6 Cuts Of Stone To Use For Stone Veneer Siding

In terms of redesigning your home in order to improve its appearance and overall value, there are tons of projects that homeowners can take on. One of the more popular types of design projects that homeowners often select is the installation of stone veneer siding, which looks absolutely beautiful and can truly transform your house into something really special.

For today’s topic, we’re going to start with a brief discussion on the types of materials that you can utilize for this particular type of project and then move on to the six cuts of stone that you can choose from. This will give you a good idea as to how to tackle this type of project and what type of cut may work and look best for a particular need, but definitely keep in mind that a professional landscape designer will help you get the most out of it.

Types of Material Used for Stone Veneer Siding

Which material you pick for your stone veneer siding can sometimes come down to the amount of room available, though cost can also be a factor. Here is a brief look of the five types that are available:

Full Stone Veneer — If you have room for a full stone appearance, there’s a good chance that this will be your veneer of choice.
Thin Stone Veneer — For those who like the idea of a full stone, but don’t quite have the room, this thinner version still looks awesome.
Cultured Stone Veneer — This mass-produced, cast concrete material comes in a wide variety of colors and often costs less.
Full Brick Veneer — Available in several sizes, textures, and densities, full brick looks awesome and is low-maintenance once installed.
Thin Brick Veneer — If you want a full brick appearance, but don’t have enough room for it, this thinner option may be perfect.

Types of Stone Cuts Used for Stone Veneer Siding

The next thing you’ll need to decide is which stone cut you’d prefer for your specific project, which will typically come down to personal preference. Here is a list of our six favorites to choose from:

Square/Rectangular

As you might expect, this stone veneer siding is either square or rectangular in shape. These veneers are made of natural stones, so you’ll find some roughness and variance to their shapes and lines. Some will be irregular in shape and have small cuts that will add visual interest to the material. When installed, these stones are arranged end to end and will often alternate between squares and rectangles. If you’re looking for an indoor or outdoor kitchen, garden walls, or backsplashes, this is a great choice.

Mosaic

Choosing a mosaic pattern provides you with a look that is less symmetrical and geometrical than other choices due to irregular cuts of the stone. You will find shapes such as triangles, jagged diamonds, hexagons, and even octagons within this pattern. They are pieced together randomly, which creates a pattern that often mimics the appearance of broken ice. Because of this, the mosaic pattern can truly stand out in a stunning, positive way. This pattern is perfect for a fireplace, chimney, or wine cellar.

River Round

Homeowners who prefer a smooth appearance with their stone veneer siding are very likely to choose river rock. These veneers feature a wide variety of colors and visual texturing that is created by an irregular pattern of rounded shapes. This offers a very soft and inviting appearance, yet one that is also bold and will catch the eye. This selection also contrasts quite well with wood siding or wood decking. In addition to decking, this is a common choice for fireplaces and chimneys.

Ledge

Although this type of veneer siding is also rectangular in shape, there is a more dramatic effect than what you get from the square and rectangular siding. Rather than creating large or wide rectangles, stones are arranged to consist of narrower and thinner rectangles that are longer and appear more angular. Depending on the project, ledge stone may be flush against your wall or another surface, or arranged in such a way that some of the stones project outwards while others recess inwards. This type of siding works great for bathrooms, kitchens, and fireplaces.

Ledge Mosaic

This variation of ledge stone changes the arrangement of stone pieces from being in line with those that are below and above each individual unit into a mosaic pattern. The stones are still installed end to end with this type of siding, but its seams do not line up vertically, creating an interesting appearance that adds to the stone’s already naturally occurring beauty. Ledge mosaic is perfect for fireplace hearths, outdoor pillars/columns, outdoor walls, backsplashes, and more.

Ledge Square

Another variation of ledge, this square type of cut takes the classic look and utilizes larger, square pieces reminiscent of those utilized in a square and rectangular layout. This creates a bold contrast between the narrow, angular ledge stones and the softer, larger squares. One notable effect that this has is creating an intriguing appearance, even from far away. This siding works very well for outdoor “living room” walls, interior accent walls, outdoor fireplaces, and exterior siding.

Where to Purchase Stone Veneer Siding in NJ

Regardless of which cut of stone veneer siding, you decide on for your impending project, you certainly can’t do it alone. Braen Supply has been a premier supplier of landscaping materials for just under two decades and our customers return to us, again and again, thanks to our expertise and knowledge of the industry. We’ve also just begun landscape design, which makes us a one-stop-shop for all of your landscaping needs. Our materials are competitively priced and we will bulk deliver to most locations throughout the states of New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Or, if you live in the area or will be visiting soon, feel free to drop by and chat with our associates about your next project or pick up some supplies directly from us.

Where Can I Find Mulch Near Me?

Any homeowner or business owner who has ever tackled a landscaping or gardening project has most likely been introduced to mulch as an optional material to use. In fact, mulch has become an essential component for many residential and commercial applications. There are several types of mulch available, but cedar mulch is typically the most popular, which is why it will be our primary focus for this discussion. The one question is… where can I find mulch near me? Our primary goal today is to answer that question, but we’ll also be looking at the uses of mulch, its benefits, and the types of cedar mulch available. What can we say? We like to be thorough whenever we’re covering an essential subject.

