Top Five Questions to Ask Your Landscape Designer

Your home is your own oasis — you want to create a space that is practical, comfortable and unique to you. When looking to design a patio, deck or an outdoor kitchen, you want to make sure that you have the best team working with you. There are many designing companies available and doing research can be overwhelming at times, but knowing what questions to ask can narrow down your choices and make the process easier. StoneHardscapes design consultant and sales people offer the top questions you should be asking a designer before hiring them.

1. I have a look in mind. How can you help me achieve it?

You’ve spent hours on Pinterest and Houzz, you’ve flipped through what seems like thousands of design magazines, you know the look you are going for and you want to see it come to life. When meeting with a designer, communication is key. Describing exactly what you have in mind for your outdoor space and asking how they can make it happen will give you a glance into their style of work, while also establishing open communication before you get started.

2.What color scheme inspires you?

You have a picture in your mind of what you want your new entertainment area to look like; you can visualize the color hues, where the fire bowl will sit, where the grill will be positioned but you are concerned about the designer’s ability to create it. When it comes to design, creative chemistry is crucial to bringing to life the outdoor living space of your dreams. Perhaps you want to incorporate marble pavers or elegant ledgestone in the earthy hues found in Country Classic, perhaps you want to go more modern and inspire a more modern feel with Silver travertine. It’s important to find out if the designer connects with these colors schemes, and if they will be able to bring your vision to life.

3.What installation methods do you prefer and why should I choose your preference?

You want to know if your prospective designer is more inclined to sand set or mortar set your new pavers maybe they prefer thick set or bituminous application methods. When investing in your home, it’s important to understand the differences between these applications, including cost and durability. Sand Set application, for example, is about 1/3 of the cost of mortar set. Talk to your designer and find out their preference and ask them why they feel their preference is the best option.

4.The project has officially started, how long before you install the stone?

So you’ve picked your natural material, selected the colors, and sketched out the location of your new ledgestone veneer – congratulations! The project is on the way, and you couldn’t be excited for what’s to come, only thing is, you aren’t quite sure when that time will come. It’s important to ask your landscape designer about his/her timeline how long before the ledgestone will be put in place? How long before the stone pavers are laid out? When will be plug in our new fire bowls?  These types of questions will provide you with a clear idea of how long the job will take to complete.

5. Why do you recommend natural stone and concrete pavers?

There are a lot of choices available to you, which is the best one for you? Asking your designer about the difference between natural stone and concrete pavers will not only help you make a decision that’s best for you, it will also provide you with insight into their knowledge of the product they want to use for your project, removing the anxiety and anticipation and allowing you to relax and enjoy the process of your outdoor redesign.

Questions? Suggestions? Comments? We would love to hear from you, let’s start a conversation!