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It is extremely hard to get and maintain a quality hardscaping crew. It demands someone that has the combined qualities of basic construction knowhow (how to read a level, pitch etc.), ability to efficently use equipment , attention to detail (esp. base prep.) and willingness to do hard work. Most times you're lucky to find someone with just one of those traits (and it's usually not the last one).
Within one week I could easily teach someone to be proficient in planting installation/ maintenance. Even if they only listened 1/2 of the time. But the hardscaping has far too many areas to screw up. And it can come back to haunt you big time.
I find the design/plant installs to be the most profitable and least stressful. I show up, help with the prep work, lay out the plants and mark the bedlines and can usually leave by lunch and allow the crew to finish. I really don't need to be there to plant, mulch, edge etc.
Not so simple with the hardscaping because there are too many keys things that need to go right. Excavation/ base prep/ proper pitch on the screeding/ keeping the pattern square/ maintaining a consistant width on a curving walk/ tight cuts/ proper edging installation and polymer application. And then there's retaining walls, steps etc......
...so hardscaping4u I can empathise.
And for me, last year, the numbers were great but the employee attrition rate (esp. hardscaping) was depressing. I figure I need to hire non-native labor (legally). Again, with the planting installs the language issue may not matter much but I can't imagine the problems it might create on a complex hardscaping job.
And the ironic thing is that every year there seems to be a greater demand for the hardscaping. Probably because most homeowners don't mind doing their own planting (even if it looks horrible) but they don't have the equipment, knowhow or strength to do their own hardscaping.
...if anyone has a solution to this dilemma I'm all ears.
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