ᐅ Is the landscape gardener’s price justified – can anything be omitted?
Created on: 10 Sep 2019 15:18
C
chrisw81
Dear forum members,
Next year, we plan to start developing our garden:
Plot size 600 m² (about 6460 sq ft), house footprint 100 m² (currently being completed), shed 24 m² already on site.
Paving for the parking area about 50 m² (about 540 sq ft), plus a path to the house around 10 m² (about 108 sq ft).
Deck made of Bangkirai wood, max. 30 m² (about 320 sq ft).
Rainwater infiltration via drainage (concrete rings 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) deep).
Also need to level the ground (parts require raising by 10–20 cm (4–8 inches)).
The landscaper plans to remove and transport 15 cm (6 inches) of soil everywhere, with excavation for the parking and terrace being a bit deeper.
Due to the 15 cm (6 inches) excavation and ground raising, several cubic meters of new soil will be needed.
Rolled turf will be laid on top.
The total price for everything including materials is 48,000 euros gross, calculated for only 250 m² (about 2690 sq ft) of garden area, with a minimal estimate for the filling as well.
So, it could easily end up costing even more.
Transport costs for removal and delivery represent a large portion, and building the terrace alone costs €10,000 (which seems a bit high to me).
My question is: Is this price justified? I expected it to be considerably less. I would estimate material costs and transport fees at about €15,000 (maybe €20,000) net, leaving a rather high labor cost of around €15,000–20,000 net.
That seems quite a lot for roughly two weeks of work.
Unfortunately, the offer does not separate material prices and hourly wages.
Maybe there’s room to save in some areas, for example, is it necessary to remove 15 cm (6 inches) everywhere if some areas are going to be filled further anyway?
Have you paid similar amounts?
I look forward to your opinions and experiences.
I can also share the offer document if needed.
Next year, we plan to start developing our garden:
Plot size 600 m² (about 6460 sq ft), house footprint 100 m² (currently being completed), shed 24 m² already on site.
Paving for the parking area about 50 m² (about 540 sq ft), plus a path to the house around 10 m² (about 108 sq ft).
Deck made of Bangkirai wood, max. 30 m² (about 320 sq ft).
Rainwater infiltration via drainage (concrete rings 1.60 m (5 ft 3 in) deep).
Also need to level the ground (parts require raising by 10–20 cm (4–8 inches)).
The landscaper plans to remove and transport 15 cm (6 inches) of soil everywhere, with excavation for the parking and terrace being a bit deeper.
Due to the 15 cm (6 inches) excavation and ground raising, several cubic meters of new soil will be needed.
Rolled turf will be laid on top.
The total price for everything including materials is 48,000 euros gross, calculated for only 250 m² (about 2690 sq ft) of garden area, with a minimal estimate for the filling as well.
So, it could easily end up costing even more.
Transport costs for removal and delivery represent a large portion, and building the terrace alone costs €10,000 (which seems a bit high to me).
My question is: Is this price justified? I expected it to be considerably less. I would estimate material costs and transport fees at about €15,000 (maybe €20,000) net, leaving a rather high labor cost of around €15,000–20,000 net.
That seems quite a lot for roughly two weeks of work.
Unfortunately, the offer does not separate material prices and hourly wages.
Maybe there’s room to save in some areas, for example, is it necessary to remove 15 cm (6 inches) everywhere if some areas are going to be filled further anyway?
Have you paid similar amounts?
I look forward to your opinions and experiences.
I can also share the offer document if needed.
H
HilfeHilfe17 Sep 2019 09:21I would do it alone! In the end, you won’t even notice the stones laid 2cm (1 inch) off level and you’ll be proud to have built something yourself!
50k! Unbelievable to me.
50k! Unbelievable to me.
HilfeHilfe schrieb:
I would do it myself! In the end, you won’t notice the stones laid 2 cm (1 inch) off, and you’ll be proud to have built something yourself!
50k! Unimaginable to me If you do it yourself, it won’t be crooked; on the contrary, you put in much more effort. However, it will most likely take longer. We just laid our roll-out lawn last week after spending a long time removing weeds and stones, digging over the area, and loosening the soil with compost. You don’t have to do everything at once or as fast as possible, but you can save a lot of money and enjoy what you have accomplished yourself.
Best regards
Sabine
H
hampshire17 Sep 2019 10:58HilfeHilfe schrieb:
I would do it myself! In the end, you don't notice the 2cm (1 inch) misaligned stones and you are proud to have helped build it yourself!
50k! Unimaginable to me What seems unimaginable to you is apparently not just the amount, but also the project scale. Handling 100 tons of stone, with individual pieces weighing up to 2 tons, by ourselves was simply too much and would have taken too long. We also lacked the confidence to properly and permanently shape and support the slope and drainage of the steep driveway. Respect to those who do it themselves.
So, we only had the first step done—that’s all. There is plenty of space on the property to add another 100 tons of stone sensibly, plant extensively, and develop the area. We really enjoy working in the garden and on the grounds.
H
HilfeHilfe17 Sep 2019 14:40hampshire schrieb:
It seems that for you, the unimaginable part is not only the amount but also the scale of the project. Handling 100 tons of stones, with individual pieces weighing up to 2 tons, by ourselves was simply too much and would have taken too long. In addition, we didn’t feel confident enough to properly shape and securely support the slope and drainage of the steep driveway to ensure it would be stable and durable. Respect to those who do it themselves.
So we only had the first step done—that’s all. There is plenty of space on the property to add another 100 tons of stone, plant a lot, and create the landscape. We really enjoy working in the garden and on the grounds. For $50k, I’m happy to take my time...
haydee schrieb:
Retaining walls with stones weighing up to 2 tons and drainage done as DIY?
Then you might as well build your own house.
That’s not comparable to 100sqm (1,076 sq ft) of paving work for courtyard, path, and terrace.Exactly, for one you need a landscaping professional, and for the other you need an Oleg, hilfehilfe, or DHL courier. :PSimilar topics