Flagstone: What Is It and How Is It Used?
According to Lawn Starter, natural flagstone is sedimentary rock broken up into layers and used for landscaping. This consists of different types of rock, usually, limestone, shale, granite, quartzite, or basalt. Here is a deep dive into flagstone, how it’s used, and its benefits.
Types of Flagstone
There are different types of flagstone. You can choose from select, thin select, or patio flagstone. Each type offers a different thickness and can be used for different projects. You may want to use patio flagstone for stepping stones or walkways and use select flagstone for seats or steps. While most are seen in their natural jagged patterns, they can be shaped into other sizes like rectangular pieces.
Ways to Use Flagstone
There are so many unique ways to use flagstone. A retaining wall with this type of stone is perfect for low walls. It’s stacked for a short height and makes an interesting textured look. Flagstone is always great to use for borders, whether you are outlining a water feature, pool deck, or even a garden. The large, flat surface lends itself to a rustic-looking edging. A fire pit made out of flagstone is yet another way that’s used by this versatile style of rock.
Benefits of Flagstone
There are so many great reasons to use flagstone in your projects. One reason is that it’s nearly flat when it’s mined so it’s great for projects where flat surfaces are needed. It’s also a non-slip surface naturally without adding top coats. Because it’s a strong and stable rock, it typically will not break or form cracks. It also comes in different shades, like gray, tan, blue, and other natural colors. With these natural color selections, you can find one that will enhance your patio or garden, or you can mix and match them for a lovely earthy feel.
These were just a few great ways flagstone can be incorporated into your next outdoor project. With its versatility and stability, the possibilities are endless. If you’re looking for a way to add texture and uniqueness to your property, contact Arizona Trucking and Materials today to learn about the different materials we offer. Whether you’re looking for flagstone, sand, or gravel rock, we’ve got you covered!
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3 Landscaping Project Ideas Homeowners Love
Some landscaping projects are more appealing than others. For example, installing a new lawn is nice, but installing a winding path through a flower garden is a little more of a draw. Many landscaping projects are very popular among homeowners. Here are the three top landscaping projects that homeowners are in love with.
1. Raised Garden Beds
Whether it is raised vegetable gardens or raised flower gardens, homeowners love a raised garden bed. Raised garden beds are a great way to reduce the maintenance needed. It will also reduce the aches and pains of bending over a garden. Raised gardens are ideal for both small yards and large yards. Raised beds are also a great way to incorporate pavers into your garden. Graduated raised beds can add a focal point. They are great space savers that add interest and are super easy to maintain.
2. Winding Paths
Another favorite among landscaping projects is adding winding paths around garden spaces. What better way to upgrade a landscape than add a stone path through it? Paths made from river rocks are very popular. According to the Gardening Channel, river rocks are available in a range of sizes from very small up to one inch across.
3. Natural Privacy Fences
Homeowners want to keep their yards natural, pushing this landscaping project to the top of the list for many homeowners. A natural privacy fence is made of tall shrubs, trees, bushes, and other greenery. A natural fence is not the eyesore of a traditional wood or metal fence but serves the same purpose. A natural fence, when designed correctly, can keep prying eyes out of your yard while letting the natural beauty of the shrubbery and plants add interest to your yard.
Many landscaping projects are in line for the top three. People are making the most out of the property they have by consulting with companies to learn how they can use their landscape. Landscaping adds value to your property and tremendous value to your lifestyle. Learn more about the projects you should have on your radar this spring by speaking to Arizona Trucking and Materials today.
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Choosing the Right Material for Your New Yard Upgrades
Arizona weather treats landscaping materials with exceptional brutality. Until you live in the Arizona desert, you can’t fully comprehend just how much damage the sun and heat do. Plastic lawn furniture and decorations turn to dust in your hands, even in spring and fall. Even native plants require amounts of water that boggle the imagination. For this reason, you see flagstone, wire cage walls filled with Arizona stone, and stone benches everywhere. Stone landscaping material suppliers like AZ Trucking and Materials help you create beauty without reliance on unsustainable resources. Here’s why you should use our flagstone in your next yard upgrade.
What Type of Rock Makes a Great Flagstone?
According to LawnStarter, flagstone is formed when sedimentary rock such as sandstone, shale, and limestone breaks into layers. Flagstones typically have at least one good, flat side, making them excellent for paving stones on walkways. At AZ Trucking and Materials in Tucson, Arizona, we provide three grades of the finest Arizona sandstone flagstones, two lengths of flagstone bench toppers, and much more.
Fire Protection With Flagstone
In the parts of Arizona subject to wildfires, using flagstone, boulders, and rock fill decreases your home’s risk of fire. Arizona heat can cause spontaneous combustion since temperatures easily reach triple digits as early as April. Rock and stone can’t burn, so using them in your landscaping creates a natural firebreak.
