Woody's Custom Landscaping

Vancouver and Portland New Homes Need Retaining Walls

If you have a new home in Vancouver WA. or Portland OR. you probably are considering or have gotten a retaining wall installed. Most new homes seem to be built on hill sides. The level lots were sold many moons ago. Instead of slip sliding down the hill, take the staircase between the retaining walls.

It is some what discouraging to go outside and see that in fact you are now a cliff dweller. A retaining wall can help you get that desired level spot for entertaining, BBQ’s and just being able to go outside and not feel like you should of been born a bird.
Over the years I have seen more and more lots that are on hill sides and some of them very steep. Most of these homes need retaining walls. How else will your land not end up your neighbors or the street for that matter. The next photo shows how a hill side can be tamed to give you a secret garden. In this case the wall is a brick wall.

There are many types of retaining walls. The most common are segmented retaining walls. These are usually concrete units that fit into each other and most often interlock.
Most come in various colors, styles and textures.
The next photo is a cultured stone faced wall. It’s very hard to tell the difference from real stone once installed.

Please don’t build any retaining wall over 4′ tall unless it’s enginerred and permitted.
At Woody’s Custom Landscaping we have two thirds of our employees that are certified installers of retaining walls with NCMA a national organization.
A retaining wall installed properly will last a very long time.

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Is Landscaping On your New Years Resolution List?

We all have our typical New Years resolutions. Quit smoking. Exercise more. Eat healthier foods. The list can go on and on. If I may, I would like to suggest another resolution. Many of us are now watching our money more diligently than we ever have. Don’t spend without a good reason. Landscaping is a good reason and a solid New Years resolution.

Home owners are not moving as frequently and staying in their homes longer. If fact we have even come up with a new term this last year, “staycation”. Instead of going away on vacation people just stayed nearer to home or at home. I wrote a couple of blogs in 2009 about increasing back yard living space, so in fact home owners could have a staycation with family and friends. More than just having a nice landscaping to retreat to, it also does add value to your home. That’s also a great reason to consider adding a paver patio, outdoor kitchen or even a front or back yard landscape renovation to your New Years resolution.

Imagine this. No mud. Clean areas of fresh sod, Beautiful plantings. A new patio that is more than a 8by8 square. A retaining wall so you can get a little more level space to actually have a back yard to enjoy. Most of all some sense and balance to your back or front yard.
At Woody’s Custom Landscaping, Inc. we strive to ensure that your wishes become a reality. With our team of certified and award winning technicians you can rest assured that we will construct a quality landscaping.

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Know your Landscape Contractor Before Installing Your Paver Patio or Retaining Wall

Vancouver Washington
Before hiring a landscape contractor to install your concrete paver project, be sure to ask the following questions:

1. How long have they been installing pavers?

2. Have they been trained by a manufacturer or by the ICPI? Do they have a certificate of completion? Search for ICPI Level I Concrete Paver Installers

3. What percentage of their total business consists of installing concrete pavers?

4. Can they provide references and can you contact them and inspect their projects?

5. Do they have a current liability insurance certificate? Proof that Worker Compensation Insurance covers all employees on the job?

6. Do they install the job per ICPI guidelines? ICPI Concrete Paver Consumer Guide and Checklist

7. Do they provide a written, itemized proposal outlining the scope of work? Do they guarantee their work?

8. Are they members of the ICPI or other industry associations?

ICPI Level I Concrete Paver Installer Certification imparts the requisite knowledge, experience and industry guidelines required to build pavements using interlocking concrete pavers.

We have 90% of our current employees that are nationally certified ICPI and 70% NCMA which is national certification for retaining walls.
Our paver patios and retaining walls are all done by our certified, award winning landscapers.

Vancouver Washington
For a quality residential landscape contractor look no further.

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Spring Landscaping Thoughts in The Winter

Here it is December, and in South West Washington it has been a long cold spell. We are going on something like 10 days now of teen and twenty something temperature. It got me to stop and think of spring. How every thing pops out of the ground and puts forth a display of texture and color. Maybe the plants are saying, “I made it”. Any way, I am very glad that I can positively say, “This cold and starkness will go away.” It is the way of our earth.
In this blog, I thought I would show some spring and summer landscaping photographs of plantings. Ground covers, summer perennials, and basic planting jobs. It will at least help me get my mind off the thought of nature taking a rest. I like nature when it is busy. I like our company when it is busy also.
Below is a early summer shot of a back flagstone patio area.

The photo below is in the late spring with lush green sod, Spireas, birch trees and many other shrubs.

