[Pelican]

I've got a bit of a problem that's really bothering me.

I'm landscaping one of my lawn account's property, the hardscape was done by another contractor. I'm discovering the workmanship of the contractor is beyond belief, the SRW planters have no footings under them and are already moving. This isn't the immediate problem but is a concern.

The blocks used are of an unknown brand and are similar in color to Unilock's Rustic Red. The house is beige, not the color I'd have used. The customer is insisting on stone mulch, so I had selected what is known as TimberLite around here, it is some kind of fired by product that is different shades of red and beige.

At first the customer liked it, but yesterday informed me that his wife wanted something that would make more of an impact. She selected white marble chips for the lower level of planter, and gold buff stone for the upper level! This will certainly make more visual impact, but I can't say it would be positive.

The customer is foreign and there may be a difference in cultures at work here. The neighborhood is new, full of 2 story colonial homes. He wants me to make his home "beautiful", but is still holding the reigns.

I tried to explain my concerns to him today, and may have made a few valid points that he understood. I told him the focus should be on his plantings and not the mulch and that the mulch he had selected would jump out at you as the focal point of the project.

I still feel the TimberLite would be the best selection outside root mulch, but have convinced him to consider Conn. river stone which has more earthy colors.

Any other suggestions on how to handle this? I'd like my work to be admired by his neighbors rather than disparaged!

[tfld]

Quick answer (IMO, of course): NO!

I've been having the same problem lately with customers. I'm just starting out on my own in design and build, so I'm trying to land a job from every call I get, but unfortunately I've had to say no to a few.

I know many will disagree with me here, but if I was in your position and there was no way besides giving the homeowner EXACTLY what they want, ugliness, I would back out. If you really need the work, and theres no compromise, get in and get out in stealth mode.

Otherwise, do the neighbors a huge favor and refuse to do ugly work!

I'm "bidding" a job right now on a huge property. The previous contractor had used many, many countless tons of lava rock, and basically did one of the worst landscaping jobs I've ever seen.

When I met with the homeowner yesterday they walked me around with some ideas on getting rid of "some" of the lava rock. I looked around at the huge property in awe as I noticed the sporadic yews planted in corny rows along the fence line and the lava made an aweful crushing tone under my feet.

When she finally turned to me to see if I had any suggestions, I honestly could not hesitate, "complete make over."

Her eyes lit up. "Could you just give us a bid on what WE want.?" she said.

I told her yes because unfortunately I need work...actually, I need money. Although, I probably wont get the job because I'm "bidding" against the previous contractor who I'm sure is a real pro.

I'll try to get some pics in a minute...


Nick

[PSUscaper]

Do what they want........and run away!

By the sounds of the wall, you kind of answered your own question on what you should do.........whatever they want!

And then............................take this and write it down as what customers you don't want to work for. Customers like this are not 'disceiving' ..........one way or another, you should of, and if not, will see this coming in the future.

Think of this job as a paycheck.....and nothing else.

[VoodooChile]

My sympathies Pelican, not a pleasant spot to be in...

and yeah I have to agree with tfld that the short answer to your question is "No, the customer isn't always right." Then again, the landscape contractor doesn't always know what's best for the client, but in this instance...

On matters of style, when you know complying with the customer's request will result in wholesale ugliness, you have to stand your ground.

Refuse to do ugly work.

I've found the untrained eye is drawn first to obvious flaws in a landscape, a dead tree, rampant plant, or vast expanses of gaudy harsh gravel mulch. You'll have a hard time being stealth enough to distance your company from a foundation planting full of white quartz chips.

One tack you might take is to explain the benefits of a tasteful stone mulch versus the drawbacks of the white chips. You already mentioned focusing attention on the mulch and not the plants, especially true in the shade. You might add that in full-sun sites white chips will stress the plants and produce enough glare to hurt the eyes. No matter what, this product will grow dingy looking as dirt, dust and other organic matters find their way into the bed.

Stick to your guns Pelican, or punt the whole project.

[tfld]

Heres one..

[tfld]

and another...

