Happy official start of spring, everyone!
Welcome to this week’s Hardscape Digest, a free bi-weekly newsletter from the team at Hardscape Magazine.
Each issue will cover the latest trends and news impacting the hardscape industry, featured projects, installation techniques, new tools, upcoming events and much, much more.
The bottom line up front
The Technical Shift: OGB is the New Standard: Open-Graded Base (OGB) systems are rapidly replacing traditional dense bases to allow for faster, all-weather installs and better drainage.
Real-Time Margin Tracking: Top-performing hardscape and landscape businesses are moving away from gut-feeling estimates toward "Predictive Operations" to protect profits against fluctuating material and labor costs.
The Rise of Vacuum Lifting: With 80% of contractors facing labor shortages, battery-powered suction lifters have become a job-site essential for installing large-format slabs safely with smaller crews.
Stormwater Mandates Driving Growth: New municipal "Sponge City" policies across North America are turning permeable interlocking concrete pavements (PICP) from an upgrade into a requirement.
Project spotlight: Why interior trends are the future of hardscape
The crew spent 12 man hours cutting the inlays and getting them perfect. Tony says, “We have some amazing craftsmen. I'm very proud of everything that they do.” He says the tempered glass fencing around the pool is a common choice for his clients. He’s had no problems with people walking into them.
Tony Zambito of Zamco Group has found a winning formula for outdoor spaces by looking indoors. By tracking interior design trends—which he notes usually precede hardscape trends by about five years—Zambito stays ahead of the curve with oversized "tile-style" pavers and wood-look textures. This forward-thinking approach earned his "Staycation" project two HNA Awards and a feature as Techo-Bloc’s 2018 Showcase project. The strategy is simple: stop playing it safe and treat the backyard with the same aesthetic sophistication as a luxury living room.
Beyond the aesthetics, our featured article dives into the "science" behind high-end installs. From using dolomitic lime to stabilize swampy clay soil to pioneering a hybrid driveway that overlays permeable pavers on pervious concrete, Zambito emphasizes that modern hardscaping is a technical discipline. By subcontracting excavation to focus on specialized craftsmanship and leveraging social media for authentic client engagement, Zamco Group has scaled its business to handle complex, six-figure residential transformations that push the boundaries of traditional outdoor construction.
Pavers vs. Concrete: Debunking the most common myths
Looking for the perfect surface for your next outdoor project? The Concrete Masonry and Hardscapes Association (CMHA) recently debunked common misconceptions in their article, Pavers vs. Concrete: Myths, Facts, and What Homeowners Need to Know.
If you’re deciding between a classic poured slab or interlocking pavers, here is a quick breakdown of the reality behind the myths:
Key Takeaways
Strength & Durability: Contrary to popular belief, concrete pavers are often two to three times stronger than poured concrete because they are cured in controlled factory environments rather than being at the mercy of the weather.
The Cracking Truth: Poured concrete is almost guaranteed to crack over time. Pavers create a "semi-flexible" system that shifts with the ground, making them ideal for regions with freeze-thaw cycles.
Maintenance & Repairs: While "maintenance-free" is a myth for any material, pavers are significantly easier to fix. You can simply lift and replace a single unit rather than jackhammering and patching an entire slab.
Sustainability: For eco-conscious homeowners, permeable pavers mimic natural wetlands by allowing water to filter back into the ground, reducing runoff and replenishing groundwater.
Design Freedom: Modern pavers offer nearly endless combinations of colors, textures, and patterns that stamped concrete simply can't replicate with the same longevity.
From the archives: Solving the "Flat Driveway" Dilemma
Permeable pavers allowed the drive to be nearly flat so the garage rooftop terrace could be lowered several feet making it very functional from the first floor of the house.
In this HM feature, designer Glenn Switzer solved a difficult South Minneapolis site challenge by lowering a garage floor four feet to create a functional rooftop terrace. To prevent the resulting flat driveway from becoming an ice hazard, he utilized a permeable paver system. This allowed water to drain directly into the sandy subsoil, eliminating runoff and making the ambitious design possible.
The award-winning transformation turned a cramped backyard into a seamless indoor-outdoor "foyer" connected by French doors. By managing technical details—like structural load-bearing walls and soil infiltration rates—Switzer’s Nursery & Landscaping proved that high-end hardscaping is as much about engineering as it is about aesthetics.
Supplier corner
From rollers to lifters to pavers, get a rundown of the latest materials, equipment and tools as featured in our February issue of Hardscape Magazine.
Rumbled Madrid pavers are our newst pavers featuring a rich blend of colors reminiscent of old world clay paver blend with deep red, burgundy, brown and buff colors. These pavers measure 2-1/4” x 4”x8” and they are fired to exceed ASTM 902 Standards. The are sold Application PA.
Call (336) 721-7514 or visit PineHallBrick.com.
Hanover’s Porcelain Pavers are the right solution for any type of outdoor flooring. They are hard-wearing, anti-slip, weather-resistant, and capable of withstanding heavy loads without compromising aesthetics. Porcelain Pavers are nonporous, they will not stain and do not require sealing — they are virtually maintenance-free. Hanover® Porcelain Pavers will remain fresh and clean for years to come.
Call (800) 426-4242 or visit HanoverPavers.com.
Welcome to SiteOne’s Solstice Stone Collection. Add the beauty and durability of natural stone to your outdoor space with patterned flooring, treads, caps and other accents from the Stonewright Collection, including our 4-piece patio pack.
Visit siteone.com/hardscapes
Upcoming industry events
March 30-April 2: Coverings: The Global Tile & Stone Experience at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.
April 7-10: National Clay Brick Expo at the Hyatt Regency Orlando in Orlando, FL.
May 30-June 1: 2026 Southeast Regional Conference at the Sheraton Downtown Raleigh in Raleigh, NC.
Oct 21-Oct 23: Hardscape North America at the Kentucky Exposition Center in downtown Louisville, KY.
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Until next time,
The Team at Hardscape Magazine