Erosion Control With Flagstone
Wind carries loose soil for hundreds of miles during Arizona dust storms. Covering a bare yard with landscaping fabric, gravel, and flagstones helps hold that soil in place, vastly improving air quality. While this might not seem as important in town, the outskirts of many Arizona communities remain mostly barren, with little more than scrub and cactus holding the soil in place. Flagstone can be a highly useful tool in areas like these.
With Arizona’s dry heat, high winds, and wildfire risk, it’s important to choose the right material for your landscaping needs. Using flagstone in your yard is a highly practical choice due to its resistance to fire and erosion. Rather than battle reality trying to keep plants alive when water evaporates before it hits the ground, xeriscape your yard with flagstone from Arizona Trucking and Materials. Your yard will look beautiful even in the high heat of Arizona summer.
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3 Reasons Using River Rocks Can Upgrade the Aesthetic of Your Home
Are you looking for new decorative ideas for your home’s exterior? Then consider using a decorative rock for your next home renovation project. Whether you want to add something new to your landscaping project or put a natural touch to your exterior, a decorative rock might be just what you need. A decorative rock, such as a river rock, is captivating to landscaping enthusiasts. Let’s learn why they are so popular.
1. Great Landscaping Item
Decorative rocks are the perfect element for any landscaping project, as they are sturdy, resistant to color loss, and bring a new sense of natural beauty to your backyard. They blend nicely with other environmental items in your landscaping projects, such as a small fountain, trees, and other small plants.
River rocks are the most recommended decorative rock for your landscaping project, as they keep the soil moist and don’t attract pests or ants. River rocks are often heavy, so you don’t have to worry about rocks moving around with the wind.
2. Captivating Outdoor Decoration
For those homeowners looking for an environmental-friendly aesthetic, a decorative rock is a must-have in their home improvement project. River rocks have a beautiful color that complements a home’s landscape, but you have to look for the color you desire for your outdoor space. From pink coral to cactus gold, the possibilities are endless.
A benefit of river rocks is their variety, which can range from 1 inch up to several inches across, according to the Gardening Channel. One of the best perks of decorative stones is their unlimited potential, as you can use them as a simple decoration for a creative pathway outside your home.
3. Improve Your Curb Appeal
Another plus of these decorative stones is their captivating look that blends nicely with your curb appeal. Enhance the way your house looks and add something unique to your property by using river rock or flagstone as a decorative item in your yard. Decorative rock is also great for hiding those spots in your yard that just won’t grow grass.
Decorative rocks are a unique addition to any landscape. If you’re on the hunt for landscaping rocks, contact Arizona Trucking and Materials. We have a wide selection of decorative rocks available!
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4 Ideas for Upgrading Your Yard
Every homeowner wants to look outside and see the most beautiful, peaceful yard they can. But they often don’t know what could make it perfect. Don’t make the mistake of thinking more plants will be the solution, as other landscaping materials are better. Adding rocks to your garden can be the perfect solution for a brand-new look.
According to Home Advisor, river rocks are worth between $100 to $700 per ton, so adding this feature is not expensive. But let’s find out more options that could change the look of your yard and make you want to hang out there more often.
1. Choose Different Textures for Gravel
Creating a new pathway with exciting landscaping materials could be just what you need to improve its appearance. The best part of adding gravel to your garden is that it absorbs water quickly and won’t get damaged by the weather. You can include different sizes, colors, and maybe, even a few pavers to accentuate the final result.
2. Create a Stone Wall
Adding a rock wall instead of a wooden fence will make your home stand out against the rest of the neighborhood. Most people pick dry stones for this choice, reminding them of the old British style. Also, there are many techniques you can choose from.
3. Add Pebbles Around Certain Spots
Whether you want to build a pond or fire pit, it’s always a good idea to add pebbles around it because they enhance the final aesthetic. Pebbles can also be used as a pathway to these spots in your yard, giving them a homey feel they might not have otherwise. A good rule of thumb is that small rocks look more sophisticated while larger rocks seem pastoral, so your home can look modern and elegant or like a cabin in the woods.
4. Surround Your Lawn with Big Rocks
If you’ve ever felt your perfectly cut lawn is missing something, you should consider adding several large rocks. This kind of edging makes your yard look more like a tropical paradise. Additionally, rocks ensure everything – such as mulch and other plants – stays where it needs to be.
Now that you know about these options, you can choose to improve your yard. Once you have an idea, you can call Arizona Trucking and Materials for their variety of landscaping materials and the best prices you will ever find!
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The Benefits of Renting a Flatbed From a Reliable Rental Company
Profit maximization is the aim of every business. Businesses typically require certain tools to complete a specific task as part of their operations. When a business does not use a gadget or equipment regularly enough to warrant the expense of acquiring the instrument outright, renting might be useful. One example is renting a flatbed truck. When working with freight or picking up landscaping rocks, renting a flatbed is an excellent solution. A flatbed truck rental has several advantages. Here are a few of them.
