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Here are some Question and Answers

To help you with your upcoming Project

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Land Scaping

What is Softscaping?

Softscaping is defined as a reference to the live horticultural elements of a landscape; softscaping refers to most of the lawn care and sodding & sod installation.

When to use Softscaping in your landscaping designs?

Softscaping does an excellent job at accenting with your existing hardscape. Surrounding your walkways with flower beds and shrubs adds a nice touch to your property. In an earlier post, we discussed our Perennials are a great way to add colour to your landscape and require little to no maintenance other than the initial watering.

What is Hardscaping?

Hardscape is the hard stuff in your yard: concrete, bricks, and stone and is a benefit to a garden because it reduces potential erosion and keeps the ground intact.

What are retaining walls commonly used for?

A retaining wall is a sturdy structure often made out of stone or brick that's meant to hold soil in place. It's frequently used on hills and slopes to separate soil that's at two different elevations, which can help to prevent soil erosion and create a focal point in the landscape.

What are the telltale signs my retaining wall needs repair?

The common signs that a retaining wall is not functioning like it should are leaning, cracking or bulging. If the wall has already toppled then it is too late to remedy the situation and you'll just have to start from scratch, but often you can catch the warning signs before this is your only option.

How long should my retaining wall last?

For a permanent wall structure, the general lifespan is generally between 50 and 100 years. This does, however, depend on the conditions of the soil and groundwater at your site.

How much does it cost to repair a retaining wall?

A simple, small wall can cost as little a $800 to $1,000, while an involved project with backfill, labor and excavation can cost upwards of $20,000.

What do you put down under pavers?

Before laying the pavers, a layer of bedding sand is placed over the compacted base material. This layer provides a bed into which the pavers are set. The sand bedding also helps to protect the sand joints from being eroded away.

Do pavers add value to my home?

Adding pavers to your sidewalk or driveway is a great way to improve your home's curb appeal and add value. Beautifully designed pavers can easily enhance your landscaping, making its overall appearance more attractive.

How do I clean pavers?

Using a pressure washer to clean your pavers helps remove any tough stains and breakdown all buildups. Grass, leaves, dust, debris, and spills leave marks on your patio. You can rent or buy a power washer, or you can try a high-pressure setting on your hose nozzle.

Is it worth paying for lawn care?

A do it yourself lawn care program can actually be more expensive if you wind up making costly mistakes and have to pay to fix them. The cost of lawn care may only be slightly more than what you'd expect, and well worth the value it provides beyond dollars and cents.

What does lawn maintenance include?

Lawn care generally refers to maintaining the health, color and vitality of existing lawns through the years. Some services that fall under lawn care are pest control, weed control, fertilization, soil testing, aeration, seeding, deep root feeding for trees and shrubs and irrigation.

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New Construction, Reno and Remodel

Is a new construction home a good investment?

New construction homes require less maintenance. New construction homes are built with brand new, up-to-date appliances. Not only will these appliances come with factory warranties, but they will also last a long time before they need to be repaired or replaced. New construction homes come with warranties from the home builder. These can cover the house for up to 10 years.

What is most expensive part of building a house?

The most expensive part of the custom home costs is the cost of the finished lot. This cost may be lumped into what is known as the sales price, which is the most expensive part of any new home building budget.

What is the difference between remodeling and renovating?

The words "renovate" and "remodel" are often used interchangeably when it comes to real estate, contracting, and interior design. The difference between them is that a renovation refers to restoring something to a previous state, while a remodel refers to creating something new.

Is it worth renovating a house?

With a full kitchen renovation, homeowners can recoup about 59% of the cost, and a new master suite will typically return 50%. But the highest returns come from less flashy projects.

Is it better to renovate or sell?

Renovating is one of the best ways to strategically improve your home value, which means more money in your pocket when you eventually sell. Renovations do require up front costs, but if you have money in savings (or are willing to take out a loan), these immediate costs are often worth it.

What part of my house should I remodel first?

If you need to choose which room to remodel first, you will want to choose the room that will recoup the remodeling costs and create actual equity. Remodelling your kitchen or bathroom first is traditionally the smartest move.

Is it cheaper to remodel or build new?

If you want cheaper, remodel. Even a wide-ranging whole-house remodel will still be cheaper than tearing down and building anew.

How do I estimate renovation and / or remodel costs?

Typically, you can expect to spend at least $100 to $200 per square foot on any renovation. When you are deciding on your home renovation budget, it can be easier, and more affordable, to prioritize projects by room and build a budget around the cost of each individual project.

How can I reduce renovation costs?

Outsource any big jobs. Swapping to a more affordable material. Refurbish & Re-Use.

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