Quality, Integrity and Customer Service
I have some of the same opinions about landscaping as I do about building and remodeling. I have talked to hundreds of potential clients and have seen overwhelming evidence of a diminished level of quality and customer service in the industry. I have to always be careful when I say this, because there are some quality contractors out there. That being said, I will continue.
Landscaping is more than building on top of the land
This is especially true in Western Washington. We live in a temporal rain forest with a tremendous amount of water flowing under the ground. Plus, all the new development is is impacting the ground water system.
The ground and what goes on under it differs from place to place
My house sits on a alluvial plain of ever changing river rock deposited by glaciers long ago. Last year, I did a one acre project on the waterfront that was clay with springs channeling water all over the place. Each environment requires different planning to make sure what you build, stays where it is built and does the job it was designed to do. The prep work that is done before you ever lay down a paver or stone is vital.
Have you ever seen a paver walkway or patio when it's newly built? Pretty attractive, right? Now, have you sen the same walkway a couple years later after two winters of rain or freeze? The evidence of good and bad landscaping is all around us.
Many of the projects I've look at or repaired, were never prepared correctly in terms of the the ground work. Consequently, the system failed and I am left explaining to a customer, things like; why their $10K natural stone patio needs to be rebuilt after two years.
Science and landscaping
I have a business partner who is a Landscape Architect and he has enhanced my perspective of what it takes to build to the land instead of on top of it. Consulting with a Landscape Architect basically confirms with science and engineering, what should make common sense to a good landscaper.
Consumer beware
I was doing some research on pavers vs. decorative concrete. Both of these are great products and there are strengths and weaknesses to both. I live in an area that dumps most of it 36" a year of rainfall in the fall and winter months. The ground is a mixture of clay and huge deposits of river rocks with high water tables.
One of the things I face in designing the ground work (sub-surface) is that there are places in our community that the ground changes shape during the winter. This is caused by water flow and underground erosion. The challenge with any surface system you put on top of the ground is what is happening under the ground.
Most of the internet research and product supplier research I have done doesn't address these unique conditions. Basically, my conclusion is that you have to go deeper in the ground with the base prepperations and also provide additional drainage for the water to move away from or not to invade the area under the patio or walkway. Regardless of the situation, this takes some serious thought and may even require an engineer to solve.
If you live in a wet area and you don't take these things into consideration and build accordingly, you will be sorry in a couple of years when your beautiful and expensive patio surface starts to move.
Do it yourself type of consumers
In my research, there was little or no information dealing with ground conditions or water control. When you go to a "do it yourself" store all I could find was dig out the dirt, tamp in some base rock, install the edger, install the pavers and presto you a have just saved a ton of money doing it yourself and now have a professional looking paver patio. (Give it two years and we'll see how it looks). If there is anything I can instill in you as the consumer, is do your research on the ground conditions and build the base and drainage correctly. And if you live on ground like I do, then consider stamped concrete.
Decorative concrete
It is amazing what they can do with concrete. It can be made to look like stone or brick pavers. It's strong and last a long time and resists ground movement. I've even seen outdoor fireplaces that look like stacked stone. They even do kitchen countertops and floors. The thing I like about concrete is the durability and the stability on the ground. One thing that has to be taken into consideration is the additional water run-off if you live in a rainy area. In my area, sometimes you have to create a sub-terrain drainage system to allow the water to disperse and drain properly.
Small building lots
With the increased practice of building on micro-lots there is also an increased ground water issue that comes with it. You have to check with your local building codes as to how much ground you cover up with patios and walkways. It could get complicated if you have to build drainage systems to accommodate the increase dump of water off the end of a patio. And, in my opinion the building codes aren't necessarily always helpful. In our area they have made the builders put in bio-swells to deal with high water tables in the rainy winter months. And, I have seen a lot of standing water in people's yards in these new sub-divisions, so do you research and then use some common sense or an engineer to design the drainage.
If your looking for a landscape contractor, make sure they:
- Licensed, insured and bonded based on your state
- Speak directly to the conditions of the ground under your property
- Design a efficient drainage system, that can be cleaned out. (Around walls, patios, walkways, etc)
- Go well beyond the typical standard of 4" to 6" with the base ground work that the landscaping is going to be built on. (Remember, CODE is the minimum)
- Give you detailed plans on how they are gong to deal with the water and ground conditions on your property
- Remember, you get what you pay for
- What I would want to see is some of their older work. (paver and wall work) That would show me if what they build is done to withstand long term changing conditions
Cascadia Design Build
Cascadia Landscaping
Corporate Facebook Profile
No comments:
Post a Comment