ᐅ Affordable landscaping for a new build – what is the best approach?
Created on: 9 Apr 2022 11:16
M
MarkoW.
Good morning everyone,
As some of you may have heard, we are building a semi-detached house as a prefabricated home. As is common with most suppliers, the exterior landscaping is not included in the price. So, we have to take care of that ourselves.
I have read up extensively on the topic but unfortunately keep finding very conflicting prices and cost estimates.
Just a few days ago, there was a thread where someone wanted to spend six figures on their garden—I nearly fell off my chair.
So, about our garden: The area behind the house is roughly 230 square meters (2,476 square feet), a bit over 10 meters (33 feet) wide and just over 20 meters (66 feet) long. We plan to build a simple paved terrace, which will probably be slightly higher than the rest of the garden later on. The house (being timber frame construction) has to be elevated 30cm (12 inches) above ground level. Since we want level access to the terrace from the house, it will be built flush with the door, and the lawn will then be slightly lower. We will also need to install drainage between the terrace and the house to prevent water from running into the building. That shouldn’t be a problem because the rainwater downpipes’ drainage also runs in that area. According to online sources, paving the terrace costs around 100 euros per square meter (approximately $100 per 10.8 square feet).
Regarding the fence, we will of course coordinate with our future neighbors. We’re considering separating the terrace from the neighbor with gabion walls (about 4 meters / 13 feet long). The rest of the garden will be enclosed with a welded wire fence (please no debate about the fence type—the development plan requires hedges, chain-link fencing, or welded wire fencing). On various websites, I calculated prices for this. About 50 meters (164 feet) of fencing (1.8 meters / 6 feet high and 2 meters / 6.5 feet wide per panel), including posts, costs around 4,000 euros. Privacy screening strips might be added, but they can be easily installed by ourselves, so I am leaving those out for now (around 700 euros).
We also want a lawn. I think rolled turf looks best, though I’ve also read about very different prices here. When searching for prices, about 10 euros per square meter (approximately $10 per 10.8 square feet) is displayed. Alternatively, we could sow grass seed ourselves, but then there is the risk that birds will eat it.
No flowers, trees, or shrubs are initially planned. To the right of the house, we want a garage (we have quotes starting at 15,000 euros for an 8 x 3 meter (26 x 10 feet) prefabricated garage with electricity, foundation, and installation).
The driveway / front garden can only be done once the construction access road is removed.
So what makes the garden so expensive? I’ve estimated my calculated costs:
Terrace: 40 sqm x 100 euros = 4,000 euros (possibly a bit more if more base material is needed)
Rolled turf: 200 sqm x 10 euros = 2,000 euros
Fence: 4,000 euros
That brings the total to about 10,000 euros (with the terrace costs including labor).
Then there is additional labor for the fence and lawn installation (unfortunately, I don’t feel confident doing this myself, and none of my acquaintances can either). Is labor really the main factor driving the cost so high? What labor costs would you estimate for these jobs?
Also, does it make sense to install the garage only after completing the garden work? Otherwise, it would be difficult to bring in excavators and other machinery.
What other tips would you have for keeping the garden as affordable as possible?
By the way, the plot used to be farmland, so it’s flat and the soil should be good for this kind of work.
As some of you may have heard, we are building a semi-detached house as a prefabricated home. As is common with most suppliers, the exterior landscaping is not included in the price. So, we have to take care of that ourselves.
I have read up extensively on the topic but unfortunately keep finding very conflicting prices and cost estimates.
Just a few days ago, there was a thread where someone wanted to spend six figures on their garden—I nearly fell off my chair.
So, about our garden: The area behind the house is roughly 230 square meters (2,476 square feet), a bit over 10 meters (33 feet) wide and just over 20 meters (66 feet) long. We plan to build a simple paved terrace, which will probably be slightly higher than the rest of the garden later on. The house (being timber frame construction) has to be elevated 30cm (12 inches) above ground level. Since we want level access to the terrace from the house, it will be built flush with the door, and the lawn will then be slightly lower. We will also need to install drainage between the terrace and the house to prevent water from running into the building. That shouldn’t be a problem because the rainwater downpipes’ drainage also runs in that area. According to online sources, paving the terrace costs around 100 euros per square meter (approximately $100 per 10.8 square feet).
Regarding the fence, we will of course coordinate with our future neighbors. We’re considering separating the terrace from the neighbor with gabion walls (about 4 meters / 13 feet long). The rest of the garden will be enclosed with a welded wire fence (please no debate about the fence type—the development plan requires hedges, chain-link fencing, or welded wire fencing). On various websites, I calculated prices for this. About 50 meters (164 feet) of fencing (1.8 meters / 6 feet high and 2 meters / 6.5 feet wide per panel), including posts, costs around 4,000 euros. Privacy screening strips might be added, but they can be easily installed by ourselves, so I am leaving those out for now (around 700 euros).
We also want a lawn. I think rolled turf looks best, though I’ve also read about very different prices here. When searching for prices, about 10 euros per square meter (approximately $10 per 10.8 square feet) is displayed. Alternatively, we could sow grass seed ourselves, but then there is the risk that birds will eat it.
No flowers, trees, or shrubs are initially planned. To the right of the house, we want a garage (we have quotes starting at 15,000 euros for an 8 x 3 meter (26 x 10 feet) prefabricated garage with electricity, foundation, and installation).
