Join Eric G. and Aaron Brundage from System Pavers as they explore the essentials of planning outdoor living projects, particularly for the upcoming winter and spring seasons. They discuss the importance of thoughtful preparation to ensure that your space meets both current and future needs, emphasizing that now is the perfect time to start planning. Aaron highlights the benefits of incorporating modern features such as outdoor heating, lighting, and smart technology, which can enhance your outdoor experience. Additionally, they delve into the versatility of outdoor materials, including synthetic turf and pavers, that can transform any backyard into a functional and beautiful space. Whether you're considering a complete renovation or just small upgrades, this conversation is packed with insights to help you make the most of your outdoor living areas.

The conversation with Aaron Brundage from System Pavers unfolds a wealth of insights into outdoor living projects, emphasizing the importance of thoughtful planning and execution. As the winter season approaches, many homeowners are looking to transform their outdoor spaces, and this discussion sheds light on the myriad of options available. The episode highlights the shift from simple outdoor spaces to more elaborate, multi-functional areas that integrate features such as synthetic lawns, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens. Brundage shares his expertise on the evolving materials and technologies that make these spaces not only aesthetically pleasing but also practical and sustainable. With a focus on creating seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor living, he encourages listeners to consider their unique needs and how to maximize their enjoyment of these spaces year-round.

One of the standout themes in the episode is the idea of 'smart spaces' in outdoor design. Brundage elaborates on how modern technology has begun to play a crucial role in outdoor living, from smart lighting systems to outdoor heating solutions that extend the usability of these spaces well into the colder months. This shift not only enhances comfort but also transforms outdoor areas into viable extensions of the home. The discussion also touches on the importance of maintaining these spaces with minimal effort, particularly through the use of synthetic turf which requires less upkeep than traditional lawns. Brundage emphasizes the aesthetic and functional qualities of today’s synthetic materials, dispelling common misconceptions about their appearance and durability.

The episode concludes with a strong call to action for listeners to start planning their outdoor projects now. Brundage stresses that the best time to begin this process is in the off-season, allowing for a smoother implementation come spring. He provides practical tips for homeowners, such as considering future needs during the planning phase and ensuring that all necessary utilities are accounted for. The episode is rich with actionable advice, inspiring listeners to envision their dream outdoor spaces and take the first steps towards making them a reality. Brundage's enthusiasm for creating beautiful, functional outdoor environments is infectious, making this episode a must-listen for anyone looking to enhance their home’s exterior.

Takeaways:

• Planning your outdoor living project now can ensure you're ready to enjoy it in the spring.
• Incorporating features like lighting and heaters can enhance your outdoor space year-round.
• Synthetic turf has evolved significantly and offers low-maintenance, pet-friendly options for homeowners.
• Utilizing permeable pavers can help manage drainage issues while maintaining an aesthetically pleasing landscape.
• Proper installation is crucial; a well-prepared base ensures longevity for your outdoor projects.
• Incorporating smart technology can transform your outdoor space into a convenient and enjoyable area.

Links referenced in this episode:

• monumentgrills.com
• systempavers.com

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• Monument Grills
• System Pavers

To get your questions answered by Eric G give us a call in the studio at 833-239-4144 24/7 and Eric G will get back to you and answer your question and you might end up in a future episode of Around the House.

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Information given on the Around the House Show should not be considered construction or design advice for your specific project, nor is it intended to replace consulting at your home or jobsite by a building professional. The views and opinions expressed by those interviewed on the podcast are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the views and opinions of the Around the House Show.

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It's around the house.

Love that feature with the dog door.

How cool is that?

Keeps things super simple for you.

And I'll tell you what, it's been about 15 years since we really started working with some of the great synthetic lawn products that are out there.

And I love to hear how much you've enjoyed it and have seen the benefits of it.

And so many people are.

It has come such a long way.

This isn't what you'd see out there at the batting cages or at the putt plot course.

This synthetic lawn.

Lawn is so realistic looking, feeling functional from drainage standpoints, pet friendly options, of course, Eric, we're putting the synthetic lawn in people's yards where they're utilizing it for their bocce ball courts.

When it comes to remodeling and renovating your home, there is a lot to know, but we've got you covered.

This is around the House.

Welcome to the Round the House show, the next generation of home improvement.

I'm Eric G.

Thanks for joining me today.

This hour is brought to you by our friends at Monument Grills.

If you looking for an outdoor barbecue for the rest of football season or if you're a 365 day a year barbecuer, check them out under 900 bucks@monumentgrills.com Speaking of outside, we have the king of outdoors out here.

He's back.

Aaron Brundage, System Pavers.

Welcome back to around the House, my friend.

Thanks for having me back, Eric.

Love being here, man.

Always fun to chat with you because it doesn't matter what time of year it is where people are in the country.

We got people down in South Florida, we got people in Alaska.

