5 Ways To Use Belair Retaining Walls In Your NJ Landscape

One of the fastest, simplest and most effective means of giving your property a makeover is to incorporate Belgard Belair retaining wall blocks into your landscape. Like all Belgard products, the Belair wall collection is designed with style, functionality and longevity in mind. This means that there are a number of ways that you can make use of the blocks to enhance your home, depending on your individual needs and preferences. To emphasize this point, we’ve put together a quick guide to what you can expect from Belgard Belair retaining walls, as well as five fabulous ideas for introducing these wall blocks to your property.

Belair Belgard Retaining Wall Blocks At-A-Glance

Belair retaining walls are a part of Belgard’s Natural Collection, featuring a rugged and naturalistic chiseled facing on all sides. The blocks are designed to look just like real stone, and it’s nearly impossible to differentiate between a Belair wall and a 100% natural stone wall. In addition to featuring a chiseled surface, each stone features rich and detailed texturing. The blocks are available in several different color families, making it easy for you to match your new wall with your landscape’s current style of decor and existing features. Because Belgard Belair retaining walls are crafted from concrete, they are extremely affordable and highly durable. The blocks are also treated to prevent fading and discoloration, meaning that your retaining wall will continue to look spectacular throughout the years.

Uses for Belgard Belair Retaining Wall Blocks

It’s easy to fall in love with Belgard Belair retaining walls at first sight, but you may be wondering exactly how you should make use of them throughout your landscape. Fortunately, Belair wall blocks are extremely versatile and can serve a number of decorative and functional purposes. Of course, a retaining wall’s primary purpose is generally to prevent erosion and to protect the integrity of the landscape, but these walls can be used for so much more. Here’s a look at five of our favorite ways to use Belair retaining walls:

1. Maximize Your Living Space

Building with Belgard Belair retaining wall blocks makes it possible for you to level of areas of land throughout an otherwise sloped and unusable landscape and start enjoying more time outdoors. Once these areas have been leveled off and are secured with the attractive wall blocks, it’s easy to create a stunning patio for entertaining and dining, or even an outdoor kitchen. Not only will this maximize your ability to spend time outside with your loved ones, but it will also increase the overall value of your property.

2. Let Your Garden Grow

If you’ve got a green thumb, Belgard Belair retaining walls can help you to be able to spend more time tending to your flowers, vegetables and other plants, while also giving you the ability to show them off to the world. Again, retaining wall blocks make it possible to level off hilly or sloped patches of land. This makes the landscape much more suitable for growing. At the same time, the wall blocks create a beautiful planter bed setting for your vegetation that will not only protect your plants, but will also accentuate their beauty.

3. Facilitate Movement

Belgard Belair retaining wall blocks are the perfect solution for any homeowner who needs to construct a spectacular staircase that will help guests move from one area of the property to another. The blocks are stately and elegant and are a fabulous choice for establishing a front staircase leading up to the front doors of homes with hilly front yards. Stairs can also be used to facilitate movement between various levels of your patio or landscape. The blocks complement many Belgard stair caps and treads, making it easy to create a charming and cohesive design.

4. Create Boundaries

You don’t necessarily have to use Belgard Belair retaining wall blocks for building retaining walls. Instead, the blocks are a great choice for freestanding walls. These types of walls can be used to create boundaries between various areas or “rooms” of your outdoor living space, such as a division between your hot tub and your outdoor living room. Freestanding Belair walls are also great for creating boundaries and privacy between you and neighboring properties.

5. Establish Extra Seating

Throughout the years, we’ve seen many homeowners choose to build additional seating into their Belair retaining walls, steps and freestanding walls. By giving the wall a dual purpose, you are able to create seamless seating that looks absolutely stunning while making it much easier for you to entertain large groups of friends, family and loved ones at a moment’s notice.