Flatbed Rentals Are Convenient
The first and most obvious advantage of renting a flatbed truck is its better adaptability than normal pickup trucks or 4×4 cars. You discover that a standard pickup vehicle is not always adequate. When you rent one flatbed, you can move all the goods in fewer journeys to and from your location. You can save time and resources because of this. A flatbed truck can have up to 440 horsepower. Flatbeds can normally transport up to 25 tons. Safety measures like cruise control also made long-distance driving easier. The cruise control feature can help keep track of your speed while driving.
Flatbed Rentals Eliminate Maintenance Costs
One of the most important considerations when purchasing any car is the cost of ownership. Any mechanical system, particularly a vehicle, needs routine maintenance during its operation. When you own a truck, you handle its maintenance and upkeep. Renting a flatbed truck eliminates the need for maintenance because you receive a company-maintained vehicle when they deliver it. You only need to undertake routine maintenance while using the truck.
It Exempts You from Labor-Intensive Costs
Owning and operating a vehicle involves significant effort. You may need to hire workers for specialized activities such as transportation to the job site or warehouse upkeep, truck cleaning, and installing new components, to mention a few. Renting a flatbed truck from a flatbed rental service exempts you from labor-intensive requirements.
Flatbed Rentals Eliminate Expensive Fuel Costs
Construction trucks are heavy-duty vehicles that use much more gasoline than other vehicles. Fuel costs are continually growing, making it costly to keep your vehicle filled at all times. While rental companies consider gasoline rates, you are not required to refuel the vehicle when necessary.
Renting a flatbed is ideal for hauling landscaping rocks to work sites. Landscaping rocks require trucks with great horsepower, and flatbed trucks are ideal for transporting them. Do you need flatbed rentals for your business? Reach out to us now if you do!
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3 Ways to Use River Rocks for Unique Landscaping This Year
Rocks add a touch of natural beauty and character to any landscape. River rocks have been a staple in landscaping for decades. People often use these rocks to create everything from dramatic water-mimicking scenes to quaint rock gardens. According to NSSGA, river rocks, on average, cost between 100 to 700 dollars for a ton. The following list highlights ways you can use river rocks for your landscape design.
Provide a Natural Barrier
River rocks are great tools for your landscaping. They can provide a privacy barrier between your home or business and the main street. You can achieve this by using these rocks to create a simple border with the right type and quantity of rocks from a local sand and gravel company. Another option may be a full-fledged wall featuring specific stones with design elements such as ferns and vines.
Rock Edging for Containers
Ever look at a specific container and wish you could give that container a nice, natural edging? Or maybe you have some containers that have too much bare space at the edges. For this task, river rocks are great tools for creating an easily-maintained and easy-to-install edging for any container. Even specific rocks will work great for edging containers. For instance, jagged pieces that look like broken river rock can work well. It will help to inform your sand and gravel company how you plan to use the rocks. The company may offer guidance on choosing suitable stones to achieve unique landscaping.
Feature Rocks as an Ornamental Detail
Stones from your local sand and gravel company can also be ornamental elements in your home or business. A simple stone wall in a small garden can provide a natural feature to give character and interest to that space. Alternatively, you can incorporate river rocks into your landscaping by creating an area mainly consisting of stones with just a few other plants. You can use this area for seating or simply as an attractive detail to your landscape.
River rocks are a popular addition to any garden. These rocks are versatile and inexpensive for landscaping. They can add interest and value to any home or business landscape. You really can do it all with this inexpensive and easy-to-use landscaping element. Contact Arizona Trucking and Materials to learn more about our different types of river rocks.
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5 Little Known Facts on Landscaping Materials for Your Home or Business
A well-manicured garden is one of the best ways to boost the aesthetic appeal and beauty of a property. In fact, several studies show that high-quality materials such as landscaping rock can boost a property’s resale value by up to 14%.
Landscaping materials vary; you can find cheap and expensive ones. According to landscapingnetwork.com, landscaping rock like flagstone costs between 15 and 20 USD per square foot. This means you need to know your landscaping materials.
However, there are a couple of facts with regard to landscaping materials that people don’t know, including their benefits. That said, let’s discuss some of these little-known facts.
Landscaping Improves Water Quality
Landscape materials such as landscape rock can help clean water as it soaks into the soil. In fact, the water acquires minerals from these materials boosting its overall quality.
Landscaping Materials Block Noise
Landscape materials such as artificial or natural trees can help reduce noise, a spectacle known as sound attenuation.
Sound attenuation is the decrease in sound intensity in the environment. Trees absorb and deflect sound waves, which gives you calmer surroundings.
