6 Ways Masonry Improves Front Entrances in Bristol and Middletown RI Areas
Your front entrance is more than just the doorway into your house. It is the entire area that welcomes your family and friends as soon as they arrive for a visit. The front entrance includes your driveway, front lawn, walkway, front porch, garden beds and, of course, the door to your home. Here are five ways masonry improves front entrances in Bristol and Middletown, RI, areas.
Related: What to Look For in a Mason in Middletown and Bristol, RI Areas
Choosing Materials
Incorporating masonry into your landscape is the perfect solution to create a stylish and sophisticated space, without the need for constant upkeep. Masonry structures can be built with your choice of concrete pavers, porcelain, bricks and flagstone, all wonderful options that provide lasting durability and a variety of styles to choose from. Each material has its own unique qualities and characteristics. Concrete pavers can be made to imitate a wide variety of materials. Porcelain is an extremely strong and very beautiful material that does well in wet environments. Bricks will give you a more historical feel, and flagstone blends in beautifully with the surrounding natural environment.
Driveway Pavers
Recreate your driveway with the installation of elegant pavers. Concrete pavers are not only durable enough to withstand the weight of vehicles moving on and off of them, they also come in a variety of colors, styles and prints for you to find just the right fit and match the character of your home. For a stately and modern look, use smooth, large porcelain pavers in a light shade of grey. Define the border with a darker shade or a different color. If you’re looking for a more rustic, natural or historical style driveway, you can find concrete pavers that resemble natural stone, cobblestone, or bricks in many natural earth tones. Mix and match shades of brown and tan to bring more visual dynamics to the space.
Masonry Walkway
A walkway is the perfect way to welcome your guests right up to the front door of your home. Just as with driveway installation, there are many styles of concrete pavers for you to choose from. Alternatively, the use of bricks will bring a more historical atmosphere to your entrance, or the use of natural stone will bring the welcoming essence of nature into your design.
Stone Steps
Make a statement with a grand stone stairway leading up to your door. Whether you choose pavers, natural stone or brick, masonry steps will last longer and look more sophisticated than poured concrete or wood. For entrances that are elevated above the driveway, allow your stone steps to follow the natural curve of your land leading up to the front door. Add an extra element of beauty with a retaining wall planter built alongside your steps.
Front Gardens
A large part of creating a welcoming front entrance is finding a balance between your hardscape and softscape areas. Plant your favorite greens or flowers alongside your stone walkway. Use masonry that matches or complements your front porch as the border for flower beds adorning either side of your staircase, or use decorative rocks to fill the beds instead of mulch. Beautiful masonry planters are a wonderful addition to accent your porch and front door.
Masonry Features
Spruce up the features in your front entrance area, such as fencing, a mailbox or a lamppost, with masonry upgrades. Update the look of your fence by lining the vertical supports with masonry to create a dignified pillar-like effect. Place your mailbox atop a pillar of stone, and elevate decorative lamps on granite pillars.