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Builders and Landscapers: Who Will Give Me The Best Deal On My Garden Makeover?

Builders and landscapers. At first glance you might think that they do similar jobs. But in actual fact the two skills sets are very different indeed. Here’s why it’s a bad idea to ask a builder to landscape your garden.

 

  • Landscapers understand soil and how to care for it during a garden makeover so that it does not become compacted and inhospitable for plants.
  • Materials for external use have different properties to bricks, tiles and timber used inside a building. Landscapers are trained and experienced in handling and installing those materials.
  • Outdoor features are exposed to all kinds of weather. Landscapers know how to protect the materials from the actions of water, frost, drought and heatwaves.
  • Nobody should be driving a delivery lorry onto your living room floor, but your driveway must be built to cope with considerable weights. Landscapers know how to do that.
  • Garden drainage is quite complicated. If a garden is to last a long time, it’s crucial that rainwater is correctly managed. Outdoor drainage is a different beast to indoor plumbing.
  • Features such as electrical wiring need to be carefully positioned and protected from mechanical damage and/or water. Again, that’s a job for a landscaper not a builder.

The Importance Of Hiring The Right Trader For Your Project

Would you hire a a hairdresser to groom your cockerpoo? Probably not. Even though they both know a lot about hair, the two professions are very different. What about asking a dentist for advice on your kidney stones? After all, dentists are medical professionals. Again, the thought wouldn’t cross your mind.

The thing is, that good tradespeople are specialists in their field. They know exactly how to achieve the results their clients want. They have the right tools, they understand the materials they are working with and they know how long it takes to do a job properly. Could a hairdresser groom a cockerpoo? Potentially they could, but they would take a lot longer than a professional pet groomer and the results may not be quite the same.

Grooming a dog is not the same as landscaping though. A wonky hairdo will grow out and can be repaired at the next appointment. No harm done. Dodgy decking or a poorly built patio are different things altogether. Not least because the homeowner has paid for a product which they expected to be fit for purpose, safe, and last for a very long time.

When you are investing in home or garden improvements, it’s crucial to hire the right trader for your project. Builders and landscapers are not interchangeable.

 

What Is the Difference Between Builders And Landscapers?

Builders are awesome. This blog is by no means an attempt to undermine their skills. But as well as deciphering a garden design and employing a wide range of skills, a trained and experienced landscaper knows how to predict and mitigate against the effects of the weather on external landscaping materials.

Understanding Soil

The soil beneath our gardens is in a constant state of flux. It changes all the time. Rain will move soil particles around, feet and machinery will compact it, frost will lift it. Now if you are trying to build a solid structure on top of all that, you need to know precisely how to build a suitable foundation. An experienced landscaper will be able to create foundations and base layers that suit the soil and the structure they are to support.

Engineering In Action

Driveways need considerable engineering knowledge. They are built so that the weight of a vehicle is spread evenly across an area rather than concentrated beneath the tyres. Understanding the soil type and topography of the land is crucial when building the sub base for a drive. Landscapers know how to get it just right so that the surface neither cracks nor sinks.

Weatherproofing A Garden

When building a garden, it’s crucial to ensure that water cannot sneak beneath or between pavers. Because if it does, the freeze thaw action you learned about at school will lift and crack those expensive slabs. Likewise, slabs must be carefully spaced, not just for aesthetic appeal, but to allow expansion and contraction as seasonal temperatures fluctuate. A builder knows how to make a house watertight, but choosing the correct combination of sub base, bedding mortar and grout for a patio requires a landscaper’s specialist knowledge of a landscaper.

Let’s not forget that gardens are 3D. Fences, trees and pergolas need to be able to withstand storm force winds. Which means proper supporting structures and foundations.

And then there is rainwater management. Patios need to drain really well so that they don’t become slip hazards. But excess water must never be directed into buildings or onto neighbouring properties.

There’s a lot to think about!

What Happens When Builders Do Landscaping?

The APL works with and supports landscapers, garden designers and professional gardeners to improve the landscape industry. During our networking meetings, we often hear of horror stories where builders have made mistakes when installing outdoor features. Their work will often look great for the first few months and the homeowner will likely be very pleased with their garden. But after being exposed to the weather for a while, quite literally, the cracks will begin to show.

Some people have seen strange marks appearing on their paving where it hasn’t bonded correctly with the base. Others find that plants fail to establish because the soil was mishandled and damaged during the garden build. Expert Witnesses tell heartbreaking tales of people who invested their life savings into a garden makeover that failed leaving them with no money and a dangerous garden.

No disrespect to builders, but if you are hiring a tradesperson to create your dream garden, please make sure you hire a reputable landscaper. You may have builders already on site, they may be very personable and they may even offer you what sounds like a good deal. But in the long term, you may end up disappointed with your garden. And that would be a shame.

 

A Word About Non-Professional Landscapers

We’ve discussed some of the differences between builders and landscapers. But when you are looking to hire a landscaper, it’s important to remember that some will be more qualified to build your garden than others. Please do due diligence before signing any contracts and don’t hand your hard earned money to a rogue trader. Look for an APL accredited landscape professional. All APL members are carefully vetted to ensure that they are more than competent.

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