Common mistakes.

Here’s a quick top 10 list of mistakes to look out for, to help you make things last longer, to saving you money.

A lot of installers try to cheap out on base preparation, by either not using the right depth of compacted crush or using all sand as its cheaper and quicker. This is the #1 mistake when prepping paver walkway’s, patios and driveways.
Plastic ‘Snap Edge’ and nails don’t hold brickwork in place for very long. It will move, your brick will fall apart and weeds will set in
Using too much sand will cause any grading to be undone when you tamp it at the end.
Running Irrigation for longer doesn’t necessarily mean giving more water to plants and trees, but it will increase your water bill and the water in the sewers. Clay soil doesn’t take water very quickly, so smaller increments, more often is sometimes the better way to go.
Many installers haven’t got proper irrigation experience. They aren’t installing it correctly to get the best watering application without wasting your money.
Over 80% of contractors and concrete installers don’t put conduits under their hardscapes. This would save you money in the long run, by not having to repair hardscapes when the irrigation or lighting needs fixing/adjusting. It’s just a PVC sleeve under the hardscape that really is so cheap and such a time saver ‘down the road’
Brick-edging with very little crush and held together with plastic ‘Snap Edge’ or lawn-edging doesn’t stop weeds and grass. It also allows the pavers to move and shift over time.
The fabric under mulch does not work. It doesn’t stop weeds, but it does cause the mulch to slide around and make fabric visible quite quickly. It also means you can’t turn the old mulch into the soil for added nutrients before adding new mulch.
A lot of concepts are installed with cheap soil. This means high clay content in Alberta, which means it’s hard for plants and turf to grow. For good growing opportunities, look for soil that has high compost, mulch, loam, and sand, with very little Clay. This means its well-draining and easy to grow in, therefore helping your plants and drainage.
Most homes built today don’t have the base around the foundations compacted. This means that settling will occur….for along time. It often causes grades to vastly change around the house due to 8ft of material settling. If your building a home, insist on the base being compacted in layers, to avoid this problem when you have your outdoors done, as it’s impossible to compact 8ft of material in one go.