Uses of Quality Mulch

Mulch is a popular material for many types of projects that help enhance the appearance and functionality of your residential or commercial property. Here are a few of the most common uses:

Landscape — Mulch has probably been a popular material for landscaping projects ever since landscaping was a thing. That’s how effective it is in improving the appearance of your landscape, in addition to other benefits. The affordable price doesn’t hurt, either, because that means all types of projects and budgets can take advantage.
Gardening — If you’re searching for a material that will improve the health of your plants, look no further than mulch. This fantastic material is able to regulate soil temperatures and moisture levels, and will also prevent weeds from stealing nutrients from garden plants. Thanks to mulch, your garden will look and function magnificently.
Walkways — Mulch is a popular material for walkways and paths in both residential and commercial applications because it’s soft and comfortable to walk on. Plus, the visual appeal of mulch means that the walkway or path will be pleasing to the eye for homeowners, business owners, and any visitors that come around.
Playgrounds — At first glance, the use of mulch in playground areas is a given because it looks inviting and pleasant. But, there is another, much more important reason – it improves safety for your children. This is because mulch provides shock absorption while kids are running, jumping, and playing, decreasing the possibility of injury.

Where to Find Mulch Near Me

Mulch may not be difficult to find most of the time, but where you purchase it can be an important factor to successfully making it a part of your landscape. In fact, you may be tempted to purchase mulch online to save a few bucks, but this is a mistake. When you purchase mulch online or through a non-specialty store such as Walmart or Target, you’ll be missing out on the professional element. A supplier that has years of experience, such as Braen Supply, can provide you with valuable insight into how to get the most out of mulch and other landscaping materials. Plus, their experts can answer questions you may have from the beginning of a project to its end, and even after everything has been finished. This makes ordering from a reputable dealer absolutely indispensable and will help ensure that your project goes off without a hitch and has the best results possible. You simply can’t get that type of assistance when you order online or through a non-specialty retailer.

Benefits of Mulch in Landscaping

If you’ve decided to use mulch in your landscaping project, then you’ve definitely made a great choice. Here is a quick run-down of the benefits that you can expect:

Appearance — Mulch comes in light hues, providing a neutral color palette that you can easily incorporate into any landscape design.
Pleasant Smell — The pleasant, soothing odor of mulch will delight visitors to your home or business, thereby helping them feel welcomed.
Improved Temp Control — The light hues of mulch also help control the temperature of soil around plants by absorbing just enough sunlight.
Better Moisture Control — Mulch does a great job at negating evaporation of moisture by the sun, which will help promote healthier growth.
Pest Control — Pests often don’t like the aroma of mulch, which means that many rodents and insects will give your landscape a wide berth.
Valuable Nutrients — When mulch decomposes naturally, the soil is enriched with nutrients that are released during the process.

Types of Mulch Available

As explained above, cedar mulch is the most popular type of mulch available for both residential and commercial projects. Here are the three types for you to choose from:

Brown (Natural) Cedar Mulch — This is a popular choice for many homeowners and business owners because it’s the closest to an earth tone. This will allow any landscaping, gardening, or other project to look as natural as possible.
Black Cedar Mulch — This choice provides a striking difference between the mulch itself and the green vegetation, bright flowers, and other surrounding features. Plus, a black background or accent makes everything look better.
Red Cedar Mulch — If you’re looking for a type of mulch that will stand out on your property, then this is definitely the one for you. This is, by far, the flashiest color of cedar mulch available, which means it will easily stand out.

Purchasing Mulch Near Me in NJ

Prior to beginning a landscaping project involving mulch or any other such material, you’ll need to locate a reputable supplier. For just under two decades, Braen Supply has been an industry leader in providing assistance with a multitude of landscaping tasks and materials, including mulch, stone, decorative gravel, and much more. Our staff has certainly been around the block more than once and can answer any questions you may have before, during, or after a project. All of our materials are competitively priced and can either be picked up locally at our NJ location or delivered in bulk to areas throughout parts of New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania.

The Top 10 Creative Ways To Use Decorative Aggregates In Your Yard

If you’ve decided to embark on the adventure of creating a landscape project for your home, we salute your efforts. When searching for a way to make your landscaping project truly stand out, there’s a good chance that you’ll eventually consider the use of decorative aggregates. Given the wide variety of choices available and how they spruce up absolutely any project, it’s obvious why you’d want to use them.

There are almost an endless number of ways that you can utilize decorative aggregates to improve the overall appearance of both your front and backyard. It would be impossible to cover all of them, so what we’ve done is put together a list of some of the more creative uses that homeowners have come up with over the years. Choose one, two, or even a few of them to really help your landscaping project stand out.

Use as a Walkway

Although the first thing that your friends and family will see when they approach your home is the front of the house itself, having an attractive walkway as they make their way to your front door is a fantastic way to set the mood of their visit. Decorative aggregates can be placed closely together into the ground as a way to create a gorgeous, colorful walkway, either as a full path or as a series of stepping stones. You can also shape them into animals and whatnot, or whatever else you desire.

Enhance a Pool Deck

Since swimming pools are such a popular place for people to hang out when they come to visit, the deck area is definitely a place where you want to focus a good deal of your creative energy. You really can’t go wrong with any type of decorative aggregates surrounding your deck, but if you’re going for a tropical look, which many homeowners like to do, there are several different colorful types for you to choose from.

Base of a Mailbox

Many homeowners seem to ignore their mailbox when it comes to attempting to spruce up the appearance of their front yard, but this is a mistake. After all, your mailbox is typically situated at the very front of your yard, which is exactly why so many people decorate the mailbox itself. Adding decorative aggregates to the base of the mailbox will improve its appearance with very little effort.

Line a Walkway

Rather than using decorative aggregates to actually create the walkway leading up to your front door or through your yard, you can also use them to line your existing or future walkway. Doing so will improve the path’s appearance with minimal effort or cost involved. This is a quick and easy use of decorative aggregates that can make a big impact for both household members and visitors to your home.

