Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
- How does your firm determine the scope of work?
- What will my garden look like when it is finished?
- How are your fees determined?
- Who does the actual installation work?
- How is the installation company selected?
- How long does it take?
- When is the best time to start landscape construction?
How does your firm determine the scope of work?
We develop plan drawings of the pool, spa, landscape, hardscape and primary elements of the garden. The plan is developed during numerous meetings with you, your architect - if one is involved in the project - site visits, analysis of the architectural style of the home, and the site.
What will my garden look like when it is finished?
We work closely with you to develop a garden style that is a reflection of you and your home. We design all styles of gardens, however in our climate we tend to develop many English Country, Mediterranean, formal and informal Italian, and a more eclectic style specifically for Southern California.
How are your fees determined?
Fees are based on a number of things, review of the scope of the design project, amount of detail required for construction, amount of site time required, and the overall complexity of the site and the project.
We have a large base of various projects we have designed and these help us to assess the project to provide the design package at the lowest possible cost and still meet your design goals.
Who does the actual installation work?
We use only licensed, insured, landscape construction firms for our projects. Over the years we have developed a large base of qualified, experienced firms, skilled in all aspects of our field and they consistently build our projects to a finish level that is the envy of the industry.
How is the installation company selected?
After we develop plans to your satisfaction, then we select two firms with the necessary expertise for your project and let them bid competitively. After bidding and some final negotiation the contracts are awarded and commencement is scheduled.
How long does it take?
Projects vary due to scope of work, however a general rule is that if we construct a pool & spa, hardscape and plantings, the project usually takes from 3 to 4 month. Many things influence that and we work with you to develop a schedule that is as quick as possible but that permits the quality of construction we require.
When is the best time to start landscape construction?
In our Southern California climate, we work year round, with the exception of rainy days. We don't schedule plantings on excessively hot days since we don't want the plants to suffer heat stress. Generally any other time is good and we use the good weather we have as a tool to maintain a well paced construction schedule.