Landscape and Irrigation is read by decision makers throughout the landscape and irrigation markets — including contractors, landscape architects, professional grounds managers, and irrigation and water mgmt companies and reaches the entire spetrum.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/108761
Landscape Design and Construction Pre-Construction Planning ith the slow recovery of the housing market, many homeowners have opted for home improvements in lieu of relocation, particularly for their outdoor spaces. Families are choosing to add at-home outdoor retreats that they can enjoy yearround instead of taking that week-long vacation; a place that not only adds value to their everyday lives, but also adds value to their home. And upgrading a home's outdoor space proves to be a worthy investment with the growing outdoor living trends, especially for outdoor kitchens and other entertainment features. However, despite the fact that outdoor kitchens and living rooms add more value to the home for less cost than under-beam construction, many homeowners shy away from their dream scenario for fear of overextending the budget. Learning how to properly design and phase an outdoor living project can help landscape contractors capitalize on industry trends and also create long-term relationships that result in increased business over the long run. The following are three lessons every landscape contractor should consider during pre-construction planning: W for Hardscapes Homeowners often have a hard time picturing how a finished project will look. Belgard Hardscapes is paving the way for landscape contractors to eliminate this obstacle with its 3-D Belgard Design Studio, available at belgarddesignstudio. com. "The Belgard Design Studio helps contractors save time and sell more by allowing their clients to get a real vision of how they will live in the space," said Ken O'Neill, vice president of marketing for Belgard Hardscapes. "Two-dimensional drawings really only show specs, they are flat and lifeless. Three-dimensional renderings and animation allow the homeowner to visually walk through the space and account for traffic flow, outdoor furnishings, landscaping, lighting, colors, and more. Homeowners can also get a better 18 Landscape and Irrigation February 2013 Top Rendering: This custom rendering created by the Belgard Design Studio takes a birds-eye view of the client's property, with the primary residence on the left, connected by a series of tiered patios leading to the boat house on the right and down to the waterway below. The patio and walkway designs were created using Belgard Urbana pavers edged with Belgard Mega-Bergerac pavers that connect with stair steps made of natural stone. The seat walls and columns were designed with Belgard Weston Stone wall pavers. Renderings were supplied to the designer with complete project dimensions and a Belgard materials spec list so that the job could be accurately quoted. Project Contractor: Jim McCaskey, CLP. Bottom Rendering: Once a 3-D design has been completed, screen shots can be created and printed from any angle. For an additional charge, an animated fly-through video can be created to allow the client to virtually walk through their future backyard. This rendering shows an alternate view of the landscape and includes the tiered walkway that descends to the base of the property. The walkway ends at a free-standing fire pit that will be built on-site using Belgard Weston Stone. Project Contractor: Jim McCaskey, CLP www.landscapeirrigation.com All images provided by Belgard Hardscapes, Inc. Lesson #1: Help homeowners envision the finished project