But nonetheless, we're always planning for that outdoor living because it's always the cheapest addition to your home, right?

Absolutely.

People want to take advantage of it.

And I would say that's honestly one of the biggest things that we're seeing happen right now is not just outdoor living, but that excellent extension that that kind of concept of indoor and outdoor living.

Right.

And it's just such a huge thing right now.

And just like you said, whether you're in Florida or Alaska, there's a big need for it and a big draw towards it and just something that can really transform your living space.

Yeah, I'm in the Pacific Northwest and we're seeing where it used to be.

People would get out there and they'd have their four months of outdoor living.

And now with patio covers, all the heaters that we see out there, it's now 10, 11, 12 months of outdoor living depending on what they got going on.

And it is so cool to be able to go out there, barbecue outside on, on Christmas day and not be smoking the house up, trying to cook that steak inside or whatever else.

And you can leave that smoke outside where nature intended it to be.

That's right.

And there's so many places the system pavers operates, for example, that it really, it really is almost a year round situation where whether it's like you said, Christmas time even, or especially Thanksgiving, we're leading up to the big dinner.

Maybe we're doing some of the cooking inside the home, of course, but now we've got the big built in barbecue outside and everything that comes along with that where we're able to spend a lot of that time outdoors.

Maybe we're throwing the football on the, on the new synthetic lawn or getting ready for the games, enjoying a glass of wine out there by the fire pit.

So many things that you can do on the outside of the home, getting ready for, for the, for the big meal on Thanksgiving.

Absolutely.

And something to me, I love sitting outside around the fire pit on a crisp evening.

Right.

It's 45 degrees out there.

You get the fire pit going, you can see your breath, you got your favorite adult beverage or hot drink sitting there or both and enjoying the crisp outside.

And you, you're not overheating, it's not 100 degrees outside and you can really enjoy it and have some peace and quiet.

There's no doubt about it.

And that's the time of year really that we're, that we're getting into right now and going to be enjoying for the next several months, just like you said, enjoying time by the fire pit, building memories, family and friends, enjoying some beverages.

Like you said, maybe the kids got the s'mores out, but we're out there and just enjoying that outdoor space.

It's nice to be able to have a change of pace.

I think back in the day it was so common for everybody to get maybe stuck around the TV or stuck around just sitting at the, at the kitchen table.

But now we're outside enjoying all these amazing outdoor elements that are available to us.

Absolutely.

And even better, go put the hot tub outside so you can sit out there, have the new patio you can walk out to with the hot tub on the end of it, sit out there and watch the snow fly if you want to.

It's an amazing experience.

If you haven't done it yourself, it's.

Absolutely an amazing experience.

One that I Definitely enjoy.

And I hear so much from our clients who tell us exactly that, that great to use during, during the, the summer months.

But you get into that fall time, especially wintertime, snow falling, you're enjoying yourself in the hot tub.

It's, it's, it's, it's magical is what it is.

It's pretty cool.

Well, I'm going to give a little plug for you guys because I tell you what, I have busted my butt more than once trying to walk across a composite deck in the wintertime to my hot tub with flip flops and bare feet.

And it's a little icy out there.

I'd rather have a little bit of grip with a paver.

Yeah, non slip, non skid, wet or dry.

Absolutely.

What a great feature to have when it comes to paving stones.

Safe, of course, just like you're saying getting out to that hot tub.

But just the feel that you have, the look that is associated with pavers.

Don't have to worry about slipping all over the place.

One of those great features that, that non slip, non skid feel.

One of the things that I think I love a good outdoor deck, but the one thing especially in my area is that the average deck here lasts about 15 years.

And that's whether you're doing composite or if you're doing some kind of cedar or wood deck because it's all good on top.

I can put a 40 year surface on the top of that thing, but the pressure treated down below just doesn't last that long because of our climate.

And that's where in a lot of climates that paver is a much more durable system because you can set it, forget it.

And other than keeping it clean, there's not a lot of maintenance to it.

And it's one of the things that draws people into a paving stone project time after time again.

And I will say some of the decking stuff has come a long way.

There's some new technology out that in the summertime can help with that.

It's called cool deck technology.

So on the other side of the coin from you talking about how you're out there with maybe it being cold and wet or icy in the summertime, it can tend to get hot.

But that cool deck technology can help cool things down.

But again, just like you said, it becomes one of those things that is not a set it and forget it.

And what I mean by that is when it comes to a paving stone project and so much of what we do, you can truly install this project and have it be the project that's going to be there for the rest of the time that you're in that home.

And quite frankly, we'll carry on to the next homeowner, should you move.

But it's got that longevity, built to last, and not something you really need to come back and do anything with.

Like you said, 15 years down the road is something tending to break down.

It's a little bit of cleaning here and there, and you're in business.

Yeah.

And the cool thing is, too, is if.

