McLaughlin Landscaping

We specialize in creative design, competitive and specific pricing, installation of quality materials, and customer service. Since our inception in 1981 we have become one of the Northwest’s most reputable and successful landscape contracting firms. I credit this to our commitment to customer service, community, and our belief that you really do reap what you sow.

We believe in our products – from the smallest sprinkler nozzle to the largest tree. Through research and experience we have found landscape and irrigation products that are reliable and effective. Plant varieties specified in our designs are hardy to this area and are chosen for their seasonal interest and appropriateness.

I am very proud of our staff. Not only do we draw from the experience of people in the landscape and irrigation industries, we also tap the talents and skills of people from varied backgrounds. Our industry leading safety and training programs allow us to create well-rounded teams of enthusiastic, motivated professionals that are committed to customer service and quality.

We utilize two methods to evaluate our quality. First, we ask our clients with a simple survey question. Was the quality you received less than expected? As expected? Exceeded expectations? Our goal is to exceed our client’s expectations. Secondly, we have developed an internal quality evaluation performed by both the foreman and a supervisor. To back up our commitment to quality we guarantee our work for one year and provide a one year service contract with new sprinkler system installations.

NEVER THOUGHT I COULD GET SO EXCITED ABOUT PARKING, outside of finding a spot in the East Village on a Saturday night.

For the past two days, the construction of a parking court — that sounds pretentious, but it’s not a driveway, it’s a 25′x30′ square and I don’t know what else to call it — has been underway in my front yard. The workmen just finished, and I’m pleased with how it turned out.

I had determined the dimensions from internet research, which said that a spot for two cars ought to be 30′ wide — that’s presuming car doors are open, and people need to maneuver about. And I had decided it should be 30′ deep, measured from the road, to accommodate the occasional visitor with a car longer than my own Honda Fit, and also so that the cars wouldn’t be right smack on the road.

When Joe Goncalvez, an old-school mason, and his son arrived yesterday, marked off the space, and started bulldozing to remove the remains of the old black asphalt and create a bed for the crushed stone that would underlay the final gravel, I realized it was way huger than necessary. So I cautiously had them lose five feet of width, but it’s still 30′ deep, for a total of 750 square feet of parking. That’s almost the size of the house itself! It taught me a lesson about proportionality: that it is very hard to master without experience (and this is my first parking court, after all).

I’m hoping that with time, and encroaching greenery, the parking court won’t look so vast, and if it does, I’ll use it for additional container planting– put out barrels of annuals or evergreens, possibly even a bench. Turn it into an entry courtyard that happens to accommodate cars.

Meanwhile, it can fit four Fits, at least.

I love the stone, which is 3/4″ pieces of local quartz and granite, a natural beige/cream/brown color, worn smooth by the glaciers that deposited it here 15,000 years ago. It’s edged with railroad ties, an economical solution and one I think looks right for my humble cottage (Belgian block or any such fancy edging would have been too much).

Joe also brought over some smaller pea gravel, and suggested that, since I have a “credit” (the parking court being a bit smaller than originally intended), he pave me a pea-gravel path from parking court to front door. He told me they would excavate a couple of inches and lay down landscape fabric to keep weeds from popping through.

This morning, I got up early to fine-tune the curves I wanted for the path with my trademark technique: piles of sculpted leaves. When I returned, they were at lunch, but I found the path mushy to walk on and not as wide as I wanted, closer to three feet than four. So I screwed up my courage, not being naturally that assertive, and told Joe this, feeling guilty because he had “thrown it in.” (I was prepared to pay the original price without question, though the parking court is 150 square feet smaller than contracted for — and I was also prepared to live with a dirt path for a while longer.)

He was totally pleasant and professional about it — I guess it’s not as big a deal for masons as it seemed to me. Widening the path and tamping it down took all of 15 minutes. Anyway, the man is a prince. And I now have a proper place to park the car, like every American home should.

Legendary Landscape is a full service landscape company who designs and builds landscapes for clients in Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania, King George and Northern Virginia. We have been using the same products since the onset of our company and enjoy the quality of  results we provide our clients. We are experienced in all facets of our landscape design and build and have continued to stand out above the rest as far as our retaining wall and paver patios. This includes the quality of the product, the clients experience with us and the affordable value we offer.

