THE FIRST THING ANYONE CONTEMPLATING
HARDSCAPING FOR THEIR YARD SHOULD
CONSIDER IS HOW THEY PLAN TO USE THE SPACE.
One area that has drawn the attention
of many homeowners is their outdoor
living space, which in turn has driven
a surge of interest in hardscaping —
using pre-cast landscaping materials
such as stone or brick to build features
such as patios, pathways and walls.
"When COVID hit, people couldn't
really travel so their attention became
focused on improving their home,"
says Peegy Ontong, marketing
manager for Manitoba-based Barkman
concrete products.
"As a result, people have started to
think more about, 'What can I do to
spice up my backyard aside from just
having a lush garden?' "
Ontong says the first thing anyone
contemplating hardscaping for their
yard should consider is how they
plan to use the space. That includes
thinking about what your day-to-day
schedule looks like and how you and
your family typically gather.
"Some people still want to have their
grass, but they also want to have a
gathering space where they can set up
a patio and table and bring out food
in the summer. If so, maybe you can
isolate a 12-by-12 space in the corner
for a patio," she says.
Cont'd on page 44
Parade of Homes SPRING 2022 41
