Planning Your 2026 Hardscape Project: A Holland Homeowner's Complete Guide

Published January 2026 | Advantage Landscape & Turf Management

Winter in Holland, Michigan might seem like an odd time to think about outdoor projects, but January through March is actually the perfect window for planning your hardscape installation. While snow covers the ground, savvy homeowners are making decisions, choosing materials, and securing their spot on installation schedules before the spring rush begins.

After 25+ years of designing and installing hardscapes throughout West Michigan, we've learned that the most successful projects start with solid winter planning. Here's everything you need to know to plan your 2026 hardscape project.

Why Plan Your Hardscape Project Now?

Better Availability & Scheduling Landscaping companies book up fast once spring arrives. By planning in January or February, you secure prime installation dates in April, May, or early June—before the summer wedding and graduation party rush. Waiting until March or April often means pushing your project to July or August.

More Time for Design Decisions Choosing pavers, planning layouts, and finalizing designs takes time. Winter planning means you're not rushed, you can visit showrooms without pressure, and you can carefully consider how your hardscape fits your lifestyle and budget.

Holland's Weather Window In West Michigan, hardscape installation season typically runs March through October, with May and June being peak months.

What Hardscape Projects Work Best in Holland?

Living near Lake Michigan presents unique opportunities and challenges. Here's what works exceptionally well in our area:

Paver Patios The most popular hardscape project in Holland. Concrete pavers handle our freeze-thaw cycles far better than poured concrete, which tends to crack within 5-10 years. A properly installed paver patio can last 25+ years with minimal maintenance.

Fire Pits & Fire Features Michigan's short summers mean extending your outdoor season is valuable. A fire pit adds 6-8 weeks of usable outdoor time in spring and fall. Natural gas or propane fire features are most popular because they're clean, easy to use, and don't create the smoke that bothers neighbors.

Outdoor Kitchens From simple grill stations to full outdoor kitchens with refrigerators and sinks, these features transform your backyard into a true outdoor living space. Plan for utilities (gas lines, electrical, water) to be installed before hardscape work begins.

Retaining Walls Holland's varied terrain means many properties benefit from retaining walls. Whether you're creating level space on a slope near Lake Macatawa or managing drainage in sandy soil, properly engineered retaining walls solve problems while adding visual interest.

Walkways & Pathways Connecting different areas of your property with paver or flagstone walkways improves functionality and curb appeal. This is especially valuable on larger Holland properties or those with separate garden areas.

Seat Walls Doubling as both seating and visual boundaries, seat walls are one of the most cost-effective ways to add seating capacity for entertaining. They're perfect around fire pits or defining patio edges.

Choosing Materials for Michigan's Climate

Not all hardscape materials perform equally in West Michigan's brutal freeze-thaw cycles. Here's what works:

Concrete Pavers (Recommended) These are our #1 recommendation for Holland homeowners. High-quality concrete pavers are:

• Incredibly durable in freeze-thaw conditions

• Available in dozens of colors, sizes, and patterns

• Repairable if a paver cracks (replace individual units)

• Non-slip when wet

• More affordable than natural stone

Popular styles in Holland include Belgard, Unilock, and Techo-Bloc.

Natural Stone (Flagstone, Bluestone) Beautiful and timeless, but requires careful consideration:

• Higher cost

• Can be slippery when wet or icy

• Some stones are more susceptible to flaking in freeze-thaw

• Irregular shapes create more complex installation

• Premium aesthetic worth the investment for many homeowners

Stamped Concrete (Not Recommended) We typically advise against stamped concrete in Michigan because:

• Cracks are inevitable with our freeze-thaw cycles

• When it cracks, the entire section needs replacement

• Sealer maintenance is required every 2-3 years

• Becomes very slippery when icy

Brick Pavers Traditional and charming, brick pavers work well but:

• Color fades over time with sun exposure

• Can be slippery when moss grows on them (common in shaded areas)

• More limited design options than concrete pavers

• Higher cost than basic concrete pavers

  
  