Retaining Wall Systems can be attached to soil anchors, eliminating the need for extensive excavation disturbing natural soils for geogrid reinforcement.

Landmark™ System – Designed to meet the high standards set by the transportation industry, the Landmark retaining wall system performs under extreme loading conditions and comes in multiple sizes for full flexibility,which disallows the use of most traditional retaining wall systems. This high-performance wall system has been approved for highway use by Maryland and Virginia.

Landmark’s horizontal cores also allows the system to be attached directly to soil nails or rock bolts, eliminating the need for extensive excavation for geogrid reinforcement. This feature also has been used to save trees that would have been in the excavation zone had a grid-reinforced
wall been used.

Anchor™ Segmental Retaining Wall Systems – The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reports that unprotected waterfront property erodes away at an average rate of about 2.5 feet annually. Anchor™ Segmental Retaining Wall Systems offer a durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing solution to shoreline erosion.

These retaining wall block systems offer a durable, functional, and aesthetically pleasing solution to shoreline erosion.  As engineered, the dry-stacked retaining wall block allows water to penetrate a specifically constructed reinforced wall behind the zone.  The water then drains out slowly, leaving the shoreline strong and in place.  The Landmark System can be attached directly to soil nails or rock bolts, eliminating extensive excavation.  This feature also saves trees that would have been removed in the excavation.

Use Stabilized Aggregate for an Unconventional Solution
If there isn’t enough space to construct a conventional retaining wall with geo-synthetic reinforcement or if poor in-fill soils are your challenge, stabilized aggregate can be an effective option.  A cost-effective, non-conventional retaining wall option, building with stabilized aggregate offers unique solutions to difficult site problems.  Excavating costs can be dramatically reduced and excavation depth can be minimized to preserve property.

The Landmark Retaining Wall Block and Transportation
In addition to helping keep shoreline erosion to a minimum, the Landmark retaining wall block system is being used by the transportation industry.  In an industry with such high standards, these retaining wall block systems are a dependable and sought after material for highway design. This retaining wall block system has superior strength and is ideal for tall and high load bearing walls. It incorporates a unique vertical shape with the utilization of the strength of soil reinforcements. The Landmark retaining wall block in Virginia has helped create miles of our area highways.

Landmark retaining wall block systems are so versatile that they can be used for small residential landscaping projects and also for larger commercial constructions. They not only offer a functional purpose but they are also aesthetically appealing, and are sure to add natural beauty to any home landscape or commercial site.

We are proud to offer Eagle Bay products and will continue to do so!

Source: EagleBayUSA

There are two main aspects that will influence your Outdoor Design:

Terrain & Architecture

Terrain

          What I am best known for is my ability to create a Lagoon that feels as if it has always been on the property and the house was built around it. In nature, waterfalls occur as water travels down a mountain, which then collects in lakes or pools of water in the stream. Waterfalls are always surrounded by thriving vegetation because of the moisture it produces and positive ions. These natural facts are crucial to pay attention to when creating a natural environment inspired by nature. So many lagoon style pools use fake rock with little to no vegetation and chlorinated water giving a very sterile and artificial look. It is important to use berms or elevated planters behind the waterfall to replicate the mountain that the water has collected on and is falling from. Using ionization to keep the water clean is not only healthier for you, it also makes the plantings around the waterfall thrive as they would in nature. Using additional berms around the landscape also helps tie the rest of the yard into the natural Lagoon area.

Lagoon Pool and Spa Terrain

Architecture

         Perhaps natural is not your thing and a more architectural look is what you want. In this case finding architectural details from the house can be a great inspiration to the pool design. In this picture the traditional keyhole shaped archways of the Moorish designed house was reflected in the elevated pools and spa. The pool also encompasses some of the columns of the house to bring the two together as one seamless design. Travertine, in a golden tone, was used outside the home as well as inside and to complement the Florida sunsets viewed nightly.

          If you decide to go for a natural look, it is always a great addition to the design to add other natural elements to the architecture of the house. This can be done using stone veneer on inside or outside walls, veneering outdoor kitchens, creating a small water feature by the entrance of the home, or additional stone walkways or patios.

Architecture flowing from house to pool

The Spring 2010 U.S. Remodeling Sentiment Report revealed a 13% increase in the number of homeowners who say they will remodel in the next 12 months.

