24 — Sunday, June 20, 1999 - A hard look at THIS is the time of the year when many people look at their landscaped areas and decide they want to make some changes or impreve- ments. The work may involve cre- ating a new landscaped area, rebuilding an existing area, upgrading an older gerden, adding a new feature such as a pool or patio or secking some professional help with regular maintenance. Try to decide what you want to do, keeping in mind your budget, vour levei of interest and the time commit- ment thei may be required for construction or mainte- nance. Even if you have a good idea of what you want and plans to do the work yourself, you should consider speaking with 4 professional. You may find that there are other cptions you have not considered or the changes that you wish to make are not feasible or prac- ‘tical. Depending on the job, there are severa] ways to pro- ceed, For large new landscaping project: you may wish to hire a landscape architect and have a set of formal plans drawn up which can then be con- structed by a landscape con- tractor. Another possibility North Shore News Grows that is generally less expensive is to use a landscape designer to create a set of plans that can be translated into a new planting by yourself or a con- tractor, A third option is to hire a landscape consultant to help guide you through the task developing sketch plans, piant lists and planting schemes. There are also some good “design and build” contrac- tors in the industry if you do not plan ro do the work yourself, Landscape contractors tend to specialize and may be categorized as installation and/or maintenance, com- mercial and/or residential and hard landscaping and/or soft landscaping. Hard fand- scaping is constructing wails, stairs, trellises, etc. whereas soft landscaping is placing che soil, laying the turf and plant- ing the plants. Knowing what a company specializes in, or is good at, is helpful. The BC Landscape & Nursery Association, the vol- _ Your home siays cool in summer while keeping warm in winter. ° Honeycomb © Pleated » Roller § Pleated Sheer *4$G™ 1. FABRICATOR OF WINDOW COVERINGS AT STREET OF DREAMS 1992, 1994 & 1996 * Drapes ¢ Shades © Valances © Buy Nirect from Wholesaler © Free in-home consultation HMR AB MAR BE Seth AS 2 a 0 Hd ne Os vt 5 north shore news *s HOME & GARDEN landse NEWS photo Terry Peters A rock wall with a built-in flower box is an example of hard landscaping. If you're planning one for your yard you may wish to hire a professional who specializes in it. untary professional organiza- tion that many well-qualified fandscapers belong to, has sct up a certification program to kelp epgrade the skills of landscape professionals. While similar programs have been running in other parts of North America for some time, it is still reletively new here in B.C. Not all compe- tent landscapers are certified ; lloyd aBurrit? Thursday June 24 7:30pm-10:00pm lynn Valley Communily Cenire Tickets are $10 .. please contact Laurie 980-4052 or Barbara 980-7737 " Notice To Builders & Developers Did you know that commencing July 1, 1999 all residential builders applying for a building permit will be requized to be licensed by the Homeowner Protection Office? If you require information or assistance in navigating a course through the paperwork, the solution is simple...call radbrooke, Crawford & Green and ask to speak to one of our team of experienced lawyers. BRADBRCOKE, CRAWFORD & GREEN #600-171 West Esplanade North Vancouver, B.C. Telephone: 980-8571 but it is one of many things you might like to ask about before hiring someone. The BCLNA, in conjunc- tion with the B.C. Society of Landscap: Architects, pub- lished a book of Landscape Standards in 1997. AH land- scape work done in B.C. should be measured against these standards to ensure the highest quality of work. Another thing to inquire about is the level of horticul- tural training of both the contractor and the staff. Having a recognized diploma SUMNER come ‘rom such places as Capilano, Guelph or Kwandan Colleges may ensure a higher level of conipetency. Doing work in a responsi- ble environmental manner is also important and you might want to check to see what the contractor's Jevel of aware- ness is. This is particularly impertant where there are drainage issues, small streams, steep hillsides or adjacent green belts. A well-established land- scape business should not hesitate to show they have a iy alta business Heenee, a regtis- tered GST number and a WCB registration. Qualified companies will also carry lia- bility insurance, particularly where vehicles and power equipment are to be used. Not all landscapers have won awards but those that have are some of the mast talented and are happy to share this information with their clienes. Before having any work donc, ast. for a written quote, not an estimate, and this should speil our the obliga- tions of both che contractor and the client. It is better to have it in writing before the work starts than to have disagreements part way through the con- _ tract. The first payment should not be made until after the materials or products have arrived or the job has reached the level of completion spelied out in the contract. A list of “Certified Horticultural Technicians” and “Your Guide To BC’s Landscape Services and Products” are available from the BCLNA office, #101, 5830 — 176A Street, Surrey, B.C. Phone (6043 574-7772 Fax (604) 574-7773. The BCLNA also provides a service to help the con- sumer determine if the land- scape goods and services meet the established industry standards. 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