If you've got utility problems or anything else, craft person coming in there can pull that area up, and if they know what they're doing, compact it down, put it back in there, and you don't even know that you had to go through it.

It's not like you got to disassemble a deck and try to get that thing put back together and do that and make it look right.

If you have something that bad happens, you can get in there and fix it.

Absolutely.

Not only with the deck, but something like just poured in place concrete as well.

You get something on that that has affected it or the cracks that are inherently associated with it, spilling certain things on it that you can't get those stains out.

Those are all able to be dealt with.

When it comes to pavers, that ability to unzip and zip back up again, pull that area out with pavers, put them back together again, and just like you said, step back like it never even happened.

What a great feature.

And I think one of the things that's awesome as well is if you've got that big driveway and if you're not on a little suburban city street where it's just going out to the street and everything's getting taken care of there, it's permeable, so you can actually have it.

So you don't have the wastewater problem coming off of that.

If you've got that large driveway that goes towards the garage door where your house is lower than the street, for instance, you can really design that project out where it's moving the water away from the house, but without having to have a huge drain system up against the front of the house.

Yeah.

And you and I have talked about that a little bit, the importance of a proper drain system, or I should say, proper ability to move the water to the right places.

Right.

And I'd say that's.

It's very common to see these drainage systems.

But like you're saying with a project that can handle the water itself, have a permeability aspect to it, is super cool.

There are regular pavers that have a small aspect of permeability.

There are also permeable pavers that have nearly full permeability.

And now we're seeing that be done just like you said, maybe in an entire project or maybe even just incorporated into certain areas of a project, which is awesome as well.

So a lot of different options when it comes to these permeable systems and how they can help us control the water in the best ways, but also keep that project looking beautiful without kind of maybe the unsightlyness of some of these drainage systems that you'll see in other areas.

Yeah.

And I think if you've got a property that's got large trees with roots and stuff like that, if you can let that water fairly evenly go down through into the ground below it, it's healthier for the trees.

You're not going to get the root rot that commonly comes with paving and things like that.

And it's really going to help protect those heritage trees that you've got around your property that you're trying to keep there.

So I think it's really good for the environment as well, is because you're not just blocking the water off and loading it up someplace else.

Yeah, you're right.

And we'll get asked quite often, am I going to be able to put this project in and still be able to keep these beautiful trees that I love that are right next to this area?

And a lot of times the answer is yes.

Because of the type of project that we're putting in.

Will even have an arborist come out take a look at the area.

And they say, I would have concerns if you were doing this or this poured in place concrete.

But with a permeable paver system or paver system in general, there's options that allow you to have the best of both worlds, be able to control that water, have a beautiful project and be able to keep those beautiful trees that are such an important part of the view of your home, how your home looks from the street.

Absolutely.

I think one of the biggest mistakes that I see homeowners and even some contractors make out there is the entire project is all about the prep.

It's all about the surface prep.

Down below, I see people out there posting up on social media, hey, I'm putting in my back paver stuff.

And they're setting it on their grass.

And I'm like, this is going to be horrible, Eric.

It's such a.

It's.

It's an unfortunate common thing when it comes to The.

The dyi.

Somebody who thinks that it.

It's as simple as that.

And it's really not everything when it comes to a paving stone project.

A properly built paving stone project is about building it properly from the ground up, down.

And you and I have talked about it a little bit before how important it is to remove some of those things that are.

That are.

That are there, that native soil that's there.

We get into these areas with a lot of bentonite or clay.

Just this poor soil are really sandy.

What we want to do is we want to remove so much of that before we're even building the project up.

Put down geotextile grid cloth and not allow the.

The base that we're putting in to marry with the native soils and properly build that up.

Proper compaction.

It's such an important piece of the puzzle to make sure that you're going to have a project that's going to last a lifetime.

People forget that clay loves to move around.

You think about that kitchen sponge.

When it gets dry, it shrivels up and gets all crazy, and then you get it wet and all of a sudden it goes back out.

That's what your clay soil is doing.

So when you put something on top of that, whether it's concrete, whether it's anything else you're putting on top of that, it's moving around a lot.

So you need to make sure that you've got a layer there to insulate that movement.

Right.

So that way you've got a solid base to put that down on.

Clay is horrible to build on.

Horrible to build on.

And we talk about that.

We talk about the process, the process of planning a project, but also the process of installing a project like this.

And you don't want to have to do it twice.

Do it right the first time is what it boils down to.

It is.

It is a lot of work.

And it's something that you're going to want to have that.

That's going to last a lifetime that you're not going to want to have to redo.

So doing it right the first time is so key.

Absolutely.

And you guys are not just a paving company.

This is not what you guys do.

You guys are a whole.

A whole outdoor lifestyle company as well.

It's not like, oh, we just put blocks down.

You guys have a whole system for taking care of people's projects from start to finish.

