• creatively using arbors in your outdoor space 
• adding water features
• outdoor lighting you may not expect

---

"Great Ideas for Landscaping Small Yards" was originaly published on the East End Toronto Homes Blog on March 25th, 2011 and was written by Toronto Real Estate Agent John Helfrich who was our client.  

---

Landscaping small yards increases usable space, enjoyment & value

Why did we wait so long? It was a no-brainer, really. Just finish off the back yard and start using the badly needed outdoor space for relaxing and entertaining.

The problem(s)?

We lacked the spatial sense & design-savvy for landscaping small yards. We had 1000 sq.ft. of wants and needs to fit into our 500 sq. ft back yard. “You’ll have to take something off the list” we were told repeatedly. Of course this created a tug-of-war with my wife and I each defending our pet projects. So how do you deal with all this? How do you make the right decisions?

Start with a ‘spatial reality check’ when landscaping small yards

When you’re landscaping small yards, you usually start with a ‘big yard’ wish list. We wanted a storage shed for 4 bikes, seating for 6, a water feature, an 0utdoor kitchen area with a barbeque, bar and 6 stools, plus ‘green space’ and a motorized sun-canopy that would shade most of the back yard. I should have mentioned we only have 20 by 25 feet.

Why Landscaping Small Yards Often Requires a Professional Designer

Think of it like this. Getting all, or even most of the features you want in your small space, with a great look and function, is like trying to fit a desktop computer into a cell phone. It can be done, but not by your average homeowner.

Kudos to Designer/Landscaper Keith Evans – Owner of Land Effects Outdoor Living Spaces Ltd.

Keith helped us prioritize and  pare back our list of ‘must haves’, until the features fit into our space with a shoe-horn. He polished the design with a few aesthetic concepts we’d never considered.

When finished, Keith submitted our project to Landscape Ontario and won the Award of Excellence for small spaces – residential construction. (not to mention our heartfelt endorsement!).

The Problems

Our back yard is surrounded by 2 garages and the brick wall of our neighbours home. We hated the view looking  outside from our family room. Because we’re surrounded by structures, there’s nowhere for the water to run off. (which usually means a wet basement for someone) There wasn’t enough room in our 20 x 25 foot space for the outdoor kitchen area and bar. The shade canopy needed support posts which ruined the sight lines from inside to outside.This is how our problem was fixed….

Solution -The View

Building an attractive cedar fence as high as the code would allow, hid most of the ugly features around us.

Because of it’s size, Keith ran the fence-boards in 2 directions, which made it less imposing. But we still saw too much of the brick wall.

Keith suggested making our water feature the focal point, which would draw the eye down, away from the brick. He used a natural stone to surround the fountain, then tied in the stone as a band that ran all the way around the fence line – again, drawing the eye away from the brick wall. On either side of the water feature he used chunky cedar lattice behind a garden, to lighten the overall effect.

Solution – Water Run Off

A common problem with landscaping small yards is managing water run-off. Keith used what’s called a ‘French drain’ which is simply a deep hole, lined with landscape fabric and filled with large gravel. The grade is sloped towards a collector drain and water is led into the pit where it ‘percolates’ down through our sandy soil. Problem solved.

Solution – Outdoor Kitchen and Canopy

Keith patiently led us through the prioritizing process until we realized there just wasn’t room for a real kitchen counter and a bar with seating. But we did manage to keep our large Barbeque and we bought a portable bar and a few stools to create a bit more seating for guests.
As for the shade canopy, well we’re still working on that.
The original product needed structural supports which killed the sight-lines from inside. We’re now looking at super thin shade fabric that can hang from overhead wires or cables stretched from one end of the yard to the other.

The Results

Was it really affordable? Once we gave up the outdoor kitchen and motorized shade structure, I suppose it was.

As a Realtor, I’d estimate we recovered at least half of the cost in increased property value. We’ve expanded our living space considerably. It’s almost like having an extra room, but outdoors. We use the space almost every day (and night), have meals outside, and enjoy having friends over to our otherwise-small house. No regrets!

Thank You To Keith Evans – Owner of Land Effects Outdoor Living Spaces Ltd.

---

This is a follow-up from my last post about hiring a contractor.

