Welcome to the "In the News" section of our website. In this
section, we've gathered recent landscaping articles that we
believe you, our visitors, will find of interest. If you know of any other
articles or information that we could include in this
section, please forward your suggestions to
info@prebbel.com.
CONSUMER ADVISORY!
In 2004 we contributed to an article in Ottawa Life magazine
titled "Buyer Beware", an article about the horror
stories some consumers have faced with nefarious contractors.
Every year we get calls
from consumers who have incurred financial losses from
contractors who cut out on them, have had their homes and
properties damaged by inexperienced contractors, or have had
shoddy work done--work that doesn't meet any interlocking
stone installation standard. Unfortunately, such stories are
far too common.
Here is a
list of some of the situations we've come across:
--Bait & Switch. A large part of the cost of installing Interlocking stone is
base preparation. Some contractors sell their work as a
proper installation--the right base depth for the
application, optimal compaction, woven geotextile fabric, edge restraints, etc.
While the
the customer is at work,
the shady contractor skims off the grass and a few inches of top soil,
lightly compacts, grades and installs the pavers. The
job is done in record time and the contractor walks away
with a huge profit. However, the base is only sufficient to last for the
supplied warranty, usually one or two years, and very soon after the
warranty has expired the customer is left
with a project that completely falls apart.
Always ask your
contractor for installation specifications and, if possible, stay
home during the first days of the construction phase or pop-in
from time to time during the day to check on how the work is being
done. If you simply can't be home while the project is under
way, then have a friend,
neighbor or family member be your eyes for you. The most
crucial part of interlocking stone work is the preparation; be
there to make sure you're getting what you actually paid for.
--Options that are not optional. There are many components
that go into a successful interlocking stone project. There is,
however, only one way of installing interlocking stone that
lasts--the
engineer tested and approved way. Many
contractors (some who have been in business for 20 to 30
years) routinely cut corners. These
contractors know about edge restraints but don't install them,
they sell them as options. Edge restraints are NOT OPTIONAL, they are crucial to proper interlocking
stone installation. Edge restraints are long plastic or aluminum
strips that are spiked in along the open edges of an
interlocking stone project. Without them the open edge pavers of your project
will start to pull away. This is called "edge creep" or "brick
creep". The only way to prevent this is to have edge restraints
in place.
--Escalating Costs. Unethical? This should be considered CRIMINAL!
I'm amazed at how many people fall prey to this type of
contractor. Although there may be certain situations that
warrant altering the agreed-upon quote (finding a
buried stumps, large boulders, or unstable ground in the excavation area), some contractors will
routinely find ways to ask for more and more money.
Insist that your
contractor provide you with a plan, preferably one to scale, of
what the finished work will look like.
Understand your project scope, ask questions, and get the
quote in writing. If you change your mind on some aspects of
the project along the way ask for and sign a "change order"
form so you can be fully and constantly aware of the project's cost. If a
contractor can't provide you with a simple work plan and
a solid quote, look elsewhere.
--The large deposit. Some contractors may ask for a
large deposit when signing a contract. You should NEVER give
a contractor more than ten to twenty percent initial payment
for work being
performed! We've come across countless customers who have handed over up to 50%
in up front project costs only to have their
contractor mysteriously disappear or go out of business. A deposit is only
required as an act of good faith; to secure your position on
a contractor's list of projects. On rare occasions, with
large projects, it's acceptable for a
contractor to ask for small payments as and when project
phases are completed. If this is the case, know ahead of
time when your contractor will ask for payment and what,
specifically, you'll be paying for.
--The Inexperienced Contractor. Many people fall victim
to the "well intentioned" but inexperienced contractor. In fact,
this is probably the most prevalent problem consumers are faced
with. There are few regulations, licensing or skills
requirements for starting a landscaping business. More and more,
ill-prepared and ill-trained entrepreneurs take advantage of the
loose regulations and blindly dive into this business. The
uninformed homeowner is all too often subjected to the financial
consequences of their inexperience.
These contractors improperly build large stone structures against your home without the
proper protection or without following proper building specifications.
Quite often this results in thousands of dollars in damage to
your homes. They may build large retaining walls with little
knowledge of the engineering specifications needed to ensure the
wall doesn't fail. These contractors often have little
understanding of the limitations of the concrete products they
use. They may use smaller
garden wall blocks to build steps that are too high or too
narrow to safely negotiate. They may build three foot high raised decks and
retaining walls with smaller garden wall blocks--blocks designed
to hold garden soil pressure only.
You can avoid the inexperienced contractor by doing a bit of
homework. Visit www.icpi.org
(interlocking concrete pavement institute)
and look at the contractors section for valuable information.
Learn as much as you can about how interlocking stone
installation methods and
ask prospective contractors how they would go about building your project.
Armed with a little bit of knowledge, you can easily weed out the contractors that use six inches of
limestone screenings (stone dust) or 3/4 clear crushed stone as
a base--something that completely flies in the face of
engineered specifications. The more you know about installation
guidelines, the easier it will be for you to differentiate
between inexperienced or ill-informed contractors and the professionals.
There are many contractors in this business who create beautiful
and innovative designs and execute them flawlessly. Unfortunately there
are infinitely more companies, some that have been in business
for many years, that fall into the categories we've mentioned
here. These companies will continue to survive and thrive on the uninformed and
trusting consumer. Don't be the next victim! Do your homework
before you hire a contractor. Check references, check the Better Business Bureau and
check contractor's accreditations. Make sure your contractor has
insurance in case damage is done to your home and check that they
pay into Workman's Compensation. You, as the homeowner, are the
project owner and are responsible for the safety of workers on
your site.
Remember, what these companies do is nothing short of
CRIMINAL! They may not end up behind bars, but the more
consumers are informed, the more likely these disreputable
companies will end
up out of business.
------------
If you have comments about this information, let us know. If you
have fallen victim to some of these contractors, we'd like to
hear from you. Send us your story at
info@prebbel.com .
Prebbel Transforms Spaces into Beautiful Spaces
November 2004
We are
very proud of this profile of our company. It appeared in
the November,2004 issue of Ottawa Life magazine. It was a
pleasure to discuss our views on interlock landscaping and
the importance of a standard regulating body for our
industry, ICPI, with the
people at Ottawa Life. We hope the article educates readers
about the importance of hiring an ICPI certified company for
their projects and inspires other contractors to attain
certification. An
industry recognized certification gives homeowners and
businesses piece of mind knowing that their contractor is
aware of the very latest industry standards and regulations.
A Blooming Fortune
This excellent landscaping article, reproduced by permissiion
from MoneySence.ca,
appeared in the April 2004 issue of Money Sense magazine. It
tackles the issue of landscaping from an investors perspective,
and exposes the answer to the most common question of what truly
is the most beneficial financial upgrade for your home.
Fertile Ground
By Chris
Tayler, SmartMoney Magazine
Published
March 3,2003
This is another very informative article that appeared in the
March 2003 issue of Smart Money Magazine that deals with the
financial benefits of landscaping around your home. It gives a
detailed breakdown of many aspects of landscaping and their
financial benefits. It also gives you an idea of which
landscaping projects to tackle first to maximize your homes
value.
Associated
Landscape Contractors of America
The
following article by Laurie Saunders,
Director of Marketing and Communications Manager at ALCA, is an
excellent article on the benefits of landscaping. It really leaves
no doubt that landscaping can have a dramatic impact on your home or
business.
TAKE IT OUTSIDE
Interested in doing some landscaping work but have no idea of
the cost? The
following article, published in Chatelaine's April
2005 issue, is an excellent guide to anyone interested in taking
on larger landscape projects. It will help give you a very accurate idea of what
to expect in terms of project scope and cost. The article also has a very
interesting cheat sheet for how to choose trees for your
property.
