San Mateo – Landscape - Contractor

Prior to hiring a San Mateo County landscape contractor, it is a good idea to shop around for a landscaping firm that fits your needs and personality. While not every question can be addressed over the phone, having a basic list to ask each landscaping company can help you efficiently determine who would be the right fit for your organizational needs.

Use the following questions as a guide and write down the contractors' answers for future comparison:

1. Has your landscaping company earned and maintained a Diamond Certified rating?
2. How long has your firm been in business?
3. How many years of landscaping experience do you have personally?
4. Do you have workmen's compensation and liability insurance for your workers and any projects you take on?
5. How do you charge for landscaping design and maintenance?
6. Do you provide any sort of warranty for your work?
7. Do you visit my home initially to assess the work that needs to be done?
8. Is this home visit included in the overall price?
9. Can you provide your state license number? (Be sure to call the Contractor's State License Board to follow up once you have this.)
10. Do you provide both services of design and installation? If so, what is the cost breakdown between these services?
11. Can you provide me with at least three addresses for landscapes you have completed?

Knowing the San Mateo County landscape contractor you end up choosing is the best fit for you can be difficult. But with Diamond Certified on your side, you can have confidence in your choice.

That's why choosing a Diamond Certified landscape contractor is best-because all certified companies have passed an in-depth ratings process that most other companies can't pass. If you want quality from a landscape contractor in San Mateo County, you can have confidence choosing a Diamond Certified company.

Diamond Certified reports are available online for all certified companies. And you'll never be fooled by fake reviews. That's because all research is performed in live telephone interviews of actual customers.

Trouble locating a Diamond Certified landscape contractor in your area, especially if you live in the smaller cities of Atherton, Colma, Millbrae, Portola Valley and Woodside? You'll have to do some research on your own. If you do, it's wise to call some references provided by your contractor.

Keep in mind, though, that references provided to you by the landscaping firm are not equal in value to the large random sample of customers surveyed during the Diamond Certified ratings process. That's because references given to customers from companies are cherry-picked instead of randomly selected from all their customers. So the contractors will likely give you a few customers to call that they know are satisfied.

Ask for a list of the company's 10 most recent customers with projects similar to yours. This will help avoid them giving you the names of only customers they know were satisfied. Use the following questions to learn all you can you're your San Mateo County landscape contractor references.

1. Did this contractor provide open and timely communication throughout your project?
2. Did this contractor ensure that he/she left your outdoor space safe for your family and pets during the project's completion?
3. Did this San Mateo landscaping contractor clean up the worksite each day?
4. Did this landscape company keep ahead of delays as much as possible and give good warning if a delay was unavoidable?
5. Was the landscaping project completed within the time frame and your agreed-upon budget?
6. Did this landscaping contractor keep current with all building codes and permits?
7. If this contractor is providing landscaping maintenance, are you happy with their response time and maintenance service?
8. Were you satisfied with their service?
9. Would you/have you recommended this contractor?
10. Would you hire this contractor again?

Congratulations! You've hired a San Mateo County landscape contractor and you want to be prepared for the process of working with them for the best results.

Although each local landscape company has their own process, the following steps are a generalized plan for working with your landscape contractor.

1. Initial consultation interview: The contractor should meet you at the site to hear your version of the transformation that will take place, review the property, discuss initial design plans and discuss your options according to your budget and needs. From this interview, a tentative design and contract can be built.
2. Questionnaire or review interview: The contractor should have developed a synthesis of every wish and option talked about during the first consultation. They may need some follow up clarification and this can also include an actual questionnaire complete with pictures of other designs to review and give comments on. Your color palette for the project should be finalized at this step.
3. In-depth site analysis: The contractor should come back to your home to take photos, completely measure the space, analyze your soil, look into any building codes or permits needed, note weather patterns and drainage issues as well as slate any existing plant material for relocation or removal.
4. Concept sketching and plan development: Once there is an agreed-upon base plan, your contractor should offer other ideas and options for your space. After these have been discussed, the final design can be approved. Final design needs to include everything from site elements to material specifications, irrigation system determination to plant installation.
5. Ground-breaking: The start date for the project, usually beginning with the removal and rearrangement any existing landscape.
6. Site observation: Your contractor should visit your project periodically to monitor installation and answer any questions or concerns that may have arisen. This is the time to bring up any changes to the design that you are considering.
7. Plant installation: This is one of the final steps to completing your landscaping project and your contractor needs to ensure that you are an integral part of the process. You need to understand the plants that are going to be part of your outdoor life for years to come.
8. Final on-site interview: Your contractor should take a walk-through your project with you upon completion to review any last instructions and to answer any last questions you might have. This is the time to make sure your satisfaction is met in regards to any contractual elements. 

