Landscape Contractors
Landscape Contractors: Those involved with the practice of constructing the outside environment, with reference to built areas. That is a very broad definition for a very broad range of work. Landscape contractors can alter, edit, renew, renovate and construct areas ranging in size from huge tracts of land for resorts, golf courses, national parks to tiny parkettes or front yards. From huge subdivisions to inner city courtyards, commercial malls to residential homes, the scale of projects can be very different.
Individual landscape contractors have their own specialties; a range of projects that they can complete in both a time efficient and cost efficient manner. Over time, that range of projects may change as the company grows in experience and qualifications. It is very important to match the landscape contractors area of expertise to the project that you are considering.
A landscape contractor has to have many skill sets. The use of heavy machinery to manipulate the natural grade of the land in ways to facilitate the new land uses that are being created. Other skills include working with natural stone products. We use stone in many ways such as for retaining walls, free standing walls, walkways, patios, terraces, planters and focal pieces. We also use manmade stone products such as paving stones. Wood carpentry for decks, fences, arbours, pergolas and garden sheds are also a large part of our work. Then we move on to soft materials including plant material and sod. We construct stunning pools and streams and waterfalls.
The landscape contractor has to be able to read landscape construction plans and landscape specifications; in order to be able to interpret those plans and take them from a two dimensional drawing to their correctly built form. Projects often require changes on site, due to unforeseen site conditions or alterations by the owner or the landscape architect. A qualified landscape contractor must be able to adjust to and handle the inevitable changes that come with every project.
A landscape contractor must also be able to oversee and manage the many elements that are involved in estimating and producing an accurate quotation for services. Even very simple and small projects have many diverse elements that require careful calculation in order to assign costs. A complex part of the quoting process is estimating the time involved for the crews to complete each stage of work. This also takes in many variables, such as travel time to and from the job, weather conditions and possible delays, delivery and storage of materials, scheduling of tasks and many other almost intangible items. Everything has to be considered when putting together a competitive price, but it also has to be a realistic price that both the owner and the landscape contractor are comfortable with.
D.A Gracey & Associates specializes in the construction of high quality, residential projects. We work mostly throughout the Greater Toronto area, but we occasionally work in the Niagara area or Muskoka cottage country. The dollar value of our projects are generally $30,000.00 up to $1.5 million dollars. We do not often bid on tendered projects that are based on the lowest price bid. We would rather work on projects with clients that know we are committed to creating outdoor landscape spaces that are of the highest quality. Our projects are created to last; using the best stone, paving materials, plant materials and other products that will stand the test of time.
We win awards for our projects! To date, we have received over 35 Landscape Ontario Awards of Excellence over the past ten years, 2 National Awards, and over 10 awards at Canada Blooms; Canada’s premiere garden show. The fact that we have won awards every year since 2004 is a confirmation of our commitment to doing quality work, year after year. We are your best choice when you require a reliable landscape contractor to turn your project from dream to reality.