ᐅ Exterior landscaping and site work completed by the homeowner
Created on: 29 Feb 2016 09:17
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LeguritNow that the house is built and will soon have a kitchen – at least I hope so – it’s probably time to focus on the outdoor areas.
We need a terrace connected to the floor-to-ceiling, covered sliding door, a garden shed, drainage around the house, a platform, a access path, and a carport with a parking space in front.
Additionally, we still have quite a bit of ground to fill and a mound to sift through.
I feel confident handling the sifting and possibly the drainage myself (since the house is built far enough out that it should only be necessary to lay the pipe and then refill).
What are your experiences with the rest – is it doable as a DIY project, or is it better to hire a landscaping professional? I’m worried that if I do the paving, the path might develop holes, shift sideways, or wash out after the first frost. I also keep reading about retaining edging stones... are those necessary? I saw some yesterday that were about one meter (3 feet) high.
We need a terrace connected to the floor-to-ceiling, covered sliding door, a garden shed, drainage around the house, a platform, a access path, and a carport with a parking space in front.
Additionally, we still have quite a bit of ground to fill and a mound to sift through.
I feel confident handling the sifting and possibly the drainage myself (since the house is built far enough out that it should only be necessary to lay the pipe and then refill).
What are your experiences with the rest – is it doable as a DIY project, or is it better to hire a landscaping professional? I’m worried that if I do the paving, the path might develop holes, shift sideways, or wash out after the first frost. I also keep reading about retaining edging stones... are those necessary? I saw some yesterday that were about one meter (3 feet) high.
S
Sebastian7929 Feb 2016 09:22If I were you, I wouldn’t do anything except the sieving – do yourself a favor. You could still work as a helper with the landscaping crew.
Is drainage allowed? It’s usually installed beforehand, because now you have to dig deep again (below the frost line).
Is drainage allowed? It’s usually installed beforehand, because now you have to dig deep again (below the frost line).
Then maybe not a real one. It’s about a gravel bed around the house with a pipe inside, which will then be connected to the rainwater infiltration system.
Thank you for your kind words. What I do usually works quite well. I also get help from my (father-in-law), who is very experienced in manual work. I just don’t know what makes sense to do myself. My colleagues always laugh at me for not having done any work on the house myself.
Thank you for your kind words. What I do usually works quite well. I also get help from my (father-in-law), who is very experienced in manual work. I just don’t know what makes sense to do myself. My colleagues always laugh at me for not having done any work on the house myself.
Hello @BeHaElJa,
I see it differently than @Sebastian79. You can basically do all of this yourself. It’s mainly a matter of money, your time, and your craftsmanship skills.
We had the drainage and gravel around the house installed by an excavation contractor, and had the site leveled accordingly. We are now doing the finishing touches ourselves (just a little gravel needs to be added here and there), as well as installing the drainage around the terrace and the paving work. In total, we will have about 160m² (1700 sq ft) of paving and 100 linear meters (330 linear feet) of curb stones.
Of course, you’ll need proper materials and tools (a plate compactor, cutting machine, concrete mixer, screed rails, etc.), but within our circle of friends and family, we are well equipped. Also, my father (a very patient and precise craftsman, not a bungler) is semi-retired and looking forward to helping out.
If you still need to do major earthworks, such as large-scale excavation or slope grading, I would recommend consulting an excavation or landscaping contractor first.
I see it differently than @Sebastian79. You can basically do all of this yourself. It’s mainly a matter of money, your time, and your craftsmanship skills.
We had the drainage and gravel around the house installed by an excavation contractor, and had the site leveled accordingly. We are now doing the finishing touches ourselves (just a little gravel needs to be added here and there), as well as installing the drainage around the terrace and the paving work. In total, we will have about 160m² (1700 sq ft) of paving and 100 linear meters (330 linear feet) of curb stones.
Of course, you’ll need proper materials and tools (a plate compactor, cutting machine, concrete mixer, screed rails, etc.), but within our circle of friends and family, we are well equipped. Also, my father (a very patient and precise craftsman, not a bungler) is semi-retired and looking forward to helping out.
If you still need to do major earthworks, such as large-scale excavation or slope grading, I would recommend consulting an excavation or landscaping contractor first.
You can do a lot yourself, but keep in mind that it will take months, not just weeks.
Our neighbor did everything on his own. Because of his shift work, he was able to work on the landscaping during the time the kids were at daycare or school, plus every weekend. Still, it took him about a year. I simply wouldn’t have had the time.
Our landscaper came with heavy equipment and 2-3 workers and finished within 3 weeks. It was quite a significant amount of money, but part of it was refunded by the government through a tax credit. Also, I have a warranty if needed.
In our building area, many houses where the landscaping was done by the owners themselves or by “all-rounders” did not follow the correct height specifications. The terrace and pathways are often built so close to the plaster that with any snowfall or heavy rain, the waterproofing gets easily flooded.
Ground-level terraces without steps may look nice, but at least in our building documents, there are clear height limits for the landscaping. If you end up arguing with the construction company over water damage, you will have a serious dispute.
Our neighbor did everything on his own. Because of his shift work, he was able to work on the landscaping during the time the kids were at daycare or school, plus every weekend. Still, it took him about a year. I simply wouldn’t have had the time.
Our landscaper came with heavy equipment and 2-3 workers and finished within 3 weeks. It was quite a significant amount of money, but part of it was refunded by the government through a tax credit. Also, I have a warranty if needed.
In our building area, many houses where the landscaping was done by the owners themselves or by “all-rounders” did not follow the correct height specifications. The terrace and pathways are often built so close to the plaster that with any snowfall or heavy rain, the waterproofing gets easily flooded.
Ground-level terraces without steps may look nice, but at least in our building documents, there are clear height limits for the landscaping. If you end up arguing with the construction company over water damage, you will have a serious dispute.
Musketier schrieb:
You can do a lot yourself, but keep in mind that it will take months, not just weeks. I completely agree with you.
Musketier schrieb:
In our residential area, many houses where the outdoor areas were created by the owners or by "all-round talents" did not maintain the correct heights. The terrace and the access paths are lowered so close to or even below the plaster level that with every snowfall or heavy rain, the waterproofing is simply overrun.
Ground-level terraces without a step look nice, but at least in our building documents for the house, clear height specifications are given up to which the outdoor areas can be built. If you then have disputes with the construction company because of water ingress, it causes a lot of trouble. The appropriate heights, distances, and slopes must of course be followed, and proper drainage has to be ensured. You should carefully plan ahead and thoroughly study the technical instructions for the building materials used.
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