Your San Mateo County landscape contractor may work a little differently through these steps, but the process should look similar and the main details should still be included, even if they happen at differing times.

Benefits San Mateo County Landscape Contractors Bring to your Project
Is it worth all the trouble to look for and hire a San Mateo County landscape contractor?

Do-it-yourself landscaping may seem like an attractive way to save money.

But consider these factors: do you have the knowledge of what plants work for your yard, your climate, your commitment to outdoor life? Do you understand how to irrigate so that you are not wasting money on plants that won't survive? Do you have the expertise to install any high-end features you may be considering such as an outdoor kitchen or waterfall?

Landscape contractors in San Mateo County can provide you with all the knowledge, expertise and experience it will take to turn your bland yard into an outdoor oasis. Benefits of working with a trustworthy landscape contractor include:

• Increase your property value (in some cases, by as much as 15 percent)
• Enhance your outdoor space with their specialized knowledge of the land and climate
• Bring focus to your vision for transforming your outdoor space and a design that incorporates energy (and therefore money) saving tips
• Installation of irrigation, sprinkler, lighting systems, etc. that take special know-how and improve your project to a new level

Doing the work yourself may seem to save you costs up front, but hiring a knowledgeable San Mateo County landscape contractor can save you a lot more time, money and headache in the long run.

Understanding Bonds
San Mateo County landscape contractors are required to have licensed bonds, but this doesn't necessarily mean your job will be completed in the way or in the timeframe that you were hoping for.

The next best thing to helping you get the work you pay for is the payment and performance bond. Although nothing can really ensure that your project will be completed, these bonds give a financial guarantee against mechanics' liens-these can be filed against you if your landscape contractor does not pay subcontractors or suppliers that they use. Payment and performance bonds also provide a certain amount of money to finish a project if your contractor will not do it.

Remember that this bond should include the total estimated cost, to fully cover any expenses you may be left with. You should know that these bonds can cost one to five percent over the total price, but you have to weigh how much it will gain you in the end if something goes wrong.

Looking for a San Mateo County landscape contractor with more experience is a good idea, whether you live in the larger cities of San Mateo, South San Francisco, Pacifica, Menlo Park and Burglingame or the smaller cities of Belmont, Loma Mar, Palomar Park, San Gregorio and Sharp Park, is because contractors who are new to the landscaping world may not be able to obtain these payment and performance bonds.

Joint control companies are another way to lend security to your project. They specialize in construction, both building and landscaping. These companies receive your payment and then distribute it to your contractor and its suppliers, subcontractors, etc.

A joint control company should take a look at the final project before paying out your money and also provide a warranty against any mechanics' liens. Your San Mateo County landscape contractor should be able to provide you with names companies like these.

If this is your first time working with the landscaping company, you want to make sure that the job will get done before you put money into it. Be especially guarded against contractors who ask for any amount before starting your project.

Most San Mateo County contractors do not require a down payment, except in the cases of special order products, although some may request payments in installments over the length of the project.

If a down payment is expected, remember that the legal limit for home improvement projects is only 10 percent of the total estimated cost of the job or $1,000, whichever comes out to less.

Requesting a payment and performance bond or are using a joint control company negates this down payment cap. You'll need to make sure that any down payment or payment schedule is written in your contract and always make payments by money order or check, never cash.

Lastly, don't pay your last installment until the project meets your expectations and the specifications outlined in your contract. Even small things, such as cleaning up any remaining trash in your yard should be the responsibility of your contractor, and to protect yourself, it is always best to withhold final payments until you are completely satisfied.

It is hard to narrow down what clients of San Mateo County landscape contractors generally want when they hire a landscaping firm to help with their outdoor transformation.

However, the following landscaping services are some of the most commonly requested of landscape contractors in San Mateo County.

Talk with your San Mateo County landscape contractor, including those in San Mateo, South San Francisco, Pacifica, Menlo Park and Burglingame, to see what they are willing and/or able to accomplish in your outdoor space.

Flower and/or plant garden
This "softscaping" is just one of the many ways landscape contractors improve the beauty and value of your home. Their expertise can help you choose the right flowers and plants to flourish in your yard.

Outdoor lighting
This feature is actually an integral part of providing beauty and safety to your outdoor space. Landscape contractors will either be trained to do this part themselves or hire a subcontractor who specializes in lighting to accomplish your design.

