I have recently read an article in “the Edge” magazine about how to achieve a successful collaboration between a pool builder and a landscape designer. This article can be found in the 2014 first quarter copy. I found it to be very informative and would like to offer my readers the gist of what it is about. We all know that with the internet we can obtain information in a matter of seconds. We have the luxury of researching things with far more ease than the generations that came before us. That being said when it comes to building your pool or doing your landscaping around the pool, you should first look into what has been done and what company you should hire to do these things. More often than not you will have to hire two different companies to do both of these things. There are few companies that build pools and do landscape designs. Today I just want to give you some insight on how to get your pool and landscaping done efficiently while working with two different companies.
First off you will want to research the companies you hire. Look on line and see if there are any reviews available that were written by their previous clients. This will give you some pretty good insight as to weather or not to hire them. After all, when someone has spent a good chunk of money on something they will not be too reluctant to share their experience. Especially if they can do it on line, in written form. If they are unhappy with the outcome then they will not hesitate to share it with others. That is the beauty of the internet. You can use the experience of others to make an educated decision about your own project. I also want to stress that while you may have an idea in your head about how you want things to look in the end, it is important to remember that the landscape architect is there to do the designing. However it is acceptable for you to come to the designer with some ideas that you like and ask that they incorporate them into their design. Most designers will be happy to accommodate you. That is another nice thing about the internet, it has Pintrest.
Pintrest is a good resource for researching landscaping and pool ideas. Another important key to a successful pool/landscaping project is having a pool builder and landscape architect that see eye to eye. If your builder and landscaper are constantly butting heads then you will likely have a not so desirable experience and the outcome will reflect that.
Conversely if your pool builder and landscaper work well together then you will likely have a positive experience and the outcome will reflect that. A few things happen when the builder and landscaper are on the same page. First is that any problems that may arise during the process will be solved effectively and in a timely manner. Second is that they will likely be in good spirits which will show in the end. Third is that they will likely learn from one another. In many instances when a builder and landscaper work well together they can both make suggestions and take them to heart. You will not find that kind of interaction with a landscaper and builder who don’t see eye to eye. This will not only benefit you by having your backyard be the result of people who work well together, but it will also help others because that builder and landscaper will likely remember the suggestions for their next job. So you may be wondering how to ensure that your landscaper and pool builder work well together.
There are some things that you can do to help them out. One thing that you can do is make sure that their roles in the project are clearly defined. If you have two different companies working in the same backyard then you want to make sure that the pool builder understands that the design that the landscape architect created, and you signed off on, is the plan you want. Sometimes when situations arise during the build, the best solution may conflict with the overall design. This is where a good working relationship between the builder and landscaper is key. Obviously in this type of situation something will need to be done. With a good working relationship the builder and landscaper can talk about what needs to be done, and what is the best way to do it. If it comes down to changing the design a touch, then it will be up to the landscaper to do so and bring it to your attention. This way everybody is on the same page and there will be no surprises in the end. After all you are the customer, and ultimately if you are not happy then they are not happy. These are some things that can help ensure that your backyard project turns out beautifully.
