Ever wonder why so many hardscaping projects end up going over their allotted budgets and schedules? In most cases it isn’t because the contracting company has deliberately misled a homeowner (although that does happen). Instead, it’s usually the case that the contractor runs into a bottleneck that slows everything down.

These hardscaping bottlenecks are more common than you might think. It doesn’t take a lot to throw a landscaping team off of their schedule. Here are some of the things we hear about all the time:

  •         Work is delayed when an unexpected obstruction (like the foundations of an old structure) gets in the way during digging and excavation
  •         A site inspector shuts work down because a permit is missing or has been filed incorrectly
  •         Drainage issues make it impossible to carry out a specific task, such as pouring concrete or installing a wall
  •         Equipment is missing from a worksite, or the person who can operate the equipment isn’t available
  •         Along the same lines, the crew is slowed because a key member of the team becomes ill or otherwise unavailable
  •         The landscaping team can’t access a part of your property, or can’t do so without affecting your utilities
  •         Weather puts a halt to work on your property; or, another project is delayed because of weather and yours is pushed back as a result

I could go on and on, but I won’t. The homeowners I talk to have either experienced some of these issues with their hardscaping teams or have talked to neighbors who have. Thinking about all of the things that could go wrong isn’t that interesting. Figuring out how to avoid these bottlenecks and delays is.

That brings me to the point of this article. I want to share the five most important ways we keep work moving on your property. Then, I’ll break it down to the one point that’s actionable for any homeowner.

Let’s begin with the five things we do differently: 

#1 Careful Project Planning
We all know the old adage that says to measure twice and cut once. In my business you can’t foresee every problem you’ll come up against, but you can anticipate most of them. That’s especially true if you’ve been at it for decades, like me, and take the time to think a job through from the beginning to the end.

My team and I follow a detailed planning process before we put the first shovel into the ground. We know what we’re going to do, when we’re going to do it, who will be onsite, and how long it should take. We also consider which elements might not go as planned and how we can adapt. All of that stops us from being surprised and dealing with unexpected delays.

#2 Early Filing for Necessary Permits
Even when you work with shovels and diggers there is no escaping government paperwork. That’s an important detail to remember because missing a filing, or messing up an application, can bring your hardscaping project to a screeching halt.

This is another area where experience can be a big help. Not only have we learned over the years to always get paperwork in order at the start of a job, but we only work in areas where we understand the relevant municipal codes and guidelines. That keeps us from being surprised when it comes to forms and documents.

#3 The Right Equipment for Every Job
There are some jobs that go faster and easier when you have the right equipment on hand. That can seem obvious when you’re looking at industrial machines for excavation, but it also applies to smaller handheld tools, as well.

Some smaller companies don’t have the budgets to get everything they would like to use, or to have backups available. That means they are likely to run into problems if something breaks or can’t be transported. We have learned over the years how important it is to have the right hardscaping equipment, perfectly maintained, with redundancy built into our business.

#4 Special Skills and Extra Teams
To a homeowner, a landscaping crew can look like a random collection of people who are hacking away at a project with hammers, saws, and shovels. Look closer, though, and you’ll see that each member has a set of skills and specialties they bring to the job.

One of our strengths is that we don’t just hire specialists who can handle jobs like irrigation, but we also cross-train them in case someone needs to fill in. That means your hardscaping project is never dependent on a single person being present and healthy.

#5 Realistic Quotes and Scheduling
This is a subtle point that I (unfortunately) have to mention in my posts from time to time. I don’t think most patio landscaping companies are dishonest. I think they just feel the temptation to exaggerate a little when trying to win a new contract.

Over the years I’ve learned that it’s always smarter to plan, and sell, our work based on realistic budgets and timelines. That way you don’t have to make excuses for bottlenecks that were inevitable from the beginning.

So, How Can You Avoid Hardscaping Delays?
Go through this list and you’ll notice that almost everything we do differently comes down to three factors: experience, resources, and honesty.

We’ve been doing this long enough to know what can go wrong. We have the people and equipment to deal with setbacks. And, we give homeowners the information they need to make decisions up front. That helps us to avoid most of the bottlenecks that slow hardscaping projects down… and the ability to overcome them quickly when needed. My advice? Work with a landscaping crew that puts these three advantages on your side.

Or, if your home is located near Saugus, Massachusetts and you want to work with the best then call us first. Click here to contact Stefano’s Landscaping today and arrange for a free at-home quote.