Home & Garden quote to do all the ground work and lay the sub base for patio areas according to the garden design and specification and to the levels set by the garden design. There will be economies of scale with this approach and the house builders will have the appropriate machines on site and the skills to do the ground works. The added benefit is that this ‘hard’ space can be used by the house builder for storing materials during the build and areas of the site which will be soft landscaped can be cordoned off to protect them and ensure that no rubble is dumped in your garden. An early garden design also means that the position of drain covers and underground services can be considered too, so there are no man hole covers right in the middle of the lawn or just outside the front door. Electric and gas housing units can be positioned out of the main views or screened appropriately. Once the garden design is detailed, landscapers can quote for all the hard landscaping and the soft landscaping so that a competitive price is obtained from specialists for all the landscping work. Some architects advise that the hard landscape work is added to the main house builder’s contract, but unless all the landscape plans were included in the original tender
you won’t have three competitive quotes. The other crucial consideration is that the house builders may not have the appropriate skills in landscaping and then you have to find competent people to do the soft landscaping later which is harder and sometimes not even practical (due to reduced access across newly paved areas). If the house and garden build can be phased, then once the house building work is done then a team of specialist landscapers can be brought in to do the hard and soft landscaping so that all the skilled landscaping work is done by experts who know how to set the correct falls /drainage and any other landscaping features which are detailed in the garden design. As with everything the devil is in the detail and having a good team who can help you will make the whole process run much more smoothly. If you are planning a house extension or new build and you’d like some professional help with looking at the total plot do contact Selina on 07894 553202 or see our web site for further ideas www.designsforallseasons.co.uk or our facebook page Selina Botham - Designs for all Seasons or follow us on Instagram @designsforallseasons
PRESTIGE CARPENTRY AND JOINERY Over 30 years experience in carpentry and joinery
SPECIALISING IN:
Bespoke free-standing and fitted furniture, kitchens and bedrooms * French polishing and antique restoration Spray and hand finished paints * All work is carried out in our fully fitted workshop
M: 07725 163336 E: prestigecarpentryandjoinery@gmail.com References are available
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