Hello.
I run a small Paving business in Leicester. My business is only a baby really as it's only been up and running for around 18 months.
At the minute I do mainly domestic projects although my background is 20+ years in commercial paving.
On the commercial paving projects I always had the architects drawings to work to and found that I missed them on some of the rear garden projects that I had taken on myself so I started to dabble in garden design.
I use sketchup 8 free version at present.
My drawings are to scale but they take me a long time to do and are not comparable in presentation to that of a professional garden designer.
I want that to change.
The question is how?
Do I go to collage and become a fully qualified designer?
I've seen courses ranging from a BTEC level 3 at £750 to BA courses at £11000.
Or do I just need need to apply my practical knowlage and experience to my drawings but try and present them better and charge for them in the same way as any other designer?
My aim is to try and earn money for my hard work in front of the computer as well as my hard work on the tools.
Hopefully as the business grows and my trainees become competent enough to run there own jobs I can give my aching knees a rest and concentrate on the design and engineering side of things.
Obviously it will be hard for any of you designers to give me advice without knowing my level of competence so here is a link to to my site Sampaving.co.uk there is a link to my facebook page there also for more photo's.
Thanks for looking.
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Replies
Just a few quick comments that may be of use:
You must get Sketchup Pro to get scale drawings in professional format. This should be sufficient for all your short term needs.
You will get quicker with practice at Sketchup and with using Layout also. Use You Tube for tutorials and even get a book on Sketchup for landscape design/architects for hints and tips to improve performance. Learn to use animation, different styles and layers etc. also - useful to impress customers.
Look on Sketchup user group on LJN to see what other site members are producing.
Try to incorporate house in detail on your designs; better and much more realistic. Remember that the drawings are only a means to an end - the finished garden should be the important thing, not necessarily a pretty picture.
Why spend money to become a qualified garden designer, probably of limited value in your work to date. Spend money on the pro version - most cost effective.
On a different point, as a designer I prefer contractors to be personally involved on each project - don't lose control of work when you do more design work.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for your reply and advice Mike.
The reason I was thinking of doing a collage course is to improve my design ideas as well as my skills in designing.
Also having a qualification to go along with my experience in hard landscaping will give customers more reason to part with there hard earned money for the designs.
Having said all that, I'm not sure that a course would teach me much more than I already know and if sketchup pro will can help me produce drawings to a professional standard then it's definitely a good place to start.
I've just taken a look at the sketchup group and there are some lovely projects there. I know time and practice will make me quicker at using the software. My main problem is that I have to do the whole drawing using lines, circles and arcs as I can get the hang of making components or tiles even though I've used the youtube tutorials. Maybe the book you suggested or a short course on just the software.
I don't think that I'll ever lose control of my work as I don't employ subcontractors.
I'm a second generation paver. My Dad started teaching me from around the age of 8 and could do the job as well as most of the lads he had working for him by the time I left school. I'm now 40 and have trained lots of lads up from scratch.
When I take on new lads I have the philosophy of no previous experience is essential so that I have a blank canvas to work with and no arguments about who's approach is best. Nor because I think my way is better than everyone else's. Just because I'm the one who has to take the responsibility for the work being right so if it's done my way I have nobody to blame but myself if it isn't. Luckily that hasn't happened.
I'm hoping that by the time I'm 50 I'll be up off my knees, in the office and able to pay a few of the younger lads I've trained up to bring my designs to life.
Good luck Paul, it's always good policy to look to the future and by moving into design, would be a natural progression and sit very nicely with your current business. You have the the advantage of 20 years practical experience, which will help you produce more 'practical' designs, maybe!
I am afraid I can not help you with the technical stuff. A drawing board, sharp pencil, T square, square and compass etc and of course a rubber, saw me through with my very basic plans!
Thanks Colin. I find it quicker and easier on paper.
These days if you turn up with a tablet and 3D CAD it seems to help.
Forgot to mention that if you download the current free version of Sketchup make you get a free trial period of Pro.
Local tuition may also be available from people on this site or on the freelance networks.
Brilliant, thanks Mike.
Hi Paul,
We're not far from you, over in Ashby de la Zouch.
If you want to be a fully qualfiied garden designer, you need to take the qualifications ;) Ideally qualifications in design and in horticulture.
For a bare minimum you should take the RHS Levels 1 and 2 horticulture courses. Although you have a lot of landscaping experience, a garden designer also needs a thorough understanting of plants – how they grow, what conditions they require, etc. When your client asks for their garden to give year-round colour and interest, that's when the RHS courses come into their own.
Garden design courses, teaching you the basics of design, dividing space, designing in 3D, etc, can be taken through the BTEC route, or at degree level. I personally wouldn't recommend the degree route.
As to drawings etc, you have plenty of options: hand drawn plans are fine if they are to scale (although time consuming to make changes to); any CAD-based drawing system like Vectorworks Landmark (steep learning curve if you've not used it before, and expensive); Sketchup; or drawing packages like Illustrator and Photoshop.
Good luck,
Keith
Thank you very much for your input Keith.
I must admit that if I were to hire a garden designer I would like them to be qualified. Thank you for for pointing out the relevant qualifications I'd need.
Planting is a weak point for me. I usually use a friend that is a qualified soft landscaper when planting is required.
I've also had a look at your website. You have some fantastic completed projects on there.
Thanks again for the advice.