The driveway / front garden can only be done once the construction access road is removed.
So what makes the garden so expensive? I’ve estimated my calculated costs:
Terrace: 40 sqm x 100 euros = 4,000 euros (possibly a bit more if more base material is needed)
Rolled turf: 200 sqm x 10 euros = 2,000 euros
Fence: 4,000 euros
That brings the total to about 10,000 euros (with the terrace costs including labor).
Then there is additional labor for the fence and lawn installation (unfortunately, I don’t feel confident doing this myself, and none of my acquaintances can either). Is labor really the main factor driving the cost so high? What labor costs would you estimate for these jobs?
Also, does it make sense to install the garage only after completing the garden work? Otherwise, it would be difficult to bring in excavators and other machinery.
What other tips would you have for keeping the garden as affordable as possible?
By the way, the plot used to be farmland, so it’s flat and the soil should be good for this kind of work.
WilderSueden schrieb:
It’s quite simple. You take a long straightedge and place it on the base structure so it rests evenly all over. Then you use a spirit level with two bubbles (one for 0 degrees, one for 2 degrees) and if the 2-degree bubble is level, everything is fine. Otherwise, adjust with a shovel. And if you end up at 1.5 or 2.5 degrees, it’s not a big deal.Sorry, but these tips don’t really work here… And it’s not that simple after all…
(A long straightedge has to be googled first now 😉 )
C
chand198610 Apr 2022 11:20K a t j a schrieb:
As a landowner, it is your moral duty to contribute to the preservation of the environment for future generations. Can’t it be a bit less dramatic? The immediate finger wagging is very German…
If you bring up moral duty tied to land ownership, it should primarily focus on housing efficiency to avoid land sealing from the start. The first obligation would therefore be NOT to build a single-family house, but rather a multi-family building. Now remember your inheritance thread regarding your single-family house. Notice anything?
Hypocritical lectures won’t make anyone reconsider their views.
I want to raise the question as a prompt: why even have a garden plot if you don’t want to make use of it? A very large terrace, maybe a penthouse apartment, would have been the better choice then, wouldn’t it?
K a t j a schrieb:
Wrong. See #24. I’d actually be interested to know if your development plan says anything about that. Have you looked into it? Yes, I just checked again. It only mentions the planting along the street and the noise protection berms. Otherwise, it just says you’re not allowed to fully cover your property with concrete or seal it completely (floor space index). Which would actually be perfect for me 😉 Just kidding, before anyone gets upset again.
ypg schrieb:
I respect everyone’s preferences. But introducing unnecessary plastic products into nature is something that needs to be called out sometimes.
So, you’re really going hard with your thread on false assumptions—which is fine; that’s what forums are for: to inform.
But it’s also up to you to read carefully:
I didn’t attack you, I just shared information (among other things) about environmental damage. It’s up to you to reflect on that. I took your "I’m out" as meaning you strongly disapprove of what I want. But right now, 80 to 90% of gardens and outdoor areas in new housing developments look like that. That’s just what’s “modern” at the moment. Like driving SUVs, which also isn’t exactly great for the environment. And I find your advice (also in other threads) very sensible. You clearly seem to have a green thumb 🙂
driver55 schrieb:
Okay, then at the end of the day, it’s just mowing the lawn. (Not even seeding.)
You’ll have to get a landscape gardener to come and create a plan. Warning! It costs money! Then request 2, 3, or 4 quotes.
But the topic is probably done for 2022 already. Implementation in spring 2023. Is seeding really that much work? Spring 2023 would be ideal anyway, the house probably won’t be finished until the end of this year or early next year.
haydee schrieb:
Uh, lawn as you plan it is about the most maintenance-intensive thing there is.
At least twice a week mowing, regular watering, aerating, fertilizing, sometimes weed removal. I was (naively?) thinking of my parents’ lawn. They only mow it every 1 to 2 weeks (still conventional, no robot mower) and aerate twice a year.
B
Benutzer20010 Apr 2022 11:55MarkoW. schrieb:
Is sowing really that complicated? Can you breathe on your own? If yes, then you already have the right qualification for sowing 😉 . You can rent a seeding aid for 5€ to ensure an even spread, lightly cultivate the soil, and until the first mowing, just make sure it’s watered properly. That’s all there is to it.
This is not lawn. You have weeds, which turn brown in summer and resemble more of a meadow. You don’t want weeds.
Low-maintenance landscaping is natural. Carefully selected plants that cope with the natural conditions and suit the location. No bare soil. Properly designed, it improves the microclimate on the terrace.
What you see in 90% of new housing developments is unimaginative, often cheap-looking, and causes problems.
Think about how much of that expensive sod remains after a year without watering or regular mowing. There are grass mixes that tolerate drought and don’t need mowing for weeks in summer, but weeds appear, and you have to overseed and water yourself.
Low-maintenance landscaping is natural. Carefully selected plants that cope with the natural conditions and suit the location. No bare soil. Properly designed, it improves the microclimate on the terrace.
What you see in 90% of new housing developments is unimaginative, often cheap-looking, and causes problems.
Think about how much of that expensive sod remains after a year without watering or regular mowing. There are grass mixes that tolerate drought and don’t need mowing for weeks in summer, but weeds appear, and you have to overseed and water yourself.
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