Backyard Beaches Bring Coastal Living Closer To Home
If you live in the Northeast, you are probably not too far from one of the area’s pristine beaches, but sometimes close is just not close enough. With more and more homeowners spending more time at home and less time fighting traffic, many weekend warriors are bringing what they enjoy about local hot spots like restaurants, parks and beaches into their own backyard with the use of sand, gravel and decorative stone.
Everybody has their own idea of the perfect oasis and weekend retreat. That’s why there are so many design options available today. “If you can dream it, you can create it” seems to be the motto of the DIY sect, and in most cases, it’s true. We don’t suggest designing and installing your own outdoor kitchen or home entertainment areas without the help of a professional building contractor since there is so much entailed with the planning of water, gas and/or electric supply, but there are many projects that can truly transform your surroundings that don’t require expansive building and construction knowledge. If the yard of your dreams happens to include your very own sandy beach, here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Choose the Right Sand – There are a lot of varieties of sand available on the market today since it is commonly used in many different construction applications. Different types may be used for mixing with concrete, sandblasting and filling voids. If you are creating a backyard beach or children’s play area, make sure to use a low-dust beach sand.
Prep the Ground for Cover – Depending on what surface you plan to cover, you may have some prep work to do. If you plan on turning an old grassy area into your beach oasis, you will most likely want to mow the lawn as short as possible and then lay heavy duty plastic so that the grass and weeds don’t pop through.
Proper Drainage – Make sure that the area you designate for your “beach” is properly graded so that you don’t wind up with puddles. This is especially important if you will be adding an entertainment area, volleyball court or similar feature to the beach area.
Gardening – Keep in mind that most plants and flowers do not grow well in overly sandy soil, so if you plan to grow local vegetation of any sort, you may want to add a border of Belgian block or similar materials to the perimeter of your beach in order to keep the sand put so it will not mix with your gardening soil. You may also choose to grow your flowers and plants in large pots to avoid this issue and so that you can move the pots around the yard depending on your mood or entertainment space needs.
Finishing Touches – As you are planning out the area, think about how you want it to look and what the main use will be. A large flat area may be perfect if you are planning on adding a volleyball net or picnic tables and benches, but if you are planning to keep the area for relaxation only, you may consider adding some faux dunes for additional interest and dimension or a fire pit or water feature in order to bring that true feel of a weekend getaway right into your own backyard.
Before you get started, it’s best to speak to your local landscape material supplier about the type and quantity of sand needed to complete your project. They can often offer some great design and installation tips, can provide you with a sand calculator so you can figure out how much you need and also will likely offer bulk sand delivery.
For more information about bulk-delivery of sand and other landscaping materials, contact ATAK Trucking, serving NJ and Staten Island, at 917-912-2900.