Laura asks…
Any suggestions on how to save $ landscaping front yard, paving and making sidewalks…???
As we are on a fixed budget but do need some work done and would like to keep this project as a DIY job, but don’t want to go broke doing it. This house has no garage, and only small stones in driveway, lawn is bare, no grass in some patches but has rose bushes, trees and some small plants…need all the info i can get, and what’s more cost effective? stone walk ways? brick, concrete? asphalt driveways? what shrubs make good walls? any suggestions would be very much appreciated!
Suntan answers:
You have to be careful buying grass seed. The cheaper stuff is most likely annual grass and will die after the season.
Check your local stores (walmart, kmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s etc) frequently. When a plant is past it’s bloom time, they will often mark them down half price. You won’t be able to enjoy the plant this year, but next year you’ll have beautiful flowers and shrubs at half the cost.
Concrete is expensive, but cheaper than asphalt. Cost will depend on how much you need.
Shrubs that make good walls are Forsythia, Rose of Sharon, and most types of evergreen.
Thomas asks…
What is the best way to build/pour concrete or stone steps to a patio door?
My darling hubby and I are planning on pouring a concrete slab patio. We have a patio door that exits to this patio and needs about a three and a half foot flight of stairs. DH and I are a little confused about the most cost efficient way to construct steps. We want something that will go well with the concrete or patio stones so I don’t believe wood will work very well and we’re not sure exactly how to set up a frame to pour steps, set brick steps or build a frame that we can disguise with patio stones and concrete slab treads. I have enclosed a few links to pictures for the latter of the options. Thank you for any help!
Brick Stairs:
http://www.tilesteve.com/Pages/IndPhotoPages/Patio/patio_brick_stairs.htm
Patio Stone Steps:
http://www.blackgranites.com/black_granite/images/landscaping/hummel_patio_and_stairs_2.jpg
http://www.adcmason.com/stairs/stairs-Pages/Image31.html
Concrete Steps:
http://www.nitterhouse.com/masonry/products/specialty_products/superior_concrete_steps
Suntan answers:
I didn’t look at the sites you suggested, but would like to suggest precast concrete steps. They are available at most lumber or masonry supply stores. Three and a half feet is 42″ (about) and the standard step risers are 7 1/2″- 8″, so that would be a cast step of 4-risers, and 4-12″ treads. 8″ from deck to first tread, down three more treads, then 8″ to walkway. (sidewalk) 5 x 8″ = 40″
John asks…
Roughly how much would I be charged, for labor, to landscape my large front and back yard?
I have all the material needed but need to know how much labor alone would cost to clean up a large backyard that hasn’t been touched in 10 years! It’s an overgrown mess covered in weeds. 20 evergreen trees to be trimmed 3ft. from the ground. 2 flower gardens (8ftx10ft) to be made using concrete landscaping blocks (no height) and 2 solar water fountains to be placed. The front yard- to build a retaining wall 2ft high (10ftx15ft) filled with an arrangement of plants and flowers. Mulch and stones to be placed at various areas. There’s much to do.
Suntan answers:
Diana, as I said before, your best bet is to get free estimates from local landscaping companies in your area–contact them, etc. Getting a price guess here on Yahoo, I’m afraid, is not good, as the cost greatly varies by location.
What you need to realize is that, to your advantage, many landscaping contractors are offering free estimates, which is good because that’s the best way to figure out what you can do for your budget and get the most competitive deal around in your area. Here’s a great link to a handyman site that offers free very resourceful information to assist you in determining the cost of your project, and, ultimately, selecting a local landscaping contractor in an effort to get the best deal for you:
Info on local landscaping contractors:
http://yourhandymanzone.com/Your_Handyman_Zone_Free_Estimates_Landscaping.htm
I’m sure you’ll find the information you need, specifically the tips, useful as it relates to being treated fairly by contractors and exploring the consumer-wise approach of getting free written estimates to find the best contractor in your area.
.
Source(s):
The Internet. Just whatever is available online and what I have on my mind, including the inclusion of relevant sites, like the one cited that came about from my efforts, which is intended to be useful. Helping people get the relevant info they want is great.
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