Planning Your Landscape with Belgard Belair Retaining Wall Systems

Do you love these ideas as much as we do? Or do you perhaps have other ideas and plans for working Belgard Belair retaining wall blocks into your landscape? Whatever the case may be, we urge you to visit a local Belgard showroom for more ideas on how to build with the blocks and incorporate them into your property. You might even request samples of the colors that you’re most interested in so that you can compare the shades against other tones and hues that may exist within your landscape and hardscape. It’s also a great idea to work with a contractor or landscaping design software in order to draw up plans that are customized for your property. In addition to this, Belgard offers access to an online design studio that will make it easier for you to visualize how the blocks will look within the scope of your unique landscape. Whatever you do, have fun with your design!

Working With Belgard Belair Retaining Walls in NJ

Braen Supply is available for all of your Belgard Belair retaining wall system needs. As a top supplier and authorized dealer of Belgard products, we are able to provide exclusive access to a full range of Belair retaining wall blocks in a various colors and hues. Homeowners can visit our local showroom in order to see how the walls look in-person, and to draw further landscaping inspiration. Our team of Belgard experts is more than happy to answer any questions you may have and to provide you with landscaping and hardscaping tips. Our Belgard Belair wall blocks can be picked up at your convenience or can be bulk delivered to areas throughout parts of NJ and NY and limited parts of PA and CT.

8 Wow-Worthy Hardscape Designs Built By Belgard

Are you in love with Belgard but not sure where to begin with your hardscaping project? Although you’re free to come up with your own unique design, the Belgard experts have put together a ton of outstanding and utterly wow-worthy outdoor living design concepts to inspire your creativity. Here’s a closer look at eight of our favorite ideas:

1. The Entertainer (Concept #42)

It’s clear that Belgard came up with this spectacular concept by carefully considering the needs of its customers who absolutely live to entertain their friends, family and neighbors. This ideal space really has it all. We love the look of an outdoor kitchen featuring a full bar where guests can sit and talk to the chef as they whip up a meal on the grill, or chat with the “bartender” as they pour a round of freshly blended margaritas. A cozy living and sitting area is located just off the bar and grill island. Here, guests can warm themselves around the fire while still staying close to those in the kitchen space. A formal dining area is also included for large family meals and big events. There’s nothing you can’t do in this wonderful space.

2. Geometric Modern (Concept #5)

If you are interested in creating a dramatic and modern yet simplistic and practical outdoor living space, we suggest turning your eyes to Belgard’s Concept #5. This outdoor living room plays off of sleek and simple geometric shapes with sharp edges that are marked by clear boundaries. This pattern extends not only to the patio floor itself, but also in the arrangement of the furnishing selected. Interesting angles are created with the dining set, and richly contrasting shades of black and white add to the bold appeal. The sharpness of the patio design is contrasted nicely against the rounded curves of a beautifully landscaped area for seasonal plants and vegetation along the perimeter of the seating area.

3. A Space for All Seasons (Concept #38)

Who says you can’t enjoy your Belgard outdoor living space even when the temperatures drop or when it’s raining outside? Concept #38 makes it possible for you to stay connected to the great outdoors no matter what. A posh swimming pool and relaxing hot tub are enclosed by glass, greenhouse walls and roofing to keep the elements out while still allowing you to see all of the beauty surrounding you. An adjacent seating and dining area allows you to wine and dine within the seasonally-friendly space. When you’re craving more fresh air, simply step outside onto the patio to sing songs and trade stories around the fire pit.

4. A Whole World Outdoors (Concept #34)

When the weather is beautiful, there should be nothing stopping you from living your whole life outdoors. Many NJ homeowners are making it a priority to establish outdoor living spaces that allow for all of the comforts and luxuries of indoor living – all while surrounded by nature. In this concept, Belgard demonstrates how cooking, dining and lounging are all a part of outdoor living here in the northeast. A simple yet versatile grill island makes it easy to prep a meal while staying connected with guests, and a covered dining area means that you and your loved ones can enjoy something delicious while being protected from the sun. A corner is carved out for relaxing and unwinding on a sleek outdoor couch surrounding an inviting fire pit – perfect for making memories.

