Restricted access

Just had a frustrating few weeks with clients who ask for quotes, for landscaping, that have either built across or narrowed drastically access to their gardens, There seems to be a growing trend, in Birmingham anyway, with people extending their houses upwards, sidewards and all ways, without any thought of later practicality. The clients always look either surprised or sheepish when I inform them of the cost implications in increased labour, materials etc. Some ask if we can access through their house, "you could put some dust sheets down" being the most common response to me looking horrified at the idea of taking the odd tonne of spoil/rubble through their beautifully decorated hallway/kitchen/utility room, or "We could ask the neighbours if you could use their garden"as you gaze across the neighbours lawn/fencing/planting borders, or even better "how about a crane, like on Grand designs"!!!

Surely, in the interests of health and safety, some access should be left. What happens if the BBQ/garden catches fire, little Timmy falls out the tree house or grand dad has a major coronary? How are the emergency services supposed to get in, over the neighbouring fences? Over the roof? Shouldn't it be, somewhere, stipulated that a standard minimum access have to be left?

Is it down to the relaxing of planning laws? I understand that from time to time access will be difficult, and I do realise that it's common problem in urban environments, I've been around a while now, but it seems more and more a growing issue. Generally I turn the work down or out price myself, but most of our work is by recommendation, so it can cause problems with god clients who'vregiven our name.

Really this is just a rant, but I'd be interested in anyone else's views.

Did a job just before Christmas where everything had to go through a tight alleyway and across the neighbours small courtyard garden. From my first visit to the site I explained to the costumer that the job would be expensive due to the terrible access. 2 8 yard skips worth of rubbish came out, had to block park my van and customers car so we could get parking space for skip, made sure that the client told all the neighbours that we would be the for a few weeks and most importantly we kept the place tidy at all times! Job went well, neighbours were making us tea and coffee by the second week of the job, gave 1 woman a load of old timber for her log burner and another a pile of left over sand. Most importantly it was a good earner just before Christmas. As long as the customer understand the extra cost and you and your lads are up for a few weeks of grafting this type of job is sometimes worth while.

Replies

Michael Grinham March 20, 2016 at 11:21am

Must apologise for the lack of spell check and decent abbreviation, sorry.
PRO

Russ Francis March 20, 2016 at 11:38am

Oh yes I know what you mean, one of the most important check item on my site survey sheet is 'access', and a tape measure to see if barrows etc will fit down passageways. As you say I think it's down to people extending their houses to the n'th degree, and not considering or bothering about the access problems later. One of my regular hedge cuts has a barely 600mm access to the back garden, which is huge about 3 tennis courts. Everything has to be carried through, kit, waste etc which is a PITA and of course the cost goes up as a result. The lady in question has decorative plates hanging on the walls of the passageway - carrying some branches through last year I managed to knock one off and break it oops !
- Michael Grinham > Russ Francis March 20, 2016 at 12:36pm
  
  I think people really just don't consider the implications, it's a case of "oh they'll manage" with some folk. We have carried out works where we've had to squash barrows to make them thin enough to fit! We're currently working on a project where we had to clear a grab lorry worth of garden spoil, with a digger, from across the backs of 3 gardens to get access to the property. The clients paid the cost, but it amazed me that all 3 properties had car width access to the rear of their gardens but could find nothing better to do with it than use it as a dumping ground.
This reply was deleted.
- Michael Grinham March 20, 2016 at 12:40pm
  
  I generally try to accommodate everyone, if possible, but sometimes it's just not realistic, or they won't meet the cost, in which case we just don't bother quoting. We ask the client to sign a disclaimer, accepting any damage done is not liable, and we make good, within reason.
  
  Parking access is also a pain, especially with our vehicles, the clients, materials storage, skips, deliveries and then add the neighbours, it all adds to the fun.
Adrian Badham March 20, 2016 at 1:34pm

Went to quote a turfing job yesterday 80 rolls of turf no access only through a kitchen . The best ones are when they expect you come though the house with a lawn mower which stinks of petrol and anything else you have mowed through with you safety boots on which you have been in all manner of things . Remember do a turfing job were 150 rolls had to be carried through the house which has white walls the client decided to give us a had , she tripped and the roll end up sliding all against the white wall
- Michael Grinham > Adrian Badham March 21, 2016 at 6:14am
  
  Same happened to us only it was a Limestone slab and they took a chunk out of a wall and a lovely oiled wooden floorboard, bit of a sharp intake of breath moment!!!
James Brett March 21, 2016 at 6:50am

I walk away now.

Once priced one where there was a 100m run from the garden gate to where we could get a tipper. 6 cube to come out. Then type 1 and sand before artificial grass. Now everything had to be done by hand as they had a raised deck built around the old 'lawn'. Literally everything had to be lifted up 5ft to back gate level before going round the front. Couldn't even get a digger in :/
- Michael Grinham > James Brett March 22, 2016 at 11:16am
  
  Nasty, sounds like something theRoyal Marines would have to do in basic training! Lol ;)
Rob Askham March 22, 2016 at 10:45am

Did a job just before Christmas where everything had to go through a tight alleyway and across the neighbours small courtyard garden. From my first visit to the site I explained to the costumer that the job would be expensive due to the terrible access. 2 8 yard skips worth of rubbish came out, had to block park my van and customers car so we could get parking space for skip, made sure that the client told all the neighbours that we would be the for a few weeks and most importantly we kept the place tidy at all times! Job went well, neighbours were making us tea and coffee by the second week of the job, gave 1 woman a load of old timber for her log burner and another a pile of left over sand. Most importantly it was a good earner just before Christmas. As long as the customer understand the extra cost and you and your lads are up for a few weeks of grafting this type of job is sometimes worth while.
- Michael Grinham > Rob Askham March 22, 2016 at 11:21am
  
  I agree, the client we're having the present access fun with has spoken to their neighbours and I've a meeting tomorrow evening to discuss using their garden as access. We'll ensure everything is kept clean and damage to a minimum, and the clients meet any cost incurred. As you say communication is the key, as long as everyone understands the issues, it all, usually, goes smoothly.