There's no doubt about it.

That's a big thing that we focus on with system pavers and something that's really Evolved throughout system pavers, but just in the industry as a whole.

And we've just seen this shift from, again, just a place to simply sit out back or simply to have when your driveway or an entryway to this outdoor living situation that we're talking about that incorporates so many different elements into your outdoor living space or your indoor outdoor living space.

And so to be able to come out now and not just have a couple chairs around a fire pit, for example, or an area to sit on a seating wall, but to have that pergola, to have that fire feature, water feature, to have the synthetic turf around the outside, the outdoor lighting that makes it pop so much to really create this whole area that people want to spend as much or more time in than they even really do inside the house because of how incredible it can be and all the different features that you can add to an outdoor living project like this.

Yeah.

And what I like now, and one of the things that kind of helped us, I think in the wintertime for these outdoor projects is as bad as Covid was, it forced us to think about outdoor heating in these spaces.

Right now.

All of a sudden, because of that whole push, you can jump online as a homeowner and buy all sorts of electric, gas, outdoor radiant heating elements for outside under your patio cover or wherever else.

So you can sit out there at your outdoor bar, watch the big game on a Sunday in January.

And no matter what the outside temperature is, unless you're living in North Dakota or someplace crazy like that, you can sit out there and enjoy it.

And in a somewhat climate controlled area.

It's amazing how these heaters have evolved as well.

And you're so right.

It can be pretty darn cold outside, but you can still be with a properly installed heater in a place like a pergola.

We do it all the time.

People can be sitting out there just like you said, enjoying the game, enjoying their company, having these heaters on.

You close your eyes, it actually feels like it's July and maybe not November.

It's really great feature.

That is great.

What are some of the projects you guys have been tackling out there?

You guys are nationwide, of course, which I absolutely love, but got anything that's been showing up on your radar that you're like, wow, what a transformation.

Yeah, I'm seeing a lot of different things, and one of them is definitely, I'd say the biggest is what I mentioned as far as people incorporating so many more things into their projects.

That's.

That's definitely a huge thing gone are the days where it is that just very basic flat patio and it's now multi tiered.

So many different outdoor elements incorporated into it.

So we're seeing a continuation of growth in that trend.

We're also seeing a lot of marrying of the products as well.

And what I mean by that is, is we work with synthetic lawn.

A lot of times we'll, we'll come to somebody's home and Eric, they don't, they don't want to have to maintain anything.

They don't want to mow a lawn or they don't want to water a lawn.

They want to have a project that is really a couple things eco friendly.

That is something that is just.

It encompasses their whole area.

Very easy, low, no maintenance.

And we're seeing a lot of that.

So the marrying of the products though, we'll see pavers that are maybe separated in areas even where we're incorporating these, these big slabs with synthetic turf in between the slabs to give that different look.

We're seeing quite a bit of that lately and just the use of some of these products that are out there as well that help with that indoor outdoor feel.

And what I mean by that is, is especially as a kitchen designer such as yourself indoors, these, these plank floors and these wood grains and now we're seeing that incorporated even into the paver world as well.

Some of the porcelain products that we're utilizing outdoors as well.

Some of the wood grain products that can really look just like the floor that's in your kitchen but is now on the outside of the home.

And so you.

We have these projects where it really does just blend from the indoors to the outdoors.

And we're seeing a lot of usage of those kind of products that, that lends to that type of product.

What's cool is in those large format tiles, you can actually put them inside.

And if you've got the right tile, you can take that right outside.

And if you've got a big door or one of the nanowalls or any one of those big view door systems, you can put those out on those pedestal systems outside.

And it looks like the same wood floor goes right out into the outside and you have that same kind of porcelain maintenance out there, right?

It's crazy how that works.

So cool.

And just this, this use of the products, like you said, you're talking about the bigger slabs.

It's something we're also seeing quite a bit of these days.

People.

What you were just describing is a very feel and it's something that a lot of People are gravitating towards these days.

And there's a lot of products that are out there that lend to that, like the porcelain and the planks we're talking about.

But also these big slabs, very smooth, very sharp, kind of modern feel.

We're also seeing that with some of the colors with some of these products as well.

The kind of the grays, the lighter colors, maybe not as much blending of a whole bunch of colors.

It just helps give that modern feel.

Really makes a project pop.

It does.

I did a project a couple years ago, and it's been my favorite project that I've done outside of a regular outside living area.

And this is for all you dog owners out there.

So what I did is we sometimes have houses that have that side yard that's.

It's an access point, but there's really not much you can do with it.

It's big enough, but it's not like you're gonna go put a patio chair out there and hang out, Right?

And so it's not one of those great living spaces.

So what I did on my side yard is I cut a hole in the wall.

I put in one of the automatic dog doors that has a door that comes up, very Star Trek ish.