Flower Bed Edging

Flower beds have become a very popular feature in a variety of landscaping layouts due to the colorful beauty that they can add to both your front yard and backyard. You can increase the attractiveness of flower beds by either filling the entire area with decorative aggregates or use them around the edges to accentuate the plants and flowers. No matter which way you decide to go, the end result will be absolutely fantastic.

Base of Trees

While the presence of trees will definitely improve the look of your home, not to mention the environmental impact, the truth is that most aren’t exactly exciting or especially colorful in appearance unless they’re bearing fruit or flowers. This makes them the perfect area for adding a collection of decorative aggregates. Simply create a circular pattern, or any shape you would like, around the base of the tree and place your selected aggregates there.

Spotlight a Fire Pit

Many modern homeowners have been redoing their backyard by putting in a fire pit for themselves and others to enjoy. This is an especially popular area during the winter months, but it’s a great place to hang out all year round. Laying down some decorative aggregates is a great way to spruce up its appearance and make the time spent with family and friends around it even better.

Decorate a Slope

When your front yard has a slope due to an uneven ground, it can actually look pretty cool even if there’s nothing more than grass growing there. However, if you’re looking for a way to make it stand out, then adding decorative aggregates is a perfect choice. In fact, because of the angle, the aggregates will be quite visible, which will help beautify the entire yard and add curb appeal.

Meditation Garden

In today’s often stressful society, it’s important that you relax and regroup from time to time. A meditation garden with decorative aggregate can provide a calming effect for household members and visitors. You’ll be able to choose soothing, pleasant colors that will help bring harmony to your household. And even if you’re not really into meditation or other holistic methods, this type of design is a wonderful idea just for the beautification aspect.

Highlight a Water Structure

Water structures are a very popular landscaping option because they truly add something special and unique to any type of layout. You can highlight these structures by placing decorative aggregates around their base or in the area nearby. Another option is to you choose some aggregates that match the color of the water structure itself to enhance its overall size and appearance.

Buying Decorative Aggregates in New Jersey

Whether you use decorative aggregates in a traditional landscaping design or something a bit more creative, you’re going to need a reliable supplier like Braen Supply. Our team of experts have been providing materials for almost 20 years, and we also perform landscape design where we will analyze your project’s needs and hook you up with a reputable contractor. Our materials are competitively priced, and you can either drop by our facility to pick them up or have them bulk delivered to most areas throughout NJ and parts of NY, CT, and PA.

The 5 Easy Steps To Making Over Your Yard With Garden Stones

There are a ton of different strategies that a homeowner can use in order to enhance the appearance of their home. Although you can always invest in the installation of stone siding, a complete revamp of your swimming pool deck, or a wide variety of other complicated projects, adding garden stones to either an existing or newly designed landscaping project is a simple way to change the overall appearance of your home’s exterior.

In fact, the installation of garden stones, which can be implemented in a variety of locations and projects, is one of the easiest and least expensive ways to give new life to your home’s yard. Let’s take a look at a few advantages of making over your yard with garden stones and then follow that up with five easy steps that will be involved.

Advantages of Garden Stones

Before we dive into the steps required to make over your yard with garden stones, we’re first going to briefly cover some of the advantages of using garden stones and your landscaping project:

Gorgeous Appearance

First and foremost, garden stones provide an attractive appearance for your landscape, whether you choose muted colors such as black and white or prefer brightly colored stones. And, of course, there are plenty of different types to choose from such as river rock, Mexican Beach Pebbles and pea gravel.

Low-Maintenance

One of the greatest things about the use of garden stones in your yard is that they are extremely low maintenance. Sure, you may occasionally find a rock that has been kicked out of its designated area or picked up and tossed out by a child, but that doesn’t compare to the constant maintenance needed for grass and other vegetation.

Saves Money

Watering your lawn may be a tradition for millions of homeowners, but it definitely takes time and effort to do it properly. Plus, to keep it green all year round, it will often take a great deal of water. With garden stones, you’ll cut down or completely eliminate your need to water the lawn, which means that you’ll save money each month on your utility bills.

Won’t Decompose

Another great thing about garden stones is that, unlike materials such as mulch and wood chips, the stones won’t break down and decompose over time. This means that you won’t have to replace the materials as they become unusable, which will save you both time and money.

Won’t Attract Pests

Pests such as insects and rodents can become a real nuisance in your yard. Materials such as mulch and wood chips attract these critters when they decompose, which obviously won’t be a problem with garden stones.

Five Steps to Using Garden Stones

Now that you understand the advantages of using garden stones in your yard, let’s take a look at the seven steps you’ll need to follow for this landscaping project:

Kill Grass and Weeds

The first thing you’re going to want to do is get rid of all of the grass and weeds in the area where the garden stones will be used for your new landscape. You’ll want to pull or dig up as much as you possibly can and then apply herbicide to the ground in order to stunt further growth.

Dig into the Soil and Smooth It Out

Now that you’ve taken care of the grass and weeds, you’ll need to dig four inches down into the soil. This is done because you don’t want your rocks to sit on any type of high ground and then wash away in a storm. If the ground is uneven, simply dig deeper in certain areas to level it out. Once this is done, smooth out the soil with a steel rake and then use a hand tamper to compact it.

