How Landscapers Near Me Choose the Right Materials for a Landscape in McFarland and Fitchburg, WI
Choosing landscaping materials is an artful blend of function and aesthetics, goals and priorities, and of course budget. Here’s how landscapers near me choose the right materials for a landscape in McFarland and Fitchburg, WI.
Related: What to Look for in Landscaping Jobs Near Me in the Sun Prairie and Madison, WI Area
Design Plan
A design plan is absolutely critical for purchasing materials because the quantities have to be precise. And it’s not just quantity, but quality that allows the project to stay within the budget; availability; and of course aesthetics.
The cost of landscape materials can add up very quickly. One of the main aspects of a design plan is thinking to the future since quality hardscape materials, soil, timber, and lighting will last longer. There are always cheaper alternatives, but the money you save today can lead to greater costs in the future.
Availability can be a challenge, especially since the pandemic when the costs of lumber and other materials went through the roof. Landscapers typically won’t plan on using a specific material unless it’s available, because waiting for availability could derail the project schedule. Whether it’s soil, rock, gravel, sand, timber, mulch, or pavers, changes may have to be made in materials selections in order to keep the project moving ahead.
The Right Materials For the Job
Choosing the right materials for the job will ensure a quality installation and long-lasting results. Landscapers consider thickness, sizes, shapes, textures, finishes, and of course colors while choosing the best materials for their clients. It may be necessary—or desirable—to choose a variety of pavers for a single project; and since hardscapes are considered permanent features, these choices need to be made carefully.
There’s also the choice to be made between natural materials and manmade materials. Natural stone gives your property richness of character and individuality that cannot be matched by most manufactured hardscape materials. But, the uniqueness must be weighed against the greater cost of installation and potential lack of availability. Concrete pavers and wall blocks are typically more readily available and easier to install, but lack the character of natural stone.
Landscapers will consider function as the first element of “the right materials for the job. Pavers, for example, aren’t one-size-fits-all. Many pavers are versatile enough to be used in virtually any hardscape application (driveway, walkway, patio, and pool surround); while others are not. A paver that is rated for residential driveways could potentially be used virtually anywhere if the design calls for a cohesive look. A paver that is rated for pedestrian use will mean that another complementary paver will need to be chosen for a driveway.
There are many other practical considerations. A retaining wall made of natural stone will typically be limited to around three feet in height, while an engineered concrete block wall clad in stone veneer could be much higher. Any pavers or natural stone used around a pool must be non-slip when wet, and resistant to chlorine and other pool chemicals. Creosote-treated landscape timbers add a wonderful rustic look, but they should not be used where there are pets (creosote is toxic when ingested).
Landscape lighting fixtures also need to be carefully chosen for aesthetics as well as function. An outdoor lighting plan can be very complex and involve a multitude of different fixtures to achieve different objectives; so circling back to the all-important plan is how a landscaper will determine the type and location of each landscape lighting fixture.
About the Author
With over two decades in business and maintaining an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau the entire time, Proscapes LLC is a leading landscape company in the Madison, WI, area. As a Unilock Authorized Contractor, we are recognized as the best-of-the-best in our craft—earning numerous awards along the way.