What to Do
Episode: # 11 16/06/07
Presenter: Nigel Ruck
Winter is a good time of year to get some landscaping projects done, particularly hard landscaping. Things like walls, paving, decks and pergolas at which time, you can think about getting some plants in the ground, making full use of the entire growing season.
Now of course it is a simple fact of life that landscaping costs money, how much you spend depends on the nature and complexity of the design, whether you are going to do some of the work yourself or pay professionals, and your available budget.
One thing that is important and shouldn’t be overlooked is to have a design and landscape plan to work to, this helps to ensure all the elements go where they are supposed to, eliminates confusion, and gives you an overall big picture of what the garden will look like. Having a design drawn up comes at a price, but is definitely money well spent.
Some people are often a little taken aback when they get quotes in for landscaping, so Nigel takes a look at some typical features that you find and breaks them down to give you a ball park idea of what to expect to pay.
You should always be aware of any extra costs, things like council fees and permits, engineer’s fees, and excavation.
Paving obviously has the cost of the pavers themselves, which might be anything from around $30-$100 a square metre. You then have to allow for the installation costs which will very depending on the technique, anything from $70 to $80 a square metre, and then you have got to factor in any excavation as well as possible sealing. Just remember, for intricate techniques you will need to pay more!
We all love our water features and for a simple kit form you may pay a few hundred dollars. If you want something that is more intricate and custom built you can get into the thousands before you know it.
Walls are another key component, with a variety of construction material options depending on the walls function. Many requiring concrete footings and engineer’s specifications, and may also have a finish such as render, or cladding.
You also cant forget about the plants! No garden is complete without them and there are other features like decking, seating, electrical work, lighting and drainage all of which have to be paid for.
If you want to have crack at doing things yourself, make sure that you meet all the relevant regulations and building standards. Above all ensure your own and other people’s safety.
Remember, some things are best left to the professionals; there is nothing worse than getting stuck into something, making a meal of it only to end up forking out more dough to have the thing done properly.
It is a good idea to do some research on the cost of the things your keen to have in the garden, as this will help refine your design and work in with your budget. Get some quotes in, which of course can vary, but always compare apples with apples, and like Nigel says “if you pay peanuts you get monkeys!”
Presenter: Nigel Ruck
Winter is a good time of year to get some landscaping projects done, particularly hard landscaping. Things like walls, paving, decks and pergolas at which time, you can think about getting some plants in the ground, making full use of the entire growing season.
Now of course it is a simple fact of life that landscaping costs money, how much you spend depends on the nature and complexity of the design, whether you are going to do some of the work yourself or pay professionals, and your available budget.
One thing that is important and shouldn’t be overlooked is to have a design and landscape plan to work to, this helps to ensure all the elements go where they are supposed to, eliminates confusion, and gives you an overall big picture of what the garden will look like. Having a design drawn up comes at a price, but is definitely money well spent.
Some people are often a little taken aback when they get quotes in for landscaping, so Nigel takes a look at some typical features that you find and breaks them down to give you a ball park idea of what to expect to pay.
You should always be aware of any extra costs, things like council fees and permits, engineer’s fees, and excavation.
Paving obviously has the cost of the pavers themselves, which might be anything from around $30-$100 a square metre. You then have to allow for the installation costs which will very depending on the technique, anything from $70 to $80 a square metre, and then you have got to factor in any excavation as well as possible sealing. Just remember, for intricate techniques you will need to pay more!
We all love our water features and for a simple kit form you may pay a few hundred dollars. If you want something that is more intricate and custom built you can get into the thousands before you know it.
Walls are another key component, with a variety of construction material options depending on the walls function. Many requiring concrete footings and engineer’s specifications, and may also have a finish such as render, or cladding.
You also cant forget about the plants! No garden is complete without them and there are other features like decking, seating, electrical work, lighting and drainage all of which have to be paid for.
If you want to have crack at doing things yourself, make sure that you meet all the relevant regulations and building standards. Above all ensure your own and other people’s safety.
Remember, some things are best left to the professionals; there is nothing worse than getting stuck into something, making a meal of it only to end up forking out more dough to have the thing done properly.
It is a good idea to do some research on the cost of the things your keen to have in the garden, as this will help refine your design and work in with your budget. Get some quotes in, which of course can vary, but always compare apples with apples, and like Nigel says “if you pay peanuts you get monkeys!”
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