And I put a collar on my dogs that it's.

When they get close, it opens, closes.

It totally seals itself up.

Then I put synthetic turf out there.

So I have an area in my yard, a small area for them to go out and use the bathroom.

Easy to clean up.

I don't have to go walking around the backyard trying to see where the dogs made a mess.

And it's over there.

And being synthetic turf, there's not dead grass everywhere.

And I can go out there, spray it down.

The smell is gone.

It's a really great way to take care of your pets.

And if you're out running around for the day, you don't have to go, oh, my gosh, I gotta get home.

Let the dogs out.

Because they know when to go outside and when not.

So you're not in the middle of the night getting up to let the dogs out or anything like that.

It is a lifesaver.

And you don't have any criminals or raccoons trying to get inside the house as well.

Love that feature with the dog door.

How cool is that?

Keeps things super simple for you.

And I'll tell you what, it's been about 15 years since we really started working with some of the great synthetic lawn products that are out there.

And I love to hear how Much.

You've enjoyed it and have seen the benefits of it.

And so many people are.

It has come such a long way.

This isn't what you'd see out there at the batting cages or at the putt putt course.

This synthetic lawn is so realistic looking, feeling functional from drainage standpoints, pet friendly options, of course, Eric, we're putting the synthetic lawn in people's yards where they're utilizing it for their bocce ball courts, they're utilizing it for a cornhole area, badminton.

So many things.

And again, with those pet friendly options, you get bigger dogs that just tend to run around.

And maybe the same area you could be having to swap out your sod on an annual basis.

So how nice is it to come in and put in a high quality synthetic lawn product that is.

That looks as good as your lawn would have ever looked and maintains that look and functionality long term?

Oh, yeah.

In my house, I've got all these like 15 huge, massive fir trees that are 175ft tall.

So even with that, I just get out there with the leaf blower and blow it off real quick.

Takes two minutes and it looks like brand new turf again.

And it's awesome.

And like you said, this is not the stuff that that was in your high school buddy's back of his El Camino.

This stuff looks like grass when you look at it.

It absolutely does.

Again, it has come such a long way and it is.

It is an awesome product and one that is great to again marry into some of other products and into your outdoor living project where maybe it's not just all this synthetic turf in your backyard, but like you said, depending on the space and how you can utilize the area, what a great opportunity to marry that in with pavers, to marry that in with pergolas and other outdoor elements.

Very cool.

Yeah.

And I tell you what, it saves you on that water, that's for sure.

Especially if you're paying for water that's just one spot you're not having to keep maintained.

And it's a simple one.

And if you've got a lot of it, my thing is, hey, get one of those rotary sweeper brushes that you get for cleaning up driveways and stuff that you buy at the home improvement store that's an addition onto your string trimmer.

And you can get that thing maintenanced and looking beautiful in 30 seconds.

It's so quick to maintain that stuff yourself.

It absolutely is.

And make it look like it was installed yesterday.

Right.

And just like you said, the water savings associated with it, the eco friendly aspect of you're not out there with the lawnmower running, running that all the time.

And then think about it from a personal time standpoint, not having to get out there and, and spend however long mowing your yard.

You're out there enjoying it instead because you've got a great, very realistic synthetic lawn.

Yeah, I'm going to be adding more of that to my place in the backyard because it's full shade and even with the, the finest full shade grass mask, I just can't get it to get in there where I need it to be.

And of course they warned me that I thought, okay, how good is seed?

And it's still not that great for getting an hour or two of sun a day.

So guess what?

That's going to be an upcoming project for my place, putting some more turf in because I want it to look good, but I'm tired of maintaining it and trying to make it look like it's supposed to because of the environmental conditions that it's in.

That's right.

And there's environmental conditions that are different in so many different locations as we are in many areas across the country that, that have these different, that had these different scenarios when it comes to weather and, and how it affects an outdoor project.

However, something like synthetic turf can be utilized in any of these areas and eliminate the different kinds of concerns that you might have.

Whether you're in the Pacific Northwest or down in Southern California or in high desert of Colorado.

It's applicable in any of those situations.

In any of those climates.

Yeah.

It's such a great point.

It's such a great point.

One of the things that I think that I see more people missing the opportunity on and it's something that I always recommend that you plan on this early and I want to talk about planning in a minute because that's probably the most important part of this whole process.

But lighting gets forgotten and that is such the jewelry of any outdoor project.

It is such a factor that can make a project pop.

You, you hear me talk about when you walk outside and you see a, see a beautiful project, outdoor living project, like we're talking about, the lighting part of it can take it from awesome to absolutely amazing.

And it is just such an impactful piece of the puzzle.

One of those elements that can just, just can absolutely change your outdoor living area.

And this doesn't have to just be within the pavers themselves.

And we see that all the time though.

We, we add them to steps.

You have a beauty associated with that we have a safety aspect associated with that.