Lay Down Crushed Stone Pack

Next, you’ll want to pick up some crushed stone pack, which is a mixture of stone dust and small crushed stones. Lay approximately 2 1/2 inches of the stone pack over the compacted soil, and then use the steel rake to make it even. After that is done, spray the pack with water to dampen it, compact it to two inches thick, and use your hand tamper to make a hard, even surface.

Lay Down Landscape Fabric

In order to keep any straggler weeds from growing, you need to lay down landscape fabric. If your yard has a curve, simply cut the fabric along the inside and outside edges, overlap it at the cuts of the inside curve and then let it fan out to the outside curve. Lastly, tightly secure the fabric with landscaping spikes.

Lay Edging Around the Yard

The next step is to lay edging around your yard, which is done by following the landscape fabric edges. This will provide additional protection by enforcing the area where you’ll be laying the garden stones.

Pour In the Desired Rocks

At long last, you’ve reached the point where you will actually lay down your garden stones. For this step, you’ll want to completely cover the landscape fabric, but leave approximately one-half inch of edging at the top so that the rocks don’t spill over. And, once again, grab your trusty rake and even out the surface of the stones.

Outline with Larger Stones

In order to further protect the integrity of your brand new garden stone landscape, lay down some large decorative stones and push them slightly into the smaller stone. Then, rake over the area once more and you’re all finished. Congratulations on your beautiful new landscape!

Purchasing Garden Stones in New Jersey

At some point while making your plans to reinvigorate your yard with garden stones, you’re going to need a supplier that you can count on. Braen Supply has become a premier provider of landscaping materials and landscape design, and can help you make your next project a success. Our materials are competitively priced and can either be picked up at our local New Jersey facility or delivered in bulk to most areas throughout NJ and parts of NY, CT, and PA.

6 Signs You Should Invest In A Stone Façade For Your Home

As a homeowner, you have a wide variety of options when it comes to renovating your home. You may choose to add another room, change the entire landscape, put in a pool, or take on an equally as ambitious project. If you’re interested in tackling a home improvement project that will add value to your home and improve its appearance, the installation of a stone facade should definitely be in the running.

Types of Material Used for a Stone Facade

There are a variety of factors involved when discussing the installation of a stone facade, but first, it’s important that you understand the different types that you can choose from. No matter what your decision may be, they will all look amazing. But, depending on your specifications and personal opinion, some may be better than others. Here is a quick rundown of the five types of stone facades for you to choose from:

Full Stone Veneer — This option will put the entire stone veneer on display, and because the stones are larger, they can be cut and shaped into your desired design more easily.
Thin Stone Veneer — If there isn’t quite enough room for a full stone veneer to fit in your home, then this slimmer stone will do, and can be installed more efficiently with a lower cost.
Cultured Stone Veneer — Mass-produced using cast concrete and dye that is shaped to the desired design, cultured stone is available in a variety of colors and typically more cost-effective.
Full Brick Veneer — Homeowners love the appearance of full brick veneer, which is available in a variety of options, will add value to your home, and is low maintenance once installed.
Thin Brick Veneer — If you want the appearance of full brick but don’t have enough room for it, then this thinner, yet often more expensive option, is the way to go.

Signs You Should Invest in a Stone Facade

There are many different reasons why you may be considering the construction of a stone facade in your home. No matter the reason, we absolutely don’t blame you at all, because a stone facade can have many benefits. Here are some of the reasons why it may be time to invest in one right now:

Signs of Deterioration

Although homeowners sometimes don’t like to face the facts, your house won’t remain in tip-top shape without a good deal of maintenance from time to time. If your home is showing a bit of age or possibly even deteriorating, installation of a stone facade can breathe new life into it. This is the perfect way to improve your home’s overall appearance and gain some curb appeal.

Increase Its Overall Value

We all want our homes to be as gorgeous as possible, but very often, the work that we do on it comes down to increasing its overall value. Whether you’re preparing to sell the home in the future or live out your remaining days there, increasing the value of your home should be a goal of every homeowner. A stone facade may sometimes be a bit costly, but it is definitely worth the investment.

Home is Out of Date

The design of newer homes changes over a period of time, so it’s very possible that your home may not be up to modern standards. Although this can sometimes be a good thing, as there are plenty of classic looks that homeowners adore, it may be time for a bit of a more modernized look in many situations. This often comes down to personal opinion, so we’ll leave this one entirely up to you.

Available Funds for the Project

The truth is that many upgrades to your home, including the addition of a stone facade, don’t come cheaply. This is why it’s often considered to be an investment instead of just an extra expenditure. Therefore, if you have the cash on hand, then adding a stone facade is definitely worth your time. For example, if you still have some leftover money from your tax return, there aren’t too many better ways to spend it than by improving the appearance of your home.

Sticking Around for a While

While the addition of a stone facade on your home is a great idea when you’re trying to improve its value and sell it after a period of time has passed, it’s also a good idea if you’re planning to stick around for a while. After all, you always want your home looking its best while you’re living in it, and a stone facade will definitely improve its appearance. In fact, depending on exactly what you do to its overall look, it could seem like an entirely new home.

Low Home Improvement Interest Rates

Since home improvement jobs such as adding a stone facade onto your house will often cost a pretty penny, you may be inclined to take out a home improvement loan. This actually isn’t a bad plan, especially since you’ll see a return on investment over time. However, as with all things involving credit, it’s best to begin such an endeavor when interest rates have lowered. If you see home improvement loan rates take a dip, that may be the best time to consider the project.