5. Sheer Simplicity (Concept #33)

Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest ideas. If you’re the type of NJ homeowner that likes to get back to the basics and keep the focus of your outdoor living space on the nature surrounding you, take a look at Belgard Design Concept #33. The naturalistic flagstone-style Belgard pavers allow you to create interesting shapes and layouts within your space without being overly flashy or distracting. The curving edges and various shapes create natural boundaries for situating a grill island, a seating area and a fire pit. Surrounding the entire patio with a simplistic edging material will put the finishing touches on this “back to basics” idea.

6. Backyard Paradise (Concept #29)

Step into your own personal paradise with Concept #29. This breathtaking Belgard design creates the perfect environment for a daily “staycation” throughout the summer months. The centerpiece of this particular landscape design is a brilliant swimming pool, surrounded by two contrasting (yet complimentary) edging materials to create a magnificent border. The patio features large, bold pavers that add to the upscale, lush feel of the environment. Here, poolside hungers and soak up some rays before sipping on a cocktail at the patio table, or gathering around the fireplace.

7. Well-Rounded Lifestyle (Concept #23)

If you’re tired of the same old rectangular front driveways, you might be quick to fall in love with the curvaceous and circular patterns found in Design Concept #23. Belgard shows off the versatility of various types of its exciting pavers as they are arranged into bold circles and semi-circles, perfect for welcoming guests to your home, allowing for parking and creating natural places for turning around.

8. Hello/Goodbye (Concept #57)

We love the unique look of the front walkway and front patio area featured in Belgard’s Concept #57. As visitors approach your home from the sidewalk, they will be naturally inclined to enter into this fabulous, semi-circular pathway from the right. The cobbled appearance of the pavers gives a traditional New England feel to the walkways as it rounds a beautifully landscaped space and connects to the main path to the front door. A small patio before the threshold of your front porch will create a welcoming appeal. As guests leave your property, they can round the arced front center on the opposite side to which they entered, thus completing the path.

Choosing a Design Concept

Here at Braen Supply, we love the wow factor offered by these unique and vibrant Belgard design concepts, but these 8 ideas are only the tip of the iceberg. We strongly encourage you to visit the Belgard website to review all of the brilliant design concepts available for outdoor living rooms, pool decks, driveways, walkways and more. Be sure to also speak with a Belgard Authorized Contractor to make use of even more online design tools and to get a better idea about which concept is right for your NJ home.

Working With Belgard Products in NJ

Reading to create a wow-worthy Belgard outdoor living space of your own? Braen Supply is a Belgard Authorized Dealer and can provide you with all of the information and materials you need to complete the project of your dreams on a budget you can afford. Visit our local showroom to speak with our team of experts and to get started on the process today. We offer bulk delivery to areas throughout most of NJ, and parts of NY, NYC, CT and PA.

The 5 Tools You Will Need Before Installing Garden Stones

There are many different ways in which a homeowner can enhance the appearance of his or her property, but there are few that are more attractive than the use of garden stones. In fact, garden stones are so versatile that they can be used in a wide variety of landscaping projects, both large and small, and they’re easy on the budget.

That being said, it’s not like the garden stones are going to spread themselves throughout your yard for you. So, you need to know what type of tools will be required for the installation. Let’s first discuss the primary tools that you’ll need prior to laying down the stones and then we’ll provide you with a quick list of steps to follow for the process.

5 Tools That You Will Need Before Installing Garden Stones

To get you started on your new landscaping project, let’s take a look at five tools that you’ll need to pick up to complete the project:

Steel Rake

You’ll need a steel rake for a couple of reasons. First, you can use it to rake leaves and other debris out of your yard to start prepping the area for garden stones. The second use for the rake is to even out areas of dirt and the garden stones throughout the preparation process.

Weeder

Another handy tool that you should pick up for the job is some type of weed eater that will help you get rid of both grass and weeds from your yard. There are a variety of types of weeders, including ones that allow you to stand up while you’re pulling them out, just in case you have any physical ailments that prevent you from being on your hands and knees or knelling to yank them out of the ground.

