Go Big! with Belgard
Posted: September 27, 2011 Filed under: Pavers | Tags: belgard, Belgard Elements Collection, Belgard pavers, landscape concrete pavers, outdoor living, patio pavers Leave a comment »
Mega Arbel Belgard Pavers
When it comes to your home, you want to achieve the best outcome for your investment. In today’s economy, it’s not only prices consumers are concerned about. Getting the best products, with a lifetime guaranty, are a must. Belgard® knows homeowners want the “biggest” bang from their buck – and we deliver!
Belgard offers “Mega” outdoor pavers: a larger scaled paver option. Belgard pavers are the best choice for your outdoor hardscape project: they look great, come in a variety of size and color options, and have a lifetime warranty.
If you have ever installed natural stone, it can be nerve-wracking. If it’s not done right, there can be an imbalance of the overall design. If you don’t pick your stones individually, their varying thicknesses can potentially mean dangerous dips or humps. Having evenly spaced joints may require multiple cuts with a wet saw. Last, creating the look requires sample placement, assessment, moving stones, and sometimes repeating the process all over to achieve a random, yet balanced appearance.
Natural Look
Enter Mega Arbel®.
With the look of natural flagstone, and available in numerous hues of grey and reds, these concrete pavers are all the same thickness, pre-cut, and developed as interlocking pieces. Using up to twelve different shapes, and a simple pattern chart, you can achieve a natural appearance without the challenge of installation. Your guests will marvel at the beauty Belgard creates.
Mega Lafitt
Open the door for Mega LafittTM.
Our newest addition is already a hit! This 3-piece modular paver, plus a large square, offers various laying patterns to create a natural feel of rectangular, smooth flagstone. The larger size, as opposed to regular it sister, Lafitt Patio Pavers, gives a grander feel. In browns and reds, Mega Lafitt is the easy answer to your next landscape project. Its classic style will create a look to last generations.
Mega Begerac
Step out on to Mega Bergerac®.
Another of the Mega product lines, the Bergerac paver resembles a well-worn, hand-chiseld cooble stone. You can create different patterns using its 3-piece grouping, or add the large square for a different look.
Large square
The large paver, over 14” square, can interchange colors to create a checkerboard look. Offered in browns, greys and reds, this cobble stone look will last a lifetime while adding old world charm to your outdoor project. As the others, Belgard’s attention to detail with the texture of this paver, gives your outdoor living space a high-end look, with a down-to-earth price.
For each paver line, their natural appearance is due to Belgard’s advanced research and development department. “Many of our pavers and wall products are created by scanning natural stone with a 3-D scanner and using the dimensional imagery to create molds to produce hardscape products that mimic the look and texture of slate, flagstone, or hand-chiseled rock,” says Len Browning, Hardscape Technical Advisor for Belgard. “But unlike natural stone, pavers can be laid in a pattern that deceptively looks random but installs much more easily.”
If you are looking to achiece a natural, sophisticated look for your outdoor living areas, Belgard is here to help you make your next move. Belgard…Invite Possibility.
Click for a dealer or contractor, or colors in your area. Try our online visualizer to see how Belgard pavers can create a new look for your outdoor space.
Create a grand entrance with Mega Lafitt
Recipe: Honey-Sesame Grilled Chicken Wings
Posted: September 21, 2011 Filed under: Recipes for Company Leave a comment »
Honey Wings
With football season underway, everyone knows that it may not be the healthiest season when it comes to food, but these finger lickin, sweet wings won’t have you thinking about the calories or your weight…at least for now! This recipe is perfect to serve as finger food appetizers at a pregame football party or as a main dish with your favorite side for you and your family for dinner. It’s easy! Just turn on the grill and get the wings kickin! This recipe is also great for baking or broiling!
Honey-Sesame Grilled Chicken Wings
Ingredients:
* 1/2 cup soy sauce
* 1 tablespoon minced ginger
* 1 tablespoon minced garlic
* 1 tablespoon Asian chili paste
* 2 pounds chicken wings, tips removed, cut apart at joint
* 1/2 cup honey
* 1 1/2 teaspoons hoisin sauce
* 2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
* 1 green onion, trimmed and chopped
Preparation:
1. In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, ginger, garlic, and chili paste. Add chicken and let marinate for 15 minutes, stirring often.
2. Set up a gas or charcoal grill for medium heat (350° to 400°; you can hold your hand 5 in. above the cooking grate only 5 to 7 seconds). Put chicken on the grill and cover with lid. Cook, turning often, until golden brown, 10 to 15 minutes.
3. In a small bowl, combine honey and hoisin sauce. Using a pastry brush, generously baste chicken wings with honey glaze. Cover grill with lid and cook till honey glaze starts to caramelize, about 3 minutes. Turn chicken wings over and baste again, using the remaining honey glaze. Cook for 3 minutes more, being careful not to let the glaze burn, removing pieces from the grill as they’re done.
4. Transfer to a platter. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and green onions. Serve any remaining honey glaze on the side.
Makes 6 to 8 appetizer servings or 2 main course servings and takes 45 minutes to prepare.
