ᐅ Is the landscape gardener’s price justified – can anything be omitted?
Created on: 10 Sep 2019 15:18
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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.
Oleg works for below minimum wage. He has to fully cover his own insurance. With minimum wage, the employer still pays their share for experts. Oleg also needs experts in some form.
I just don’t understand why Oleg puts up with this. For 11 euros he can stock shelves and is properly registered and insured in Germany.
I just don’t understand why Oleg puts up with this. For 11 euros he can stock shelves and is properly registered and insured in Germany.
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HilfeHilfe12 Sep 2019 13:42fragg schrieb:
Something that just came to mind:
In this area, there are two property maintenance service providers who also do landscaping work. Trained landscapers really cost a lot. However, for paving, you don’t necessarily need a trained professional; someone unskilled who has done it for 1–2 years can pave almost as well as a landscaper, but they only get about $9.50 per hour.
The same goes for concrete work on foundations or building spike protection. Oleg does this just as well as a trained landscaper for $9 per hour. Check out classified ads for general craftsmen offering a variety of skills. Yeah, yeah, whining. Then just replace 9 euros with 10 euros or 11 euros or 12.50. (The guys at DHL get 12.50 euros, but only if they work directly for DHL. As subcontractors, it’s more like 10.)
Gardeners specializing in garden and landscape construction (GALA construction) earn 16 euros+ per hour.
Gardeners specializing in garden and landscape construction (GALA construction) earn 16 euros+ per hour.
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Matthew0312 Sep 2019 15:46€13.65 as a delivery charge, if it's done properly
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HilfeHilfe12 Sep 2019 16:10fragg schrieb:
Yeah, yeah, whining. Just change 9 euros to 10, 11, or 12.50 euros. (The guys at DHL get 12.50 euros, but only if they work directly for DHL. As subcontractors, it’s more like 10.)
Gardeners specializing in landscaping and grounds maintenance (GALA construction) earn 16 euros+ per hour. You also think landscaping is a job for idiots and only done by cheap foreign workers. But when it comes to doing it yourself, you’re just too clueless.
HilfeHilfe schrieb:
You think landscaping is a job for idiots and only done by cheap foreigners. But when it comes to doing it yourself, you’re just too stupid for it. Reading is not your strong suit, is it?
I DO everything myself, that’s exactly what I also recommended. So QED, landscaping is a job for idiots — even I can do it.
However, as I already explained in my detailed post here, there are things I would have done by professionals. For example, paving the driveway—I simply don’t have the right equipment for that. But that could just as well be done by someone who isn’t a landscaper but knows what they’re doing and has the necessary equipment.
You need a landscaper when you’re dealing with real landscaping work. These guys are GARDENERS, even if that’s not clear to you. They enjoy paving concrete blocks just as much as an electrician enjoys chasing walls.
When it comes to whole trees, creating garden layouts, embankments, working with dry stone walls for support, L-shaped retaining walls, water features, irrigation systems, themed gardens, a touch of architecture, pond construction, garden DESIGN, and so on. Of course, a janitor service is out of their depth there. And in those cases, €18 (around $20) per hour is justified. But not for concreting lawn edging stones.
What did you pay your landscaper?
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