Landscaping Materials Can Be Used in Place of Roofs
Did you know that landscaping materials can be used in place of conventional roofs? For instance, you can ask your landscaping company to plant a green roof on top of the waterproofing elements of your roof.
This will help lower your property’s temperature during summer, and water won’t be wasted. Also, your property looks more appealing.
Landscaping Materials Save On Costs
Landscape materials can save you money with regard to energy costs. Having a landscape company plant shrubs and vegetation around your home can cut your heating bills by up to 25% and your air conditioning costs by up to 35%.
Landscaping Reduces Stress
Did you know that you can reduce stress levels by looking at the landscaping done around your home or business?
Studies show that people on business premises with a view of landscaped gardens report fewer illnesses compared to those who only see buildings around them.
As you can see, there are several little-known facts with regard to landscaping materials. So, if you haven’t considered landscaping your property, contact a landscaping company today.
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5 Ways to Add Gravel Work to Your Garden
Gravel is among the most inexpensive and uncomplicated landscaping materials you can take advantage of to improve the aesthetic appeal of your garden. According to landscaping experts, you should aim for an eight-inch layer when installing gravel in your garden. Here are five ways to add gravel work to your landscape.
1. Add Gravel to Circular Seating Spaces
Your garden likely has a circular seating space or two since the circular shapes have a soothing effect. Installing gravel in your circular seating spaces will make them stand out more and amplify their soothing effect. Ensure that the color of stone you install provides a striking contrasting effect to the surroundings and breaks the dominance of the imposing walls that could be around.
2. Integrate the Gravel With Your Patio
Gravel is an excellent option for paving your patio to give it a more textural and naturalistic look. There are numerous patio and gravel color combinations that you can pick. Therefore, you have the opportunity to get creative with how you integrate gravel with your patio. For example, if your patio has a warm-toned mix, honey-hued gravel fences are best for you.
3. Fill the Space Under Floating Furniture
Over the last two decades, installing floating furniture in the garden has become a trend. It has been increasingly favored because it makes the garden look much larger. You can style your garden with gravel by using it to fill the space under the floating furniture. You can use stone with different hues for furniture in various garden areas.
4. Create Stylish Steps by Mixing Gravel With Corten Steel
Corten steel has recently become one of the most preferred landscaping materials for edging and raising beds. This is thanks to its hardwearing nature and uniquely rusted patina. If you have steps in your garden, consider installing a mix of gravel and corten steel to make it more stylish.
5. Create a Gravel Walkway Through Ornamental Grass
An ornamental grass field with a walkway cutting through it is a must-have for any garden. You can improve the walkway through your ornamental grass by adding gravel. This will also help prevent the ornamental grass from overgrowing to cover the walkway.
Do You Need Landscaping Materials?
Before purchasing landscaping supplies, you should settle on the look and style you want for your garden. Try figuring it out on paper and visualizing the final look in your mind. This will save you from the additional expense of the trial and error method of upgrading a garden. We are a reputable local landscaping materials supplier with a great inventory. Call us today.
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Three Top Benefits Flagstone Offers Your Property
Flagstones have been used in construction for hundreds of years. A flagstone is simply a type of rock used in paving or construction which is wider and flat. This construction material can be used in building walkways, patios, and other hardscapes. Some people feel flagstones are expensive, especially as they cost about 20 dollars per square foot, but why should you fork out such an amount? Read on to find out the benefits of using flagstones for your construction projects.
Low Maintenance and Durability
One of the unique benefits of using flagstone is that it requires minimal maintenance and has a longer lifespan. Unlike concrete pavers, this material suffers fewer breaks and chips with time and is durable. All you need to do to keep your flagstone patio in great condition is to power-wash it a few times annually.
Flagstones are easily installed and don’t require mortar or concrete. You can easily fix your retaining wall or walkways whenever the stone breaks.
Flagstones are Easy to Work With
Another outstanding advantage of using flagstones is that they are easy to work with, mainly because of their flat shape. You need to place it on the floor and let the grass grow between the gaps or fill them with sand. Also, you could stack the flagstones on each other to create a wall. Additionally, you can use mortar or concrete to fill the gaps around the flagstone, even though this isn’t compulsory.
Flagstone walkways, patios, and steps are safe and slip-resistant. This means the risk of injury to you, your guests, and your family is greatly reduced with flagstone.
Design Flexibility
Flagstones are made in different shapes, colors, and thicknesses due to their formation. Therefore, you can get them in shades of red, pink, blue, orange, gold, gray, brown, and white. These colors are naturally occurring, and with them, you can create any color combination of your choice. You can easily create a natural appearance that easily blends your landscape with flagstones. People who prefer their walkways or patios having a natural look will always opt for flagstones.
In summary, flagstone is a unique construction material that offers far greater value than its cost. They are easy to work with, cheap to maintain, and flexible to design, making them an easy choice for many people.
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