Landscaping Estimates

Danny30

IvyFlood said:

So we are due to have ours done in 2 weeks, finally! (started in March 2021!)

We are paying the contractors approx. 5.5K. This includes laying the flagstones we have purchased ourselves (30m2), prepping the area before hand, constructing brick planter from natural stone and installing a 6ft x 6m new back fence. The fence on its own is £900 but our neighbor is splitting the bill with us.

We have paid 1.6K for our flags but I wanted something specific.

We had a huge mound of earth and rubble on the area we are having paved (24 tones!) which we dug out ourselves, by hand!(me and the husband). Took a few weekends but we saved about 4k. Granted we spent 1k on 3 skips and it was hard work but it was still worth it in our opinion vs the saving. Could you not remove some things yourself?

We also paid £320 to have a large tree stump grinded away. As much as I tried to remove it myself I just couldn't!

I found it incredibly difficult getting quotes, even ones that did manage to turn up, failed to come back with a quote. It was very frustrating. I think since Covid, more and more people appreciate their gardens so they are in high demand. We booked ours in May and they are only starting now in 2 weeks.

Wow, big respect for digging up 24 tonnes. I wouldn't have the time to dig up the garden myself and the amount of rubble and other junk is just too daunting. I am now looking to get individual quotes and trying to cut out the middle man as much as possible to save money. I think I won't end up with a landscaper as they just take too much of a cut in my opinion. 

TELLIT01

Danny30 said:

- Clear 50m2 of garden - including 5 x 3m breeze block garage (Leaving Shed concrete base as is) and loose paving in small areas (both are easy to remove) 
- DIg up garden 6 inches and level ready for turfing.
- Disposal of all waste using grab lorrys
- Turfing 50m2 
- Laying 22 sq/m of patio over existing patio

That information is so vague it's impossible to give even a guess at the cost.  Paving varies vastly in price, and material costs seem to continue to sky rocket.  It will be even worse with the recent drop in the value of the £ as much material is imported.  Disposal of waste is also extremely costly.  What range of figures have been quoted so far?

Danny30

TELLIT01 said:

Danny30 said:

- Clear 50m2 of garden - including 5 x 3m breeze block garage (Leaving Shed concrete base as is) and loose paving in small areas (both are easy to remove) 
- DIg up garden 6 inches and level ready for turfing.
- Disposal of all waste using grab lorrys
- Turfing 50m2 
- Laying 22 sq/m of patio over existing patio

That information is so vague it's impossible to give even a guess at the cost.  Paving varies vastly in price, and material costs seem to continue to sky rocket.  It will be even worse with the recent drop in the value of the £ as much material is imported.  Disposal of waste is also extremely costly.  What range of figures have been quoted so far?

Hi @tellit01, I agree that the information on the quote was not at all detailed enough and left me needing many answers. I since contacted back with my questions and am still yet to receive a reply so not looking good. Also worrying was that he suggested putting the new patio (concrete) over the pavement which he suggested to cut costs down, but I have since read pretty much all negative things about laying patio on patio.

I am struggling to get quotes as not bothering with Landscapers anymore so think is better for me  to find a general competent person to do the garden.

TELLIT01

You certainly don't want a new patio laid over an existing solid, or semi-solid base.  I would discount that contractor from further consideration based on that suggestion alone.

twopenny

You want a whole garden cleared and hard and soft landscaped. That's going to be costly.
But agreed the fact this one wanted to take shortcuts makes you wonder where else he will.

Roots removed first. Get a proper small firm to do that.
Concrete removed and patio laid next. Again, get someone professional. The appearance is important.
That way  the big mess is done and you can cheer yourself up with progress.

Fence next - can't be damaged by roots coming up.

Turf and beds dug next and last the gate. One of the guys doing turf may do that if it's just to hang one and you have it there ready.

TELLIT01

We had our garden totally stripped of planting, and patio and turf laid.  The following Spring I noticed unexpected growth appearing which developed fairly rapidly into a holly bush.  Rather than completely removing the roots and trunk of the holly, they had cut it off just below ground level and laid turf over it.  I suppose I should be grateful it was hidden by turf and not under the patio.  We didn't bother getting the landscaper back as he had retired by the time it came to light.

Danny30

twopenny said:

You want a whole garden cleared and hard and soft landscaped. That's going to be costly.
But agreed the fact this one wanted to take shortcuts makes you wonder where else he will.

Roots removed first. Get a proper small firm to do that.
Concrete removed and patio laid next. Again, get someone professional. The appearance is important.
That way  the big mess is done and you can cheer yourself up with progress.

Fence next - can't be damaged by roots coming up.

Turf and beds dug next and last the gate. One of the guys doing turf may do that if it's just to hang one and you have it there ready.

Is there a specific reason for that order? I thought
1) Garden dug up 6 inches, levelled and rubbish removed. 
2)Topsoil to be laid. 
3) Patio fitted 
4) Fences
5) After few weeks when soil settled get the turfing done.

Will digging out and removing 6 inches not be enough for the roots issue? 

TELLIT01

Fencing and patio laying before new topsoil will avoid the soil being compacted too much by the people doing that work.  Just make sure the people laying the patio know the final level of the new lawn.

FreeBear

Danny30 said:

IvyFlood said:

So we are due to have ours done in 2 weeks, finally! (started in March 2021!)

We are paying the contractors approx. 5.5K. This includes laying the flagstones we have purchased ourselves (30m2), prepping the area before hand, constructing brick planter from natural stone and installing a 6ft x 6m new back fence. The fence on its own is £900 but our neighbor is splitting the bill with us.

We have paid 1.6K for our flags but I wanted something specific.

We had a huge mound of earth and rubble on the area we are having paved (24 tones!) which we dug out ourselves, by hand!(me and the husband). Took a few weekends but we saved about 4k. Granted we spent 1k on 3 skips and it was hard work but it was still worth it in our opinion vs the saving. Could you not remove some things yourself?

We also paid £320 to have a large tree stump grinded away. As much as I tried to remove it myself I just couldn't!

I found it incredibly difficult getting quotes, even ones that did manage to turn up, failed to come back with a quote. It was very frustrating. I think since Covid, more and more people appreciate their gardens so they are in high demand. We booked ours in May and they are only starting now in 2 weeks.

Wow, big respect for digging up 24 tonnes. I wouldn't have the time to dig up the garden myself and the amount of rubble and other junk is just too daunting. I am now looking to get individual quotes and trying to cut out the middle man as much as possible to save money. I think I won't end up with a landscaper as they just take too much of a cut in my opinion. 

24 tonnes by hand - Way too much effort for me... Shifted about 20t when I did my patio, and another 18t for the front drive. On both occasions, hired a mini digger and driver for the day. Cost me about £250 each time, but the work was done in a day, so worth the extra expense in my opinion. Also a doddle to grub out several tree stumps with the mini digger.

JuzaMum

I am having my garden landscaped (as I type actually) and it is expensive but watching the amount of waste they have had to remove, materials brought in and physical work I think it is not overpriced.