a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | l | m | n | o | p | r | s | t | w | y

A

Aggregate (Exposed Aggregate Concrete)
The small stones or pebbles in concrete. In exposed aggregate concrete, the top layer of cement paste is removed so the stones show through, creating a textured, slip‑resistant finish often used for patios and walkways.

Anchored Retaining Wall
A retaining wall that is additionally supported by anchors driven back into the soil and tied to the wall with cables or straps. Used when a wall is relatively thin or must hold back heavy loads.

Arbor
A small garden structure, often a simple arch or framework, typically used to support climbing plants or to mark an entrance into a garden or patio area.

Asphalt (Blacktop)
A flexible paving material made by mixing crushed stone and sand with asphalt binder. Used for driveways, parking areas, and courts. On the site it is often referred to as blacktop driveway paving.

B

Belgian Block / Belgium Block
Small rectangular or cube-shaped blocks of granite used for driveway aprons, curbing, and edging around beds, trees, and driveways. Adds a crisp, classic border and boosts curb appeal.

Bluestone
A dense, fine‑grained natural stone, typically bluish‑gray, used for steps, walkways, and patios. Popular for its clean look and durability in outdoor settings.

Brick
Fired clay blocks used in walls, walkways, and patios. Brick is a traditional masonry material that can be used alone or in combination with stone, concrete, or pavers.

C

Cantilevered Retaining Wall
A reinforced concrete or masonry retaining wall with an “L”‑shaped footing. The footing extends under the soil being retained so the weight of the soil helps stabilize and resist overturning.

Camera Inspection (Drainage)
The use of a specialized inspection camera fed through drain pipes to see inside the system. Helps locate blockages, cracks, or failures without digging up the yard.

Chip Sealing
A cost‑effective pavement surface treatment that combines a layer of hot asphalt oil with a layer of stone chips. Used to refresh roadways or driveways when full resurfacing is not required.

Concrete
A mixture of cement, water, sand, and stone aggregate. Used for patios, walkways, foundations, structural walls, steps, driveways, and many other masonry features.

Concrete Patio
A patio built as a poured concrete slab rather than individual stones or pavers. Can be finished smooth, broom‑finished, stamped, or as exposed aggregate for different looks and textures.

Sealcoating
A protective coating applied over asphalt pavement to shield it from water, UV rays, oil, and chemicals. Sealcoating extends the life of driveways and parking areas and keeps them looking fresh.

Curtain Drain
A gravel‑filled trench with perforated pipe installed across a slope to intercept surface and shallow groundwater before it reaches the house, driveway, or low spots in the yard.

D

Drainage Contractor
A contractor who specializes in diagnosing and solving water problems around a property. Designs, installs, and maintains systems such as French drains, curtain drains, perimeter drains, and dry wells to move water away from structures and landscaping.

Drainage System
The overall combination of grading, pipes, gravel trenches, catch basins, dry wells, and outlets that collects and redirects water away from foundations, basements, and yards to prevent flooding and erosion.

Dry Well
An underground structure—often a perforated tank or a pit filled with stone—that collects runoff and allows it to soak slowly into the surrounding soil. Commonly used to handle roof or yard drainage where surface discharge is not ideal.

E

Excavation
The process of digging and removing soil to prepare for foundations, retaining walls, utilities, patios, or to re‑grade a yard. A core step in most masonry and drainage projects.

Exterior Façade
The outward‑facing surface of a building. Often upgraded with stone, brick, or veneer to improve appearance, durability, and curb appeal.

Exposed Aggregate Concrete
A decorative concrete finish where the top layer of cement paste is removed to reveal the decorative stone (aggregate) beneath. Provides a natural stone look and good slip resistance for walkways and patios.

F

Flagstone
Flat, irregular pieces of natural stone used for walkways, patios, and steps. Creates a more rustic, informal look compared to uniform pavers.

Foundation
The structural base that a house, wall, or other structure sits on. Proper drainage and grading are designed to keep water away from the foundation to avoid cracks, settlement, and leaks.

French Drain
A gravel‑filled trench containing a perforated pipe that collects water and directs it away from problem areas such as wet yards, foundations, or retaining walls. A common solution for standing water and seepage issues.

G

Gabion
A wire cage or basket filled with rocks used to build retaining structures and erosion‑control walls. Gabion walls are strong, durable, and allow water to drain through.

Grading
Shaping and sloping the ground so water flows away from buildings and towards appropriate drainage points. Essential for preventing ponding water against foundations and in low yard areas.

Gravity Retaining Wall
A retaining wall that relies on its own weight and mass—often built from stone, concrete blocks, or heavy modular units—to resist the pressure of the soil behind it, without additional anchors.

H

Hardscape
All of the “hard,” non‑living features in a landscape: patios, walkways, driveways, retaining walls, outdoor kitchens, fire pits, and other masonry or built elements that define the outdoor space.

