. This style also gives homeowners the clean, modern look that is popular today. It is important to note that larger pavers may require additional or new equipment for transportation and installation, based on the increased scale.

Technology, Equipment & Recruiting

Technology is the new driving force behind the hardscaping and construction industries. Forty-two percent of landscape professionals are using more technology than five years ago, and 89% of landscape professionals want more efficiency and better information transfer, according to a recent report by GoMaterials. Prioritizing equipment and technology can speed up project timelines and increase efficiency across the board.

In line with this trend, one of our critical considerations as a hardscapes manufacturer is to scrutinize our installation processes. It is important to lean on technology, utilize the latest mechanical install techniques, and also innovate different types of equipment designed for lifting, setting and placing our materials. Shifting the focus from production best practices to improving install efficiencies helps meet the needs of contractors. Industry experts help us identify these needs and call out areas with room for improvement in tools and equipment—expanding the lens for innovation.

With unprecedented demand, we must consider the building blocks of our industry and where we are heading. There is no longer a need to lift by hand. Leveraging efficient equipment can encourage a lifetime career for industry professionals and is more attractive for recruiting the next generation.

Incoming innovations, such as 3D design and augmented reality (AR) solutions, are hitting the market to help consolidate the design process and allow professionals to show a more immersive version of their design plan to customers. To help alleviate some of the pain points causing installation disruptions, contractors need to iron out the planning process and streamline their projects using technology.

The future of hardscapes starts with a fresh way of thinking for the industry, leaning into modular, templated designs and innovative technology and equipment for execution. regions. MM

JOE RABOINE

Joe Raboine is the director of residential hardscapes at Belgard (www.belgard.com).

EXPANSIVE AND FUNCTIONAL kitchens, such as this showplace from Danver, are built to withstand the elements so homeowners can enjoy year-round outdoor dining.

WHAT’S COOKIN’ IN OUTDOOR KITCHENS

WHEN IT COMES to creating an all-season outdoor oasis that creates a transitional extension between the inside and outside of your home, nothing says outdoor living more than an outdoor kitchen. With stylish designs that seamlessly coordinate with any aesthetic and an abundance of options to choose from, it’s not surprising these amenities remain a hot commodity all year long.

“Outdoor living is no longer restricted to spring and summer, nor reserved for certain parts of the country,” said Leslie Adkins, VP of marketing for Trex Co., which offers a line of outdoor kitchens manufactured by Danver. “Thanks to new high-performance materials and innovative design approaches, people everywhere are transforming their outdoor spaces into multi-seasonal extensions of their homes.”

Flexible options are a must

A key to making these spaces functional year-round is having options that are flexible enough so they can work in a variety of outdoor living spaces.

For example, installing cabinetry as a separate sideboard or bar can help merge the kitchen with low seating or dining elements, according to Mitch Slater, president and owner of Danver. Likewise,

STYLISH OPTIONS MAKE OUTDOOR LIVING SPACES SIZZLE

installing an outdoor kitchen immediately next to the pool, with the potential for swim-up eating and dining, can help integrate outdoor entertaining features.

A clever, outdoor kitchen solution is Danver’s Post and Panel System (PPS). The PPS is a first-ofits-kind outdoor kitchen solution that was designed for multi-family properties. It is an extension of outdoor cabinetry designed for shared common spaces, rooftop destinations, or anywhere counter space is needed but storage is not.

Constructed of stainless steel and powder coated for a modern aesthetic with exceptional durability, the PPS integrates the look of

Danver’s existing cabinetry, while eliminating unnecessary storage areas and weight. Engineered to provide strong countertop support, the simple, inline design makes design flexibility a priority by accommodating a wide range of lengths. It also features removable panels that can easily be switched out.

In addition, Danver recently released its Cosmopolitan Table Collection that is designed to blend seamlessly with Danver’s other outdoor kitchen products so homeowners can build their kitchen space over time. The collection is the brand’s first table offering and its latest collaboration with celebrated architect, designer, and creative director Daniel Germani.

The collection includes three new tables: the Cosmopolitan Prep Table, Cosmopolitan Dining Table, and Cosmopolitan Cooking Table. The Cooking Table introduces innovative Invisacook induction technology, that works both in a smaller outdoor space where an open flame is not permitted, or as a warming table in a larger-scale outdoor kitchen. The tables are constructed of durable, powdercoated, stainless steel.

Design with the inside in mind

Design has become a top priority for customers. According to Slater, a growing number of homeowners are prioritizing their outdoor kitchens and planning for them just as they would any interior room, including dedicating larger footprints and budgets to these living spaces.

“Outdoor kitchens have come a long way over the past two decades,” he said. “What began as a grill and food prep station against the house has evolved into a robust outdoor entertaining space that can flow seamlessly with any indoor aesthetic. Creating an outdoor space that maintains the interior aesthetic is one of the easiest ways to help outdoor design feel cohesive and intentional.”

Nature-inspired greens and blues remain a favorite among homeowners. “As bigger and brighter colors make their way into the home, our powder-coated hues span a large range of colors–like fiery Chili, sophisticated dark green Chromica Feroe, and crisp Sea Spray–and provide homeowners with a selection to fit any aesthetic,” Slater said. “These new colors reflect the forecast for bold colors finding a more prominent home in outdoor design–especially since many homeowners are more willing to take risks for their outdoor living spaces in particular.”

Tailor-made cabinetry

As the color choices have evolved, so too have the cabinet configurations. For example, the Danver and Trex kitchens feature stainless steel cabinets that are available in a wide range of configurations, in 3” increments, for nearly unlimited design possibilities. All cabinetry is madeto-order in either 304 or 316L grade stainless steel.

It’s a small wonder with so many options and colors available in outdoor kitchens, homeowners will want to eat anywhere but indoors if everything they need to keep the food hot and the company fed is outdoors in a stylishly designed outdoor living space. MM

NATURE-INSPIRED GREENS are a popular choice for homeowners who want to create a functional, yet luxurious outdoor living space.

EYE-CATCHING COLORS in the Trex Outdoor Kitchen collection transform any outdoor living space and make it an inviting place to entertain guests or enjoy a family meal.