March 17, 2025

This paid piece is sponsored by Knife River South Dakota.

The temperatures climbed, and so did the crowds at the recent Sioux Empire Home Show.

“It was a good opportunity for people to get out of the house, and by the end of the show, it had really started to feel like spring outside, so we were having really good conversations as people looked at planning projects for the season ahead,” said Ray Landberg, manager of Hardscapes Outlet, part of Knife River South Dakota.

“That was encouraging, and we’re excited. We think 2025 is going to be a really good year, and we’re happy and open to help.”

As Home Show visitors learned at Hardscapes’ feature booth, a number of new products and emerging trends are available this year, whether you’re a DIYer or working with a professional to transform your outdoor living space.

Porcelain tile

Porcelain tile has been trending in larger markets for the past few years, and it officially has made its way to Sioux Falls — with some upgrades.

“One of the biggest turnoffs for people with porcelain is that it can be tricky to install, and there are concerns about how it holds up outside,” Landberg said.

“We were able to show a revolutionary new product called the GeoCeramica series from one of our vendors, Rochester Concrete Products, that adheres the porcelain to a top layer of concrete, so it installs similarly to laying actual pavers. It caught a lot of people’s eyes and shows really nicely.”

Once installed, porcelain tile has big benefits, he added.

“It’s easy to clean, it’s very strong, and it holds up very well as far as not fading or changing colors,” Landberg said. “This is the same material that’s been used in bathrooms and kitchens, but now it’s set up better for outdoor use, and we’re seeing it on everything from roof decks to pool decks and small-scale patios.”

Within the industry as a whole, “you can find every color, shade and texture under the sun in porcelain tile,” he continued. “So when you’re getting into customizing your backyard, you’ll be able to find exactly what you want.”

Privacy panels

It doesn’t take a full-scale construction project to add a little privacy to your backyard.

“We had a really good response at the Home Show to some newer options for privacy panels,” Landberg said. “They come in a bunch of sizes and styles, and the versatility is really impressive.”

The privacy panels are relatively lightweight, don’t take up much room and hold up well in the elements, he added.

“People don’t always love looking at garbage and recycling cans or air conditioners, and this is a really nice product to cover up some of those things while adding value to the look of the home,” Landberg said. “I know people who have also used them as part of a fence to give an area a little flair. They’re meant to be outside year-round.”

Miss them at the Home Show? Hardscapes will be using them in some displays at its locations, so stop in to take a look.

Larger outcroppings

Larger pieces of rock or stone to enhance the look of landscaping also are drawing interest from homeowners.

At the Home Show, “we showed a Rosetta Hardscapes Kodah wall series, which is a nice free-stacking wall, and we showed it as a garden bed with a nice water feature the landscaper did,” Landberg said.

The wall can act as a seat wall on a patio or as a planter.

“We stock one color now but have easy access to another, and there are multiple sizes,” Landberg said. “Some need two people to handle them, but others you can move yourself and give a different take on a classic look.”

Time to learn more

Now’s the time to stop in at Hardscapes and begin planning for the season ahead.

“We’re getting locations open, and staff are reporting back. We’re just weeks away from being fully open,” Landberg said. “The phones are open, and we have staff ready to chat. It’s a good time to start looking, even if you don’t have a spring project but are planning for mid- to late summer.”

Materials and overall availability are in good shape, he added.

“We load up on rock, mulch, sand and gravel toward the end of the season because you never know when we’ll have an early 60-degree day. So if you want to get after something, we can help.”

Hardscapes has locations at 3500 N. Potsdam Ave. and 100 N. Ellis Road in Sioux Falls and at 47055 Smith Circle west of Harrisburg along Interstate 29.

For the latest on hours and to begin browsing online, click here.

“The website is a great place to start,” Landberg added. “You can get a feel and idea for product calculation based on how large your area is, and from there, we’re more than happy to help with price quotes and delivery. Beyond that, just stop in and we’ll walk through everything you need to make your outdoor vision a reality.”