L

Landscape Drainage
The combination of grading, drains, pipes, and structures used to move water off lawns, planting beds, and paved areas. Proper landscape drainage keeps outdoor areas usable and protects the home’s foundation and hardscapes.

M

Man‑Made Pavers
Factory‑made concrete or clay units designed to mimic natural stone while providing consistent size, shape, and color. Commonly used for patios, walkways, and driveways.

Masonry
Construction using materials such as brick, block, stone, or concrete, usually laid in courses and bonded together with mortar. Includes walls, steps, patios, walkways, chimneys, and many other structures.

Masonry Contractor
A licensed professional who specializes in stone, brick, and concrete work. Handles the design, construction, repair, and restoration of masonry features such as patios, walls, steps, facades, and foundations.

Modular Block Wall
A retaining wall built from manufactured concrete blocks designed to interlock or stack in a specific pattern. Offers a clean, engineered look and is widely used for both decorative and structural walls.

N

Natural Stone
Stone quarried from the earth—such as bluestone, granite, slate, or travertine—used for walkways, steps, patios, walls, and veneers. Natural stone provides unique color and texture variations and a high‑end, one‑of‑a‑kind appearance.

O

Outdoor Kitchen
A built‑in cooking and entertaining area located outside the home. Typically includes masonry counters, a grill, appliances, storage, and sometimes a bar or seating area, often integrated with patios and pergolas.

Outdoor Living Space
Any designed outdoor area intended for spending time, such as patios, decks, seating areas, fire‑pit zones, and outdoor kitchens. Good outdoor living spaces extend the usable living area of the home and add value.

P

Patching (Asphalt)
Localized repair of damaged asphalt surfaces—filling potholes, cracks, or broken sections—so the driveway or parking area stays safe and further deterioration is slowed.

Patio
A flat outdoor surface used for seating, dining, and entertaining. Patios can be built from natural stone, concrete, brick, or pavers and are often the centerpiece of an outdoor living space.

Paver
An individual precast stone, brick, or concrete unit used for patios, walkways, and driveways. Pavers come in many shapes, textures, and colors, allowing customized patterns and borders.

Paver Patio / Paver Driveway
A patio or driveway constructed entirely of pavers set over a compacted base. Compared with poured concrete or asphalt, paver surfaces are highly decorative and easier to repair by replacing individual units.

Pergola
An open‑sided structure with posts and overhead beams, often installed over patios or outdoor kitchens to provide shade and a sense of enclosure while still feeling open to the outdoors.

Perimeter Drain / Footing Drain
A drain line installed around the outside of a building’s foundation or along the interior footing. Its purpose is to capture water near the foundation and carry it away so it does not leak into basements or crawlspaces.

R

Retaining Wall
A wall built to hold back soil on a slope, prevent erosion, create level areas, or frame garden spaces. Retaining walls may be built from natural stone, modular blocks, poured concrete, or other materials.

Seating Wall
A low retaining or freestanding wall designed at a height that allows it to function as built‑in seating around patios, fire pits, or outdoor kitchens.

Sheet Pile Retaining Wall
A retaining wall made from thin steel, wood, or vinyl sheets driven vertically into the ground. Often used where space is limited and in softer soils.

S

Stone Veneer
A thin layer of natural or manufactured stone applied over an existing wall or surface to change its appearance without rebuilding the underlying structure. Used on facades, fireplaces, and older walls to create a fresh, high‑end look.

Stone Wall
A wall constructed from natural or cut stone, either mortared together or dry‑stacked. Stone walls can work as retaining walls, property boundaries, seating elements, or purely decorative garden features.

Storm Drain / Stormwater Management
The system of inlets, pipes, dry wells, and outlets that captures and moves rainwater off a property so it does not pool on surfaces or flood the home. Good stormwater management protects foundations, driveways, and landscaping.

Sump Pump
A pump installed in a basement or crawlspace sump pit that removes collected water and discharges it away from the house. Commonly used when groundwater or seepage collects below grade.

T

Thermal Mass (Effect)
The ability of masonry materials such as concrete and stone to absorb heat, store it, and release it slowly over time. This “thermal mass” effect can help stabilize indoor temperatures and improve energy efficiency.

Travertine
A naturally textured, porous stone often used in outdoor walkways and patios. Known for its warm color tones and ability to handle outdoor conditions when installed and maintained correctly.

W

Walkway / Pathway
A constructed path that guides people through a property—from the street to the front door or between outdoor areas. Walkways can be made from bluestone, pavers, granite, flagstone, brick, or other materials and contribute significantly to curb appeal.

Waterproofing (Masonry / Foundation)
Methods used to keep water from penetrating masonry or foundation walls, such as coatings, membranes, and drainage improvements. Often combined with exterior drainage systems to keep basements and structures dry.

Y

Yard Drainage
The overall plan to move water off a property, combining grading, French drains, curtain drains, perimeter drains, and dry wells. Proper yard drainage prevents standing water, erosion, and foundation problems and keeps lawns and landscapes healthy.