Purchasing Building Materials in NJ

The installation of a stone facade is a big endeavor to undertake, and you want to make sure that you have all the right material and the correct amount prior to getting started. Braen Supply has been providing landscaping materials to New Jersey and surrounding areas for nearly 20 years. Our experts can assist you from the beginning of a project until the very end, and will answer any questions you have along the way. We offer competitive pricing for all types of landscaping materials and will provide you with a professional experience every single time that you do business with us

Mulch Near Me: Should I Get A Bulk Delivery Or Bags?

As homeowners and business owners across the country wind down from the warm summer months and begin prepping for fall festivities, many of them will realize that this is the perfect time to enhance the appearance and functionality of their landscape. Even if you’re not planning on making any big changes like installing new flower beds, redesigning the existing exterior of your home or business, or making other changes to the landscape, now is a great time to handle a little lawn maintenance to keep your landscape looking incredible.

Many people will be turning to the use of mulch because it is the most affordable, yet effective, way to improve your landscape’s soil and keep your vegetation flourishing throughout the year. Once you’ve finished the task at hand, your landscape will look more attractive, be better protected from pests, and gain both curb appeal and value. The question that many homeowners and business owners must ask themselves is whether they should purchase mulch in bulk or in bags. Let’s take a look at some of the benefits of mulch, explain where you can find the material, whether bulk or bagged is better for you, and how to calculate the required amount.

Benefits of Bulk and Bagged Mulch

Before we get into the bulk mulch versus bagged mulch discussion, it’s important to understand the common benefits of mulch. Here are a few benefits that make mulch an effective landscape material:

Improve Soil Temperature — For plants to grow properly, it is imperative that you help the soil maintain a comfortable temperature. Mulch does a great job at preventing the sun from heating up the ground too much, which can hurt the vegetation.
Improve Soil Moisture Levels — In addition to a proper temperature, your soil must have the right amount of moisture for healthy growth. Mulch will help your soil retain moisture after every watering by acting as a barrier between the sun and the soil.
Prevents Weed Growth — As everyone knows, weeds are unsightly and will detract from the beauty of your landscape. Mulch is quite effective in deterring the growth and spread of weeds so that you won’t have to worry about them.
Pest Control — Pests such as insects and rodents will often invade your landscape and burrow near your vegetation or make a snack out of it. These critters don’t like the aroma of certain types of mulch, which makes it a great deterrent for these pests.
Better Appearance — While mulch won’t add to the beauty of your landscape like shrubs and flowers do, it definitely adds a bit of decorative flair. In fact, thanks to mulch’s muted colors, your flowers and other vegetation will often seem to stand out.

Where to Find Mulch Near You

When you begin a project and decide that mulch is needed, the first thing you’ll want to do is hunt down a reputable seller of the material. Mulch isn’t a difficult material to locate, as you can find it in many local stores that carry gardening products or even online. However, it’s advisable that you purchase all landscaping materials through a specialty supplier because of the professional element. You want to go through a supplier who has been in business for a while, because they will employ experts in the field who can answer any questions you may have about the materials to be used for a particular project, how to properly use the materials, and various landscaping design elements. A reputable dealer will be able to help you out before a project begins, while you’re in the middle of it, and after it has been completed. This is an indispensable element that you simply can’t get through retailers or online outlets.

Bulk Mulch vs. Bagged Mulch

Whether you choose to purchase your mulch in bulk or in bags primarily depends on the project you’re planning to undertake. The obvious point to make here is that large landscaping projects will need a larger supply of the material. In these situations, it would be a good idea to purchase your mulch in bulk, which will make it easier to deal with and more cost-effective. However, if you’re working on a small or medium-sized project, you’ll discover that bags are the perfect solution because they are easy and safe to utilize throughout the project. That being said, some seasoned homeowners or business owners who have completed projects in the past may choose bags for big jobs, too, because they can be ordered per pallet. If you’re in doubt for your particular project, never be afraid to ask a reputable supplier.

Calculating Your Mulch Needs

Before you decide between bulk and bagged mulch, you’ll want to figure out exactly how much mulch will be required for the project. For this part of the process, you’ll want to measure the areas where the mulch will be used, including the length and and width of each area, and then add up the measurements of each area. Regarding the depth, the general rule of thumb is three inches to receive the best results. What you ultimately need to figure out is how many cubic yards of mulch will be required. Once you have those numbers, you can either use an online calculator to figure out how much mulch is needed or consult a reputable supplier for assistance.

Mulch Near Me for Sale in New Jersey

Braen Supply has been a leading supplier of mulch and other landscaping materials for nearly 20 years and has helped many homeowners and business owners achieve their landscaping goals by not only providing the needed materials but by answering questions about a given project to ensure its success. Our experts know every product we sell backwards and forwards, and can lead you in the right direction. We offer competitive pricing for every product we sell and can deliver in bulk to locations in NJ, NY, CT, and PA. And if you live in the area, feel free to stop by our brick-and-mortar location in New Jersey and purchase landscaping materials there.

Everything You Have To Do To Your Flower Beds Before Spreading Cedar Mulch

If you’re searching for a way to vastly improve the appearance of your residential or commercial property, adding a new flower bed with cedar mulch or completely redoing an existing one will definitely do the trick. This type of landscaping project will result in a warm, inviting atmosphere while improving the value of your property and its overall curb appeal. This makes it a project that every homeowner or business owner can get behind.

Before you undertake a cedar mulch project, however, it’s important that you fully understand what will be involved from beginning to end. that way, you won’t run into any bumps along the way or make a mistake that ends up costing you more money than it should. What we’ll be covering here today are the steps that you’ll need to follow in order to prepare your home or business for the installation of your future flower bed.

