“Recently, people were looking for fire pits; everyone wanted one,” said George Allen, manager at Gagne & Son Concrete Products in Auburn. “Now the hot seller is building outdoor kitchens.”

Allen pointed to a display under construction in his product showroom. It has a shiny gas grill surround by two masonry pillars that will serve as counter tops. Next to the cooking area is a bar and the entire area is surrounded by a decorative wall.

“With a pergola, [an enclosed wooden structure overhead] it makes a nice covered area for cooking, dining and entertaining,” said Allen. “We are going to be known for our affordable outdoor kitchens.”

John Petrocelli, owner of Petro’s Hardware in Auburn, has noticed a trend toward using larger slabs in projects.

“In past years, we saw our biggest sales in smaller pavers, 5″ X 4″, 5″ X 6″, 5″ X 7″,” said Petrocelli, “now our best selling items are larger – 13″ X6-1/2″, 13″ x 13″, and 13″ x 19-1/2″. It really narrows down to a matter of taste.”

Allen said that many customers think that the bigger pavers will make the job easier.

“The truth is that the preparation still needs to be done correctly no matter how small or large the paver,” said Allen. “Preparation is everything. Digging the earth properly and putting in the correct base of gravel makes all the difference.”

Petrocelli said that customers have more choice than ever with pavers of various designs and textures. He advises homeowners to give careful consideration to the choices they make.

“We work with materials that you are never going to touch again,” said Petrocelli. “While wooden patios and decks require maintenance, maybe painting every few years, hardscaping is there for a long time and can’t be easily changed.”

Terry Cousins, a sales representative for Shawnee Steps with a location in Auburn, said that customers are concerned with price, durability and appearance for their home improvement products.

“Sales personnel can show customers different options with different designs,” said Cousins, noting that Shawnee Steps usually doesn’t build decks, but they do offer a step landing that is 10′ wide and 6.5′ deep.

Products are becoming more innovative and durable, which is great for customers.

“A regular concrete brick might have (compressive strength) 3000 psi and if you dropped it, the brick would shatter,” explained Petrocelli. “Our hardscaping products have a 10,800 psi and if you dropped it, there might be a small chip. Our products are on the cutting edge of technology.”

While Shawnee Steps provides installation of their products, Petro’s Hardware and Gagne & Son Masonry provide customers with a list of experienced contractors to choose from to complete projects.

“Bring a sketch of what you would like to do,” said Allen. “We’ll give you ideas.”

“Sometimes a do-it-yourself homeowner is working on a project and calls us on a Saturday morning,” said Petrocelli. “Sometime they call us three times in a day. We are always ready to assist.”