Hand Tamper

The next tool you’ll need is a hand tamper, which allows you to firmly press down the soil to pack it down. This will be used a few times throughout the preparation process, so make sure that you don’t neglect to pick one up from a gardening department if you don’t already have one.

Landscape Fabric

This is an item that some homeowners seem to forget about when they’re prepping their yard for garden stones, and that could be a big mistake. Even though you’ve pulled the weeds from your yard and spread down weed killer, you should put down a layer of landscape fabric, which will stop any straggling weeds from coming up.

Wheelbarrow

If you do any kind of landscaping work at your home, it’s probably a good idea to have a wheelbarrow in the event that you need to haul a large amount of materials or other items from one place to another. In this case, if you’re receiving garden stones in bulk, this makes moving them to the correct spot a lot easier.

5 Quick Steps to Install Garden Stones

You can see a more detailed list of steps by clicking here, but we thought it’d be a good idea to provide a truncated version to start you off:

Kill Grass and Weeds

The first thing you need to do to prepare your lawn for the installation of garden stones is to kill all of the grass and weeds in the designated areas where you’ll be spreading them. You can start by pulling out as many of the weeds as you can with your trusty weeder, and then spread down some herbicide to get what you missed.

Dig into the Soil

The next step is to dig into the soil by approximately four inches through the area where the garden stones will be spread so that the rocks aren’t placed on uneven ground. If the ground is uneven, you’ll want to grab your steel rake, smooth it out, and then use the hand tamper to compact the soil.

Apply Crushed Stone Pack and Landscape Fabric

In addition to the tools listed above, you’ll also want to pick up some crushed stone pack. Spread approximately 2 1/2 inches of the pack over the compacted soil, use your steel rake to make it even, spray it with a bit of water, and compact it to two inches thick with the hand tamper. Once the crushed stone pack is in place, it’s time to lay down the landscape fabric to stop any weeds from coming up that you might have missed.

Apply Edging

The good news is that you’re almost finished! With the crushed stone pack and landscape fabric down, you need to lay edging around the yard. Follow the landscape fabric edges and lay down the edging there, which will provide additional protection by enforcing the area where you will be placing the garden stones.

Add the Garden Stones

This is the part you’ve all been waiting for, and it’s actually where you get to have some fun. Move your desired garden stones to the prepared area and simply spread them out evenly in the spot. Leave approximately 1/2 inch from the top so that the rocks don’t spill over during a rain. Then, as you might have guessed, spread the stones evenly with your steel rake.

Purchasing Garden Stones in New Jersey

Prior to picking up the required tools for your landscaping project involving garden stones, you should first hunt down a reputable supplier. Braen Supply has been providing all types of landscaping materials for nearly 20 years and can help you get the most out of your next project. Our knowledgeable staff can assist you with selecting the right type of garden stones for your project, give you advice on its specifications, and answer any questions you have. In fact, we’ve recently added landscape design to our expertise, so feel free to come in and speak with our designer, who will help analyze your project’s needs and send you to a reputable contractor. We can have materials bulk-delivered throughout most of NJ and parts of NY, CT, and PA or you can pick up the materials at our New Jersey location.

4 Patio Stone Options for Your New Backyard Design

Although winter is here, it’s the perfect time to start thinking warm thoughts and planning the installation of your brand new patio. This is the “off-season” for landscaping and construction, and that means that you’ll have a much easier time gaining access to the materials and skilled labor required to complete your project on a budget you can afford.

To get the ball rolling on the patio of your dreams, you need to start by considering your patio stone options and determining which is the best fit for your landscape. This guide will highlight some of the most popular natural stone materials used for patio construction, their benefits, and the best uses for each.

Choosing Patio Stone in NJ

As an NJ homeowner, you have access to a wide range of options for constructing a gorgeous and functional stone patio. Of the various materials available, natural stone is by far one of the most popular.

