Author: Florence Vasquez

The landscape designer: he knows the plants and the principles of the design of landscaping. He does not necessarily have formal training and often works in a nursery offering a design service. You can find one by consulting the directories of the members of the Association of garden designers of landscaping Austin tx.

The Landscape Architect: His services may cost more than those of the Landscape Designer due to longer studies that include engineering, horticulture, and architectural design courses. The landscape architect usually deals with large-scale projects. To find one, consult the membership directory of the landscaping Austin tx.

The landscape contractor: his training allows him, among other things, to install terraces, walkways, and irrigation systems or to plant plants as presented on the landscape architect’s plan.

If you have the project carried out by a professional, your contract must clearly specify the responsibilities of the parties, the nature of the work, the schedule, the duration of the guarantees, and the terms of payment. The guarantees cover plants (generally for one year from the end of planting), inert materials (for two or three years), and labor. On the other hand, they are often excluded:

• inert materials not supplied by the contractor;
• normal splitting of wood and stone;
• discoloration of concrete;
• damage caused by force majeure;
• subsidence of the basement not modified by the contractor;
• damage caused by customer negligence (poor maintenance).

Before making your choice, ask the professionals to show you some of their accomplishments and provide you with references from past clients. In particular, ensure that the budgets and deadlines indicated in the contracts are generally respected.

Note that the materials must be chosen according to the style of your home, but also the maintenance they require and your budget. It is best to start with work that requires machinery, such as excavation. Then go for it according to your budget. To work safely and avoid an unfortunate accident, it is best to wear the appropriate protective equipment: protective glasses, dust masks, work gloves, and boots.

You can ask a landscape architect to draw you a layout plan and then make it yourself. The cost of a plan varies depending on the complexity of the project (starting at $ 400). If you decide to draw your plan yourself, first draw your land to scale on a sheet of squared paper, then indicate the easements and areas to be developed: dining area, play area, shed, platforms, bands, etc.

In the fall, develop your project and estimate the cost. If you hire a landscaper, also book his services in the fall. He will then be able to take the measurements and prepare the plan and the quotation in anticipation of work in the spring. Depending on the nature of the work, he can also do these tasks in the winter. A few recent photos will make his job easier.

If you need a contractor to do some work, contact them in January to make sure you have a place in their order book. In the spring and summer, do the heavy lifting. If necessary, take the opportunity to recover the stones dug up during the excavation so as to integrate them into your flower beds. And at the end of summer, plant to take advantage of the end-of-season sales.

The only and longed for a place where you can take refuge and stay many hours safe from the heat is your own home. More and more homes are enjoying an air conditioner, a system that is no longer “luxury within reach of a few.” And it is that few things are appreciated as much as getting home and enjoying a cool and comfortable temperature that makes us feel comfortable in our home. The most effective way to achieve this is thanks to air conditioning systems for air conditioning the house.

When thermometers rise, and the body suffers from heat, air conditioning in the home becomes essential, so we help you choose the one that suits you best. Also, experts offer us some simple natural measures to keep the house cool, without increasing electricity costs.

Looking for good insulation

Put adhesive tapes on the window and awning joints, as well as translucent adhesive panels and sheets on the glass. Normal glass lets 95 percent of the incoming solar energy pass into the home, while less than a third of the sun’s radiation reaches it if covered by a sheet.

Surround yourself with abundant vegetation

Placing plants both inside and outside the home helps reduce the effects of air pollution and environmental noise and improves thermal and climatic comfort, as well as relative humidity. The only contraindication to “dress your house in green” is that one of its inhabitants is allergic.

Choose natural ventilation

Ideally, for a home to be well ventilated, its windows face each other, making it easy for drafts to form. Aeration refreshes the environment in hot seasons and helps eliminate gases and toxic particles in the air during winter.

Turn off lights and electrical appliances

Not only conventional incandescent bulbs are an important source of indoor heat. The television, music channels, computer, and video players also warm the room, even when they are in “stand-by” or on standby. Turn off these gadgets when you don’t use them or pay attention to them. It will thank you not only for your body temperature but also for your pocket because you will avoid a waste of electricity. 

Ventilate the house

To maintain the so-called “thermal comfort” temperature (about 20 degrees Celsius), and as a hygiene measure, try to ventilate the house, opening the windows wide, preferably in the early morning or at night, leaving aside the central hours of the day, when the heat is more intense.

Choose plants and flowers well

It is not enough to increase the presence of decorative vegetables in the home, giving color and joy to the environment and refresh it. It is also advisable to choose the most suitable plants. Varieties with large green leaves are recommended, which can be sprayed with water to keep the temperature lower.

Light consumption is somewhat responsible for greenhouse gas emissions. The irresponsible expenditure of light energy can end if we consider some tricks.