The next photo is of a water feature and stream area after 5 years of good maintenance after we installed it. I love when the ground covers start working their way into the stream and water falls. It makes the stream appear more natural.

The next photo is of a portion of a back yard that is from one end to the other in ground cover and plantings.

The video is of a job we installed. The plantings are after one year. We did also install the paver path and all the landscaping.

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Carbon Dioxide the Poisonous Gas

Give me a break. The elemental break down of CO2 is one carbon and two oxygen. I understand that it is a by product of car exhaust and a lot of industries power sources. It seems to me that the cost to fix CO2 emissions at this stage of our world economic climate, is beyond understanding. The EPA has put the price tage at 60 billion dollars and they say the estimated benefit would be 250 billion dollars. Show me the math please. I don’t believe it. What I see is economic burdens on manufacturers, costing jobs and driving up energy prices. Can we really afford to fix Carbon Dioxide emissions, with every thing else our governments attempting to control all at the same time? We should take on one problem at a time. How about jobs for our people. Fix that and then go to a new project. Something is very wrong with the finding from EPA coming out just moments before our president heads to Denmark for the international conference on climate change. Some say it shows our resolve on the issue. I think that is true. At the same time the EPA can now dictate to the people what we should do about the poisonous gas without getting the congress involved. Are we represented?
Say I have a great idea. Pay landscape companies to install trees and shrubs in all areas of the US. Plants take in CO2. That is how their system works. Do you know what their by product is? Pure clean oxygen. Landscapers should get paid a stipend for every tree and shrub they plant. The government could pay in their stimulus checks and kill two birds with one stone. Clean air and stimulating the landscape industry. That’s a program I can use.

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Paver Patios, Stone Patios Dry Laid, and a Great Before and After Landscape Photograph

Landscaping photos of jobs done by Woody’s Custom Landscaping, Inc.
Below is a paver patio we installed. We used mixed sizes of holland pavers. the job is in Battle Ground Wa.

This is a good photo of a stone patio with Irish Moss as the ground cover between the stones. The project is in Vancouver Wa.

This next shot is a great before and after photo of a landscape we installed in Camas Washington

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The Beauty and Versatility of Architectural Slab Pavers

The Beauty and Versatility of Architectural Slab Pavers

Architectural slab pavers, known more commonly as “slabs”, have become a very popular hardscape product in the Northwest. Designers, contractors and homeowners alike have come to realize how versatile and esthetically pleasing they can be in both residential and commercial applications. Slabs come in different textures, colors and sizes, and can be installed in different ways, so it’s easy to see why they have become so popular.
Mutual Materials has three distinct slab textures to choose from: Diamond Lake (granite and marble chips), Glacier Slate (slate texture) and Vancouver Bay (dimpled). Add in a wide variety of color choices, and you have the capability of achieving any type of look you desire. You can mix and match colors and textures to give your project a unique quality.
Installing slabs can be done in two distinct ways: sand set and pedestal set. Sand set slabs are more common in residential projects like patios and paths. They are basically installed the same way as sand set interlocking concrete pavers; using a compacted base of crushed rock and a layer of bedding sand. Pedestal set slabs are more common in roof-deck and raised patio applications. These projects use slabs that are laid on pedestals to achieve a certain height requirement, or to allow access to utilities underneath the deck surface.
If you would like to learn more about Mutual Materials’ architectural slab products, or would like to find a qualified contractor for your project please visit us at our website www.mutualmaterials.com. Good luck with your project!

Sincerely,

Rob Rosson
Residential Sales Manager

A great article by Rob. Architectural slabs are indeed a fantastic product.
As a Mutual peferred Contractor we are pleased to work with Mutual Materials to install your architectural slab pavers.

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Reviews for Landscaping in Vancouver Washington or Portland Oregon

Woody’s just installed a patio and firepit area for us that turned out fantastic!! Woody was very professional and accommodating to my every wish, as was his entire staff. Everyone was so helpful and efficant. They started work promptly each day and cleaned up before they left, so as not to leave a mess for us to look at while under construction. I could not have asked for a better crew to work with. The final product came out better than I imagined and of top notch quality. I would highly recommend Woody’s!!

July 26, 2009 by Kym Martin in Battle Ground, WA

Woodys Custom Landscaping
Exceptional Service We received exceptional service. Woody is professional, prompt and proficient. My neighbors are now walking by just to admire my front yard. He also offers one year warranty to all his work and plants. Excellent work.