I'd like to thank Judith Adam (author of Landscape Planning:
Practical Techniques for the Home Gardner--by Firefly books) for the
privilege of reprinting the article. I hope you find it as
interesting as I did.
Prebbel Transforms
Spaces
into
Beautiful Spaces
by
Katherine Fletcher
If the folks at Prebbel have anything to do with it, you’ll
call their Orleans company first when you are considering
paving your residential driveway, footpaths, front or back
yards, and patios.
Bert Minor is sales and marketing representative for
Prebbel, and he and I chatted for several hours at his
office. He explained that “the industry has changed in the
past decade. Pavers with a more ‘finished’ look used to be
more popular, but now it’s all about tumbled brick — pavers
that are tumbled to give them a more weathered look.”
Concrete manufacturers continue to offer more variety of
colours and sizes. Do your research. Check out Permacon
product literature (www.permacon.ca; 1-888-737-6226) or
Central Precast landscape products (www.centralprecast.com;
613-225-9510 [Ottawa]). The full-colour brochures and
booklets are enough to give any homeowner with thoughts of
paving with “only asphalt” serious pause.
Why? Think versatility and durability. Think texture and
colour. Think “the look of luxury.”
Says Minor,“Paving a driveway with asphalt lasts around 10
to 15 years or so versus 30 years or more for interlocking
pavers.” The absolute key, insist Minor and Matt Lapointe
(co-owner of Prebbel with his father Ed Lapointe), is proper
installation. After all, the end product is only as good as
the work performed – and materials used.
Both specialists claim that interlocking paving doubles in
sales every four years in North America — and every three
years in Ottawa. According to them, the number of
contractors in our region has risen from 120 five years ago
to over 400 today. As the number of contractors increases,
homeowners need assurance that whomever they hire has the
inside track on reliability and product knowledge.
Therefore, how could Prebbel position itself as an industry
leader?
The company determined that one of the significant issues is
the lack of regulation of the industry. Says Minor: “If
you’re building a deck, you need a permit from the city.With
interlocking landscaping, there are few regulations, and
seldom are permits required. Furthermore, contractors in
this industry are not required to undergo formal training.”
Minor and Lapointe figured that Prebbel could become an
Ottawa leader in interlocking paving by becoming certified
at ICPI – the Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute.
Although Prebbel has been in the property maintenance,
landscaping, interlock and snow management business since
1989, the company wanted to offer customers an extra degree
of confidence in their work.
Says Lapointe:“By becoming certified contractors,we have
raised the bar in our own industry.”Minor agrees:“We believe
that certification with ICPI gives Prebbel its competitive
edge in the business.After all, poor workmanship reflects
badly on our industry.Therefore,we are pushing for all
industry members to become certified.You could say we’re
throwing down the gauntlet. In this way, Prebbel is
demonstrating that we’re serious about our business.”
Why is certification important? Interlock installation is a
lot more involved than most people think. The paving stones
we all see —and admire — are actually the final “dressing”
or surface, which give no hint whatsover to all the
invisible preparation and expertise that goes into the work.
Aside from a proper base, the most important part of any
interlocking stone project is proper grade and adequate
drainage.
Pooling or stagnant water is anathema to the paving
industry. Particularly in northern climates, its freeze-thaw
action can lift and destroy paving. Therefore, when you’re
considering paving your drive or patio, ensure the
contractors plan your site with drainage clearly in mind.
Prebbel is not the only contractor in interlocking paving in
Ottawa. However, when you visit its website, you’ll see that
it offers the company’s commitment to excellence, which
should encourage you to put them at the top of your list of
companies to call. Check out ICPI, inform yourself about the
industry, and you’ll be ahead of the game.
----------------------------
This article was reproduced by permission by
the people at Ottawa
Life Magazine.
A blooming fortune
by Julie Cazzin
Jan McCallum didn't know it at the time, but puttering in the
garden was one of the best investments she and her partner,
David Fenton, ever made. A couple of years ago, the pair spent
$1,500 and six weeks of their time transforming the nondescript
front lawn and back yard of their Oakville, Ont., townhouse into
a lush outdoor living space. They tore up the grass and planted
shrubs and flowers, then finished things off with a Japanese
maple they bought at a clearance sale at their local garden
centre.
McCallum and Fenton, both 44, had no particular ambition other
than to enjoy their garden. And so they did. "Neighbors were
always telling us how beautiful it looked," McCallum says.
Last fall, however, the couple enjoyed an even more pleasant
experience when they put their townhouse up for sale. It was
snapped up before similar units at a premium price — all told,
$40,000 more than they had paid for the home just two years
before. While they undoubtedly benefited from a hot real estate
market, McCallum and Fenton believe that their landscaping was a
major reason why their house stood out from the crowd. "What we
sold our house for was more than even the agent thought we could
get for it," McCallum says, "and I credit the garden for that."
Such tales are nothing unusual. When it comes to home
renovations, no other project delivers as much bang for your
buck as some well-planned landscaping. Most home renos are
money-losing propositions — you typically pay more for a new
kitchen or bathroom than you get back when you sell your house.
Landscaping, though, can actually put more money into your
wallet than it takes out. A Laval University study in 2000 found
that quality landscaping increased the value of a typical
bungalow in a middle-class neighborhood by up to 15%. The study
calculated that simply adding a hedge boosted a home's resale
value by 3.5%. On a $250,000 home that works out to an $8,750
payoff on an investment of about $350. The same study estimated
that putting in a patio boosted a home's value by 12.4%. On a
$250,000 home that translates into a $31,000 payoff on an
investment of $3,000. You won't find profit margins like that in
the stock market!
Experts we talked to believe that the right landscaping can add
as much as 20% to your home's value. "For higher-end homes, it's
a big feature," says landscape architect Bill Hewick of Acme
Environmentals in Toronto. "It's what sets a house apart, since
most people are planning to renovate when they move in anyway."
An eye-catching front, in particular, can help sell your house
more quickly. "A nice front yard takes a good picture," says
Lydia Ingles, a sales agent with Century 21 in Newmarket, Ont.
"When you're selling, it gets more calls and showings. In many
cases, it can even get a better sale price."
What do you know — money does grow on trees. And whether you
have a postage-stamp-sized city yard to work with, or a
sprawling half-acre lot, there are many ways for you to harvest
riches in your own back yard. Here's how:
Plant a tree
If you do nothing else, invest a few hundred dollars on a tree
for your front yard. According to the Laval University study, a
tree can boost your home's resale value by up to 9%. And there
are other payoffs as well. A shade tree helps to cool your house
in summer as well as enhancing your privacy and buffering you
from street noise all year round.
For maximum impact, choose a fairly large tree and place it
strategically. "Never plant a tree in the middle of your yard,"
advises Mark Cullen, the author of several books on gardening,
including A Greener Thumb. "As soon as you do that, you've got
your lovely, expansive 50-foot lot cut into two 25-foot lots.
Visually, you've sawed it in half." Cullen recommends you plant
your tree off-centre, in a corner of your lot or to the side of
your house. Best bets are an evergreen, such as a blue spruce,
or a deciduous tree with brilliant fall foliage, like a crimson
maple. Expect to pay $300 to $1,500, depending on size, for a
seven- to eight-year-old tree.
Keep up with the Joneses
The biggest and surest paybacks come when you're upgrading your
home to the level of its neighbors. So take a few minutes to
assess how your yard compares to others on the street. Do your
neighbors' well manicured lawns and flower beds make yours seem
bedraggled? Has everybody else upgraded their fences to cedar or
wrought iron? Then make it your mission "to bring your property
up to par with its neighbors," says Jerry Kirkland, a St.