Maybe it's in a multi tiered patio where it goes from one tier to another, it's in the walls to, to really accent those walls and make this project look so beautiful.

But then furthermore, we add this to around the patio as well.

You're out under those trees like you said, with the up lighting into the trees and how that makes not just your now your outdoor living project look, but your entire property look with this outdoor lighting that is again, comes such a long way that you can do so much with and it really just has such a tremendous impact on an, on an outdoor project.

I will put one lesson learned for people out there that are just starting to explore lighting.

If it says solar, please walk away, you're just going to throw it away next year.

Whether you're at Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's, whatever.

You're just going to toss it in a year and you're going to be disappointed.

Get something solid, get something from a lighting store, get something that is not the 199 pack of plastic and you will be happy because you can set it and forget it.

And other than wiping it down every once in a while to get some dirt off it, there's really no maintenance.

That's right.

And a minute ago you talked about planning and I think lighting is a perfect thing to talk about when it comes to planning a project.

When it comes to this, we don't want to necessarily rush this process.

We really want to talk about how this is going to look in your backyard, how this is going to be utilized in your backyard or your front yard, wherever it may be.

What are you looking for out of this project?

How do you want to utilize it?

Maybe how many people are you looking to entertain?

How is this just project going to be used?

And maybe you weren't considering lighting right out of the gate, but maybe you know that I'm going to add it in the future or maybe I'm going to add more of it as time goes on.

And that's what we really see is hey, we want to make sure we're getting lights incorporated into these main quote unquote hotspots.

But we want to be able to add to that down the road.

So what do we do?

Super easy to plan for that.

As long as you have that top of mind, you can easily and very inexpensively run additional wire to other areas.

So that should you want to add to it down the road, you want to grow your lighting project, it's.

It's been planned for and it's very easy to do.

Love that concept.

Really, really want to take it all into account, really plan this project properly.

Yeah, let's talk about that.

Because so many times people get things out of order.

But I see so many people making the mistake of maybe doing the paver project as the last part where really with oil, all the soil prep you have to do it should be towards the beginning.

Definitely agree.

And when it comes to a project like I was talking about that incorporates these other elements like the turf or just some of the other just outdoor features, it really is starting with that paver part of things.

And again, easy enough to future plan with something like that to run additional wiring to run conduit.

Super easy.

Put some conduit down throughout the project, can access whether it's additional electrical down the road, not just the lighting wire, but maybe you want to add an outlet somewhere for additionally or eventually in your outdoor kitchen or additional outlets.

It's just so easy to do with proper planning on the front end.

And I also want to say something else, Eric, you mentioned that we're planning projects for the spring and we are.

But I also want to say how great it is that with a properly planned project and a contractor like system pavers that has a tried and true process and the warranties to back it up that we can install these projects now.

Right.

This project doesn't have to wait until April.

Everybody is going to be looking to get their project started in April.

However, you can have that, that, that forethought to install your project in the next couple of months so that when April rolls around, you're ready to relax and enjoy the project as opposed to start the process.

Yeah.

Why have to wait another year to enjoy it in the springtime when you can do it now?

That's right, that's right.

And you're right.

So many people go, okay, it's springtime now, it's time to start thinking about it.

And I think that's one of the problems you see out there with any kind of exterior project.

Spring comes around, the snow is gone.

Whatever it is in your climate, you're like, all right, now you start thinking about it.

Well, you've got a process to get through, whether it's planning, whether it's permits, whether it's getting in line in the, in the queue for the project.

If you start thinking of doing A project many times in March.

By the time you get through with that, you can be in a June completion pretty quickly.

And now you're mid into the summer and you've cut down your enjoyment for that year.

So much better to start off early with that and get that done so you can enjoy it this year instead of having to wait till next.

That's right.

That's why I wanted to mention it.

I don't think a lot of people maybe think about that or think that that's a reality or that's even an option where it really is.

With proper planning, proper installation process, you really can get this done in months.

That maybe people didn't think that you could.

So you're enjoying it when it's time to enjoy it.

It's like a kitchen design.

I tell people, hey, if you're thinking about having the kitchen done for the holidays, if you're thinking that in the month of September, you're way late, you're late, you're not going to get it done, it's not going to happen.

Stop yourself.

Do it in January after the holiday people leave.

Unless you want to use that as excuse to not have the holidays at your house this year.

It's the same kind of rule, right?

You want to have it ready for springtime.

If you want to have Memorial Day weekend party at your house with a big barbecue and other friends over, now's the time to start working on it.

That's right.

Ties right back into that planning that you're talking about, the importance of properly planning a project like this.

One of the things I think is really cool is what's happening with all the colors and shapes, sizes and textures with pavers out there.

It used to be okay, I've got a rectangular gray, I've got a rectangular red, I have a hexagonal red, a regular brick, couple colors and that was it.