Oops! I almost missed this great resource from my very own association—Landscape Ontario. Land Effects is proud to be a member of…

Click here to read what Landscape Ontario has to say about hiring a landscape contractor.

Or, you can view their PDF by clicking on the image below.

---

Step 1: Preparation

Do you have a clear idea about what you want done and the scope of the project? Have you hired a contractor before to do a big job for you? Do you know your rights and responsibilities? Does the project need to have building permits? Are there any zoning issues for what you are planning? Do the tradespeople need to be licensed or certified? Is there a trade association? At the bottom I have added some online resources that will help you get prepared.

Step 2: Matching potential contractors with your project

Having a clearly defined idea of the scope of your project will help you to decide what type of contractor and/or landscape designer you feel will work best for you. In the Landscaping Industry you may run into a number of options. Some Landscape designers don't get involved in the construction and others do the design and hire sub-contractors for the build portion of the project and then manage the project. And some, like Land Effects, design and build the project from start to finish. You should make sure you know beforehand what you are looking for so you can find the types of companies that fit your needs. Once you know you can start putting a preliminary list together.

Putting together your short list

1. Ask friends and neighbors if they have used the type of contractor you need and if they can make a recommendation
2. Search on-line "review" sites like Homestars.com to find contractors that fit your profile
3. Investigate Trade Associations like Landscape Ontario

Step 3: Evaluate potential contractors
 Once you have your short list you need to narrow it down to the two or three you want to get estimates from.

Here is a list of things to consider:

• Are they certified?
• Do they sound like they know what they are talking about?
• What is their education?
• How do you feel about the communication? Do you feel comfortable? Do they listen? Are they getting you?
• Do they have good reviews, references, testimonials?
• Does their portfolio show the kind of work you want?
• How long have they been in business?
• Are they professional?
• Do they belong to the trade association?
• What warranties are there on materials?
• Who is responsible for debris removal?
• How will the site be left each day? This is especially important if you have kids.

Here are some things to be wary of.

• Who is doing the work, their crew or sub-contractors?
• Do they have insurance and Workers' Compensation?
• Are they trying to upsell you or do they have creative suggestions to keep your costs down?
• Are they wanting to do it as a "cash deal"? This could mean that they are not certified, don't want to pay their taxes or are "fly-by-night". BEWARE!
• A quote that is way below the others. It may mean that the contractor will need to cut corners or use sub-standard materials. 

I don't think that covers everything but that should give you the idea and get you started.

Step 4: Choosing the contractor and signing a contract

You should have a pretty clear idea by now which contractors you feel fit you best. And that's the right way to think about it. Although price is important, buying on price alone can be a dangerous proposition. Instead, look for the contractor you feel has the right experience and credentials, feel comfortable communicating with and for whom you have the right gut feel. 

THE ONE THING YOU MUST DO!

Get everything in writing. Click here to see a sample contract. 

There are tons of things to consider like:

• making sure the payment schedule is defined
• the drawings are attached
• you know how changes are going to be handled 

…and a lot more. 

The sample contract may be a little elaborate but reviewing it will give you a good idea about the things you want to make sure are in your contract. If in doubt, and if the project is big enough, you may want to let your lawyer take a look at it—because if the contract is that complicated then you can probably be sure that their lawyer created it to protect them.

Resources 

---

I decided to do some research on the internet to see what people are saying about fiberglass pools. Like any product you will have a variety of opinions. Some say that vinyl pools are better. Some are proponents of Gunite* pools. And some, like ourselves, like fiberglass pools. Not surprising, Fiberglass pool installers and resellers were all very pro fiberglass and listed its many advantages. But we wanted some input from an unbiased site so we GOOGLED the question:

What's better—fiberglass or vinyl?

We found the passages we cite below on a non-commercial site. (i.e. The site wasn't for a fibergalss pool seller or installer, although some did make comments on it.)

Why did we choose Fiberglass?

We chose to install Fiberglass Pools for a number of reasons. The number one reason is because we believe it offers the best value for our customers. They can be installed faster and using fewer subcontractors than concrete in-ground pools and have traditionally proven to be more durable than vinyl pools, albeit, they do cost a little more. This translates into good value. A second reason is Viking Pools. We chose Viking Pools because of their reputation for quality and their life-time pool warranty. 

---