John's, Nfld.-based certified appraiser and a past president for
the Appraisal Institute of Canada. "Concentrate first on things
that have been neglected. Take care of the driveway if it's
chipped. Make sure the landscaping is well kept."
For maximum payback, put your money up front — a front yard is
the first thing that potential buyers see and it leaves a
lasting impression. Suzanne MacDonald, the owner of Mac's Garden
Landscaping in Charlottetown, PEI, says even a little attention
to your home's curb appeal can go an awfully long way at resale
time. "I tell customers to do a nice front walk, door and
doorstep," MacDonald says. "All you really need are some basic
shrubs, a few perennial plants and one nice tree to spruce
everything up." Pressed for time? It takes only a few minutes to
place a couple of containers filled with colorful annuals by
your front door.
Landscaping can be addictive, so keep your ambitions within the
bounds of reason. What's reasonable depends upon your
neighborhood. You get great payback on improvements that bring
your home up to the level of others on the street, but payback
plummets in cases where you attempt to improve your home past
the standard of its neighbors. "Don't overspend, especially if
you have an average-priced home in a first-time buyer's
location," cautions Kirkland. "If you overspend by $5,000, you
can only get back a third or a half of that because potential
buyers are going to be able to buy the same property up the
street for less."
Set a budget
Kirkland suggests that homeowners abide by a simple rule — to
recoup your investment when you resell your home, restrict your
landscaping budget to no more than 4% of your residence's value.
If your house is worth $250,000 and already has some curb appeal
— an attractive front entrance and a healthy but boring lawn —
you can budget up to $10,000 for outdoor improvements. The
sample garden plans on pages 41 and 43 offer ideas on how to
allocate your dollars to achieve maximum payoff.
You can do a lot with even a couple of thousand dollars provided
you don't mind getting your hands dirty. "When people say to me,
'all I have is $2,800,' I say that's plenty if you're planning
to do a lot of work yourself," Cullen says. Hiring a contractor
can easily eat up half your budget, so the more willing you are
to dig, plant and hoe, the more you can save.
If money's tight, Cullen says you should forget about what's
called hard landscaping — arbors, gazebos and interlocking
brick. A deck alone could easily gobble up your entire $2,800.
Instead, he recommends putting the biggest chunk of your budget,
or about $1,500, to purchase trees and plants. Spend another
$300 on a simple plan or "blueprint" by a gardening specialist,
$200 for stakes, fertilizer, shovel and hose, and the remaining
$800 on enriching your soil with a mixture of compost and peat
moss or triple mix. That last figure may seem steep, but Cullen
says, "it's absolutely essential. Ninety percent of the success
you have in your garden will depend on proper soil preparation,"
simply because plants won't grow without nutrient-rich soil. If
your yard is full of clay, it doesn't matter how much money you
spend on greenery. Without high-quality soil, those pricey
plants and trees will wither and die — and so will your
investment.
Especially at the high end of the real estate market, it's all
about quality. Juergen Partridge, a Toronto landscape architect,
says buyers for homes in the million-dollar range demand
luxurious landscaping and will pay hundreds of thousands extra
for homes with extensive decking, interlocking brick patios,
stonework, arbors, gazebos and special lighting. "In the high
end market, the trend is back to nature and longevity,"
Partridge says. "If you're able to say that the porch is real
stone, there's value there. It's like saying your kitchen
cupboards are made of real wood."
Keep it realistic
You may admire the outdoor showplaces featured in gardening and
home decor magazines, but it's pointless to try replicating
those intricate, labor-intensive landscape designs if you're not
prepared to either pay someone else to do the upkeep or put in
the hours needed to maintain it yourself. "If you go to the
cottage in the summer, you shouldn't put a lot of plants in your
garden that flower during the summer when you're away," says
Cullen. "Instead, put in low-maintenance plants that flower in
spring or late summer, so that when you come back your yard
isn't a mess."
Get a plan
Even if you intend to do all the digging and planting yourself,
you should consider hiring a garden planner or landscape
architect to draw up a set of blueprints for you to follow. A
plan costs as little as a few hundred dollars and it can save
you time, money and frustration by making sure you're using the
right plants in the right places. "Without one, people often go
down a path that's just not working for them," says Cullen.
"They'll say to me: 'Oh, I've put two years into that plant and
it's still not blooming.' Well, a professional could have told
them it's not the right plant for that place." You can find a
landscape professional in your area through the Canadian Society
of Landscape Architects at www.csla.ca. You should count on
paying $300 and up to have a professional design a small lot;
for large projects involving wooden decks and interlocking brick
pathways, expect to pay $2,500 and up.
Susan Helstab and Bob Westrope are convinced that their
professionally designed garden helped them realize a profit amid
one of the worst real estate markets in recent history. In 1988,
the couple bought a 2,500-sq.-ft. bungalow for $550,000 in a
tony midtown Toronto neighborhood. Although the interior was
beautifully decorated, the landscaping left a lot to be desired.
The couple contacted a well-respected landscape designer who
charged them $35,000 to plant sculpted shrubs in the front yard,
put in an interlocking brick path and install a decorative
wooden fence around the perimeter of the yard. Four years later,
despite a lacklustre real estate market, the couple sold the
property for an impressive $610,000. "There is absolutely no
doubt that the landscaping increased the home's value," says
Bob, 47, a marketing consultant. "We got more than
one-and-a-half times our return on our investment when we sold."
You may find that simply having a plan on hand is enough to add
value to your residence even if you don't actually turn the
first shovelful of dirt. Landscape architect Hewick says he was
hired by the owners of a $1.2-million house that no one seemed
to want. Hewick drew up a plan for the yard, and the owners
simply laid out the plan for potential buyers to peruse during
viewings. That did the trick: in a week, the house was sold.
Be patient
Unlike plumbing or electrical work, landscaping is an area where
amateurs shine and a piecemeal approach is fine. You can spread
the cost and labor involved in planting a garden over years. Or
you can simply plant a few trees. In 10 years, a modest $300
sapling will grow into a substantial tree — and, according to
appraisers, a mature tree can add up to $10,000 to the value of
a middle-class home. In landscaping, if nowhere else, time
really is your friend.
We'd like to thank Marc Reppin of
MoneySense.ca for
allowing us to use this informative article on our site.
Fertile Ground
By Chris
Tayler, SmartMoney Magazine
Published
March 3,2003
This is
another very informative article that appeared in the March
2003 issue of Smart Money Magazine.
Reprinted by permission of SmartMoney. Copyright © 2003
SmartMoney. Smart Money is a joint publishing venture of Dow
Jones & Company, Inc. and Hearst Communications, Inc. All
Rights Reserved Worldwide.
YOU'VE DONE EVERYTHING
humanly possible to boost the value of your home: put a
trendy island in the kitchen, laid fresh carpeting to
replace that dusty '70s shag, constructed a spa-quality
bathroom bigger than most studio apartments. And now you're
scratching your head, wondering how to jack up your resale
price even more.
Look outside, silly.
After all, when well-heeled buyers pull up to your home,
it's not the luxury faucets or the gorgeous granite counter
they see first. It's the landscaping. And if your lawn is
patchy, your trees are on their deathbed and your plants are
a poor excuse for flora, it isn't going to matter what kind
of magic you've worked indoors. Those buyers may keep on
driving. "When people ask me how they can get strong
interest in their property, I always tell them to fix up
their landscaping,' says Walt McDonald, president-elect of
the National Association of Realtors. "If a homeowner is
reluctant to do it, I tell them they won't get top dollar."
