We deliver paving to many landscapers and builders across the UK in addition to members of the public, but have noticed over the last couple of years that there has been a sharp increase in the number of homeowners using the services of builders to lay paving instead of landscapers. We're interested to know what has caused this change and wondered whether it's any of the following factors:
1) Price or perceived price
2) Availability of landscaping professionals in their area
3) Assumption that builders have a formal qualification whereas landscapers don't
4) Assumption that builders deal with all aspects of hard-landscaping whereas landscapers are more attuned to planting
Are both landscapers and builders (as a sweeping generalisation) able to complete a paving job to the same standard or is one skill set better suited to laying paving than the other? Who is better qualified for the job?
Which trade is more likely to experiment with newer, leading edge paving materials, if indeed there is a difference?
Interested in hearing your opinions....
Regards,
George
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Replies
Well to be honest with you builders were not really bothered about gardening as they had plenty of work during the building boom so there was no need to price for paving etc.
Now that work has slowed they are looking to do anything to get a wage.
I think your going to see a lot more builders doing landscaping work.
Were I am its not worth even trying to go fulltime landscaping everyone is doing it.
I have gone back to doing building work as I can work year round.
tony sums it up nicely - more builders are looking to squeeze more work out of a client than they used to. times are hard ;)
Hi George, you may be interested in this recent discussion Landscaper vs Builder - not sure if this link is working properlu discussion
But I think it is due to perceived cost and trust. Only today I went to visit a potential client only to discover that the builder that had completed the kitchen and bathroom had laid the patio and built a raised bed. They only wanted me to just plant it as the builder had not completed this element. Incidentally I turned it down because the planter had been poorly constructed (no proper damproofing to the internal wall or drainage to the planter) and frankly wasn't worth my while.
But clearly the client liked the internal work, trusted the builder, the garden construction works were offered as part of the deal and so perhaps the perception was of saving money and so the garden was 'sold' to the house contractor even before thinking of getting in a professional garden designer or landscaper involved. There is often understandably no knowledge or experience from the client that there may be a different skillset and experience involved if the builder has already won their trust and has done a good job internally.
You have to remember 20+ years ago there was not even a proper landscaping industry.
I remember builders doing all hard landscaping and gardeners just doing soft landscaping.
Its only since Alan,Tommy and Charlie came along has the "Landscaper" came into being.
There is no real qualifications a landscaper can take to be "qualified".
I would personally think that the landscaper will always be seen more inferior than the builder.
Interestingly, I met both Charlie and Tommy yesterday at the Norfolk Garden Show - they were doing demos and judging the dog show (?!)
I tend to be of the opinion that landscapers are often 'unfairly' considered to be the guys without qualification who are 'just doing a bit of work down the road' and can lay block paving driveways and cut hedges etc. Either that, or if associated with garden design, are perceived to be too expensive and really only interested in the planting rather than being capable of planning and executing the garden as a whole, linking both hard and soft landscaping together.
Thought I would just share this photo with you - it's the Global Stone York Green sandstone which is a good product, but it's been laid by (wait for it......) a tree surgeon! I guess I'm a little surprised why someone would appoint a tree surgeon to lay paving, but obviously he felt he could do the job. He actually advised the customer that the gate would need to be cut down to accommodate the paving!
WOW. There is so much wrong with that patio that I wouldnt even know where to start. Horror Show
I'm no expert but that's horrendous! He's sitting there happy as Larry showing off his work as well! I don't think it's bad BECAUSE he's a tree surgeon though. He's just a sloppy worker.
And the rest.........
Jenny - did you explain the raised bed deficiencies? If so, what response did you get please?
Cheers, Eugene
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