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J UNE 2017 | 33 Landscape Products Smartly designed landscaping products and modern finishes beautify the backyard by STACEY MCLACHLAN W hen the sun starts to shine and flowers start to bloom, it's hard to deny the pull of patio season. And though they may only spend a few months of the year soaking up the summer, homeowners these days are putting almost as much care and consideration into their outdoor living spaces as they are their houses. "A major trend we see is the rising popularity of outdoor living designs in the landscape market," says Kirk Skinner, region manager for Keystone Retaining Wall Systems. The American Society of Landscape Architect's 2017 Residential Landscape Architecture Trends Survey indicates the importance of outdoor liv- ing elements: 72 percent of the architects surveyed rated it as most likely to have the highest consumer demand this season. That means outdoor kitchens, fire- places, benches, fire pits and raised planters are of high interest to consumers at the moment. P R E T T Y P AV E R S Paving slabs are bigger and bolder than ever before, both in terms of size and capa- bilities. Larger format pavers and slabs with linear shapes – longer, cleaner and sleeker than ever before – are trending now, says Vito Lore, Canada business devel- opment for Mutual Materials. It's why Mutual is introducing elongated dimensions for its plank pavers, with a 75-millimetre by 300-millimetre linear esthetic ideal for patios and walkways. "Large size pavers and slabs continue to dominate trends in both commercial and residential applications," agrees John Moroz, marketing manager for Expocrete (an Oldcastle company). "Clean crisp lines coupled with larger format sizes follow the trends from the interior of a home." He also notes that porcelain pavers are becoming more popular as design professionals and homeowners alike are discov- ering the advantages of an outdoor tile. "From colour and texture availability to durability, Porcelain Pavers will be much more prominent in design features," he says. At Expocrete, the 12-by-24 Aria Slab has three different modern face profiles, while the 24-by-24 Smooth and Slate Slabs come in a similar dimension. But it's the Mega-Tandem SRW from Expocrete that may be the most exciting new option, as it offers a 12-by-24 inch size in both smooth and texture profiles. But the patio isn't the only place these slabs are being used. Expocrete's Rise-It Pedestal system allows slabs to be used on balconies and rooftops as well. Designed to support the load of foot traffic and installed pavers, it can withstand over 6,500 pounds, and improves drainage while protecting critical roofing membranes and moisture bar- rier systems. And as an added bonus it's made of 100-percent recycled materials. The Aristokrat Series porcelain slabs have the appearance of a high-end indoor tile, but at two-centimetres thick they are actually strong enough to be driven on. They're also stain-resistant and incredibly lightweight at only nine pounds per square foot. Available in multiple sizes, the Aristokrat Series allows for a wide variety of lay- out combinations achieving complete design freedom. The precise sizing greatly reduces installation time (and cost) when creating these intricate multi-piece pat- terns. Installation options include pedestals, aggregate or mortar set, rendering them extremely flexible for a variety of outdoor applications. For a paver with a minimalist look that can still support a vehicle, Drivable Grass from Northwest Landscape Supply offers a plantable concrete pavement system made from a grid of wet-cast concrete that conforms to uneven ground surfaces and minimizes wheel rutting. The Great Outdoors Mirage Belgard smooth porcelain pavers from Expocrete.

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