That's the payoff. You will not only attract more buyers and
get a quicker sale but also probably get a welcome boost in
your sale price. "If you spend 5% of the value of your home
on landscaping, and do it wisely, you might get 150% or more
of your money back," says Massachusetts Realtor Gill Woods.
And sometimes that number can go even higher. If your home's
landscaping is on the low end for the area and you're
putting it on par with your neighbors, you could be looking
at a 15% rise.
Just ask Chuck Mitton of Cherry Hills Village, Colo. He and
wife Jean went to town on the nondescript backyard of their
ranch home a few years ago. A tangled mass of overgrown
plants became a three-level wonderland, complete with ponds,
waterfalls, dwarf conifer trees and fresh flowerbeds with
roses and azaleas. Oh, and don't forget the new
"hardscapes," such as a winding brick walkway, a backyard
hot tub, and a barbecue pit and dining area, where the
couple eat "almost every day" during warm weather. "If
you're going to do some landscaping, I'd say do quite a
bit," suggests the semiretired bookkeeper and investor, who
spent $60,000 on his additions. "Then you can enjoy it
yourself — and the value of your home will go up too."
The proof: When Mitton refinanced in 2001, the originally
$250,000 home was reappraised at $750,000 — roughly $150,000
to $200,000 of which he attributes to the landscaping.
"Landscapes take time to mature," says the 59-year-old, "but
I'd say people might be able to make 200% of whatever they
put in."
Plus, it can be fun. Gardening is one of the most popular
hobbies in America: In 2001 homeowners spent $37.7 billion
taking care of their yards, up from $22.5 billion five years
earlier, according to the National Gardening Association.
While the increase has been fueled by a maturing boomer
population and a spike in homebuying, people are also
clueing in to the fact that it can add dollars to their
home's value. And academic studies are proving it. A study
by Clemson University and the University of Michigan found
that consumers value a landscaped home up to 11.3% higher
than its base price. And one Quebec survey found that hedges
raised property values by 3.6%, a landscaped curb by 4.4%
and a landscaped patio by a staggering 12.4%.
In fact, you're going to have to do what you can to make
your property stand out, now that the housing market is
cooling. Most real estate watchers, such as home-price
research firm Fiserv CSW, are predicting slower price
increases in the coming years; other market bears are
warning of a steep drop-off. "Six months ago anything on the
market had people clamoring," says Woods. "In a cooling
market, it's going to be more difficult to get a buyer into
a piece of property. The key thing now is 'curb appeal.'"
Such appeal isn't just about your lawn, trees, shrubs and
flowering plants, though — these days you'll want to
consider popular hardscapes such as gorgeous walkways,
sweeping arches, full kitchen areas and barbecue pits,
elongated patios and decks, elaborate backyard retreats and
gazebos, and more. The stakes have been raised.
To put it into perspective: For a $500,000 home, on which
you spend $25,000 to spruce it up, even a modest gain of
7.5% would put $12,500 of straight profit in your pocket.
Though the result — a perfect yard — may look beautifully
simple, a thousand factors contribute to it, from dealing
with contractors and knowing what to plant to hiring
landscape architects and designers, and making sure your
costs don't spiral out of control. To sort out the
complexities, we've broken down the four big trends du jour:
curb appeal, the year-round yard, the sanctuary and bringing
the indoors outdoors. And we've got insider tips for every
stage of the process.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS, AS anyone in the dating game will
tell you, are key. So before you start designing that
luxurious backyard koi pond, get the front of your house in
order: mowing, weeding, trimming shrubs, putting in fresh
sod if you need to. "If you have a budget, it's important to
focus your landscaping around key areas," says Kevin Selger,
a landscape architect at Philadelphia firm Kling. "Something
that's going to be viewed a lot — like the front of the
house."
When the no-brainers are done, you can start getting
serious. The hot trend at the moment: beautiful pathways,
made of brick or concrete pavers, winding from the street to
the front door. "You have to eliminate the 'garage walk,'"
says Linda Engstrom, president of the Association of
Professional Landscape Designers, referring to the typical
3-foot-wide path that routes visitors from the garage to the
front door. Contractor Bob Novelli of Selbyville, Del.,
tackled the project on his own home, ripping up asphalt and
concrete and replacing it all with 1,800 square feet of
interlocking concrete pavers. After adding lighted retaining
walls and a screened back porch — at a total cost of around
$25,000 — he had his home reappraised at $325,000 this past
October, up from $225,000 in October 2001. "This project had
a lot to do with it," he says.
Make the path slightly staggered or curved to give it some
character. Place a wooden "pergola," or archway, over the
path to define an entranceway; one can be purchased at a
home-improvement store for a few hundred dollars. Flank the
path with Mediterranean-style pots featuring flowering
container plants.
Next, add some light. Low-wattage ground lighting to
sandwich the path is fairly easy to install and will boost
the effect immeasurably in the evening hours (do-it-yourself
kits are available from around $100). For showstopper trees,
add one higher-wattage lamp beneath. "It gives the whole
front yard a soft glow," says Maureen Gilmer, host of the Do
It Yourself network's Weekend Gardening and a nationally
syndicated columnist based in Palm Springs, Calif.
Redoing the front of your home can have spectacular effects.
Anneke Moore of Portland, Ore., tackled the project to get
her place ready for sale in 2004, when she and her husband,
Dan, plan to retire to Arizona. "I wanted the landscaping to
be an asset to the house," says Moore, a manager at a local
high-tech firm. "And I wanted it to have enough time to grow
into something special."
With guidance from Linda Engstrom, Moore installed a pathway
of concrete pavers, wooden pergolas to frame it as the main
entranceway and a boundary hedge to give the home some
privacy from their busy street. With those changes to the
front, along with a similar overhaul of the back — which
totaled around $25,000 — "I should be able to clear
$250,000," predicts Moore, judging from other recent home
sales in the neighborhood. Her original buying price for the
home 25 years ago: $70,000. "I was surprised at how much
hardscapes became part of the plan," she says. "It was a lot
more than somebody just suggesting plants to throw into the
ground."
Remember, low-maintenance plant material is best. Buyers
want the yard to look great, but they don't want it to be
labor-intensive. "I call it meat-and-potatoes landscaping,"
says Gilmer. Otherwise, "you may turn off buyers —
particularly downsizers." Also keep in mind that these trees
and shrubs are going to grow by leaps and bounds, so you
want to give them the space to do it. "The biggest single
mistake people make is overplanting," says Selger — say,
crowding two majestic oaks within 10 feet of each other.
"Plants grow. If you want instant impact, be prepared to
have maintenance problems in a few years."
THE NOVICE GARDENER might plant once a year, enjoy a
single blooming and not think about winter much at all. Not
that there's anything wrong with that.
But now it's time to take it up a notch. By smart planting
and giving color to the yard year-round, you've instantly
set your home apart from most others in the neighborhood,
which will likely be leafless and drab in the winter months.
At her home, for instance, Anneke Moore has nandina
"firepower" shrubs in the front yard, with their brilliant
red leaves, along with mock orange trees for some fragrance.
"Getting color in winter is not easily done here in the
West, so people go to evergreens all the time," Moore says.
"But now, in the winter, my yard is full of color."
Other ideas for year-round color, which are good for most
areas of the country: flowering shrubs such as viburnums
with their colored berries, or trees with colored bark such
as coral bark Japanese maples. Ornamental grasses, including
fountain grass and maiden grass, are hardy through different
seasons — as well as ultra-trendy and easy to maintain. And
always remember to match the plants to the home. Pansies and
petunias may be perfect for a cottage-style house, but not
for one that's sleek and contemporary.
