Alive Outside Landscaping Blog
Check out our tips and information, as well as recent projects we've designed and built!
Check out our tips and information, as well as recent projects we've designed and built!
Retaining walls are a technical name for a beautiful and practical landscaping feature. We commonly recommend them to customers for both their useful qualities and aesthetic qualities. We find that customers love the way they address erosion and protect the foundation of their property. They also use the walls as added privacy or transform them into raised landscape beds to benefit their natural surroundings. We’ve been building such walls in the hills of Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor in Colorado for over 30 years.
If you’ve already put time and investment into your lawn and property, whether that means fertilization and weed control or landscaping, then retaining walls will help protect that investment. The walls, when planned well, redirect water from rain and runoff so it doesn’t pool and affect the important areas of your lawn and cause erosion. Soil erosion is subtle but powerful— the entire state of Iowa lost 15 million tons of soil to erosion in 2014.
In more extreme cases, redirecting water also prevents flooding that can damage your home and ruin important belongings inside.
Walls are made out of durable hardscaping materials like:
Retaining walls are commonly built out of stone blocks. These materials will ensure that your new retaining walls are a lasting investment that benefits your property for decades to come.
Erosion ...
When you purchase a new home, you're making a huge investment. We take pride in owning our own home, and therefore want to protect this investment and get the most out of it as possible.
Adding custom landscaping to your property is one way you can increase your home's value and get more out of your investment. Custom landscaping complements your home and adds valuable living space that provides endless enjoyment and relaxation benefits. Here are some benefits a custom landscape adds to your home in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, and the surrounding Northern Colorado areas.
One perk to adding custom landscaping to your home is that the design aesthetic will perfectly match and complement your already existing architecture and style. If you have a modern house, a rustic landscape will clash with your home's aesthetics and actually detract from your home's value. However, a quaint cottage would pair perfectly with a rustic garden and increase the property's value. The same goes for your home.
Having a custom landscape designed by a professional company like Alive Outside Landscaping ensures your outdoor area will complement your home's current architectural style. Adding custom landscaping to your property can transform your home in such a unique way and bring a fresh new look and feel to your home without looking like a sore thumb that doesn't belong. When our landscaping contractors design...
In our part of Colorado, we have beautiful scenery and weather to enjoy all the time—and that’s why we love helping people create beautiful outdoor living spaces all throughout the greater Denver area, including Fort Collins, Loveland, and Windsor.
When our clients called to help improve their outdoor living space for their Denver backyard, we were more than happy to assist in planning out and installing a design that looked gorgeous and also incorporated many natural elements of our state. At Alive Outside Landscaping, we have more than 30 years of experience and are also ICPI certified contractors so we are able to plan out and install the highest quality projects.
One element our client wanted to add was a custom fire pit. Custom fire pits are a great addition to any outdoor living space, as they provide a great area to gather around for roasting marshmallows or extra warmth on chilly fall evenings. A fire feature can also add value to your home.
This fire pit was constructed from concrete blocks in the middle of one of their new patio areas so that the homeowners can set up furniture around it.
For this project, we constructed three patios that all merge together for a large outdoor living space. The first patio is attached directly to the home so that the homeowner and their family can directly step...
Custom patios add value to your home and increase overall outdoor living space. More livable space means more room for relaxing and spending time with family in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, and nearby areas in Colorado.
Our hardscapes are designed and built by our professionals with sturdy, long-lasting materials that provide a useful new living area capable of supporting quality furniture, cooking equipment, and more.
Adding a custom patio to your home offers a good return on investment or ROI. According to Supermoney.com, patios can provide a return that ranges from 30% - 60%. The return will depend upon property value and real estate trends in your area. If quality materials are used, and the patio is a central feature of the home the value can be even higher. Overall, the investment is a worthy one, which can make your home more attractive to a buyer if you choose to sell.
When the weather is nice, families are often drawn to the outdoors to enjoy it. A custom patio ensures they have a place that's slightly elevated from the rest of the yard and provides a stable, level area for quality patio furniture.
When designed properly, drainage will be taken into consideration, sending water away from the patio. Outdoor furniture will stay cleaner and is designed to dispel heat, which adds extra comfort in your new outdoor...
When you work to create a beautiful outdoor living space on your property, you want to create one that’s tranquil and seamlessly blends into the nature around your yard. Our spaces integrate native plants and boulders, but one other way we can put some more nature into your landscaping is by adding water features. Water features can add texture, sound, and other aspects.
Here are some ways that water features can accentuate your outdoor living space in Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, and surrounding areas in Colorado.
Water features, like ponds or waterfalls, can bring the bubbling sounds of nature to your doorstep. Another perk of custom water features is that they can be designed to fit any space. Bigger ponds are great for larger properties, whereas pondless waterfalls can fit into a smaller space. The pros at Alive Outside Landscaping can consult with you on where would be the best area to install a custom water feature. Often, they may fit into space in your yard that was going unused.
Another benefit of water features is that they can increase your property’s value, meaning they are a great return on investment.
There is some maintenance required for water features like ponds, as algae will accumulate if the feature isn’t cleaned. If you’re looking for one that doesn’t require as much maintenance, a smaller feature such as a pondless waterfall would be...
Adding outdoor living space to your home in Fort Collins, CO, can increase property value and also give you extra space for entertaining friends and family. It’s a great way to create a space that you can love and enjoy all year.
When this homeowner came to us with a desire for an improved outdoor living space, we consulted with them on what their needs were and then designed a space that not only looks beautiful but is also highly functional.
Our homeowner wanted an outdoor living space for entertaining. They wanted to include a custom fire pit, build a retaining wall, add in some steps down to the rest of the yard, and put in a spot for their hot tub. We took these needs into consideration during the landscape design phase.
Retaining walls prevent soil erosion and also help with the overall aesthetics of a property. In this case, we added a retaining wall that also had a raised planter bed. This gives the homeowner an additional area where they can opt to add in more of our beautiful native Colorado plants.
This retaining wall that we built using concrete blocks served as the base for the rest of the project, as it helped to elevate the outdoor living space from the rest of the yard.
For easy access to the rest of the yard, we added in stone steps in the front and off to the side.
The...
Adding livable space to the exterior areas of your property is a sound investment that allows your family to kick back in the fresh air and soak up some sunshine. One great way to do this is with a brand new outdoor kitchen!
The average price of the outdoor kitchen installations we have performed for customers in the Fort Collins, Loveland, Windsor, CO area is between $10,000 and $30,000, and includes everything you need to maximize your outdoor living space.
Our contractors will consult with you during the planning phase to make your ideal kitchen a reality. Cost will vary depending upon the options you choose, which often include fire pits, fireplaces, and new patio installs.
We build lasting spaces with the most attractive materials:
Our designs are custom to your needs, and can be created using a variety of colors and textures. They are crafted to create a seamless transition from the inside of your home to the outside. The newly created space will truly be an extension of your home.
The price for outdoor kitchens includes complete design and construction, along with the needed appliances, grills, and sinks. We run power, water, and gas to the appliances as required.
The ...