In 2010, out of 5,000 people surveyed, 54% are excited about remodeling, 48% plan to remodel the kitchen, and 53% plan to add a bathroom. According to the RISMedia article, the cost to remodel now is as much as 20% lower than in 2006.

Here are the top five home improvements that Realtors recommend to home sellers based on cost and their return on investment (from RISMedia):

1. Cleaning and De-cluttering
Cost: $200
Price Increase: $1,700
ROI: 872%

2. Home Staging
Cost: $300
Price Increase: $1,780
ROI: 586%

3. Lightening & Brightening:
Cost: $230
Price Increase: $1,300
ROI: 572%

4. Landscaping
Cost: $320
Price Increase: $1,500
ROI: 473%

5. Repairing Plumbing
Cost: $385
Price Increase: $1,250
ROI: 327%

Seven of the top 12 low-cost DIY home improvements include: updating electrical, replacing/shampooing carpets, painting interior walls, repairing damaged floors, updating kitchen, painting exterior of home, and updating bathroom(s).

Out of the above home improvement projects, the ones with the highest price increases to a home’s resale value are updating the kitchen ($1,200 cost/$2,850 price increase), painting exterior of home ($900 cost/$1,815 price increase), and home staging ($300 cost/$1,780 price increase).

Working on your home can be a fun task, but there are certain times that it is better to leave the remodeling up to a professional. If your safety is at risk, like when attempting a project that has to do with your home’s electrical system, it’s best to consult a professional. More than 19,700 people are injured each year by ceiling fans (a common do-it-yourself project) that are not properly mounted or sized. If water is involved, the cost is too high, or the project is too big to handle (you can admit it), get an estimate of how much it might cost for a professional to be a part of your remodeling process.

Amber N. Johnson
Licensed REALTOR ®
Your First Time Home Buyer and Foreclosure Specialist
Mickey Hage, Inc. Real Estate Brokerage
Cell: 321-689-8196
Email: amber@mickeyhage.com
Website: www.orlandoforeclosurespecialists.com

Serving most of Central Florida including: Downtown Orlando, Colonialtown, College Park, Baldwin Park, Conway, Lake Nona, East Orlando, UCF, Waterford Lakes, Avalon Park, Bithlo, Christmas, Hunters Creek, Dr. Phillips, Windermere, Metrowest, Ocoee,  Maitland, Oviedo, Winter Park, Casselberry, Winter Springs, Chuluota, Sanford, Lake Mary, Longwood, Altamonte Springs, Disney, Kissimmee, Saint Cloud, and Harmony.

Proposta Alternativa ao Projeto Oficial

Trem Bala – Metro de Alta Velocidade

Brazil      São Paulo – Rio de Janeiro

“Make no little plans. They have no magic to stir men’s blood and probably themselves will not be realized…” DanielBurnham, Chigago architect (1846-1912)

Fun, Colorful, Shade Sails coming this Spring!

These lively jolts of color can be easily installed to transform any yard into your backyard oasis! Sometimes exterior design calls for subtlety. Sometimes boldness is required. For those latter occasions there are the Coolaroo Shade Sails.

Coolaroo shade sails are not your grandparent’s patio umbrella. They look bolder than that, brightly colored in square and triangle shapes. It’s remarkable how one lone shade sail can lend an outdoor space a contemporary touch. String up a group of shade sails and you can transform a space into something you’d expect to find at a modern art museum.

What you can’t see from the photos is how durable the Coolaroo material is. This isn’t like hanging out a sheet. The shade sails are made for life outdoors. The sail’s nylon edges will not tear or fray. The color of the material will remain bright even when permanently hung outside and exposed to moisture, intense sun and temperature extremes. The D-rings on the corners of the Coolaroo will stay anchored to the included stainless steel poles. And it isn’t just Spot Cool Stuff saying so—Coolaroo products come with a 10 year warranty. If your shade sail becomes damaged the company will replace it for free.

Best of all, the Coolaroo fabric blocks out 90% of the sun’s harmful UV rays while allowing breezes to pass through. So life under a Coolaroo is cool in more ways than one.

Southdown Ridge bridge is now being backfilled with earth behind the bridge arches. 

Backfilling will build up the level of the ground either side of the bridge to make sure that the cycleway and bridleway is level.

In the autumn, the bridge will be planted to make a continuous line of vegetation from one side to the other.