And oh my gosh, what they're doing out there with all the different brands is amazing.

If you want to do something that looks mid century esque, you can do that.

If you want something that looks ultra modern, or if you just want it to look like a.

Almost like a black brick, you can do that as well.

It's getting crazy with the colors.

It's really getting crazy.

There's so many different options that are out there, so many different sizes, so many different shapes to fit, really what you're looking for.

And you can get such a different look and a different feel just simply by utilizing a specific paver, a specific color or specific size.

So that's, again, a big part of that planning process, a big part of that determining what's going to go into this project.

We're seeing, just like you said, a lot of that modern look, a lot of the.

The smooth look, but we're also seeing the natural stone texture that's still very popular, especially in a lot of areas.

We're also seeing an integration where we're marrying those products as well, where maybe part of the border or this seating area over here, this fire pit area is utilizing this particular product or texture or color, where over here.

And maybe the dining area or the.

Or the kitchen area is utilizing yet a different even product or texture.

So you really can.

You can.

You can marry them and get those different looks and different feels even within one project.

And I'll say one of the coolest things that helped with.

With that being able to visualize that is some of the technology that's out there right now, Eric, where.

Where people are, are having a hard time.

We can talk about this, but they're having a hard time visualizing it.

Right.

And there are programs out there that we're utilizing now that have.

Are just.

Have come such a long way, and it is incredible.

It used to be where you'd be able to maybe see what pavers looked like in a driveway in front of your home.

And a very basic program, the program these days, the technology that is out there these days can back right up, show your actual home, your actual size of your home, color of your home, how it sits on your property.

You can do flyover features that show what the driveway looks like.

Now we're flying over, down the side of the house, over the walkway and into the backyard.

And the different features.

You see the fire feature moving you, you hear the water feature, you see the lights.

You can make it go from daytime to nighttime to see what's this going to look like with the lights at night.

And to be able to utilize some of that technology to help people really get that vision of what their project is going to look like at their home is spectacular.

It really is.

And that's one of the things I wanted to bring up, is people are thinking about doing that project right now.

They want to reach out to you guys.

How does the process work from when a customer or contractor reaches out to you and goes, hey, I got a project?

Well, it's all about a very consultative, comprehensive meeting and an opportunity to really learn about each other, learn about what we're capable of, but most importantly, learn about what are our clients Needs, what are their wants again?

How are they going to utilize the space?

It's that planning that you're talking about.

So reaching out to us, having us out to their home to be able to really hear everything and then allow us to build the perfect project that's going to design the perfect project that's going to meet all their needs is so key.

And again, it's one thing to be able to tell them what we've designed, it's another thing to be able to show them what we've designed.

And so what a, what an amazing thing, some of that technology that's out there to help us be able to show our clients what they can expect with a project like ours.

Nice.

And that project planning, it's up to the consumer to get through it and their decision making process.

Right.

If they come in and go, I've been thinking about this for two years and I want ABC all the way through Z on the project.

It's really simple.

But many times there's so many choices that you have to work through that process.

And I'm sure that can take some weeks just to get through that.

Yeah.

And a lot of times it's overwhelming.

And I think that's something that holds people back sometimes is they think that maybe they're, they're on their own.

They've got to make all of these decisions, they've got to figure this all out.

And that's why we love the consultative consultation that we offer, to be able to come in and really, really hear so we can take that feeling of being overwhelmed off of their plate so we can help guide them through what's available.

Being experts in the industry, it is, it's important for us to be able to do that.

It's fun for us to be able to do that as well.

So you, you would be able to tell me all day about a podcast and I wouldn't know where to start yet.

I can sit here all day long and tell you and help provide ease to you about how we're going to design the perfect project for your backyard.

Well, and I think that visualization really ends confusion with homeowners as well.

You and I both are very visual people in that we've seen so many projects.

We can look at a project and go, okay, in my head, I know exactly what this is going to look like when it's done.

But that also leans back on our decades of experience working as well.

And 90% of homeowners don't have that because they don't have the Experience to see, oh, that's what that's going to look like.

And so you can really set that expectation.

And they go, that's not what I was thinking at all.

Okay, well, let's pivot.

What were you thinking?

Because that's what you were saying and can really work through that project to get exactly what they're looking for.

That's right.

And now with the technology that we can look at that on the front end, it doesn't have to be that we're halfway through the project and it's that, oh, this isn't what I expected, or.

Or that's.

That's not what I meant.

We're able to really figure that out on the front end before we ever stick a shovel in the ground.

And that is awesome.

And that is awesome.

And that's really coming down to planning what you're talking about.

It's.

It's not only planning for what you want it to look like now, but these spaces evolve over time, right?

People go, this is what I want it to look like.

And then they go, man, I'd really like to put an outdoor cooking area over in that corner later.

