Browse Forums Building A New House Re: Our Impression 38 Mk II (43) - landscaping 766Mar 28, 2011 2:33 pm Lex stonecutter1309 Front landscaping was completed today - though for some reason Exterior (the landscapers) swapped out the nice colourful native plants on our design for grassy (most likely cheaper) ones. I have sent them an email asking for an explanation. As usual - more pics on the blog - http://stonecuttersridge.blogspot.com/2010/04/front-landscaping.html Hi sc, who was your landscaper, if you would tell me? Just "Exterior"? Can you also tell me what colour is your driveway? Edit ... found http://www.exterior.com.au/about.html and http://www.exteriormotiveslandscaping.com.au/ ... Any one of these two? Love the puppy!!! Hey Lex! It was Exterior.com.au - but really overpriced and not really that great! We had a $10k landscaping package included with our land sale. But it was a PITA dealing with them. They wanted $1k to have a bobcat come for 1hr and excavate the site before they imported top soil (definitely not interested in improving your existing soil) I gave them a landscape plan I developed in conjunction with Mark Ferrington from Australian Natives - drew it up myself and submitted to Council. Then Exterior simply implemented the plan - but very poorly. They wouldn't do any contouring or variation in levels (even making small slopes) in the front garden Mark's details: http://www.australian-natives.com.au/design.php Mark was heaps cheaper than a landscape design firm - he draws it up on paper, it's easy to then DIY in PowerPoint. For the backyard, we had Mark buy the plants, shape the garden beds (making different sloping areas) and then we planted and mulched ourselves. I didn't know enough to buy plants and do the shaping - but I certainly can dig a hole and spread mulch As a comparison - Exterior quote for my backyard - $15-18k. Our price in the end (I had a bobcat to turf prep and hired someone to lay turf) - $9k - that's everything: 370m2 of turf, one side about 20m long in decomposed granite, other side of house in river pebble, garden edging (sleepers), plants, mulch, raised veggie beds and soil for inside. Driveway colour - storm grey I think but it has lightened a lot. We can re-darken it by re-sealing. donuts - thanks! The EZ doesn't hold it's colour as nicely in winter - but we haven't mowed the lawn in 4 weeks - much nicer than our neighbours who have to mow SW weekly in summer! I think we mowed every 8 weeks in winter After 4 years - we're in! Re: Our Impression 38 Mk II (43) - landscaping 767Mar 28, 2011 7:22 pm Thanks, sc ! I cannot believe the Exterior (but sounds familiar, we usually end up with expensive people and from my experience, they are not better than cheaper ones. I'm scratching my head about our retaining wall quote I'm embarassed to say how much !!) Maybe I should publish our quote here so people can comment , I think some things may be overpriced. BTW, we also did our own design (ie. DH did). He did a 3D sketch, showing the site/design from all the various angles - it looks so professional that one landscaping company asked us about "that other landscaper who did your designs" . We just print out the same design and give it to each lot that comes to quote. Sorry, one more question , if you remember this detail. Is your driveway colour-through or was it coloured just on top? My signature is distracting people from my wise posts ... Re: Our Impression 38 Mk II (43) - landscaping 768Mar 29, 2011 9:10 am Just coloured on top - colouring all the way through was not provided by Wisdom within the package. My parents have a similar colour driveway with colour all the way through the concrete and you can't tell the differenec After 4 years - we're in! Hmmm, I have checked your past posts and it seems that you are in NSW, not WA as I had thought. It pays to show your State in your avatar. Retaining wall regulations… 5 7866 Hi, you've probably already resolved this, however, Commbank will probably pay the funds to you after you send evidence the work is done regardless the change in the quotes. 1 35332 Ideally you would engage a landscaper to give you some insight what they may need in the space to make your vision come to life… 1 13646 |