A BACKYARD HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME THE PARADISE a homeowner has always imagined. With the right help and knowledge, turning imagination into reality is possible thanks to the experts at Nyce Crete and Landis Block & Concrete.

Now in its third generation of family ownership, Nyce Crete and Landis Block & Concrete has two locations—in Souderton and Lansdale— and employs over 50 people. "We are a resource for good quality materials and service," says Jarrod Nyce, vice president. "What we do here at Landis Block is we're kind of a facilitator," adds Nyce. "A customer comes in here with a bunch of ideas, and we go, 'OK, here's what you can do.' We help them make a decision on: Are they capable of doing it or do they need help? If they need help, we help them find a good contractor. We have a suggested list of contractors, who we trust, who are on that list for a reason because they've earned our trust and will provide a great job," adds Nyce. "If they're a do-it-yourself type of person ... we have all the materials, all the equipment and all the knowledge to help walk [them] through that whole process, step by step."

In addition, the company is also a great resource on installation specifications and all updated codes, he explains.

"We have tons of different options from a full working kitchen to a simple backyard fire pit," explains Nyce. "We have waterfall [and] fire applications [and] outdoor TV sets. It comes down to, in my opinion, simple factors [like] space, how much room you have, imagination and budget."

That step-by-step process starts with a solid foundation and the pavers themselves, which as Nyce explains, are akin to the carpet or tile floor inside a home. "Everything starts with your floors and you work your way up," he says. "If you're thinking about a kitchen [and] you want to have a nice place to cook your meal, we can give you a couple different options of what kind of grill would work with what kind of pavers, and those pavers just accent everything else. It's your foundation [and] it's where you start."

With Landis Block's vast array of products spanning pavers and wall systems from Cambridge, brick pavers, Belgian blocks or concrete products, the options are endless. It's especially true if a homeowner is looking to complete the space in small projects over time. "The nice thing about the pavers we sell, [from] Cambridge Pavers, is they have what's called ArmorTec, a special surface layer they put on that's made of very hard granite and they have a promise that their colors won't fade or change," says Nyce. "They understand that not everybody can go out there and do their dream backyard all at one time, so you're going to buy pavers from [them] this year, next year[and] the following year and [their] colors aren't going to change, they're going to match."

Going beyond the foundation, Landis Block also offers homeowners kits that complement pavers of their choosing to further curate a livable outdoor space. From a barbecue to a propane grill, each kit can be built within the hardscaping, while accompanying features from waterfalls and fire pits can also be incorporated.

Yet, with all the possibilities, Nyce advises homeowners to do their due diligence before embarking on a project or moving forward with a contractor. "Ask questions," he says. "Get as much information as you can, do your research [and] be smart about what you're doing. Come talk to us, we can help you make those decisions." If a homeowner is using a contractor, Nyce also suggests asking for their references beforehand. "I always suggest that with any con- tractor ... ask him for references," he vouches. "There's nothing wrong with that."

Beyond that, it's also crucial that plans for an outdoor project start months before the summer season. "If you're meeting a contractor, a lot of them are getting booked up already," Nyce warns. "It takes a month to get something done ... so start making your plans on it now. We can't get anything done right now because of the conditions outside, but it's imperative to start your planning and get your process rolling right now."

Nyce Crete and Landis Block & Concrete
Souderton, Pa. | (215) 723-5506 | LandisBC.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 21, Issue 10 (July/August 2021). 
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