And maybe that outdoor cooking area now gets into, well, I want an outdoor cooking area with a bar and a TV and some heat.

And all of a sudden you're going, okay, well, if you're going to do that, it's way cheaper now to add electrical, water, gas, all of those things you might need for that.

To run it over there when everything's tore up versus go back and have to do a project all over again just because you didn't stick the stake in the ground going, oh, this is where we might be someday.

At least you've got it prepped.

You'll never see it until you need it, but it's relatively inexpensive to put it in when you're in the planning phase.

Absolutely.

That's the best time to do it, without a doubt.

And to look into the future as to what may come with your project and be able to quote, unquote, future plan for it, I think is so cool.

And so we talk about that technology that allows us to help visualize that and in that planning process.

Let me tell you about something else I'm seeing on the technology front is just some of the things that are being incorporated in an outdoor project as well, that people typically think maybe on the inside of their home especially, I like to call them, smart spaces.

Okay.

And so where people can say, hey, hey, Alexa, turn the lights on, or go to their phone to adjust something.

It is turned on the lights of 10,000 people that are.

I told.

I did.

I was waiting for my mind to ask me what I want.

Right?

Yeah, I ordered.

I got a.

I got email one day because I was using that, talking about how I could order a pizza.

And I had four people message me and go, thanks for ordering me a pizza, man.

I'm like.

Funny and true, so I'll.

I'll leave that name out of it again.

And it's just so cool, though, these smart spaces, how you can do everything from your phone or by simply saying it out loud.

And now we're.

Now we're.

We're opening and closing a louvered pergola like that.

We are putting down the privacy blinds.

We're turning on a gas fire feature that way.

We're.

We're starting the water feature that way.

Turning on the outdoor lights, maybe even changing the colors of the outdoor lights.

All these things that you can do right with your voice or right from your phone.

It's pretty spectacular.

And there's all these things of.

Okay, where's my.

Where are my speakers going to go?

Where's my.

Okay, we have seating.

Are there charging places for people to plug their phone in next to that seat?

All these little convenience features that you think about inside the house, they need to be thought of outside as well.

They absolutely do.

And these things weren't talked about so much not that long ago.

And these are real things that, you know, is part of our day to day.

And so planning it on the front end, making sure we're thinking of something like that.

I think a lot of folks may not think of something like charging their phone or having a.

Having an outlet out there for somebody to plug something else into, but is something that can be very easily done, inexpensively done on the front end to prepare for the future, should you want to add it or just doing it right at the time that you're doing the project in the first place.

Exactly.

Aaron, we're running out of time.

Is there something that we missed here today?

I know we've been doing a deep dive outside, which I always enjoy going into the fall.

Well, I would just like to, I think, double down on what you were saying about the planning process and the fact that this process can be done at so many different times of the year.

If this is something that you've been thinking of that maybe has been overwhelming, if this is something that you've been thinking of that you didn't think that you could do at certain times of the year reach out to us systempavers.com allow us to talk this through with you.

Allow us to be your partner and help you bring your dreams, reality, your, your, your vision to a reality and help you be able to start enjoying an outdoor living project sooner than later.

There's so many different things that we're incorporating into our projects these days that I think a lot of people will be excited about and, and can't wait to get incorporated into their homes.

And the cool thing is if people are on a budget, you can phase it out and go, okay, we're doing four phases over the next four years.

Let's get phase one done right now and then you can start building through it and enjoy it as you build it out versus have to spend all that money at once.

Absolutely.

We do it all the time.

I love it.

We have so many clients for life and members of our System Pavers family where that's exactly what they've done.

They've installed phase one or phase one and two.

Here we are coming back, adding those additional aspects to the project.

One of the beauties of a paving stone project we can do.

So make it look like it was all done at the same time in the first place.

Such a cool feature.

So Aaron, where do people find that neighborhood dealer that's around the corner from their house?

What's the best way to find that?

Yeah, it's just like I said, our website's a great place to go.

System pavers.com you can learn so much more about us and lining up an opportunity for us to come out to your home.

A complimentary consultation that again, is very comprehensive.

We want to take the time to really listen to your needs and wants.

Also, great opportunity to be on our website, see some of the projects and the products firsthand, to be linked to things like YouTube, Pinterest, Instagram, to be able to see some of the befores and afters that we, that we've completed.

It's very helpful for, for people who are looking to start this process.

But system pavers.com and set up an opportunity for us to come out and meet with you and, and take care of this for you.

Become a partner in your journey for your outdoor living.

Aaron Brundage, thanks for coming on today, man.

It's always great catching up to see what you guys are doing and I love that you guys are just making everybody's backyards, front yards and everywhere else just much more livable and enjoyable all year round.

Eric, thank you so much for having me.

It's been a lot of fun as always, my friend.

I'm Eric G.

And you've been listening to around the House.

Sa.