From Sunset Magazine recipes June 2008
Warming Cool Nights: Add A Belgard Fire Feature
Posted: September 15, 2011 Filed under: Outdoor Living, Pavers, Walls | Tags: belgard, Belgard Elements Collection, Belgard Outdoor Living, fire pit, fireplace Leave a comment »
Pure beauty: Belgard Elements fire pit & water feature
As summer starts to dwindle down, kids go back to school and football starts up, that can only mean Fall is right around the corner. Homeowners may think being outside in the cooler temperatures isn’t thrilling; it’s chilling. However, Belgard fire features are now becoming one of the popular trends for your outdoor living area. They extend the outdoor experience into the winter in the North, and all year long in the cooler Southern states.
Belgard fire pit
Belgard gives homeowners a variety of fire features from which to choose with their fire pit and fireplace options. Using Belgard products and an Authorized Belgard Contractor, your custom possibilites are limitless. Yet, Belgard is pleased to offer pre-made fireplace units through the Elements Collection. This collection makes it easier than ever to have a fire feature (plus coordinationg pieces – read out blog) installed on any budget – in less time. Both gas and wood burning options are available.
As for the increasingly popular fire pit, Belgard offers the highly affordable standard Weston Wall. Fire pits are easy to maintain and create a natural space for friends to congregate. Imagine the crackling of the fire, the taste of roasted marshmellows and s’mores, plus the company of friends: create special memories for years to come.
With fireplaces, each collection uses Belgard pavers and wall products so that you can create an entire space with a seamless look. The Bristol Collection combines the Arbel and Urbana pavers, providing elegance and good looks great with any landscape. The Nottingham Collection integrates BelAir Wall and tumbled paver accents. This natural appearance will have you feeling right at home. The Wexford Collection incorporates tumbled block featuring the Old World accents, which provides a rugged yet defined look to your home. See the catalog for more photos and ideas.
Nottingham Collection
Not only can you add fire features to your backyard, but why not coordinate furniture to highlight them. Think about adding Adorandock or lounge chairs for a relaxing experience. Maybe the sound of a nearby Belgard water feature will add to the mood. With Belgard, items can be added at a later time, so it’s best to discuss your full hopes and dreams with your contractor at the start of the project.
Country Manor
Fire table
With any one of these collections in your backyard, you and your family can enjoy an evening outside. Create that intimate setting you’ve been looking for! Be Prepared for Company!
Remember when it comes to fire, think about safety first. Your contractor can help you decide the best location for installation.
Walls, pavers and fire pit by Belgard
Belgard at the Ultimate Beach House
Posted: September 9, 2011 Filed under: Outdoor Living, Pavers | Tags: belgard, Belgard Outdoor Living, Belgard pavers, landscape concrete pavers, outdoor living, patio pavers Leave a comment »
Outdoor diningroom with Mega Lafitt pavers
Homeowners dream what their home will look like when its “done.” The finished product is what homeowners strive for, but the hard work of planning and making it happen (usually on a budget) can be the challenge. Belgard® has many offerings of products, from pavers to full kitchen to entire outdoor rooms, can put you on the right path.
Before
This blog will show you the 2011 Coastal Living Magazine Ultimate Beach House in Norfolk, Virginia. Belgard provided pavers for the outdoor areas. This exceptional three-story home overlooking the Chesapeake Bay in East Beach has more than 1,500 square feet of outdoor living space.
Belgard’s Mega-Lafitt™ pavers were chosen to complement the beach feel of the home. Mega-Lafitt pavers offer the natural, flagstone appearance throughout the driveway and patio areas. Produced in numerous colors, these pavers look at home anywhere, whether at the beach or in the mountains.
For this home, pavers in the “Mega” or larger size are from the modular collection, which come in a three or four-piece shapes that layout in a particular, repeating yet natural pattern. With a simple installation, the three-piece pavers were used in the outdoor garden rooms to give it a more intimate feel, while the four-piece modular pavers were used for the driveway allowing for an expansive appearance. Both offer the strength and the durability that Mega-Lafitt pavers provide plus the Belgard lifetime warranty.
Pavers installed
Even though the garden rooms were scaled down to a smaller size to fit this house’s limited outdoor patio space, Belgard pavers made this backyard area a “dream” outdoor living area for beach living. Never overlook a side yard – it may become your next favorite spot!
Mega Lafitt Driveway
The Belgard driveway of your home will scream “Look at me!” While your neighbors might settle for a poured concrete driveway, you can make your dreams come true with Belgard. Plus, you will sleep better knowing your driveway won’t crack like concrete.
Not only does Belgard provide pavers, but you can also think about other decorations for your outdoor living areas. When the seasons get cooler, you don’t have to come inside. Belgard can enlighten and warm your outdoor space with an ever-popular fire pit or more elaborate outdoor fireplace.
Belgard also offers many different collections that can appease your lifestyle anywhere. Each paver has a lifetime warranty and you can count on your local Belgard contractor to get the job done for you new outdoor area.
For you to get a taste of what it’s like to experience Belgard pavers along the coast, The Coastal Living Ultimate Beach House will be open for tours from now until November 27, and it will cost $10.
Finished side yard