The Design Process: From Concept to Reality

Here's how a typical hardscape project unfolds from January planning to spring installation:

Phase 1: Initial Consultation (January-February)

What Happens: We visit your property, discuss your vision, take measurements, and assess site conditions. We'll talk about:

• How you want to use the space (dining, entertaining, relaxing)

• Your style preferences (modern, traditional, rustic)

• Budget parameters

• Timeline expectations

Your Homework Before This Meeting:

• Create a Pinterest board or save photos of hardscapes you love

• Think about how many people you typically entertain

• Note sun/shade patterns throughout the day

• Identify any drainage issues or problem areas

• Determine if you want utilities (gas, electric, water)

Timeline: This meeting takes around 30 minutes. No cost for initial consultation.

Phase 2: Design & Proposal (February-March)

What Happens: Based on our consultation, we create a design plan and detailed proposal including:

• Scaled site plan showing patio dimensions and features

• Material recommendations with samples

• Detailed cost breakdown

• Project timeline

• Additional renderings (for larger projects)

Your Part: Review the proposal, ask questions, request changes. This is an iterative process—most designs go through 1-2 revisions before you're completely satisfied.

Timeline: 1-2 weeks for initial design, another 1-2 weeks for revisions.

Phase 3: Contract & Scheduling (March)

What Happens: Once you approve the design and pricing, we sign a contract and lock in your installation dates. For spring installation, we typically schedule projects starting in mid-April.

Deposit: Most hardscape projects require a 50% deposit to order materials and secure your installation date.

Timeline: Allow 2-3 weeks for material ordering.

Phase 4: Installation (March-June)

What Happens: The actual construction phase. For most Holland hardscape projects:

•  Excavation, base preparation

•  Base compaction, edge restraints, screeding

•  Paver installation, cutting, pattern work

•  Joint sand, compaction, final cleanup

Typical Duration:

• Basic patio (300-400 sq ft): 4-6 days

• Mid-range patio with features (400-600 sq ft): 6-10 days

• Large outdoor living space (600+ sq ft): 2-3 weeks

Weather: Rain delays are possible in April and May. We build buffer time into schedules.

Disruption: Expect noise from equipment, limited access to parts of your yard, and daily crew presence 9am-5pm.

Phase 5: Final Walkthrough & Maintenance Instructions

What Happens: We walk the completed project together, address any final touches, and provide detailed maintenance instructions.

Holland-Specific Considerations

Lake Effect & Drainage Properties within 2-3 miles of Lake Michigan face unique challenges:

• Higher moisture levels require excellent drainage design

• Sandy soil drains naturally but may need extra base depth

• Freeze-thaw cycles are more severe near the lake

• Plan for proper slope away from your house (1/4" per foot minimum)

Utilities & Frost Depth Any utility lines (gas, water, electric) must be buried below Michigan's 42-inch frost line. This is why running utilities to outdoor kitchens or fire features adds cost—we're trenching 3.5-4 feet deep.

Property Lines & Setbacks City of Holland has setback requirements for permanent structures. Patios at ground level typically don't require setbacks, but raised structures, retaining walls, and pergolas might. We verify these requirements during the design phase.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

After 25 years, we've seen these mistakes repeatedly. Learn from others' experiences:

Mistake #1: Skimping on Base Preparation The base is everything in Michigan. Shortcuts on excavation depth or base compaction lead to settling, which causes pavers to become uneven within 2-3 years. Proper base prep costs more upfront but prevents expensive repairs later.

Mistake #2: Inadequate Drainage Planning Holland gets 36-38 inches of rain annually, plus snowmelt. Without proper drainage, water pools on patios, causing ice problems in winter and mosquito breeding in summer. Every hardscape project needs a drainage plan.

Mistake #3: Choosing Style Over Function That gorgeous geometric pattern looks amazing in photos, but is your space big enough? Does it fit how you actually use your backyard? Design for your lifestyle first, aesthetics second.