Stone walkways
The more natural choice for walkways in your outdoor space, stone can enhance the look of your yard without adding a lot of man-made material. Stone walkways also help showcase any spaces that have been landscaped without a lot of traffic to ruin planted areas.

Patios
Your San Mateo County landscape contractor can help you decide on the material best suited to your outdoor space for installing a patio. Adding a patio can enhance not only the beauty of your yard, but also the usability.

Fountains
Water features are a fantastic way to bring interest and depth to your landscape. Fountains help contain the water to a smaller, more manageable space and you can work with your San Mateo County landscape contractor to find one that fits your style and budget.

Outdoor kitchens and fire pits
This feature truly adds measureable value to your property. While this can be a costly element to landscaping, your contractor can work with you to find an outdoor kitchen and/or fire pit that scales to meet your needs.

Koi ponds
Fish add an instant sense of true nature to your outdoor space not accomplished by any other feature. Koi ponds are popular for those homeowners who are willing to keep up the effort it takes to maintain them. Discuss maintenance with your San Mateo County landscape contractor, as it can be extensive.

Natural streams and waterfalls
Another water feature with a little more natural credibility than a fountain, the stream and/or waterfall can immediately transform an outdoor space into a magical oasis. This feature also changes the types of plants that can be introduced into your yard, as it adds natural irrigation and watering capabilities.

Brick paver walkways
This feature enables you to direct outdoor traffic in your landscaped space and keep trampling to a minimum. Brick pavers are much more uniform and suited to a design that incorporates more rigid lines between naturally occurring landscapes and man-made features.

Terracing
Helpful with erosion control and drainage issues, terracing can be a lovely way to address difficulties with your outdoor space. Your San Mateo County landscape contractor can provide many options for accomplishing this look while incorporating your other design wants and needs.

San Mateo landscape contracting and the landscaping business in general have a specific language that may sometimes feel like a code that needs cracking. The following list of terms and definitions should help you navigate your way when hiring and working with your San Mateo County landscape contractor.

American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA)
A professional society that represents landscape architects betters their practice and understanding through education, research, state registration, etc.

base plan
A plan showing site boundaries and features, used as a basis for further development.

building codes
Regulations that specify the type of methods and materials allowed on a project.

building permit
An authorization dispensed by a government agency which permits construction of a project according to agreed-upon specifications.

built environment
A man-made creation or alterations to an outdoor space, including its natural resources.

Computer Aided Design and Drafting (CADD)
A digital design program that produces precise plans for landscaping projects.

contour
The form of the land. Contour lines are map lines which are used to show and measure slope and drainage.

conservation
The safeguard, improvement and use of natural resources according to principles that will guarantee economic or social benefits for our environment now and in the future.

conservation plan
A plan for protecting natural or manufactured resources. Used as a tool in making decisions regarding soil, water, vegetation, manufactured objects and other resources.

design
The creative illustration, planning and specification of outdoor space for utility, value and beauty.

drainage
Where water escapes from a land surface or subsurface, through sewers or natural means.

easement
The legal grant to use an area of designated property.

grade
How the land slopes. Grading is the process of changing the degree of the slope in order to promote drainage and landscape design.

hardscape
Things that are added to a landscape, such as paving stones, gravel, walkways, irrigation systems, roads, retaining walls, sculpture, street amenities, fountains, etc.

International Federation of Landscape Architects (IFLA)
A multinational organization of landscapers whose purpose is the advancement of landscape design.

landscape
The amount of land that can be seen at a glance.

landscape architect
A professional who designs outdoor spaces from whole ecosystems to residential sites

Also known as: designer, planner, consultant

landscape architecture
The science and art of design of the land involving natural and built elements and concern for resource conservation to improve outdoor spaces. Effective landscape architecture makes the most of the land, adds value to a project and minimizes costs, all while minimizing negative effects to nature.

landscape contractor
A trained installer of landscapes who implements the plans of landscape architects.

manipulation of space
The organization of land for aesthetic or functional design. Refers to the building of small backyard patios to huge urban plazas.

master plan
An initial plan showing proposed development. Master plans show phases of work needing to be completed and are therefore subject to changes over time.

natural resources
Elements naturally occurring in an area that can be used to fulfill human needs, including air, soil, water, native vegetation, etc.

site plan
A drawing including dimensions that indicates the form and physical objects existing in an outdoor space and those still to be built.

softscape
The naturally occurring elements landscape architects work with, such as plant materials.