Step #1: Decide on Design Specifics

The first thing you want to do before you begin your flower bed project is probably rather obvious. You need to decide on exactly what you’d like your flower bed design to look like once all is said and done. Make a simple sketch indicating where on the property everything will be once the project is done so you’ll have a good idea of what you want the result to look like. If you’re not an artist, don’t worry. Even just a rudimentary rendition of its appearance is perfectly fine. But, feel free to enlist the assistance of someone who has already completed such a project for advice.

Step #2: Prepare for a Clean Slate

This step is more about preparing your mind than it is about preparing your property. You need to be open to the possibility of a complete overhaul of your existing landscape so that you can properly implement a new landscape involving flower beds. This could mean removing existing plants or flowers to make way for new ones, or that the entire area is going to be different once the project is finished. Basically, you want to think of this as your opportunity to create a clean slate from which to build upon.

Step #3: Yank Out the Weeds

Nearly any landscaping project you’re going to undertake will involve the need to yank weeds out of your yard. You’ll want to clear out every weed that you see, in addition to many that you may not see. Larger weeds can be pulled out by hand by basically gripping the base firmly and pulling upwards. You also need to get rid of all of the roots, so you should definitely pick up a garden trowel if you don’t already have one and use that to dig up anything that you can’t pull out by hand. And, finally, be sure to remove any leaves from the area, as they will often promote further weed growth.

Step #4: Remove Existing Plants

Once all the weeds have been removed, it’s time to turn your attention to the existing plants in the area of your property where the flower bed will be placed or within your existing flower bed. You have two choices here. The first choice is to remove all of the existing plants and basically start over with brand new ones. The second choice is to dig up any plants that you want to remain in the area, keep those potted elsewhere until after the project is almost finished, and then replant them. After everything has been removed, the last part of this step is to spread out some weed killer atop the soil to take care of anything that’s left over.

Step #5: Prepare the Ground

Now that everything that you want to have removed from your yard up until this point is gone, it’s time to turn to the preparation of the ground for your new plantings. To fully prepare the ground for your new flower bed, you’ll need to remove all rocks and gravel from the area. If you have a lot of rocks on your property, you’ll want to consider the use of a rototiller to take care of them. From there, rake through the soil of the entire area in order to prepare your property for composting.

Step #6: Add a Layer of Compost

As most everyone knows, composting is an essential part of growing and maintaining a successful, healthy in flower bed. Whether you choose to use compost, leaf mold, peat, or manure for your composting needs, the basic technique is the same. First, cover the area for your new flower bed with 2-3 inches of your composting material. Then, use a shovel to thoroughly turn the compost into the soil. This is one of the easiest steps to follow, but also one of the most important in order to have a successful flower bed.

Step #7: Remove Yard Waste

Whenever you take on any kind of landscaping project, you’re going to make a bit of a mess during the preparation phase. So, once you’ve completed the steps above, the last task on your list will be to clean up any yard waste that resulted from the preparation. This includes any bits of grass, compost that got sprinkled elsewhere, leaves that have settled in the area since you started the project, and any excess soil that is laying around.

Purchasing Cedar Mulch for your Flower Bed in NJ

Braen Supply has been serving NJ and the surrounding area with expertise and excellence for nearly 20 years. We have proven ourselves as the best supplier of landscaping materials in the area, which means you can count on us to come through for you every single time, regardless of the project. Either come in and speak with our staff or call them on the phone and they’ll provide you with all the information you need. We offer competitive prices and our materials can either be picked up at our New Jersey location or delivered in bulk throughout parts of NJ, NY, CT, and PA.

7 Ways Real Stone Veneer Actually Adds Value To Your Home

Five Types of Stone Veneer for Your Home

Over the years, adding real stone veneer to an existing home has become a rather commonplace decision for many homeowners. After all, stone veneer helps your home stand out amongst the crowd, so it’s sure to garner a ton of attention from family and friends. For this type of project, you have five choices:

Full Stone Veneer — Known for its durability and longevity, full stone veneer allows the entire depth of the stone to be shown.
Thin Stone Veneer — This slimmer version is primarily used when there isn’t enough room to install full stone veneer.
Cultured Stone Veneer — This mass-produced stone is consistent in appearance and is available in a wide variety of colors.
Full Brick Veneer — Since this option consists of full-sized brick, your home will look as if it’s entirely constructed of skilled masonry.
Thin Brick Veneer — As with thin stone veneer, this slimmer version of brick is used when there isn’t enough room for the full brick treatment.

Adding Value to Your Home with Stone Veneer

As with any home improvement project, one of the typical results of installing stone veneer in your home is an increase in the value of your property. There are many reasons for this, and we’ve compiled some of our favorites below:

Your Home’s Facade

They say you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but in the case of a beautiful home, it’s certainly not a bad idea. When you drive around a neighborhood and see a house with a stone facade, your first thought is probably how awesome it looks. Who would blame you? Stone veneers create a facade so attractive that it immediately catches your eye. As you might imagine, this translates to a higher value of your home for potential sellers.

Exterior Walls

Your home’s exterior walls can often get just as much attention from neighbors, friends, family, and potential buyers as the facade does. Adding stone veneer to your exterior walls is a great way to add a little elegance to them without a huge cost. The rich textures and neutral colors are a great way to improve the overall visual appearance of your home as whole.

Attractive Accents

If you’re looking for a way to improve the value of your home with stone veneer but want to keep costs lower than what you might pay for other options, improving the accents around your property may be a perfect solution. Both interior and exterior walls that have been given the stone veneer treatment will improve the overall look of your home, and in a rather subtle way.