Mistake #4: Forgetting About Furniture A 12x12 patio sounds spacious until you try to fit a dining table plus chairs that need to pull out. Most families need 16x16 minimum for comfortable dining, 20x20+ if you want separate seating areas.

Mistake #5: Not Planning for Utilities Early Deciding after patio installation that you want a gas fire pit means tearing up your new pavers to run gas lines. Plan utilities during the design phase, even if you won't install them immediately. Running empty conduit now saves thousands later.

Mistake #6: Waiting Until Spring to Plan By April, good contractors are booked weeks out. You'll either wait until mid-summer or settle for whoever has availability. January planning gives you choice and prime scheduling.

Financing Your Hardscape Project

Cash Payment Best pricing often comes with cash payment (or check). We offer discounts for payment-in-full at project completion.

Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Most popular financing option for larger hardscape projects. Current HELOC rates are competitive, and interest may be tax-deductible (consult your tax advisor).

Personal Loans Banks and credit unions in Holland offer competitive personal loan rates for home improvement. Shop around—rates vary significantly.

Maximizing Your Return on Investment

Property Value Increase Professional hardscape projects typically return 60-80% of cost in property value. Premium outdoor living spaces in desirable Holland neighborhoods may return 80-100%+. The lifestyle value during ownership often exceeds the financial ROI.

Usable Months per Year A basic patio gives you 5-6 months of use (April-September). Add a fire feature and you gain March and October. Add a covering or pergola with heaters and lighting, and you extend into November.

Maintenance Costs Well-installed paver patios require minimal maintenance:

• Annual cleaning: 2-3 hours DIY or $200-400 professional

• Joint sand replenishment every 2-3 years: $250-400

• Sealing (optional): $300-600 every 3-5 years

Compare this to wood decks requiring annual staining ($800-2,000) or poured concrete requiring crack repairs and sealing every few years.

Questions to Ask Your Hardscape Contractor

Don't just hire the cheapest bid. Ask these questions:

1. "How long have you been installing hardscapes in the Holland area?" Local experience matters. Michigan's climate is unforgiving, and out-of-state techniques often fail here.

2. "What's your base preparation process?" Listen for: excavation depth, aggregate types, compaction process. Red flags: vague answers or "we just dig down a bit."

3. "How do you handle drainage?" Every project needs drainage considerations. Contractors who don't discuss this haven't planned properly.

4. "Can you provide references from Holland-area projects completed 3-5 years ago?" Recent projects look great. Projects 3-5 years old show how work holds up through multiple Michigan winters.

5. "What happens if it rains during installation?" Professional contractors have weather delay policies and communicate proactively.

6. "Who will actually be doing the work?" Some companies subcontract installation. Make sure you know who's showing up.

Your 2026 Hardscape Planning Checklist

January Tasks ✓

•  Browse inspiration photos and create idea collection

•  Measure your space and note sun/shade patterns

•  Determine approximate budget range

•  Check HOA requirements (if applicable)

February Tasks ✓

•  Review design proposals and material samples

•  Get final quotes

•  Finalize design details

March Tasks ✓

•  Sign contract and pay deposit

•  Confirm installation dates

•  Submit HOA approval (if required)

•  Order materials

April-June ✓

•  Installation (4 days to 3 weeks depending on scope)

•  Final walkthrough and punch list

•  Final payment upon completion

•  Enjoy your new outdoor living space!

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Ready to Start Planning?

January and February are the ideal months to plan your 2026 hardscape project. By starting now, you'll have:

• First choice of spring installation dates

• Plenty of time for thoughtful design decisions

• The best contractor availability

• Your project completed before summer entertaining season

At Advantage Landscape & Turf Management, we've been designing and installing hardscapes in Holland and throughout West Michigan since 2000. Our 25+ years of local experience means we understand Holland's unique soil conditions, drainage challenges, and climate considerations.

