Design-Build Landcape Contracting

Ever wondered what some folks do for a living after they tell you who they are employed by? I don't know about you, but I have one of those wandering minds and quite often I find myself going in every direction but where I had intended. Some of that comes from being an employer rather than an employee, and all the hats we wear filling that role, the other portion of the mind drift comes from the left brain creative side. With a job description titled Design-Build,, then Landscape Contractor, we simply took the guessing game away for you.

There are many techniques and styles in this great industry, and the point of this post is to differentiate between how our style works, and how our competition's styles work.

The competition

With the competition you sit down, tell the designer what you want to achieve, and they come back with a sheet of black lined blueprint paper on a one dimensional, horizontal plane that to many appear little more than squiggly lines and geometric shapes. Further, the ideas, goals and dreams you took your time to communicate so well, get twisted and turned into how the designer envisions your yard should look. There are many reasons for his decision to push you into his vision, the biggest one however, being, that if he can create a landscape from micromanaged modules and shapes, his field personnel can simply install your yard much the same as cutting and pasting a letter on a word processor. Much the same is done with California tract home builders. He controls his costs, and maximizes his profits because he has put that proverbial thumb on his labor. In business, yes, we are entitled to turn a profit, otherwise, why would we continue the stress and strain we go through each week. In cutting and pasting landscape, particularly on a tract house situation, what is created is a one of a kind landscape that looks like every home on your block. There are numerous tracts of houses that as I drive through making my rounds, that I can tell exactly what contractor installed the work simply by the shapes being used. Columns with stairways, for example, are the most overused, inappropriate structures on a landscape, but, since 90% of the houses on the block have them, many people they should get them. The fact is, all they do is costs money that could go toward more useful things, and limit an already cramped space by directing people through them.

The second most overused item is some type of round thing directly in front of an entry door, protruding from the walkway. I have labeled these things G.R.T's, (Goofy Round Things), and the obtrusion created are usually accentuated by inlaying some type of stone or stamped concrete that is so out of form with the theme of the home that it reminds many of the basement entries lined with all the mismade tiles in Tijuana. So badly is this technique used that there are many examples of homes in the 2 mm range that use 7 or more different textures and surfaces in a 30' long front entry walk.

Once again, all these different styles are for the sole purpose of controlling costs and training purposes for the contractor, not the home owner. When the job is done, it looks OK, but if you are like us, a landscape project is the first thing people see when they pass by, or enter your home. This is exactly why OK, rather than perfect, will not work for us.

The way of the

Naturescape Landscape Company

You call us, and we return the call promptly, ask a few preliminary questions, and set a time and date to meet and review your project. We listen, and notate on a file we make for your account, and make a few suggestions along the way. There is a very funny quote from a well known TV cowboy actor from the 1950's that pertains to listening to you....He said, "Never miss a great opportunity to shut up!" Novel idea don't you think? You are our employer, so, we respond to you. Somewhere along this part of the conversation, we will ask you for a project budget, and, honestly, this is one of the most powerful tools you have to make your dream come to life. Since most properties are of similar size, it is very easy to give an accurate ballpark number to tell if what you ideally want to invest is realistic. (As a standard rule of thumb, 10-25% of a home's appraised cost is the budget for a complete landscape, with all the hard scape amenities.)
Most people in San Diego are very affluent, and know what they want to invest before getting a contractor involved, but we don't mind helping educate you if you don't know your budget.

We sketch a few things during the meeting, and then set a follow up meeting where we can show you preliminary drawings, and loose budgets per item you want installed. Finish surfaces play a very large role in determining what budget you will end up with, and we can cut and paste dimensions, surfaces, items, and even plant sizes and specifications to get most people within their budget.

We meet with you to go over any details you would like to see in the final drawings. Now, here is the interesting part about Design-Build work. NOTHING, I mean nothing ever stays exactly as the plans. Once we show your yard taking shape, your vision may change. We may see something that you might like once we get to know who you are and your specific tastes. More often than not, the bulk of these changes can be done within the given budget. And the Design-Build process, really becomes what the title says rather than the same job with a different owner.

The exciting part for Naturescape, being the contractor, is not only seeing YOUR DREAMS come to life, but being a part of creating something within set parameters. Weather it is that outdoor kitchen you always dreamed, a fireplace, swimming pool or spa, or brick paver patios and driveways, we create your vision while adding our expertise. We use smart watering systems that can detect rain, or drought, and adjust automatically to protect your plants, and our natural resources. When the last plant is in the dirt, and the final wheel barrow of mulch is spread, you can be as proud as we are knowing when we are done, no one has your dream at their house.

You can contact us anytime at info@naturescapelandscape.com, or call our office to set up a consultation today.