– by Colin Eaton, Garden City Tree & Landscape –
You don’t want cheap, you want cost effective!
I always recommend the services of our designer whenever I am introduced to a large or complicated landscape project. The completion of a landscape design is like the blueprint for a house. It provides invaluable information such as:
• A visual depiction of the project so you know what to expect and the contractor has a clear idea of the end product.
• A proper landscape design will be to scale, so contractors will be able to more accurately estimate time and materials.
• A material list will be provided, to ensure the quality and type of materials you desire.
• Elevations within the property can be shown on the design, this provides topographical information to those quoting on the project.
Additionally, it provides the experience of someone that has lived and breathed landscape for years; an expert.
A landscape design can act as a control mechanism for you, the property owner. Accurate information on the design means you have the ability to obtain competitive and accurate quotes. In the absence of a professional design, you can expect significant disparities in quoting prices. This is mostly due to the fact that each contractor will have their own take on the end product and how to get there. A design takes out the variable, and allows you to control the cost of your landscape project more effectively. A typical design can range from $850-$2500, but it is an expense that will quickly pay dividends for your peace of mind.
Not every landscape project requires a design. Some projects are so straightforward that a design is wasted time and expense. But in the absence of a proper design, expect a huge disparity in price. In this field it is very easy to cut corners and still make the end product look alive and inviting. You will never know the difference between an incorrectly designed landscape and that completed by seasoned professionals, for the first few years at least, until it all starts to fall apart.
Not a week goes by where we are not called in to repair incorrectly installed or poorly laid out landscapes. In each instance a designer would have prevented the problems we regularly encounter and the cost of the design would have been saved tenfold. You don’t want cheap work, you want cost effective work!
For more information visit www.victoriagardencity.ca
