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J U N E 2 0 2 4 | 17 Landscape Products Uncovering the ever-evolving palette of landscape products by ROBIN BRUNET W hen it comes to landscaping products, regardless of the properties they're intended for, design and colour trends are subtle rather than seismic, and everything old eventually becomes new again. Vito Lore, sales manager, Canada, at family-owned Mutual Materials (whose 13 manufacturing plants and 18 branch offices provide high-quality masonry and hardscape products to a wide range of customers), says, "The preference for larger format slab sizes, which began some years ago, is still a trend. We carry 120 inch ["] by 24" and 24" by 24" units, but we also have 8" by 12" and 16" by 24" units, because a lot of the standard sizes are still popular too." Mutual's masonry offerings include brick, blended brick, structural brick, and concrete masonry units in many colours, shapes, and textures. Its hardscape products include paving stone, patio slabs, and garden and retaining walls. Lore notes that elsewhere, "There seems to be a new interest in different shapes such as geometric shaped pavers and larger slabs. Conversely, Roman- styled, tumbled worn pavers were very popular for a number of years, but now the move is towards cleaner and more linear; it's a matter of evolving aesthetics." Belgard remains at the forefront of product design innovation. The hard- scapes company recently launched several new paver styles within its already extensive portfolio of offerings, ensuring there is a style that goes with each and every project, no matter the design or aesthetic. Belgard has a dedicated focus on modularity, which makes design and instal- lation easier. Modular design uses individual parts to create a holistic plan more efficiently; modular pavers work off nominal sizes, which allows contractors to play more with shape, size, and texture within the design. The company also understands the importance of combining aesthetics and function and has introduced new textured paver designs that offer depth and dimension without compromising quality. Part of Belgard's Artisan collection, the Papyrus paver, offers a unique, organic textural experience with a touch of modern elegance. It features clean edges with a unique face that mimics the look of hand-tooled striations and the texture of organic textiles. It comes in true three-inch increments for optimized pallet layouts and job site efficiencies, which delivers reduced cuts, installation time, and waste. In addition, its modular format allows for increased options for creative patterns, simplified quoting, and design of projects. The Basalt paver is also part of Belgard's Artisan collection and features the distinctive character of flame-textured stone. It has the same modular benefits as Papyrus and is compatible with other Belgard modular paver lines. Rooted In Vision Large slab pavers from Mutual Materials. The Basalt paver from Belgard's Artisan collection.

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