Jake Aull, Author at Nature Bridges

Custom Bridge Designs for Residences

Posted on March 24, 2025 (March 24, 2025)

With a custom bridge, you can easily transform your ordinary residential landscape into a stunning visual masterpiece. Custom bridges are tailored to fit your own unique aesthetic and functional needs. With the right bridge design, a simple way to walk across obstacles like streams and ravines can become a focal point that enhances the beauty and value of your home. The Art of Customization Nature Bridges customizes every bridge design to match the architectural and natural beauty of a property. With a residence, the only thing that changes is the functional aspect of the bridge. With designers who look at […]

Preparing Trails for Spring Visitors

Posted on March 12, 2025 (March 12, 2025)

Winter is quickly turning into Spring, and that means more nature walks! Nature trails and boardwalks become bustling pathways for hikers and nature enthusiasts to enjoy the blossoming landscape. To ensure that your walkways are safe, appealing, and ready to handle the influx of spring visitors, it’s important to prepare and take care of any trail maintenance. Trail Inspection and Assessment As usual, start with a thorough inspection of your trail or boardwalk. Whether your winter is mild or harsh, the cold weather can leave behind damage that needs to be assessed. Check for and repair any physical damage like […]

Eco-Friendly Materials for Outdoor Structures

Posted on February 20, 2025 (February 20, 2025)

With the growing awareness of environmental concerns, the demand for eco-friendly construction materials has also increased. Sustainable building reduces the carbon footprint and enhances the longevity of structures. It also helps keep those structures in harmony with their natural surroundings. There are several reasons to use sustainable materials in your structures. Reducing the environmental impact associated with raw material extraction and processing is important to habitats. Sustainable materials usually have a lower carbon footprint, contribute less to deforestation, and minimize any disturbance of local habitats. Depending on the specific material you use, waste is reduced through recycling and repurposing. When […]

Navigating Frosty Paths: Winter Boardwalk Safety

Posted on February 10, 2025 (February 10, 2025)

Icy is a common concern in winter months, especially on boardwalks where slippery surfaces can be a hazard for walkers, joggers, and nature watchers. You can help to ensure visitor safety on these frosty paths with a combination of proper maintenance and integrating key safety features. The Key is Regular Maintenance Regular maintenance is the first step in winter boardwalk safety. Snow and ice accumulation can create hazardous conditions, so it’s essential to clear these as quickly as possible. If you live in an area where snow is common, inspect and treat the boardwalk regularly with ice-melting products or sand. […]

Before We Start: What Your Bridge Constructor Needs to Know

Posted on January 20, 2025 (January 13, 2025)

Starting a bridge – or other outdoor structure – project is exciting! When you have a vision, you want it to become reality as soon as possible. But, it requires meticulous preparation. Before you reach out to a bridge constructor like Nature Bridges, you should get several pieces of information that can help streamline the bridge designer’s consultation with you and ensure that the project kicks off smoothly. Type of Structure First, identify the type of structure you need. Are you looking for a vehicular access bridge, pedestrian bridge, or a golf cart path? When we understand the primary function […]

Winter Wildlife on Your Walkways

Posted on January 13, 2025 (January 13, 2025)

You can still explore nature when the temperatures drop. Winter offers a unique opportunity to observe wildlife in a seemingly new environment – through the cold and sometimes even snow. Boardwalks and bridges can enhance accessibility to natural areas and serve as an excellent platform for winter wildlife observation. In addition, these structures help protect the creatures you encounter on chilly outdoor adventures. Discovering Wildlife in Winter In the winter, the cold weather strips the landscape bare, especially deciduous trees and other plants that may otherwise help hide wild creatures. With less foliage, you can catch a clearer glimpse of […]

Trails and the Materials to Create Them

Posted on December 20, 2024 (December 20, 2024)

Trail design must combine many factors, but a major one is material choice. Materials should be chosen for the longevity and maintenance of the trail as well as its environmental impact and usability. Different materials like asphalt, concrete, gravel, mulch, and wood offer unique benefits and challenges. When you understand the differences, you can make an informed choice based on the specific needs of the area and its users. Asphalt Trails Asphalt is a popular trail material for urban and suburban trails. It is durable and requires relatively low maintenance. Its smooth, hard surface is ideal for accessibility because it […]

Thinking Bigger with Vehicular Bridges

Posted on December 12, 2024 (December 12, 2024)

Many factors go into building any bridge, but vehicular bridges require even more consideration, even when the bridge will be built on private property. The design and construction require meticulous planning to ensure they can handle the weight of vehicles crossing as well as the volume of traffic. Structural Integrity and Load Capacity When building a vehicular bridge, one of the primary concerns is weight – ensuring that the structure can handle the substantial load of vehicles over time. This involves careful calculations, including the load-bearing capacity of the structure. In the end, robust engineering is required so that the […]

Considering Details: Handrails

Posted on November 20, 2024 (November 5, 2024)

Bridges, boardwalks, pavilions, decks, and docks have one important safety feature in common: handrails. Handrails and guardrails are often seen purely as functional safety features, but they’re incredibly important features for both accessibility and design. Rails provide support and prevent falls, but they also make significant contributions to the style and architectural expression of a space. Handrail design is critical for ensuring that the rails are effective and compliant with accessibility standards while also enhancing the visual appeal of your property. Why Are Handrails Important? Handrails serve a dual function in any structure: ensuring safety and enhancing accessibility. These features […]

Why Outdoor Accessibility is Important

Posted on November 10, 2024 (November 5, 2024)

Everyone, regardless of ability, should be able to enjoy nature and participate in community events. Accessibility in outdoor environments like parks, trails, and recreation areas is essential to make this happen. Promoting inclusivity enhances the quality of life for people with disabilities, families with young children, the elderly, and others who may benefit from equal access. In addition, making outdoor structures like bridges and boardwalks accessible fulfills legal requirements in many areas. Creating Accessible Pathways A key aspect of outdoor accessibility is thoughtfully designed pathways. Replacing stairs with ramps – or adding ramps in addition to stairs – is a […]

Author: Jake Aull

Posts by Jake Aull