Whatever you plant, insiders say the soil is just as
important as what's going in it — maybe more so. "We have an
adage around here: Plant a $50 plant in a $100 hole," says
Selger. One tip is to contact your local agricultural agency
(often on the county level), which can either test your soil
or refer you to a local lab. In a couple of weeks, you
should have an analysis of your soil, along with tips on how
to improve it. A few common problems: Your soil is either
too acidic (which requires lime) or too alkaline (which
requires sulfur), or there's not enough organic matter,
which means it's time for mulching or composting.
Likely your most valuable asset, though, is your trees.
They're also the perfect investment. "You buy a tree for $20
when you first put it in, and immediately it starts to rise
in value," says Mayita Dinos, host of the Do It Yourself
network's Weekend Landscaping and a garden designer in Los
Angeles. "It's one of the few things that appreciates over
time; almost everything else depreciates the minute you
install it."
When deciding which tree to plant, look around your
neighborhood to see which tree the municipality plants in
public areas. It's always very carefully picked, in terms of
hardiness in local weather conditions, susceptibility to
disease and structure that's not prone to falling branches.
Depending on your region, you might opt for oak, maple or
gingko biloba (which all do well in colder climes), crepe
myrtle (flourishing from the D.C. area south to Florida), or
magnolias and liquid ambars (best in areas with milder
winters), to name a few.
The payoff: You might get a buyer like Jane Billish of
Naperville, Ill., who owns a scaffolding business. Billish
and her husband, Scott, bought a property with a modest home
three years ago, attracted almost solely by the
three-fourths-acre wooded lot. "We'd all but given up," she
recalls. "Then I saw this place one Sunday morning, and by
the next weekend, we'd bought it."
But Billish figured there was even more value to be plucked,
so she brought in arbor specialists The Care of Trees. They
removed some diseased elms, which were crowding out
higher-value trees. They also did some pruning and
fertilizing, and now Billish has a property full of healthy
oak, maple, ironwood and hickory. In conjunction with
renovation projects Billish did on the house itself, the
property was recently reappraised at close to triple what
she paid. "We've made 200%," Billish marvels. "These trees
are such an asset, it's hard to adequately express their
value."
Most experts say that younger is usually better when it
comes to planting trees, but if you're selling within three
to five years, you'll need some size to get the full effect.
Maureen Gilmer's favorite size is 15-gallon — maybe 1 or 2
inches in diameter, around 8 feet tall — which will set you
back around $50 to $150. "The numbers I've heard are that
trees can enhance your property value as high as 5 to 20%,"
says The Care of Trees President Scott Jamieson.
Depending on where you live, going ultra-native with your
trees and surrounding landscaping can be downright trendy.
In the drought-prone Southwest, for instance, it's known as
xeriscaping, in which gardeners opt for a truly desert look:
sand, cactus and boulders, as well as a variety of native
plant materials such as mesquite, or acacia trees; cassia,
or "Texas Ranger" shrubs; sage; and more. Projects might
start at $2,000 without any existing turf, or at around
$3,000 if you need to take up your current landscape,
according to Robin Jablonski, a construction division
manager for The Groundskeeper in Tucson, Ariz. But talk
about easy to maintain.
ONCE YOU'RE DONE WITH the front of your house, your
next point of attack is the backyard "sanctuary." More and
more, people are valuing a private place they can retreat to
— away from work, from plummeting 401(k)s, from those
heart-attack-inducing news tickers on CNN.
And the key feature of any sanctuary is water: fountains or
small ponds that bring motion to an otherwise static
environment. "Water gardens are hot right now, and the trend
is only growing," says Nancy Jacks Montgomery, spokeswoman
for the American Nursery & Landscape Association.
For $500 to $1,500 you can buy a simple fountain, says
Gilmer (to have a contractor install it, it could cost
$1,000 more). Stick with classical forms, nothing overly
elaborate or tacky, and try calming colors such as a subtle
bronze or a moss green. For an even more budget-conscious
option, take a large terra-cotta pot, add a small
recirculating pump from a hardware store, and you can have
"a small water feature for under $50," says Linda Engstrom.
Or just have those pots collect rainwater, creating a
mirrored effect around the garden.
A more elaborate project is a small pond. Confident
do-it-yourselfers can tackle this for a few hundred dollars,
with preformed plastic liners from Home Depot or Lowe's.
You'll need a pump to keep the water moving (you might need
to call in an electrician to install an outdoor electrical
circuit) and the right chemical balance to prevent algae
buildup. Jazz up the effect with miniwaterfalls, smooth
river stones or colorful fish such as koi (although be
warned, that may attract some unwanted wildlife into your
yard). To have it professionally done might cost around
$2,000 for a basic pond and upward of $8,000 for an
elaborate setup, according to contractor Bob Novelli.
To have the water effect without the actual water, try a dry
riverbed, as Anneke Moore did. It not only looks terrific,
as a curving trench with artfully placed rocks, but also has
improved a drainage problem she'd had for 20-odd years that
had left her with a soggy basement. With the right design,
it almost becomes like a Japanese rock garden. "We're seven
minutes from downtown, and it's a real haven when we come
home," she says.
The crucial part of any sanctuary, however, is a seating
area where you can drink it all in and enjoy the fruits of
your labor. Get some additional privacy with tasteful wooden
screens, install a couple of wrought-iron benches, and make
sure you're not blocking your sight lines to the foliage or
water features.
One kind of water feature that may not be the smart way to
go is a monster backyard pool. If you're in a warm clime and
it's the norm for your neighborhood, then fine. But if
you're looking to make big money on the project, forget it.
"People tell me, 'I've got $75,000 in this pool — retaining
walls, cabanas, dressing rooms,'" says real estate agent
Gill Woods. "But are you going to find someone willing to
pay extra for those improvements? The answer, normally, is
no."
The reasons: One, it's a relatively high-maintenance
project; two, it might turn off safety-conscious buyers. "If
I have a small child, that's a danger for me," says Mayita
Dinos, noting that big ponds can give people pause as well.
"In this economy you don't want to be eliminating people
like that."
But get your sanctuary right and buyers like Robin
Whitesides might come knocking. When she was hunting around
Newport Beach, Calif., for a new home, the choice was clear.
She could opt for a property with awful landscaping and then
invest another $50,000 or so to get it up to par, or she
could buy a place with everything already in place. Guess
which one she chose?
It wasn't just the basics, either. Her backyard retreat
features year-round color shifting among the azaleas,
gardenias, camellias, lilacs and hibiscus ("something's
always blooming," she says), mature trees that screen out
the neighbors' yards and a wall fountain that's lit up at
night. She and her husband, Glen Esnard, have added their
own touches in the past year, such as flowing vines
(passionflower and scarlet trumpet creeper) and banana
plants and dwarf lemon trees, in keeping with the "tropical"
theme. The happy ending: They bought at over $800,000 and
had their home reappraised at about 15% higher in less than
a year.
IN THIS RECENTLY white-hot housing market, some
buyers have had to settle for less space than they would've
liked. The magic solution to the problem: Extend your living
space outdoors, especially in sunnier areas of the country.
In one shot you've increased your usable space. "It's almost
as if the wall between the indoors and the outdoors has come
down," says Bruce Butterfield, research director for the
National Gardening Association. "You're seeing outdoor rooms
and living spaces that have all the features of indoor
kitchens or family rooms."
That means cooking areas, such as a barbecue fire pit or
even professional-grade kitchen setups; elongated patios and
decks; or high-end gazebos. Just talk to Robin Whitesides.
In the top-of-the-line backyard that attracted her to the
property, she has a curved bar with seating for six, a
cooking area with a built-in barbecue and a refrigerator,
and a hot tub. "People are spending more these days on their
outdoor cooking rooms than their indoor kitchens,' marvels
Linda Engstrom. "Elaborate stone fireplaces, full kitchens
right on the patio. It's amazing."
