An incredible landscape can add value to your property and create a space to enjoy the outdoors. Nevertheless, creating an eye-catching yard takes planning and landscaping expertise.
A landscape architect can help you with various tasks from design to completion. Here are five reasons to consider hiring a pro: 1. They know what plants thrive in your climate.
They Have a Plan
Hiring landscape architects and designers in Bay Area will help keep your project on time and within budget if you have any major landscaping projects planned. They will work with you to determine the scope of your project and create a detailed design. They will also consider local regulations, site engineering, drainage, grading, and disaster risks.
They can even create a plan to block noise from traffic and industry, which is especially helpful in urban settings.
Landscape architects are formally trained in design and can provide a detailed plan easy for contractors to follow. In addition, most landscape architects work with a design/build firm, which gives them a thorough understanding of construction costs and installation timelines.
Landscape architects typically charge by the hour, and their rates vary depending on experience and deliverables. They may also have a minimum design fee.
They Can Define the Perfect Drip Irrigation System
Landscape professionals know how to use native plants, mulch, retaining walls, and permeable paving to harvest and recycle rainwater. They can also design cisterns or rain barrels to collect and store water directly from downspouts so it is available for irrigation in dry weather.
These experts also know how to make your home more energy efficient with low-water landscaping techniques like no-mow areas, ground cover, and rain gardens. Furthermore, they can help you protect your property from natural disasters, such as wildfires and coastal erosion.
A professional landscape designer uses design education, advanced horticultural knowledge, and graphic and drafting skills to translate your ideas into a plan that’s easy for you or your contractor to understand. They can also provide detailed instructions for a successful installation so the result matches your vision. Hiring a landscape designer costs between $1,944 and $7,213, with an average cost of $4,571. However, the price can vary depending on your project size, scope, and complexity. Typically, landscape architects will charge an initial flat fee for the design process and then an hourly rate to oversee your project.
They Can Create the Perfect Outdoor Living Space
Whether it is an outdoor kitchen and dining area, water feature, fire pit, or flower garden, a great landscape design can bring your family together in the comfort of your backyard. They will translate your vision into reality using their design education, advanced horticultural knowledge, and graphic and drafting skills.
Aside from designing the aesthetic elements of your space, landscaping architects are also knowledgeable about the structural aspects of your property. They keep up with residential building codes and can help you determine what improvements require a permit and which ones do not.
In addition to this, they are familiar with the environmental impact of different types of plants and how they can improve your yard’s soil quality, reduce water costs, and attract more pollinators and birds. For example, they can include low-maintenance gardens that use native plants that require less water and chemical applications. They can also incorporate no-mow areas and rain gardens to filter the water that runs off your property. They can even help you block noise from surrounding industry or neighbors with strategically placed trees and shrubs.
They Can Save You Time
A landscaping architect will have a master plan for your entire landscape. It will include the big picture of how everything will look and all the details, including materials and colors. It will allow you to install your new landscape in phases, saving time and money.
Landscape architects are also familiar with local ecology. They can recommend plants that will attract wildlife and help to control weeds, erosion, and pests. They can also design no-mow areas and rain gardens that will filter water. They can even create natural swimming pools that look and act like chlorinated pools but require less maintenance and no harsh chemicals.
They are also familiar with residential building codes and can help ensure that any improvements you make will be allowed. It will save you the headache of disclosing illegal landscaping features if you ever sell your home.
They Can Save You Money
Creating an outdoor living space, complete with decks and pergolas, fire pits, and outdoor kitchens, adds curb appeal, increases property value, and enhances year-round enjoyment of the outdoors. However, many homeowners need help with the planning process. A landscape architect can help.
They combine design education, advanced horticultural knowledge, and drafting and graphic skills to translate homeowner dreams into a workable design for the contractor. Installing a new landscape without a plan is a recipe for frustration and higher installation costs.
Landscape architects are familiar with local and state laws regarding defensible space and can design your property for maximum safety according to the rules.
In addition, landscaping architects are trained to think of a property as a whole and can anticipate problems before they occur. It helps keep your project on schedule and budget. Hiring a pro with an extensive portfolio, excellent reviews and ratings, and a robust collaborative working style are vital.
