YES. Hiring a Landscape Company that does not have Workers Compensation Insurance exposes you to Liability and Lawsuits if an employee of the company you hire gets injured on the job. Your Homeowner Insurance Policy in most cases does not protect you from this.

YES. This is one of the important questions to ask your landscape contractor. A quality landscape company should have no trouble providing you with several references for you to see and talk to. These references should be similar to your needs.

YES. After you have installed your project, you have an investment that needs to be taken care of professionally for it to achieve its optimal appearance. Hiring a landscape contractor who is not limited to installation only should give the homeowner peace of mind that their landscape and investment will be cared for in the best possible way.

An aerial snapshot of your project not only allows you to get a glance at what the entire project will look like when finished, but it will offer so much more. Designs can help with phasing a project if taking on the entire job at once isn’t feasible due to time restraints or financial reasons. It also will cut out a lot of the confusion from contractor to homeowner on what the actual scope of the project is. Having a properly scaled design offers an ‘apples to apples’ comparison for the homeowner to get another quote and can be used to get exact measurements for the material. Having a 3D design also allows all users to be on a level where they can understand what the project will look like before it is installed. This will not only help visually but will help reduce change orders that were not seen or planned for.

YES. Soil and climate conditions vary in different growing zones. For the long-term health of your landscape investment, it is very important to use locally grown plant material.

A minimum of 8-10″ of existing soil should be excavated below the final grade. Next, the subgrade should be leveled and compacted. Most contractors skip this next step even though it is one of the most important parts of keeping your pavers or wall stable and free from settling. A ground stabilization fabric should be used (similar to a thick trampoline fabric) and placed over subgrade before any base material is brought in. Installing a minimum of 4-6″ compacted stone base (crusher run) is the basis of the patio/wall and gives strength and longevity to the project. The base should be installed in 4-6″ lifts when using a plate compactor to achieve proper compaction. Next, approximately 1″ of washed concrete sand should be installed as the setting bed for pavers. Proper measurements should be taken and string lines should be popped to create perfect lines and edges for your pavers and walls. For pavers, a plastic edge restraint with 10″ spikes should be used around the outside edge to provide stability to the project. Last, but not least, polymeric sand should be used to sweep in the joints. This is also another step most contractors skip. Polymeric sand looks and feels like regular sand, but once the joints are filled, a garden hose should be used to spray and ‘activate’ the sand. ** Remember just as your home is only as good as its foundation, your Paver and Wall Installation is only as good as its base.

Why should you choose a company with a certified installer? Uni-lock certified installers are industry professionals. They recognize industry standards for constructing interlocking concrete pavements and segmental retaining walls. You can be sure that a company with a certified installer on staff is dedicated to quality installation standards and ongoing education. Uni-lock installation standards are for the industry. Certification helps contractors meet or exceed these. You want to do business with a professional company that knows industry standards. Certification identifies installers who know them.

Unfortunately, the landscape industry is a very hard business to compare apples to apples. There are many ways for companies to cut corners or shave dollars to get the job. The basic truth is that you must feel confident in the company you are working with and know they are credible, honest, and experienced. For instance, finding someone who has been a landscape professional for over 25 years.

Being properly staffed, Spectrum can handle the largest of projects. It is very important that the contractor you choose not only has the expertise but also the ability to follow through and finish your landscape project. As with building a new home, not enough employees or an abundance of Subcontractors may delay or jeopardize your new landscape. Here at Spectrum, we hire employees who are not just our employees, they are our family. They know how to keep your project going smoothly from start to finish.

The answer to this question can vary quite a bit depending on your needs. The good news is that this expense according to Appraisers and Money Magazine has up to 100% to 200% recovery values within five years. That is why we refer to your landscape as an “Investment in Nature”.