JUN
26
2018
Outdoor living spaces are quickly climbing the ranks of the most upgraded feature in the home; and according to the American Institute of Architects’, outdoor living rooms have taken the top spot in terms of growing consumer interest among special function rooms for the sixth consecutive year. What’s more is that it is the only feature in this category that continues to grow, while other special function rooms such as mud rooms and home offices also top the list, they have seen a decrease in interest from 2016 to 2017.
Homeowners started investing more on their outdoor living spaces as a result of the economic crash in an effort to enjoy their own living environment versus taking vacations, and they have indeed reported that they do find themselves enjoying their outdoor living spaces more and utilizing them as the entertainment hubs of the home. As the economy recovered it became apparent that these upgraded outdoor living areas increased home values substantially, and with that came greater upgrades. According to a recent survey conducted by the popular website Houzz, 56% of homeowners spent more than $10,000 on their outdoor renovations, while only about a third, 32%, reportedly spent less than $5,000. And it’s not uncommon for contractors to complete outdoor living renovations between $50,000 to $100,000 and beyond.
Creating an outdoor living space feels like added square footage to the home, however, carries with it a much smaller price tag, even with higher end materials being used. Current trends show homeowners incorporating features so these spaces can be used in all seasons, such as covered patios, fully equipped kitchens, and fire features. Due to the desire to have the feeling of the increased living space, it’s important to keep a sense of continuousness and flow from the interior of the home.
“Homeowners are more interested now in higher quality, lower maintenance products that allow them to fully utilize and enjoy these spaces. High-maintenance materials like wood decking are seeing a decrease in demand as people are seeing options that deliver better performance and sustainability”.
Another trend that builders are seeing is a request for higher quality and more unique materials, which stand out from those that are more commonly found. Products such as natural stone and porcelain tiles are becoming an increasingly popular choice. In both The New American Home and The New American Remodel Home for 2018, which features the most innovative and trending products within the construction industry, Natural Paving USA was featured showcasing natural sandstone flags, pavers, step treads and pool coping. One of the top reasons given by the contractors for featuring Natural Paving was that the product was not only unique, easy to use, but married the interior of the home with the exterior elements, creating a stunning and consistent visual for the homes.
Natural Paving USA offers both natural sandstone and limestone flagstones and pavers as well as coordinating accent pieces such as coping and step treads. Not only do these products offer the sought-after continuity, bringing together both the indoor and outdoor spaces beautifully, they more importantly offer homeowners a longer lasting and lower maintenance product. The natural properties of the stone make it easy to care for and will only get better with time, as there are no aggregates to expose. With subtle color variations and textures, along with the occasional fossil, homeowners will truly have something that is organic, warm, and exclusive.
While the more contemporary porcelain tiles offer homeowners the ultimate in ease when it comes to maintenance as they never need sealing to maintain their beauty. Porcelain tiles also offer a huge variety design, color, and textures, ranging from looks that mimic natural stone to wood planks, and can often be matched with the interior tiles.
It has never been easier for homeowners to create remarkable outdoor living spaces that beckon them to enjoy and entertain, while increasing their property value. Paver options today are greater than ever before offering longevity, sustainability, and ease.
For more information on our extensive line of products please visit our website at www.naturalpavingusa.com
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