Drainage

Sites with poor drainage can cause patios, walkways, and walls to shift and crack over time; soil drainage affects when and how you can work in different areas (clay soils that drain poorly shouldn’t be worked when wet, as this can cause compaction that lasts for years); some plants need their roots to stay consistently […]

Measuring and Layout

It’s time to pull out your trusty design plan! Stick to this plan pretty closely at the start of this measuring and layout stage– you’ve already done a lot of work upfront. If, once you’ve laid things out according to your plan, you need to make adjustments, you can. Taking the time to accurately measure […]

Site Preparation and Demolition

This is a critical stage for setting yourself up for success in all subsequent phases of your project. Methodically working through this process ensures a smoother installation and also protects your investment and personal well-being. Set smaller goals for yourself and celebrate milestones, invite friends over to help and pay them with pizza, and remember […]

Tools and Equipment

Proper, reliable tools and equipment can have a lot of power over your quality of life during installation. That being said, there is no need to go out and buy all new, state-of-the-art gear (unless you want to!)– you can do quite a bit with a relatively limited array of manual tools. Keep in mind […]

Safety

You may be chomping at the bit to begin installation, but before you do, it is essential to familiarize yourself with basic install safety measures. Even consummate professionals take safety very seriously– being aware of what the risks are and how to mitigate them goes a long way towards preventing injury that can interrupt your […]