Dave Zimmerman is all about educating himself and doing whatever work necessary to get to the next level. So it comes as no surprise shortly after he started mowing lawns almost two decades ago, he quickly realized the importance of becoming a “full service” brand in order to provide his customers with an unparalleled level of service.

That still rings true today, even more so as the owner of Zimmerman Landscaping for 18 years and counting. Zimmerman is certified by several different corporations, including the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute and the Association of Professional Landscape Designers to name a few.

House & Home spoke with Zimmerman to find out the benefits of hardscaping, what materials he recommends as you start to get the exterior of your home done for the warmer months and how to enhance your outdoor living space. 

What are the benefits of hardscaping?
The most important thing to know about hardscaping is the design possibilities are almost un- limited. Whether you are looking for something very modern and linear or natural and random, we design our hardscapes with a one-of-a-kind style that complements our clients’ style and personality. For homeowners who like having a raised deck, we create raised patios with built-in planting beds.

There’s a lot of maintenance in having a deck and fewer options to choose from. While decks are cheaper up front, customers realize the benefits of not having to worry about rotting, warping and yearly maintenance.

What options are available in hardscaping materials?
We prefer using concrete pavers and retaining wall blocks because they offer a wide variety of styles, textures and colors. They also carry a lifetime guarantee as they withstand nature’s force. We shy away from recommending poured concrete because over time it cracks. It may look nice at first, but patching cracks over time will make your patio look unsightly and eventually need to be replaced. When installed properly, a new paver region will be weed-free and last a lifetime.

We also install permeable pavements where rain water permeates through the pavers instead of running off into storm drains. These are great environmental solutions for tight spaces too close to structures where drainage is an issue, or simply improving your property’s runoff and sustainability.

What are some creative hardscaping solutions?
We have a lot of homeowners focusing on turning their backyards into an outdoor living space. Our whole aspect is making your backyard  your own vacation destination space. For those who love to entertain, we design and build custom outdoor kitchens to complement any patio. Complete with a grilling station, bar top, sink and all necessary appliances, your backyard will become the premier spot for relaxation and fun.

What other features can you enhance the outdoor living space with?
No landscape is complete without proper accent lighting. We install everything from spotlights to undercap lighting hidden within the cap of a retaining wall. Fire pits and fire foyers are also a great addition to any backyard oasis. We custom build our fire features to fit our clients’ wishes and can even include built-in pizza ovens.

How do you evaluate each homeowner’s property before coming up with design ideas?
When I evaluate someone’s backyard, I take pictures and take their property survey and input it right into our design program. We custom build the entire property into a 3D video design  so they can see their exact home down to the most minute details, including all proposed landscape/hardscape ideas.  

What are the latest trends in landscaping?
People are focused on increasing curb appeal, as well as their property value in front of their house. Homes that have only one color, specifically all evergreens that are overgrown, are being replaced with low-maintenance plants that have varying colors and bloom times.

Why should someone choose Zimmerman for their hardscaping needs?
I personally have 18 years of experience and combined with all of our crews, we have well over 100 years of experience adding in all our employees. We are fully licensed, fully insured and all employees are highly trained in each specific area of work—maintenance, hardscaping, landscaping. Additionally, in the winter, instead of taking the season off, we use our time to attend seminars and trade shows and build upon our knowledge so we can provide better service to our customers the following year.

Zimmerman Landscaping
Hillsborough, N.J. | (908) 295-9680
ZimmermanLandscapingLLC.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 19, Issue 9 (March 2019). 
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