Turning a modest backyard into a spacious retreat

by Sally Bouorm | August 1, 2010 12:51 pm

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By Aaron Lauritsen

When a client in northwestern Calgary approached GLI Landscaping to overhaul an existing residential landscape, hopes were high. Even though backyard space was very limited, plans called for an elaborate renovation, including a deck with masonry work, raised patio, lighting, plantings, irrigation system and a hot tub area. The walkout project also presented accessibility issues and sloping problems, adding to the challenge. The end result, however, was a high-end, surprisingly spacious yard with all the amenities the homeowner wanted.

Consultation, costing and design

The majority of GLI’s work comes from existing clients with whom the company has worked in the past on residential or commercial properties, as well as from various independent builders, community developers and referrals. In addition, new leads are aggressively pursued to broaden the client base, often by way of GLI’s website, marketing campaigns, professional trade affiliations, networking with product distributors and consumer home show participation.

In this case, once the lead was generated, an estimator followed up by booking an onsite consultation to understand and identify the prospective client’s intent and offer recommendations and suggestions for the project. A cost proposal was then prepared based on the site consultation.

After the project’s budget was established, GLI proceeded to the design phase, a process that can take anywhere from a few weeks to several months, depending on the particular project. In this case, a designer worked with the client to create a plan that fell within established budget parameters and was mindful of existing architectural community controls or restrictions on right aways.

Once the design was approved, a contract for the work was issued, deposits were taken, proper permits were obtained and the project was booked for construction, complete with a work timeline, which was established at roughly four to six weeks. (The entire process—from initial consultation to proposal to design and completion—took 14 months.)

Finalizing the details

This particular project was a renovation, which had an existing landscape installed three years prior to our construction. The homeowners weren’t happy with the initial installation and found the existing landscape didn’t meet their needs, wasn’t compatible with family use and didn’t complement the estate home on the property.

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The backyard had a steep, difficult-to-maintain slope on three sides of the property, which eliminated a great deal of the yard’s usable space. Additionally, the property lacked design, functionality and good workmanship in the items that were installed in the original renovation. The homeowners had to contend with a failing retaining wall, poor plant selection and an irrigation system that wasn’t able to reach all plantings or turf areas. In addition to addressing these shortcomings, the homeowners also expressed a desire to create a usable patio area for entertaining, with a hot tub component and larger deck to exploit the green space on which the house is situated.

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To satisfy these requests, incorporate the new items and use the property to its fullest potential, a new retaining wall was proposed. This would not only address the grading issues, it would also raise the new patio area, resulting in a layering of the site that would help the yard appear larger. The client also wanted to create a generally low-maintenance installation, which warranted special consideration during plant selection and hardscape construction. Cedar screening and a high-efficiency automated irrigation system was also added to the plans.

The project began with the complete demolition of the existing landscape and irrigation system. The only pre-existing items incorporated into the new design were some of the existing shrubs (which were going to be replanted only if they survived the transplanting process). The installation included, among other items:

• a 0.6-m (2-ft) retaining wall to correct the grade;
• 111 m² (1,200 sf) of paving stone installation, with risers on both sides of the house;
• a new raised vinyl deck with soffit, pot lighting and masonry pillars;
• a stucco storage shed with a barn-style door;
• an automated irrigation system;
• a 12-volt lighting system with transformer;
• various electrical receptacles throughout the yard;
• planting of prairie-hardy trees and shrubs;
• numerous mulched planting beds; and
• fencing and cedar screening.

Increasing accessibility

Full access to the site was a concern not only during the design phase, but also throughout the installation as the project progressed. As such, it was absolutely critical that the client’s neighbours were approached about the impending project, since it would have a significant impact on their properties. This was not as simple as asking to walk through their yards, either—workers needed to be able to remove portions of the neighbour’s existing landscapes (including sod, fences and established trees) to allow for site access.

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Fortunately, in this case, the neighbours were accommodating, allowing their yards to be used for access, with the assurance their properties would be restored to their original, pre-construction condition once the project was completed. Because site restrictions were identified during the initial consultation, the cost of these repairs were accurately forecast ahead of time; as such, material and labour costs were accounted for and included in the proposal for the project.

It is common for contractors to downplay the required costs of any repairs to existing landscapes or infrastructure during the bidding process, so their proposal will look more appealing to the prospective clients. Unfortunately, the contractor will then often have to cut corners or bill for additional unexpected costs during or after the construction process in order to make their margins. Since GLI relies heavily on repeat clients and referrals, being upfront with the client was key. Clients looking for a professional contractor tend to appreciate this transparency. They also understand that with any large project, it is often not the lowest bidder they want working on their properties, but rather the most qualified firm, with diverse services and capabilities, and a portfolio to support those qualifications.

While the added site access allowed by the neighbours helped, space restrictions still created obstacles for workers. For example, the majority of materials needed to complete the project had to be moved manually from one side of the property to the other, as the space was too small to accommodate machines; as a result, production often slowed to a crawl. This added hardship was factored into the project planning, so delays were accounted for before construction began. That said, the project did take the full six weeks, which is a couple of weeks longer than a similar job of this scale.

Staying organized

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Another challenge during design and installation was the co-ordination of the various items being installed, as a lot of items had to be fit into a small space. This made adhering to the correct municipal right of ways and bylaws (e.g. getting the proper permits, determining minimum distances for outlet ratios, establishing decking locations and drainage encroachment) quite challenging. The sheer number of items included in the landscape, combined with the need to maximize usable space, required constant consideration of spacing and scale on everything from the largest items to the tiniest details.

As with any high-end project, the biggest challenge was ensuring a smooth, seamless transition from one item to another. Professional landscapers don’t just install items and up sell product; they ensure everything transitions properly. The walk from the yard to the garden to the deck needs to be well planned and cohesive. Everything from material and style to scale and colour must be carefully considered, while always keeping the client’s needs and desires at the forefront.
 

Aaron Lauritsen is a certified landscape professional (CLP) and certified horticultural technician (CHT). He is the president of GLI Landscaping, an award-winning Alberta landscape firm serving Calgary and the surrounding area, which offers construction, maintenance, irrigation, lighting and interior and exterior concrete applications.

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