Foundation Detailing

The foundation of a home is very often, to put it bluntly, extremely dull. It’s an area of the home that is often taken for granted, and that’s really too bad because an unsightly or even boring foundation can reflect badly on the house as a whole. Stone veneer will serve as a great way to improve the appearance of this oft-forgotten part of the home, and will give a jolt to its curb appeal.

Beautified Chimneys

In the past, stone chimneys were a mainstay of home construction, but modern construction has allowed this to fall by the wayside to a certain degree. This is an odd development, to be honest, since stone veneer chimneys always garner a lot of attention. This is a simple, but effective, way to add value to the home.

Better Insulation

Insulation isn’t something you can see, but something you can feel and/or use as a selling point if you choose to put your home on the market someday. Homes that have better insulation, which stone veneers will provide when applied to certain areas, can be marketed as being able to better maintain an interior temperature level and, therefore, lower energy usage and costs.

Focal Point Fireplace

Even if you don’t use your fireplace very often, you can’t deny the fact that it’s often the centerpiece of your home’s family area and definitely gets a ton of attention. People seem to gather around the fireplace even throughout the warmer months of the year simply because it feels cozy. A good fireplace will add value to any home, and one with a stone veneer will really stand out and increase its value.

Fancy Mailbox

It’s a bit strange to consider the possibility that something as seemingly insignificant as your mailbox could help determine your home’s value, but it’s true. Perhaps it’s a subconscious kind of thing, but when you see a fancy mailbox out in front of the home, there’s a good chance that it will make an impression for anyone visiting, passing by, or wanting to purchase the home. And the best part is that this particular type of project costs very little to undertake.

Environmentally Friendly

You may not think that being environmentally friendly would be a way to increase the value of your home, but we’re living in an age where millions of people across the country are attempting to “go green.” While adding stone veneer to your home isn’t a green initiative, choosing thin stone veneer uses fewer materials, which you can use as an environmentally- conscious selling point to help increase its value.

Purchasing Real Stone Veneer in NJ

Stone veneer is a great way to add value and style to your home. The first step in its installation is to find a reputable dealer that can help you throughout the process. Braen Supply has been serving several areas throughout parts of New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania for nearly 20 years. Our staff is knowledgeable on all types of stone and other landscaping needs, and can assist you before, during, and after the installation of a stone veneer. Feel free to drop by our New Jersey location to pick up your required materials or purchase it in bulk and have it delivered directly to your home or business.

5 Quick Tips About Using Decorative Gravel In Your Flower Beds

Dedicating part of your residential or commercial landscape to flower beds is a wonderful way to give the area some real pizzazz. Even if people don’t always seem to notice, flowers have a tendency to work on visitors in a subconscious way. Thanks to their attractive appearance and pleasant scent, they make people feel happy and relaxed. Simply put, flower beds are a fantastic compliment to any property.

While it is true that the flowers you choose are extremely important, what often makes a flower bed really stand out is the choice of material that you use inside the bed. One great choice that many homeowners and business owners have been opting for in recent years is the use of decorative gravel. To help you get the most out of this choice, we have compiled a few simple tips to get you started:

Understand the Benefits of Decorative Gravel

The first thing you should look at when deciding if decorative gravel is the right choice to make for your flower bed is the benefits. Here are a few:

Attractive Appearance — First and foremost, the benefit you’ll immediately notice with decorative gravel is its beautiful appearance. With the different sizes, shapes, colors, and textures at your disposal, your flower beds will compliment any landscape.
Improved Drainage — Many people don’t seem to realize that decorative gravel provides better drainage for their plants and flowers. After it rains, the gravel will allow the water to drain at the perfect speed so as to avoid the plants drying out or retaining too much moisture, thereby providing perfect growing conditions.
Temperature Control — When the sun is out and beating down on your flowers, they are susceptible to drying out more quickly. Decorative gravel acts as a barrier between the sun’s rays and the soil around the flowers. Adversely, the gravel also stops too much water from evaporating.
Longevity — While mulching solutions decay over time and must be replaced periodically, decorative gravel will basically last forever. Plus, since there’s a lack of decay, pests like rodents and insects are less likely to become a problem.

Choose the Right Type for Your Flower Bed

Now that you understand the benefits of decorative gravel, it’s time to focus on choosing the right type for your flower bed. Here are four of the most common options:

Pea Gravel — Due to their size, shape, and smooth appearance, pea gravel has always been a popular choice amongst homeowners and business owners. The stones vary in color, which means you’ll have plenty of types to choose from.
Jersey Shore Gravel — This yellow gravel has been given the moniker of “Jersey Shore” gravel due to its popularity in the area. It is so prevalent that you might not even notice just how much it’s used. Look around, though, and you’ll see that it’s everywhere, which makes it a wonderful choice for flower beds.
Mexican Beach Pebbles — These small stones have been rounded by flowing waters over time and include a variety of natural, attractive tints. Their appearance has made them extremely popular for both residential and commercial applications.
River Rock — If you’re looking for a type of stone/gravel that is both smooth in appearance and features several different colors to choose from, river rock might be just what the landscaper ordered. The best part is that river rock isn’t expensive, which makes it a great solution for flower beds and other landscaping projects.

