Recently one of my client’s neighbors asked me to look at his newly installed Retaining Wall that was built across the front of his home. He commented several times about it being tall enough to see and with the type of blocks used it was nice and straight, and that it was installed for a good price. He had told me that his carpenter knew a couple of guys that could get him a good deal. He could probably tell by the look on my face that something was amiss. He again asked me what do you think? Well? I told him that indeed the wall was straight and level, too. I told him that the material used was o.k., but that he may have problems with his house in the future. I had to explain to him that the wall was really too high for his foundation. The finished level was 4” – 6” above the bottom of the siding. Once the wall was backfilled, the bottom of the house would be covered and not allow for proper ventilation of the siding. This would hold in moisture and could develop into a mold problem or rotting of the interior wall structure and sheathing. I could tell he was disappointed in my statements because he really liked the height of the wall because he “could actually see it”. He wanted to know what would happen if he just didn’t backfill the wall all the way up to the top. This is a good question and not an uncommon one. As time goes by, most people will eventually fill in the void with mulch, plantings… even if it is not by choice, over the winter months the void may will with snow or ice. That’s when the problems could arise. In my opinion, don’t let anyone build up on your house. Let the house breath and you will be happier later.
Posts Tagged ‘Landcape Construction’
A Retaining Wall Mistake
Monday, May 10th, 2010Upcoming Blog Topics
Monday, March 1st, 2010Spring is just around the corner, I can feel it. Have you noticed that there are some days you can almost smell spring in the air? It’s getting exciting!
Over the past few weeks, I have posted blogs on topics from Firewood Purchasing to Marking the Utilities on your Property. I hope that you have found them informative and helpful and that you use them as a point of reference when it comes to your landscaping.
The next few months will be very interesting as I plan on posting blogs relevant to specific projects you may be considering to do on your own. For instance, if your lawn really needs a make-over, look for my 5 part blog on lawn renovations; it will take you step by step on how to achieve a great looking yard. If gardening is something you’re looking forward to, make sure you check out my future blogs on planting Annuals, Fill Dirt vs. Topsoil vs. Compost, Mulching, and General Plantings. I know a lot of you will be interested in Do-It-Yourself Hardscaping Projects, so I plan on publishing blogs regarding Brick Paving, Retaining Walls and Firepits. I’ll also include blogs on Polymeric Sand vs. Jointing Sand for those installations as well as a blog discussing the maintenance of the brick work once it’s installed, specifically cleaning and sealing of the brick. There are also some misconceptions out there regarding Mulches (Hardwood, Premium Hardwood Bark, Dyed…). Hopefully, I’ll be able to clear up some of those when my Mulch blog gets posted. Many of you will experience drainage problems with the arrival of spring. Don’t get too worked up about it. One of my next blogs will take you through the process of how to solve this issue.
These are just a few of the blogs scheduled to be published during the next few weeks/months. Of course, if you have any ideas, I’d love to hear from you. You can forward the contact form found on our website at www.agvangundy.com with your ideas.
Finally, although the next few blogs will be geared toward doing it yourself, hiring a contractor such as A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. is always an option. Go to our website at www.agvangundy.com and forward a quote request to us and we’ll be happy to start working with you.
Here’s hoping for a great spring!!
Locate Utilities Prior to Digging
Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010Our snow plow drivers have just returned from what is probably one of the last snow events of the season. Although the snow fall was not as much as the forecasters had predicted, it was a very heavy wet snow that melted off the plowed and/or shoveled surfaces fairly quickly. This is one of the signs that spring can’t be too far away – the average temperature is on its way up; however, we’ll probably see a little more snow and some cold days/nights, but spring is definitely on its way.
When spring does finally get here and you start your outdoor projects, you need to remember that in the state of Illinois, you must contact JULIE whenever your project requires digging of any kind. It’s a simple process and one that should be done by your contractor, if you have hired one, or by yourself if you are the one doing the digging.
JULIE stands for Joint Utility Locating Information for Excavators and they provide the free service of notifying its utility members to come to your project site and mark the underground utility wires. Even if your utilities are mostly above ground, it is still an Illinois state law that you must contact JULIE prior to digging. You can contact JULIE several ways; you can call them at 811 or 1-800-892-0123 or go on line and complete an E-Request.
You need to contact JULIE at least two (2) business days before starting your digging and you must start within 14 days of your call. So, that means if you want to start your project on a Saturday, you will need to contact JULIE no later than Wednesday. Some information you will need to complete your request is:
1. Your name, address and a phone number at which you can be reached
2. The county and city/town you are digging in, if unincorporated, the county
and the area of the township
3. Location of the digging (address, cross street, subdivision, name…)
4. When you plan to start your digging
5. Section/Quarter of the property, if available.
The JULIE representative will then inform you of the utilities that will be notified. The utility member (not a JULIE employee) will then “mark” your property with paint and/or flags. It is important to remember that utilities that are privately owned or installed will not be marked and are your responsibility. Examples of these types of wiring include, but are not limited to:
1. Invisible Dog Fence Wiring
2. Electrical lines for low voltage wiring
3. Wiring to a garage or shed
4. Gas lines to a swimming pool or grill
If you have hired a landscape contractor, such as A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. to install your project, the contractor should be the person that calls in the JULIE locate request. Be sure to check with your contractor to ensure that this important practice is followed. It can prevent a lot of headaches down the road.