To reduce this high consumption in the home, it is convenient to take advantage of sunlight until it sets. Sunlight is natural, less polluting, and also free.

The light colors on the ceiling and walls also help save light as a reflection of natural and artificial light makes the feeling of lighting in the room greater.

In areas of the house or office where more light is needed, or where the light is on for longer hours, such as in the home kitchen or the office, it is convenient to use fluorescent tubes, which consume less energy than light bulbs. Although they are much more expensive than ordinary bulbs, the consumption with the new low consumption bulbs is reduced by up to 80%. Also, the average life of traditional light bulbs is about 1,000 hours, compared to energy-saving light bulbs with a life of 15,000 hours.

Remember that the savings will be more noticeable if the use is prolonged and avoids turning on and off, a process that shortens its useful life. The ideal is to leave the light bulbs if you do not stay outside the room for more than 10 minutes.

Another tip to keep in mind when saving light is that LED emissions (light-emitting diode) consume less than older bulbs. These emissions not only reduce the cost of lighting but also cooling, and it is that only 15% of the energy consumed by an incandescent lamp is used to illuminate, and the rest of the energy is converted into heat.

And finally, it never hurts to remember the expense of leaving lights on that are not being used. Remember to always turn off the lights in rooms that are not being used. And, if possible, reduce outdoor ornamental lighting, for example, in the garden.

By following these tips, we will not only save light, but we are also contributing to the reduction of polluting emissions to the environment. We are reducing energy consumption worldwide. In the short term, we save money, which always comes in handy.

At the heart of most landscaping is a versatile living space that can take the form of a deck or deck. To plan your layout well, you will have to choose from the outset whether you prefer one over the other. This decision will completely change the look and functionality of your outdoor yard.

The difference between a deck and a terrace

Although the terminology may change depending on who you are talking to (balcony, deck, and terrace), we will make a distinction here to explain two types of construction, even if, in reality, the terms are regularly interchanged. The terrace is considered a structure raised above the ground, supported by concrete pillars or screw piles. This structure can then be made of poured concrete, wood, composites, etc. The deck is considered here to be a construction that is at ground level. It can have several bearings if necessary and also be constructed using several materials.

Good advice for choosing between a terrace and a deck

The deck and deck both have advantages and disadvantages. A landscape architect will help you assess your needs according to your tastes, interests, and constraints to create the outdoor courtyard that will suit you best. Here are some tips from a landscaping professional.

Take into account the functionality of the space to be created

When you have to choose between a ground deck or an elevated terrace, you must first ask yourself how you will use this space and how your residence is located on your land. We must determine which access will be the most used to move from the residence to this new living area. Then, you have to see with what other space, interior or exterior, it will be linked and how the circulation will be done. For example, if you walk between the house and the new space very frequently, you may find a deck more practical, as it can be installed at the same height as your house and limits the use of steps. If you have a swimming pool, outdoor kitchen, other relaxation areas, or other pavilions on your property and do not make too many entries and exits of the residence, you may prefer the deck to the terrace.

Take into account the cost and life of the construction.

When it comes to costs, the two are similar when building a quality structure. Since it is possible to install the most quality covering materials on both types of construction, it is the structures that support the whole that will change. In the case of a terrace, you will need to provide concrete pillars or screw piles and a structure to accommodate finishing materials. For ground decks, it is imperative to provide good compacted granular foundations to support the covering materials. Compared to the lifespan of the two structures, the ground deck wins hands down.

Explore the different designs of decks or terraces

Although nowadays it is possible to build decks and terraces with the same design criteria, certain characteristics lend themselves better to one or the other. For example, if you want to have a deck on the ground that is at the height of your ground floor, but your residence is not built to receive it, it is still possible, but it will probably require modifications to the residence. If you wish to have a raised terrace but which is not attached to the residence, it will be necessary to plan the structural elements accordingly to stabilize the platform to avoid it waltzing under your feet when you walk on it. There are also some materials, like wood, which should not be installed on the ground unless a structure and drainage are provided accordingly to avoid premature rotting of the structure. Moreover, even if it is possible to install a covering of natural stones on a raised terrace structure by reinforcing it, you must make sure to choose a stone that will be calibrated (all of the same thickness) with a different finish than natural (sawn, flamed, sandblasting, etc.).

Think about the panoramic view

When planning your deck or deck, you must consider the constraints and potentials offered by the environment to make the most of the assets and reduce the disadvantages. For example, if your neighbors have a direct view of your backyard, a ground deck will give you more privacy. On the other hand, if you decide to go for an elevated terrace for its convenience, you may need to incorporate privacy panels into your project. Finally, if your land offers a breathtaking view and wants to take advantage of it, you can set up a deck on the ground, which will have a better lifespan while keeping level access.