[Lanelle]

To guide clients away from that white crushed marble mulch I point out that since the stone is crushed it has rough open surfaces that quickly absorb dust, air pollution and dirt whereas a smooth river stone has a surface that will stay clean more easily. And then I show them the various natural color blends of river stone that I can offer them. Tell them that you're sure that they want their landscape looking clean and neat for many years rather than having to redo a dirty stone mulch in a couple of years. Often the long term economy will convince them to forget about marble chips. The challenge is to educate and convince the client until you get to at least a minimally acceptable project. If that isn't the outcome, walking away isn't a terrible thing.

[justgardens]

Somebody made a lot of money putting in lava rock! I had a customer who had me do the same thing only with Silica Stone. They were of a certain ethnic culture. They refused to have anything else but this stone. I can usually "educate" a customer to my way of thinking on something like this but they wouldn't budge. It was a large job, I bit, I hid my sign and landed three more large, high profile jobs from their friends (other doctors) who "loved " my work. Go figure! When people ask me if I did that job I always add it was against my will using the stone! Sorry to say Voodoo, the shamless landscaping hussy I am.... I buckled under the pressure and DID it. In my case it has paid off. Some people just like ugly stuff. As it is written, (somewhere) "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder". Sometimes I just don't see it!

[VoodooChile]

tfld,
Where the hell are plants???

Who is gonna do the monthly weeding of those vast expanses of bare mulch, a crop-duster?

As inviting as Death Valley!

[scott C]

sounds to me if you can afford to walk away from it do so. Installing an ugly landscape won't help your career but might help your pocket. If you need the work just do what they want and head to the bank.

[tfld]

Voodoo,

I just want to make it clear:

I did NOT do this job!

These are just an example of what I was talking about above. I cant believe people pay half a million dollars for a house on huge property and do this ^^.

Nick

[Pelican]

My problem is this has been thrown at me mid stream. We agreed upon the TimberLite and I'm about half done with the entire project which totals close to 30k when he presented the samples of the other stones his wife wants.

Root/bark mulch is out, so I've got to find a suitable stone replacement. I'm trying to come up with a tactful way to say his taste stinks!

[VoodooChile]

This quote from Bill Schwab seems relevant to your situation Pelican:

"Any changes need to be documented, and if they don't agree to signing a change order, the job stops until they agree. There should by all rights be penalty clauses that the client should pay if that occurs. Also account for office time, over and above field time with your change. We have a mandatory $300.00 charge plus put of pocket expenses for EVERY change that is made...This means that if someone is willing to pay the $300.00 to account for the change, they are serious enough to go forward with it. We have had them decide on a change, only to change back several times until agreeing to do what was originally planned in the beginning. By implementing such charges, we get compensation for our time."

from the thread
Busybodies

[PSUscaper]

half a million dollar home.......that means nothing.

I'm seen some of the worst landscapes at some of the most expensive homes.

And.....I will tread lightly here........

Cultural differences are hugh in my area. We have a certain ethnic group that loves to buy very expensive homes, and then......they decide to recoup their costs (or something) by using the ugliest, most hideous material known to man, and at the same time, use the cheapest, most unrespected contractor (wait, did I say contractor......they don't even use those) around.

I still work for a customer who lives in a nice neighborhood who I did a lot of work for. Their neighbor, is a doctor...........in fact, the same doctor my grandma had before she passed away a few years ago, and all around a very good guy.........but.......when it comes to landscaping, forget it! I drove by about a 3 months ago and someone had dumped a huge pile of mulch (red dyed to make the story more fitting) right in the middle of the yard...........it sat their for months.......then, I did a job for my customers and asked what was going on. They told me the lowdown, and basically they hired some guy to do the mulching, but he left after the first day because they harrassed the hek out of him......after that, they went through 2 more 'contractors'.....who all left after the first day. They even picked up two day laborers once, and they refused to come back.....

Then.................while I was working their, I saw my client talking the neighbor...........I was getting very nervouse! Sure enough, she asked if I could come over to give a price on mulching........

And............the one reason I like my customers...............They told her I was extremely busy and that I wouldn't be able to do it for months!

As I recall, I threw a few extra shrubs in for free that day for them!

[PSUscaper]

And by the way....

I believe those pictures are a 'japanese mulch garden'...............

much like a sand one, but they used mulch instead......

Those shubs (are some of those plastic?) really complete the hole theme!