We provide:

• Free initial consultations to discuss your vision and budget

• Licensed and insured professional installation

• Quality materials designed for Michigan's climate

• Workmanship warranty backing every installation

Call (616) 886-6734 or email advantagelandscape1@gmail.com to schedule your free consultation.

Let's plan your dream outdoor living space together.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can hardscapes be installed in April, or is the ground too wet?

A: Most years, we begin hardscape installations in April in Holland. Inland properties dry out faster than lakeshore properties. Sandy soil (common near Lake Michigan) drains quickly; clay soil (more common inland) takes longer. We assess conditions on a project-by-project basis. If your installation date arrives and conditions aren't ideal, we'll reschedule rather than compromise quality.

Q: How long do paver patios last in Michigan?

A: Professionally installed paver patios regularly last 25-40+ years with proper maintenance. The individual pavers are incredibly durable. If settling occurs, the affected area can be lifted, re-based, and re-laid without replacing materials. This is why pavers are superior to poured concrete in Michigan—concrete cracks are permanent.

Q: Should I seal my paver patio?

A: Sealing is optional and preference-based. Benefits of sealing:

• Enhanced color vibrancy

• Easier cleaning (spills don't penetrate)

• Some weed/moss prevention in joints

• Small amount of added durability

Downsides:

• Cost ($2-4 per square foot every 3-5 years)

• Requires reapplication

• Can make surfaces slightly slippery when wet

Many Holland homeowners don't seal and their patios perform beautifully for decades. We present both options during design.

Q: What's the difference between porcelain pavers and concrete pavers?

A: Porcelain pavers are the new premium option in hardscaping:

Porcelain Pros: Virtually stain-proof, won't fade, extremely low maintenance, gorgeous tile-like appearance

Porcelain Cons: 2-3x cost of concrete pavers, more brittle (can crack if dropped during installation), requires specialized cutting equipment

Concrete Pavers: Proven performance, widely available, more affordable, easier repairs

For most Holland homeowners, high-quality concrete pavers offer the best value. Porcelain makes sense for high-end projects where budget isn't the primary concern.

Q: Can I install a patio myself to save money?

A: Technically yes, but we rarely recommend it for Michigan installations. Proper hardscape installation requires:

• Understanding Michigan's freeze-thaw dynamics

• Correct excavation depth and base materials

• Proper drainage grading and solutions

• Specialized compaction equipment

• Edge restraint systems that prevent shifting

• Cutting and fitting techniques for complex areas

DIY patios often settle, develop drainage problems, or shift within 2-5 years, requiring expensive professional repairs. For small projects (under 150 sq ft), DIY might work. For anything larger, professional installation pays for itself in longevity.

Q: How much maintenance do hardscape patios require?

A: Minimal compared to wood decks:

• Spring: Sweep off debris, rinse with hose, check for any settled areas

• Summer: Occasional sweeping/rinsing, spot-treat any weeds in joints

• Fall: Leaf removal, final rinse before winter

• Every 2-3 years: Add polymeric sand to joints if needed

• Optional every 3-5 years: Professional cleaning and sealing

Total annual maintenance: 3-4 hours or $300-500 for professional service. Compare to wood decks requiring 8+ hours and $800-2,000 annually for cleaning and staining.

Q: Will tree roots damage my patio?

A: Depends on tree species, distance, and installation quality. Trees to watch:

• Problem trees: Silver maple, willow, cottonwood (aggressive, shallow roots)

• Better trees: Oak, elm, most evergreens (deeper, less aggressive roots)

We design around existing trees, maintaining proper distances (typically 10-15 feet from trunk) and installing root barriers when needed. Removing healthy trees to install patios is rarely necessary with proper planning.

Q: What if I want to add to my patio later?

A: This is common and one reason we love pavers—additions integrate seamlessly if you:

• Choose readily available paver styles (not discontinued lines)

• Document your paver style and color

We can expand patios 5, 10, even 15 years later. The new section integrates with the old, though brand new pavers will be slightly brighter until they weather (6-12 months).