Deck and patio additions are the natural way to extend one's
living space outside, and decks bring one of the highest
cost recoupings of any home project (76%), according to
Remodeling Magazine's "2001 Cost vs. Value Report." (An
indoor sunroom, by contrast, gets you only 60% of your
dollars back.) Redwood or cedar is still a high-end choice,
although more recycled plastics that look like wood are
being used for long life, according to Kling's Kevin Selger.
Redwood is a popular option for gazebos, too, and you can
even buy premanufactured versions that are dropped on-site.
A 10-foot-wide model might cost between $4,000 and $5,000,
says Selger.
If you're putting in significant hardscapes, make sure of a
few things. Don't damage the root systems of major trees in
your yard, which could potentially cost you thousands of
dollars. The Care of Trees' Jamieson even recommends roping
off areas around trees to the furthest reach of their
branches, at the very least. Also, find out whether you
might be about to dig into any utilities. Hit a gas line or
TV cables and you could be liable for repair costs — if you
don't check with the local public service commission. Once
your property is marked by the proper local authorities, "if
you do hit, you've covered yourself," says Bob Novelli.
Huge hardscapes are often the most expensive projects you
can undertake, so if you want to know up front what kind of
return your landscaping investment might get, "it wouldn't
hurt to talk to an appraiser," suggests Jim Park, director
of research for the Appraisal Foundation in Washington, D.C.
"They'll tell you whether what you're about to do is too
much — or too little." Check with the
Appraisal Institute or the
National
Association of Independent Fee Appraisers for member
listings.
Some folks, however, just follow their gut. Michael Wessels
of Salisbury, Md., recently went to town on his waterfront
backyard, so he could maximize the use of an area that had
been underutilized for years. Using Novelli's firm,
Hardscapes, he installed a patio of brick pavers, brick
retaining walls to shore up areas that sloped down to the
river and the piece de resistance: a hot tub recessed into
the patio. Wessels splashed $55,000 into the project on a
$450,000 home — more than many would spend, especially if
you're looking to flip. But he's planning to stay and enjoy
the work, and along the way he "without a doubt increased
the value of the house," says Wessels. "We live on the
Eastern Shore of Maryland, with blue herons, bald eagles and
ospreys all around, and this whole project helped to open up
more of the outdoors to our home. I can't say enough about
it."
SO YOU HAVE GRAND plans for your landscaping, a
veritable Elysian Fields in your own backyard. Unless it's a
quick fix, though, odds are you're going to need some help
along the way. Too bad that "everybody seems to have a
story" about a bad contractor, according to Los Angeles
garden designer Mayita Dinos.
Including her.
"I just came out of a project that was a royal nightmare for
everybody," she says of one client, who was installing a
pool. "[The contractor] didn't have the proper
subcontractors, it went way over in terms of money and time,
and they ended up firing him — and having to redo a lot of
stuff they'd already paid for." A couple lessons the clients
learned the hard way were that their contractor's license
had expired, which they could have checked in public
records, and he was hired by the hour instead of by the
project, which was practically an incentive for him to drag
things out. Here are some other things you can do to make
sure you have a good experience:
Get at least three different bids
Not just a total sum, but a line-by-line breakdown of
specific costs. And don't assume that you'll go with the
cheapest bid; more likely, if you're going for a true
balance of value and quality, you'll opt for a bid that's
"somewhere in between" says Dinos. (How much you can expect
to pay may differ by region, thanks to varying supply and
labor costs.) Hiring a landscape architect to do the initial
plans might serve you well too. Often he can work in tandem
with the contractor to make sure that no crucial corners are
being cut and that costs aren't spiraling out of control.
"Contractors have the tendency to do work that's easiest and
most profitable for them," says Maureen Gilmer, a design
consultant who also hosts a show on DIY. "Not what's best
for the client."
The perfect place to look for seasoned pros is Alca.org, the
site of the Associated Landscape Contractors of America,
which has a search engine for its 2,500 corporate members.
Find a designer or architect at Apld.org, the Association of
Professional Landscape Designers, or Asla.org, the American
Society of Landscape Architects.
Ask about licenses and insurance.
Make sure the firm has all the proper licensing — you can
check out your state's requirements at
www.contractors-license.org. Then, find out what
accreditation it has — preferably, it will employ a CLP
(certified landscape professional) or a CLT (certified
landscape technician), each of which requires extensive
testing. Finally, if a firm doesn't have any insurance
coverage — commercial and, ideally, liability, too — it
could end up suing you if something goes horribly wrong on
the job site. "Seventy-five percent of the people out there
today are driving pickup trucks with no name on it," says
industry pro Bob Novelli. "So you're almost guaranteed
they're not insured."
Go out in the field.
Evaluate the firm's past work by talking with past clients
and going in person to see how projects have held up. Make
sure that the work you're seeing is no more than five years
old. Why? "Workers change; equipment changes," says Kevin
Selger of architectural firm Kling.
Pay attention to the "maintenance period."
It's usually between 30 and 90 days after a project is
completed, and "during that time, a contractor is required
to return and repair anything that's not right," says
Gilmer. A tough-guy tactic: Withhold a portion of the final
payment until that period is over. And get any warranties
for plant material that you can. Many pros guarantee it for
a year, but 18 months is ideal, since that'll take you
beyond a full growing season.
WE ASKED NURSERIES around the country which trends
are sprouting up in local gardens. Here's the dirt.
Minneapolis
The city's planning department has encouraged locals to
install "boulevard gardens," or public gardens in front of
their homes. Because of the long winters, homeowners favor
hearty perennials such as black-eyed Susans and light-yellow
moonbeam coreopsis flowers. Even more winter-proof: the
locally crafted sculptures that have been steadily popping
up in yards.
Greater Boston
Ornamental grasses are in vogue here, in a variety of
colors, textures and sizes. Plus, in a colder climate such
as this, these grasses don't take over the garden bed as
they can down South. Two favorites: the low-to-the-ground
sedge, which does well in the shade, and the late-blooming
maiden grass, with narrow stems. In an effort to keep
year-round color, some locals are also opting for dyed
mulch, which keeps its reddish color longer than all-natural
blends.
Connecticut and Westchester County, N.Y.
Native and naturalistic plants are showing up in plant
stores more here, such as highbush blueberries, which have
beautiful color, and viburnums, whose fruit attracts birds.
Water elements are going natural too in the suburban New
York area: negative-edge pools are very popular, as well as
those with waterfalls. And in yards once victimized by
munching deer, spruce, boxwood and daffodil are the
pest-resistant plantings of choice.
Greater Atlanta
Once seen only on commercial property, computer-controlled
irrigation systems are showing up on more residences; they
can help regulate water use during droughts or bans. Home
systems start at about $1,500 — that's about 10 to 15% more
than a regular irrigation setup, but the systems will cut
water use by about 25%. Locals are also eschewing
disease-prone trees such as dogwoods or Leyland cypress in
favor of cherry, redbud and cryptomeria, some of which are
the same size and structure as the cypress.
Flagstaff, Ariz.
"Xeriscaping" is big here, thanks to the severe watering
bans from last summer. That means drought-tolerant plants
such as junipers, pi-on pines and the flowering "Purple
Robe" locusts; gardeners use heavy organic mulch to preserve
the ground's moisture. Also on the rise are rock gardens
made with locally found stones.
Jackson, Miss.