This is because natural stone is exceptionally beautiful while offering an unmatched strength, durability and weather resistance. In order to fully enjoy the benefits associated with working with natural stone, you need to take the time to select the right type for your specific project.

Every project is different, and every homeowner’s needs are unique. As such, it’s important that you do a little research to determine which type or types of stone might be the best match for your lifestyle.

Choosing the right patio stone for your NJ home means considering your personal tastes and style preferences, the intended use for your patio, and any surrounding landscaping or hardscaping materials that will impact the look and feel of your patio stone.

Top Four Patio Stone Options in NJ

Although there are a number of patio stone options for you to choose from, the four best and most popular types of natural patio stone are:

1. Bluestone

Bluestone is one of the top patio stone options in NJ and all of the northeast. This stylish and sophisticated type of natural stone is characterized by is gorgeous coloring.

Although the name would lead you to believe that the stone only features the color blue, you’ll find that bluestone is actually comprised of a color palette that includes shades of blue, blue-gray, brown, and in some cases, lilac. Bluestone is extremely tough, durable and weather resistant.

In addition to this, it can be cut into dimensional shapes or is available in an irregular, flagstone cut. Bluestone is also available tumbled, and with a natural cleft cut.

This leaves homeowners with many options for creating a gorgeous patio. Bluestone creates a sense of warmth and togetherness and is a fantastic choice when creating a patio for an outdoor living area and dining area.

2. Limestone

The simplistic, soft and neutral coloring of natural limestone has made it a staple in many decorative landscaping and hardscape projects in NJ throughout the years.

Although very subtle, limestone is also quite stunning, and adds a touch of luxury and elegance to any property. Pattern limestone allows homeowners to create gorgeous designs for patios located alongside swimming pools, fireplaces and fire pits.

3. Brownstone

Although commonly associated with a unique type of building material in New York City, brownstone has a whole lot more to offer. The soft and inviting shades of brown, tan and gray offer a warmth and richness to outdoor living and dining areas.

Brownstone pairs nicely with a number of other landscaping and hardscaping elements, including everything from gardens to fireplace kits to stainless steel kitchen appliances.

4. Sahara Granite

Sahara granite is an exciting option for homeowners looking to create a luxurious, stylish and unique patio. Granite has long been associated with style and elegance, and Sahara granite doesn’t disappoint.

This particular variety of stone features gorgeous shades of tan, gold and black. The end result is a material that creates a sense of being on a sandy beach, or in the middle of the desert.

For this reason, Sahara granite is often selected for poolside patio decks, for alongside hot tubs, or for patios where water features are a focal point.

Making a Decision

It’s clear that each of the four most popular patio stone options in NJ has a lot to offer homeowners. You could benefit from working with any of these stunning materials, and each is capable of establishing a reliable and long-lasting patio for your home.

Even so, some careful thinking and consideration will likely reveal that one stone type is a better match for your needs and wants than the others. Make sure that the stone you choose will suit your lifestyle demands while catering to your personal sense of style.

Be sure, also, that your patio stone will blend well with other elements of your property and will continue to look stylish in the years to come. When in doubt, it’s a good idea to consult with your patio stone supplier for a professional opinion.

Be sure to visit a local showroom to see how the stone looks when used in landscaping applications. You may even consider working with a professional landscape designer to ensure that you make the best choice for your home.

Buying Patio Stone in NJ

Once you’ve determined which type of patio stone is right for your NJ home, Braen Supply is here to help you get the best deal on your materials.

As the leading manufacturer and supplier of patio stone and other landscaping materials in NJ, we are proud to offer the highest quality bluestone, limestone, brownstone and Sahara granite at the lowest and most competitive prices.

Our team of professionals is knowledgeable about each of these patio stone options and is qualified to answer any questions you may have.

We’re also happy to offer you advice when selecting your materials. Our patio stone can be picked up at your convenience or can be bulk delivered throughout parts of NJ & NY and limited parts of PA & CT.