How do people create a plan for landscape lighting? This is DIY.
Jeff Smith
4 years ago
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoJeff Smith thanked Patricia Colwell ConsultingRelated Discussions
Landscape Plan for DIY Installation
Comments (7)Plumorchard -- I don't know if you want landscaping with hardscape, or if you want gardens and borders. The scope of your project will send you in different directions, depending upon what you're visualizing. If you want gardens and if you have a subscription to BHG, they have a little library of different (free) garden plans that you can download in PDF format. If you want to do hardscape yourself, there are some very good books on working with stone at the bookstore (or home centers) that take you through step-by-step. At any rate, go look through the Fine Gardening and other magazines for "inspiration" photos just like you would for home decorating or kitchen designs. Try to develop a good idea about how you want to use your space and what feeling you want in your outdoor rooms. Since you are in Georgia, check to see if there is a university close by that has a landscape design school. If you're willing to be a student's project, it is the right time of year to contact the school to volunteer to let some college kids loose on your project! You won't pay for labor and design, just the materials....See MoreThose who have DIY'ed -- Would you do it again?
Comments (17)We're almost a year into a full-house renovation, which will probably end up about 90% DIY. We'd DIY-ed smaller reno projects on our previous home, plus a full refit on a 40-foot sailboat, and all those previous projects had gone quite well, so we felt competent to take this BIG project on. I have to say there have been many times we've regretted it!! To be fair, there have been a lot of unexpected major surprises, though. We thought we'd be totally done (interior + exterior) by now, but I'd say we're about halfway. I think the WORST part is that we've had absolutely no time for our daughter.Every single weekend and after-work free time has been spent working on the house, often in dirty and stressful conditions. The house has been mostly piles of parts, materials and debris all year. Poor kid!!! I have been the project manager and GC and it's been nearly a full-time job at many stages. Researching, sourcing, and ordering parts and materials takes a long time! I've also been the designer for some pretty major changes, with input from architect friends and the talented folks on GW of course! I spent months and months at a drafting board last spring trying to figure out how to add another bedroom and make a workable kitchen, living, dining area. I concur with those above who say that even when you hire subcontractors, you have to be prepared to spend time and mental energy supervising. The times I did NOT do that were the times things had to be ripped out and redone later.... so even when you spend the $$ you still need to do some of the work. I guess that's why people hire General Contractors to do that for them. I'll add a tool that's indespensible for any major project: a compressed-air nailer!! We had access to both a framing gun and a finish nailer, and MAN did they make that work go so much faster!!!!! Tools, I agree, are so important. You just can't do a good job without the right tools. Or maybe you can but it takes a lot more time and frustration! In my Christmas stocking I got a pliers set and under the tree was a screwdriver-tip kit and a new screwdriver set from DH. Romantic, huh? But now he won't worry I'm borrowing his work tools (he works at a boat yard which is GREAT for us since he has access to the whole woodshop there with awesome woodworking tools.) Books: We find that the Taunton pro series is best for really useful info. Here's the scope of our project and what we've done so far: Landscape drainage- 25% DIY, 75% subcontractor Main living space (kitchen, mudroom, dining, living) reconfigured, including moving several bearing walls): -demo: DIY, including walls, tile flooring, subfloor, plumbing & electrical -rough framing: subcontractor -sheetrock: subcontractor -plumbing: DIY, major replace entire kitchen -electrical: DIY, major, rewire 4 new rooms to code -cabinet install: DIY -appliance install: DIY -counter install: subcontractor (marble) -hardwood flooring install and finish: DIY -slate tile flooring: DIY -window/door trim: DIY (ongoing) -backsplash tile: DIY (not done yet, she says sheepishly!) -paint: DIY -woodstove install: DIY -pantry cabinetry build and install: DIY -built in bookcases buiild and install : DIY -heating/radiators install throughout: DIY Master bedroom/master bath/new office-bedroom- -demo: 50% DIY, 50% subcontractor (it was a mold issue and the insurance paid for much of this work to be done in order to eradicate the mold) -framing: subcontractor with close DIY supervision! -sheetrock: ditto above, plus we had to DIY a bit of it. -electrical: DIY -plumbing: DIY except for basic DWV layout -heating: DIY -tile: Bill Vincent!! -radiant heat floor install: DIY -window/door/finish trim: DIY -tub, toilet, vanity, etc install: DIY -paint: DIY Exterior- remove all vinyl siding and re-side with cedar shakes; paint all exposed concrete areas; install 3 new windows; build 3 porches and one deck; paths and landscaping: all DIY Phew. Now I'm really tired. Ugh- back to painting trim and installing toilets and lights today!!!...See MorePartial DIY Kitchen People...Help!
Comments (21)I have a friend with near-unlimited means but she does not like to spend more than is necessary. Her kitchen remodel was very comprehensive, over $100k (more than 10 yrs ago). She had a kitchen designer and contractor, but required extreme budget detail in proposals. She spent a lot of time pricing, and sourced much of the materials herself and the contractors allowed it, providing savings for her. Recently, she did a bathroom which ended up around $55k. She probably saved $20K acquiring materials on her own once again. This is not for the light hearted. She frankly told the designer and contractors that their pricing on fixtures was so far beyond what she could buy on line that she would supply much herself. The pros were well regarded in her area and she had to wait more than 3 months to get scheduled, and they agreed to her participation again. Sure, there were problems, but she got what she wanted in the end and was happy to spend what she felt was appropriate for her high end items. Paid for some re-dos and call backs that were because of her involvement. Some was complicated plumbing fixtures, others like lighting placement were smaller but annoying. There was crazy stuff, like a giant weighty crated jetted tub left at the end of her drive instead of near her house. That's what happens when you don't go through a distributor! It was a study in detail and communication. Never assume anything, get everything in writing, follow up regularly, confirm dates, open and check everything that arrives at your house. Allow plenty of time between trades you do schedule, as they will inevitably have delays. As an aside, if you can find a talented carpenter or highly skilled handyman, it could be a great resource for periodic assistance. Unfortunately, those folks are often crazy busy, too. Please follow up on Houzz so we can watch the show!...See MorePlanning a landscape. Am I making mistakes? How much should it cost?
Comments (37)I'm worried that you might not be aware that Live Oaks take many years (!!!) to achieve 'shade tree' status. And the larger they are when planted, the slower they grow. Also, Live Oaks are extremely messy trees. No one in their right mind would plant them anywhere near a pool. They shed copious leaves in the late winter as the new buds begin to grow; it's the normal growth habit for Live Oaks, which are not true 'evergreens'. Their small leaves are slow to difficult to blow from walkways, a nightmare to clean from pools, and extremely slow to decompose. Did I say copious? After the leaf fall comes the dreaded shedding of the male catkins, which build up in drifts for several weeks until they all finish dropping. This is another major pool clogger. Then, there comes the winter acorn fall! Not only are they capable of dropping bushels of the little things, but they can become a hazard on pathways, and will stain a pool bottom. I have overseen the landscape management programs of several coastal SC resort and golf properties, all of which were thick with Live Oaks, old and newly planted. They were a PITA. I'm not even going to discuss the situation with the grass....See MoreJeff Smith
4 years agoJeff Smith
4 years agoJeff Smith
4 years agoBeverlyFLADeziner
4 years agoJeff Smith
4 years agoJeff Smith
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
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