If you would like more information about JULIE and the service it provides, you can go to their website at www.illinois1call.com. The website has a lot of good information as well as the e-request form for submitting your locate request on-line.
Just remember to contact JULIE before digging & let’s hope for a great spring!
Landscape Construction Sales Process
Wednesday, February 10th, 2010Have you been thinking about adding to your outdoor living space? How’s the access to your front door or back yard? Are you in need of a new service walk? Does your driveway need updating? If you have been contemplating any of these types of projects, hiring a landscape contractor may be the right decision for you. A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. has been an authorized Unilock contractor for over 18 years and A.G. Landscape Materials, Inc. has been an authorized Unilock dealer for over 11 years. As we’ve discussed in previous blogs, the decision to hire a contractor can be a challenging one. There are a lot of different companies, each with their own area of expertise. So, how do you go about choosing the right one & what should happen once that decision is made? There are several basic issues I feel should be addressed before deciding on a contractor:
1. Is the contractor insured?
2. How long has the contractor been in business?
3. Are their crews someone you can communicate with?
4. Will they supply you with references?
5. What type of warranty do they offer?
Getting the answers to these questions should help you narrow your choices to 2 or 3. Hopefully, A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. is one of those companies. Each company has its own sales process, especially when it comes to construction sales. The following is our process:
You should first call our office at (630) 295-8190 or complete a quote form that can be found on our website at www.agvangundy.com to schedule an appointment with one of our sales representatives. If one of the reps is not available at the time of your call, our office staff will get some general information from you and pass it along to the rep. The sales rep should call you back within a day or so to schedule an appointment.
Before he/she comes to your site, you will need to consider a few things. You will need to decide what you are comfortable spending on this project (a budget) and convey that to the sales rep. You may want to take a look at the photo gallery at www.agvangundy.com for some ideas. The sales rep will also have ideas for you. It would also be beneficial to have your plat of survey available. This will assist in the design process as it pertains to the permit application process.
Once the sales rep arrives at your site, he/she will want to talk with you about the goals of your project, a little bit about your lifestyle, and any ideas you may have. He/she will also want to look at the area so that they can begin forming ideas. He/she will probably take some measurements & in some cases some pictures of the area. The sales rep may give you a very rough estimate at that time.
Back at the office a design/sketch will be created and a materials list put together. Once this is completed, the rep will contact you for a 2nd meeting to go over the details of the design and in most cases show you the samples of the material to be used on your project. If you love the design and the price is right you will be asked to sign a contract and for a deposit to hold your price and get you on the schedule board. If the concept is not as you envisioned or you’re not quite sure of the materials suggested, now would be the time to discuss that. Your rep will be more than happy to discuss changes and other options. If the price is not one you are comfortable with, the rep will try to help you figure out a way to achieve your project. One option may be doing the project in phases; another option may be using a less expensive material, yet another may be changing the pattern. One option that should never be considered is compromising the quality of the actual construction process.
Once your deposit is received and a contract signed, your job goes on the schedule board for installation. We will give you an estimated date for installation. Unfortunately, an exact date cannot be given because so much of our work is dependent upon weather conditions and jobs being installed in front of yours.
Next on the agenda would be applying for and procuring the permit. Permits for construction projects, i.e. patios, driveways… are usually required by the town/village/county in which the job is being performed. Because of the technical knowledge that may be needed, this is something that we here at A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. will be happy to take care of for you. Most towns/villages/counties do require a plat of survey with any outbuildings and/or improvements located on the plat. Once we receive your plat of survey from you, we’ll submit the paperwork and continue to be the liaison between you and the governing bodies. The permit fee and any necessary bonds will be your responsibility to pay. That fee will usually be added to either your start up payment or your final payment.
Once your installation date is near, we’ll contact JULIE to mark the underground utilities on your property. You should note that JULIE does not mark any wiring that you have installed, i.e. invisible dog fence lines, low voltage wiring, gas lines to swimming pools or grills… In theses cases you will want to mark them yourself or at the very least, make sure that your sales rep is aware of these, as A.G. VanGundy Landscape, Inc. cannot be responsible for these lines.
We will usually call you a day or two prior to the day we will be at your site to start your job. Your “start up payment” is usually due once our crews arrive to begin work.
Any inspections due, per your permit, will be arranged by us.
When the work is completed, the sales rep or the crew foreman will walk you through your job and go over the warranty again and answer any questions you may have. Your final payment will be due at that time. But, please don’t think that this should end our business relationship. We are here to answer any questions that may come up or assist you with any other projects you may want to install.
Finally, any home improvement project can be a daunting experience, but at A.G. VanGundy Landscape, we try to take some of the nerves and turn them into excitement.