Take Your Time with Making a Decision

Even though a flower bed may seem like a small project when compared to full-on landscaping jobs, it isn’t something you want to rush or take for granted. With the right type of flowers and a complimentary decorative gravel to go along with them, you can greatly improve the appearance and functionality of your property. The basic idea here is to avoid rushing into a decision and then regretting it afterward. Do your research and don’t be afraid to get help from others (which we’ll cover below). This will help ensure that the result is a beautiful set of flower beds that you can be proud of.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask Friends for Advice

There’s a good chance that some of your friends have installed flower beds at their homes. The same could be true for neighbors or fellow business owners near you. The point is that asking for advice never hurts, and they may be able to give you some insight into what constitutes an attractive, effective flower bed. This is especially true if they have experience in landscaping that far exceeds your own. Reach out to anyone close that you trust and the results might be even better than expected.

Consult with Experts for Design Options, If Necessary

If you’ve exhausted the advice of all your friends and neighbors, or simply don’t have anyone close to you that have used flower beds and decorative gravel in the past, then you should feel free to consult with experts on the matter. There’s probably no reason to pay for landscapers for a consult, of course, which means that your gravel supplier should be asked. A good supplier will have the knowledge and expertise required to give you all of the information you need or tell you where to find the answers to your questions.

Buying Decorative Gravel in NJ

The first step to using decorative gravel in your flower bed is to find a reputable supplier of the material. Braen Supply has proven itself as the number one supplier for all of New Jersey’s landscaping needs for both residential and commercial use. Our team of skilled professionals will help you select the right material for an upcoming job, instruct you in its usage, and answer any questions you may have. We are available to assist you before, during, and after any given project. Our decorative gravel is competitively priced and can be picked up at your convenience or delivered in bulk throughout parts of NJ, NY, NYC, and PA.

5 Decorative Gravels That Will Spruce Up Your Landscaping

Landscaping projects are always awesome and exciting, and one reason for this is that they come with a ton of available choices. This means that every homeowner or business owner who is attempting to beautify their property and improve its curb appeal must dive into the multiple types of design and style options available before any kind of construction or installation can be done. A big part of this pre-planning phase includes choosing the type of material (or materials) that will be used in the project.

Decorative gravel has been a popular choice for improving the appearance of a residential or commercial property, and have proven to be a fantastic replacement or alternative to mulching options. A big reason for this is that there are several types to choose from, each with their own individual properties, but which also typically serve the same basic functions. Each of these types of gravel will look great, improve drainage and temperature control, help deter pests due to a lack of decay, and basically last forever.

Of course, choosing the one that’s perfect for your specific landscaping project may be a little tricky since all of them make fantastic choices. Any of them will work, but it comes down to personal preference more than anything. To help you out a bit by giving you a head start on what each of these types of decorative gravel is all about, let’s dive into the five primary choices, and then you can decide from there.

Decorative Gravel Type #1: Pea Gravel

Pea gravel is, without a doubt, the most popular type of decorative gravel available. These small, round stones feature a “pea-like” shape and texture, with a smooth surface and attractive appearance that has proven to make them extremely appealing for both residential and commercial applications. You’ll find them in various colors, such as black, white, gray, brown, tan, green, and red. Their appearance makes them very versatile in the use of landscaping projects and, due to their commonality, they are an affordable option that will fit any budget. Many homeowners and business owners will also use them to complement other types of stone in order to add a better aesthetic to an already beautiful landscape.

Decorative Gravel Type #2: Mexican Beach Pebbles

As you might have guessed from the name, these decorative stones are found along the sandy shores of Mexico’s coast. They are typically blue or gray, but will turn deep black or onyx when they are exposed to water. This gives them a unique look amongst other decorative stones, especially when it’s raining or you’re watering the area. Thanks to being exposed to the Pacific Ocean’s crashing waves over a long period of time, Mexican beach pebbles have a smooth, round appearance. Depending on the type of project you’re undertaking, you may want to choose smaller or larger variations of these stones. For instance, the smaller types are better for flower beds and garden planters, whereas the larger types are great for lawns, walkways and similar projects.

Decorative Gravel Type #3: White Marble Chips

This type of decorative gravel is a bit more subdued than other choices, which makes these chips perfect if you’re not going for a flashy or overly colorful appearance. These stones are usually white with one or more gray streaks. Plus, they offer a shimmering surface that almost looks like it’s covered with specks of glitter. While possibly not as fancy as other choices, white marble chips will look great in a variety of projects.

Decorative Gravel Type #4: Yellow “Jersey Shore” Gravel

Affectionately known as the “Jersey Shore” gravel, this decorative gravel is commonplace throughout the state of New Jersey. The name derives from the fact that the yellow, golden, brown, and tan appearance of these stones gives a sense of spending time at the beach, especially the Jersey Shore. These colors work great with all types of plants, regardless of style or shade. Plus, they are very affordable, which makes them an even better choice for a variety of landscaping projects.

Decorative Gravel Type #5: River Rock

Think of river rock as a kind of hybrid of pea gravel and Mexican beach pebbles. Basically, this type of decorative gravel gives you the color options of pea gravel and the water-washed smoothness and visual effect of Mexican beach pebbles. These rocks add character to practically any landscaping project and, like a couple of other options on this list, are inexpensive. This means you could basically cover your entire landscape in river rock and it wouldn’t set you back too much.

Purchasing Decorative Gravel in NJ

Once you have decided that decorative gravel would be perfect for your next landscaping project, you’re going to need a reputable supplier that can help you get started by supplying you with the material. Braen Supply has spent years developing a wide knowledge of landscaping needs and can provide you with a variety of materials based around each project. Our team of experts can assist you before, during, and after your project, whether you’re still trying to decide on which material to use or would like advice on how to get the most out of the design. You are welcome to stop by our physical location or order in bulk and have the material delivered to many areas throughout parts of NJ, NY, and PA.