Gardeners have been replacing their roses with hearty
"Knockout" rosebushes, a hybrid that doesn't require
spraying and won't fall prey to black spots. And while
tropical plants — banana plants and hibiscus — are very
popular here and in Florida, some nurseries are reporting a
huge increase in requests for the sweet potato vine, which
comes in bright colors, such as lime green and purple, and
bears "fruit." Even though it's inedible, "once [homeowners]
see it, they want it," says Green Oak Nursery owner Karen
McKie.
THE HARD TRUTH IS that some backyard projects run the
risk of scaring away prospective buyers. Here are a few
splashy additions that not everyone loves:
Swimming pool
You see: Your home's crown jewel, a place to lounge and
entertain.
Buyers see: Constant chlorine monitoring in summer, an
eyesore in winter and an area they'll have to fence off so
the neighbor kids don't wander in.
Sport court
You see: A multipurpose area for tennis matches and
half-court basketball.
Buyers see: A huge patch of asphalt where a beautiful yard
should be. So much for their backyard sanctuary.
Tea rose garden
You see: The fruits of your intense labor and the most
gorgeous garden in the neighborhood.
They see: Intense labor for them, too, including continuous
pruning and the fending off of garden pests.
Fruit trees
You see: A picturesque and fragrant orchard.
They see: More pruning, rotting fruit that falls to the
ground and the omnipresent flies that feed on it.
Built-in fire pit
You see: Barbecue heaven for alpha males.
They see: An immobile stone monstrosity, when a small
"portable campfire" unit would've done the trick — and given
them more backyard flexibility.
Benefits of Landscaping
by Laurie Saunder
Director of Marketing & Communications Manager at
ALCA
The advantages of a professionally
installed and maintained landscape go beyond "curb
appeal" and head straight for the bottom line. A
well-designed landscape invites customers in the
door producing higher occupancy rates, increased
rentals and lower vacancies. However, the savings go
beyond occupancy when you consider that the proper
selection and placement of plant material can lower
heating and cooling costs by as much as 20% while
creating a healthier environment. The use of
landscape to lower noise levels, reduce crime and
enhance unpleasant views are economical alternatives
that add up to increased profits.
According to a study by Professor
Joel Goldsteen, landscape amenities had the highest
correlation with occupancies of any other
architectural and urban design variables evaluated.
His conclusion was "landscaping amenities pay back
the developer as evidenced by the higher occupancies
(and rents) clearly justifying the investment." A
shopping center in San Diego cites landscaping as
the reason for high occupancy and the ability to
charge rental rates that are double those of other
shopping plazas. The carefully designed project uses
landscaping to create a refuge in the midst of a
busy shopping area. A Chicago developer points to
unique interior landscaping in glass-roofed atriums
as a major selling point and reason the building
occupancy rates are 21% above the national level.
According to Judith Guido, Director of Marketing for
LandCareUSA, landscaping can add as much as 14%
resale value to building and speed the sale of a
building by as much as 6 weeks. In the ‘90’s, as
corporations are struggling to retain employees, the
benefits of using landscape to create an enhanced
work environment is a valuable sales tool.
In a recent Wall Street Journal
article by Lucinda Harper, entitled "Landscapers
Help Spruce Up Main Street," several revitalization
efforts around the nation were cited where landscape
was key to creating a sense of community and
bolstering the local economy. The city of Valdosta,
Georgia, according to Harper, had tried everything
from incentives to restoring the facades of
buildings only to find that $9 million in
landscaping brought shoppers to the district who
spend longer periods of time, which in turn, brought
more shops.
Two other studies, one by Mark S.
Henry of the Department of Agriculture and Applied
Economics at Clemson University and another by
Robert L. Degner of the Florida Agricultural Market
Research Center, University of Florida found that
landscaping contributed to higher resale values in
single residences. Interestingly, Mark Henry’s
study, " The Contribution of Landscaping to the
Price of Single Family Houses: A Study of Home Sales
in Greenville, South Carolina," pointed out not only
did homes with excellent landscaping sell 4 to 5
percentage points higher, but homes with poor
landscaping in neighborhoods with excellent
landscaping sold for 8-10% less. That means, if your
landscape is not up to the standards of your local
community, then it does have an impact. "Keeping up
with the Jones," means better business.
As you prepare for the spring and
summer, budgeting dollars for renovation and
development will certainly come into focus.
Landscape is an attractive alternative, which
"grows" with time. According to the studies, city
planners and developers, it can also pay back on the
investment.
--Laurie Saunders is the Director
of Marketing and Communications Manager at ALCA, the
association representing over 2,000 professional
interior and exterior landscape maintenance,
installation and design/build firms and suppliers
nationwide.--
I
suspected that landscaping our tired little backyard would boost our
home's value by up to 15 per cent (at least, that's what real estate
types say), but I had no idea it would also change our lives. The
ground was uneven, and our deck was so crowded with toys that we
hadn't eaten outside in four years. So we gutted it. Now, we dig
into juicy burgers out back and relax while the kids chase
neighborhood cats out of the sandbox. For a little more than the
cost of a new bathroom but less than a remodeled kitchen, we doubled
our living space – and quadrupled our fun.
It
started with a daydream about what we imagined doing in our
backyard. Gazing into a pond? Sounds lovely, but not child-friendly.
Sipping wine at a family barbecue? More, please! Fantasizing helped
us figure out what elements we needed to turn our vision into
reality. What would you do in your dream yard? If you love throwing
parties, then seating and cooking equipment will be more important
than garden beds. Or maybe you wish you could be floating on a lake
every weekend – without having to drive to the cottage. In that
case, installing a pool might be a great move. Or perhaps a big tree
is the answer if all you crave is a little shade.
To help you get started, we asked landscape designer Judith Adam of
Toronto to put together this inspiring package of creative ideas,
back-to-reality cost estimates (which vary depending on your
location and materials used) and a
handy printable worksheet you can use to make things happen. So
get comfy and do some dreaming – and don't be surprised if it
changes your life.
- Trish Snyder
One
of the biggest mistakes people make with pathways is building them
too narrow. I always make the front path four to six feet wide, so
kids, dogs and groceries can move along together without spilling
onto the grass. A secondary path – for occasional jaunts around the
side of the garage or to the compost bin – can be two to three feet
wide.
Casual stepping-stone pathways between recreational areas, such as
the patio, garden shed, swimming pool and cabana, are simple to make
and fun to use. The trick is to use flagstone pavers that are large
enough (at least 1 1/2 feet on each side), so that you can walk
naturally without falling off. When planning a patio, measure out
the space on your lawn (I use a rubber hose for this) and place your
furniture in it. Is there any room to spare? Can the soccer team
move through without bumping the table?
A patio measuring 12 by 16 feet can comfortably fit a table and six
chairs, but for entertaining a crowd, you should aim for 16 by 22
feet. If the garden has a slight slope, consider creating two levels
that are connected by a shallow step: one for lounging, the other
for dining. And whatever the protests of the men in your household,
don't let grilling equipment take up valuable patio space. Ask your
contractor to build a barbecue pad close to the rear door of the
house, where it won't detract from the outdoor ambience.
What it will cost
With a tight budget, precast concrete is often my first choice: it
is less expensive than natural stone and available in a variety of
sizes, styles and colours. Expect to pay a contractor $12 to $18 per
square foot for precast concrete pavers. Straight-cut flagstone
(made from sandstone, limestone or granite) costs about twice as
much. Flagstone can also be hand-cut into irregular sizes and fitted
together like a puzzle for a cottage-garden effect – the labour will
cost close to $35 per square foot. I often combine precast pavers
with natural stone for custom designs at a reasonable price. All
estimates include installation.