May 01, 2009 by Titza Suvalcu in Vancouver, WA

Woodys Custom Landscaping
These Guys ROCK and PAVE and PLANT I am over the Rainbow Happy with the results of Woody’s crew! The ideas which came together with the deft styling and imaginative thought that Woody put into this project has gained my respect and admiration. Woody took the time to view my project first hand; give input and then bring the project into reality. Have you ever had a contractor show up on time….Woody’s crew did! Have you ever had one finish on time….Woody’s DID! They are awesome, professional and courteous. I was made a part of every decision and step of the project. Woody’s crew was able to take a mis-mash of slate and make a beautiful walk-way; then added two circular patios with pavers…..imaginative garden beds with beautiful and thoughtful plantings…..in one word Magical!

April 14, 2009 by Elise Roberts in Vancouver, WA

Merchant Response: “Thank you Elise, We try very hard. thank you for the nice review” – April 15, 2009

Woodys Custom Landscaping
Woody’s Custom Landscaping Woody’s met all of my landscaping requirements including a natural Northwest appearance, low maintenance, trees to provide shade and privacy and they remained within budget. The project manager provided excellent design and shrub recommendations while incorporating the homeowners ideas. The quality of the plants that were provided was outstanding. The work was completed in a very timely manner by a very hard working crew. The crew was most respectful of my property and cleaned up every day.
Woody’s exceeded my expectations. I am completely satisifeid with the end product. My landscaping looks like something out of magazine!

April 13, 2009 by Hersh Lamb in Vancouver, WA

Woodys Custom Landscaping
Great Job! We have hired many differant landscapers looking for someone who could not only achieve the look I wanted but to be able to make it almost maintiance free…I found that with Woody’s Landscaping & Jason Sarvela..It was important to them to hear what it was that was wanted & they worked with me every step of the way to be sure it was exactly as we had discussed…I have done business with differant “landscapers”…one who almost killed all my oriental trees…& one who brought in pea gravel & buried all my sprinkler heads….Woodys truley saved me & my yard…& I had to share this with others so you will not have to have the experiences I have….Thank You again…Great Job!!!

March 27, 2009 by Patty Kasper in Vancouver, WA

Woodys Custom Landscaping
vancouver landscaper I just want to say that the landscaping Woody and his crew installed in my yard was wonderful. Besides being a great looking yard it was a pleasure to work with such wonderful employees. Kind, polite and all with a good sense of humor. Our yard was a simple front yard renovation but Woody treated the project like it was a huge estate. Thank you Frank

March 19, 2009 by frank beloy

Merchant Response: “Very kind of you Frank. We try very hard to make all our clients happy. Woody” – March 19, 2009

Woodys Custom Landscaping
Vancouver Landscaper exceeds promise Woody at first gave us the estimate. He came on time and spent as much time as we needed to go through the list of wants we desired. He then told us about his company and how as a company they approach their work. We got his company name and number from the yellow pages. He told us to please go on his website to view further examples of his work. We decided to use Woody’s company and scheduled in the start time. His crew on time, were delightful and totally qualified as promised. It was indeed a pleasure to work with a company that actually does every thing they say they will do. I will recommend Woody’s Custom Landscaping any time Janice

March 13, 2009 by Janice Brighton in Vancouver, WA

Merchant Response: “Thank you Janice, It’s great to work with people as nice as you also. Woody” – March 13, 2009

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Natural Camas Stone Wall Installed With Mortar

Almost any new home in the Pacific Northwest needs some sort of retaining wall. It seems all the flat lots have been sold long ago and built on. Most new home owners have to come to grips, that in their landscaping a retaining wall of some sort will be neccesary. Below is a photo of a natural Camas stone wall which instead of dry installing we used mortar for the joints and as a backinhg to the rear of the wall. Our certified employees will make sure that every step along the way to your new retaining wall will be done with skill and a clean job site at the end of each day.

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To Twitter go to landscapingNW

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Outdoor Kitchens and Entertainment Areas

Outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas are fast becoming a must have in many peoples homes. Imagine the convenience of entertaining outside in a spot made just for that purpose. Most clients had to shuffle the patio furniture , move the BBQ to the right spot to make room for entertaining. With a designated entertaining and cooking area, you just set up the tables, stock your refrigerator, start the BBQ, make some beverages and have fun.
We’ve included a landscaping photo and a landscape video, so that you can view a few ideas. The photo below is a installation of and out door kitchen and cooking area. It shows the outdoor kitchen, a paver patio, and a Roman Pisa retaining wall with column we constructed.

This video shows a fantastic entertainment area with some cool stone seat walls and a stone faced fire feature.

For a quality residential landscape contractor look no further.

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