Author: Amanda Linder

Will insurance cover the replacement of my retaining wall?

The answer is yes and no.

In a normal circumstance, homeowner’s insurance will NOT cover the cost to replace your retaining wall. According to The Hartford Insurance, categories not typically covered include:

  • Normal wear and tear
  • Poor workmanship or defective materials
  • Birds, vermin, rodents and insects

The article can be found here: https://www.thehartford.com/aarp/homeowners-insurance/what-does-homeowners-insurance-cover

So what is covered?

I’ve seen two instances where I have seen insurance step in. In the first claim a tree removal company lost control of a stump grinder and it damaged the homeowner’s wall. The second claim was the result of a vehicle crashing into a retaining wall.

The best approach is to be proactive when it comes to replacement.

Choosing a (Landscape) Contractor

Too many times homeowners trust a contractor only to find that their trust was misplaced. Sometimes they are fortunate enough to break ties with that contractor before much if any damage is done. The rest are left with a huge lesson, a matching price tag, and poorly executed work.

So how do you know who to choose?

I created a video that should provide a good starting point for vetting and ultimately hiring a contractor. Take a look:

Check out that face! What a great first impression.

Are you still left with questions? Please ask!

‘Tis the Season

We’ve had a brief glimpse of the spring weather to come, but we’re back to winter again. For now at least, but not for long.

Spring is traditionally the time when most people think of home improvements. It only makes sense as spring brings a time of renewal and new life. It’s also the season that brings a host of new landscapers to the area. Every year it seems that there are more unfamiliar names driving around town. Other names are forgotten as they leave the industry for a new venture.

Did you know that landscaping is the second most failed industry (only second to restaurants)?

Landscaper or hardscaper? That is the question.

It’s been my experience that when someone uses the term landscaper they mean one of the following:

  • Someone who cuts the grass
  • Anyone who works outside and is willing to do anything on your property

I’m not sure however if as many people are familiar with the term hardscaper, which is someone who constructs permanent features like retaining walls and pavers (sound like anyone you know?) Right now hardscaping is generally accepted as something that any landscaper does, but what if it were looked at as its own field? A specific trade with a special skill set that was set apart from the umbrella term of landscaper.

For now we stick with landscapes in our name because it’s the way that we’ve been identified. It’s the way that folks like you find us. It’s the way that online platforms categorize what we do.

How familiar are you with the term hardscaper?