Pathway (five by 27 feet)
Precast pavers: $1,700 to $2,500
Straight-cut flagstone: $3,400 to $4,800
Patio (12 by 16 feet)
Precast pavers: $2,500 to $3,500
Straight-cut flagstone: $4,800 to $6,800
Retaining walls are used to build raised planting beds, create
terraces on a slope or separate your lawn from the sidewalk or road.
The strongest and most dramatic ones are made from boulders, which
give the visual effect of a rockfall. If you have space for such a
big construction job, it's my first choice. On a small city lot,
you'll want either straight-cut stone or a precast product.
Beautifully styled, faux stone wall units – made from precast cement
to resemble natural fieldstone – are believable substitutes, with
equal strength and lower costs. Overall, my best advice is to keep
retaining walls as low as possible: less than three feet high. If
you need more height, create two walls of staggered height, with a
planting bed between them.
What it will cost
When pricing a retaining wall, a contractor typically measures the
number of square face feet – the length of the wall multiplied by
its height. Precast blocks cost $28 to $35 per square face foot;
natural stone runs $50 (flat-faced) to $65 (hand-chipped for a
rough-hewn appearance) per square face foot. All estimates include
installation.
Retaining wall (two by 10 feet)
Precast blocks: $560 to $700
Natural stone: $1,000 to $1,300
Think of your deck as your outdoor living room – comfortable as well
as functional. A well-designed deck can become the focal point for
entertaining, so make it as large as you can afford – if space
permits, consider two levels. To save on expenses, avoid details
such as built-in planters (wet soil rots them anyway) and benches
(unmovable and uncomfortable).
Your choice of wood is crucial. I find the green tint of
pressure-treated lumber unattractive, and it doesn't take stain
evenly, but cedar is twice the price. A good compromise is
pressure-treated wood for the underconstruction and cedar for the
exposed upper areas. Both will last approximately 15 years if you
waterproof the wood every year or two.
For my money, the best choice is a composite product, such as
Nexwood or e-z Deck, made from recycled wood fibre, plastic, vinyl,
flax and fibreglass. It looks like real wood and comes in natural
colours and modern stain tints such as grey and teal. While the
product is expensive to install, the long-term advantage is weather
resistance: it won't rot, warp or require sanding and waterproofing.
Wood fences require less-frequent waterproofing because snow and
rain roll right off them – though soil contact at the base will rot
the ends of the boards. Aluminum fences are costly but
maintenance-free and long-lasting (20-plus years), and they resemble
wrought iron without the rust.
What it will cost
Contractors charge about $10 to $14 per square foot for a basic
deck, a railing and small stairs built with pressure-treated lumber.
Expect to pay $20 to $26 for cedar or $27 to $35 for composite
materials. Custom features, such as a built-in pergola, turned posts
and additional steps, will add another 30 to 50 per cent to the
cost. All estimates include installation.
Deck (12 by 16 feet)
Pressure-treated: $2,000 to $2,700
Cedar: $3,800 to $5,000
Composite: $5,200 to $6,800
Fences (five-foot boards with one-foot lattice top)
Pressure-treated: $23 to $30 per linear foot
Cedar: $35 to $40 per linear foot Aluminum: $50 to $60 per linear
foot
Gates, post caps and finials are extra.
I
prefer to place the pond near a seating area, where you can hear the
water and see it from a window.
To prevent the pond from becoming a breeding ground for mosquitoes,
it's essential to keep water moving with a jet or bubbler – setting
it to a low murmur usually gives the most soothing results. A
cascade can change the sound as the water drops from a rock into the
water below.
I like to give the pond a natural appearance by laying flat stones
and pebbles in the bottom. For the ultimate oasis effect, add
aquatic plants and koi carp – these fish can survive a Canadian
winter if the pond is at least three feet deep in one section.
Ponds aren't for the fastidious – the water may not be clear, you'll
probably be looking at algae and there is the necessary weekly
maintenance of clearing plant particles from the pump's filter and
cleaning out leaf debris. And remember: small children need to be
supervised around any depth of water.
What it will cost
All estimates include installation.
Small fiberglass (three by six feet) with a jet or bubbler:
$1,500
Medium rubber-lined (five by eight feet) with a cascade:
$2,500
Large rubber-lined (six by 12 feet) with a two-level cascade:
$3,500 to $5,000
An
arbour adds a romantic touch to any garden, especially when it's
covered with scented plants, such as New Dawn roses (a pink climbing
variety) or Goldflame honeysuckle. Arbours can mark the entrance or
exit to a garden area, or they can be free-standing on a lawn over a
bird bath. To create a lovely focal point, I sometimes place a wide
arbour against a wall or fence and a bench seat underneath.
What it will cost
All estimates include installation.
Prefabricated kit (redwood or metal): $250 and up Custom
cedar arbour: $800 and up
Smart lighting can make a big contribution to outdoor living. Even
small elements, such as spotlights on trees, can make a garden glow
throughout winter and create ambience on summer nights. Downlighting
from a height creates instant moonlight, while uplighting draws
dramatic attention to rocks and trees. Simple low-voltage kits,
including wireless solar lights, are inexpensive and easy to
install. (Just avoid those fixtures that look like miniature silos –
their industrial shape won't do anything for your garden.) I prefer
black fixtures, which are less visible than shiny silver and gold
ones. For a particularly prominent spot, you may want to have a
landscape contractor install premium fixtures, which can last up to
15 years but at a much steeper cost.
What it will cost
A 20-fixture kit of plastic lights: $60
Four metal floodlights with a timer: $70
Four metal solar lights: $100
Contractor-installed premium lights: $225 each
When they're well chosen, trees and shrubs add beauty and value to
your home. But they can devalue your property if they are too big
for their spaces, are full of dead wood or have roots that tear up
your drains.
A little research can go a long way. I encourage tree buyers to tour
their local garden centres to see what's available, then look up
their favourites in a gardening book or on the web. Make sure that
you have enough space for the tree's mature size, as well as the
right sunlight, moisture and soil conditions. In general, look for
trees that create filtered shade, have limited root systems and
won't drop too many seeds, flowers or fruit. Beware of aggressive
growers, such as large maples and willows – they'll strangle your
sewer system and drain every drop of moisture from the soil. If you
have a question about trees and shrubs, ask a horticulturist, not
the guy who maintains your lawn.
What it will cost
Spending a summer day floating in a pool with a drink in your hand –
it's an image that's hard to beat. Especially if it's someone else's
pool. Pools are big in every respect – size, cost and maintenance –
so if you're deep into a pool obsession, do a reality check and make
sure the move is right for you.
Start by considering if you have enough space to accommodate a pool
without handicapping all other uses of the yard. Allow for one-third
to one-half of available space for the pool, leaving room for grass,
a cabana and a patio area. If the pool fills the entire backyard,
reselling your home will be difficult, especially if the pool is
made of indestructible concrete.
When pricing your new pool, consider installation of electrical and
gas services, fencing, landscaping, lighting, winter covering,
chemical supplies, energy for the water heater and maintenance
costs.
Most pools need some surface touch-ups after three or four years,
plus repairs to the stone or cement skirt.
What it will cost
Pool costs vary widely depending on quality, style, materials and
special options. Add extra for features such as a shallow play area,
volleyball- and basketball-net systems, waterfalls, stone overhangs,
fountains, vanishing edges and spas with massage jets. All estimates
include installation.
Vinyl pool 350 square feet (with concrete skirt, pump,
heater, filter, ladder and steps): $30,000 and up
Concrete pool 500 square feet (with equipment, waterfall and
custom-aggregate or stone skirt): $45,000 and up
Cabana Prefabricated kit: $6,000 to $10,000 (plus
installation). Custom-made with sauna and outdoor kitchen: $25,000
and up
