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OT: Backyard Hardscaping

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ClassOf02v.2

Heisman
Sep 30, 2010
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This place is always a wealth of knowledge, so here we go....

Any recommendations for a good hardscaping design & install contractor? I’m in southern Hunterdon County.

I have a pretty decent sized backyard and just had a dead tree removed so the yard looks even bigger now. I have a spot where I’m considering some hardscaping. Roughly 20’ by 20’. Nothing too crazy. Patio, fire pit, some stone.

Also, I know cost can vary a ton depending on materials, but assuming ‘average’ materials, any clue what I’m looking at here?
 
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KingHigh

All-American
Apr 12, 2005
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I’d say have $8k ready to fire in and it will come out really nice.
 
K

koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
37,428
58,874
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ClassOf02 said:
This place is always a wealth of knowledge, so here we go....

Any recommendations for a good hardscaping design & install contractor? I’m in southern Hunterdon County.

I have a pretty decent sized backyard and just had a dead tree removed so the yard looks even bigger now. I have a spot where I’m considering some hardscaping. Roughly 20’ by 20’. Nothing too crazy. Patio, fire pit, some stone.

Also, I know cost can vary a ton depending on materials, but assuming ‘average’ materials, any clue what I’m looking at here?
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Patio your size with pavers should run around $5,000 to $5,600 depending on material. I like Techo Block myself. Quality product holds color well and there is a dealer by you as I did a job way back when up in Warren. That required several two tiered retaining walls, 4 sets of steps and sitting walls in front and back of house with about 1200 sq ft. of patio and walks.
 
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LETSGORU91_

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Jan 29, 2017
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RU4Real said:
Heh... heheh....

"Hardscaping"
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I think that occurs after manscaping.

ClassOf02 said:
This place is always a wealth of knowledge, so here we go....

Any recommendations for a good hardscaping design & install contractor? I’m in southern Hunterdon County.

I have a pretty decent sized backyard and just had a dead tree removed so the yard looks even bigger now. I have a spot where I’m considering some hardscaping. Roughly 20’ by 20’. Nothing too crazy. Patio, fire pit, some stone.

Also, I know cost can vary a ton depending on materials, but assuming ‘average’ materials, any clue what I’m looking at here?
Click to expand...

When I did my back yard, I was looking for easy maintenance, colorful, durable escape and something most people didn't have or never saw. I ended up with a 65 foot natural rock, mortared wall and an 18 foot diameter firepit filled with one inch Delaware rounds (stones) which is encased by small stones. Top soil and seed for another area of the yard. I went with a tropical and colorful flower design. I did all of the work myself, so the only costs was the landscaping materials, plants, soil, beer/dinner for a helper friend, blood, sweat and tears. The prize is a now 6 foot tall Yucca Thomsonia tree which is native to Arizona and has survived 5 years in the ground for me.
 
Leonard23

Leonard23

Heisman
Feb 2, 2006
30,130
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KingHigh said:
I’d say have $8k ready to fire in and it will come out really nice.
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koleszar said:
Patio your size with pavers should run around $5,000 to $5,600 depending on material. I like Techo Block myself. Quality product holds color well and there is a dealer by you as I did a job way back when up in Warren. That required several two tiered retaining walls, 4 sets of steps and sitting walls in front and back of house with about 1200 sq ft. of patio and walks.
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I need contractor names for those prices, as I got quotes for $26K for a basic 36'×12' (only 32 sq ft more than 20'×20') paver patio with a fire pit, and we're not talking travertine or some exotic stone here.
 
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RUinsane

Junior
Jul 25, 2001
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My college roommate owns a hardscape company out of Union. He graduated from Cook with a Landscape Architecture degree. He did my backyard and I was very happy with work. Patio done with pavers and built in firepit.

K&C Landscaping
 
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KingHigh

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Apr 12, 2005
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Leonard23 said:
I need contractor names for those prices, as I got quotes for $26K for a basic 36'×12' (only 32 sq ft more than 20'×20') paver patio with a fire pit, and we're not talking travertine or some exotic stone here.
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even a higher end slab is about 7.50 psf. Times 400 sf makes $3000.

other materials and supplies, I dunno, a grand? Probably less. 3 days work for 2 guys. $1800 labor. Fire pit get you to $8k. $10k if you want some block wall.
 
K

koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
37,428
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Leonard23 said:
I need contractor names for those prices, as I got quotes for $26K for a basic 36'×12' (only 32 sq ft more than 20'×20') paver patio with a fire pit, and we're not talking travertine or some exotic stone here.
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Where do you live? NYC, an island, the top of a mountain with no access? That price you received is insane unless they have to excavate through bed rock, even still. I could see my price being a little low for North Jersey but the high range is probably what I would do pavers for today in Monmouth County.
 
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RU4Real

Heisman
Jul 25, 2001
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KingHigh said:
I wish I knew that three months ago. Just dropped a buck fifty on my backyard. I’m happy with the job but would have loved to do business w koleszar
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No worries - I have a job coming up, probably next year. If you'd like to kick into that, you're more than welcome.
 
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Knight Shift

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,856
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KingHigh said:
I wish I knew that three months ago. Just dropped a buck fifty on my backyard. I’m happy with the job but would have loved to do business w koleszar
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a buck fifty? Holy smokes! Gold pavers? I want to party with you.
Seriously, what did you get for a buck fifty?

Have a good friend who does general landscaping and hardscaping. Currently, he has so much work, he has been upping his quotes, and nobody is quibbling or negotiating on price.
 
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KingHigh

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Apr 12, 2005
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Knight Shift said:
a buck fifty? Holy smokes! Gold pavers? I want to party with you.
Seriously, what did you get for a buck fifty?

Have a good friend who does general landscaping and hardscaping. Currently, he has so much work, he has been upping his quotes, and nobody is quibbling or negotiating on price.
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We used a lot of high-end materials. They built an extension of the roof over a new patio area about 30 x 20. About 3000 ft.² of pavers, outdoor kitchen fireplace with chimney outdoor shower by the pool, busted out a basement egress with steps up to the new area, Infrared heaters off the ceiling,etc
 
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Knight Shift

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
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KingHigh said:
We used a lot of high-end materials. They built an extension of the roof over a new patio area about 30 x 20. About 3000 ft.² of pavers, outdoor kitchen fireplace with chimney outdoor shower by the pool, busted out a basement egress with steps up to the new area, Infrared heaters off the ceiling,etc
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Legal business is booming. It is for us, but we are in the downsizing, simplification mode. Congrats on the major upgrade to your back yard.
 
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KingHigh

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Apr 12, 2005
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RU4Real said:
If anyone wants to go party at Casa @KingHigh, PM me for his address. :)
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It would have been a waste if no one were to use it.

Knight Shift said:
He must need to keep the robins off all of that high material, right?
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Funny you would say that. The ceiling isn't closed out yet and wouldn't you know it, a robin made her nest in the there. I won't let anyone disturb her until her brood is out of the nest. At this point, that is the main hold-up for completion.
 
Knight Shift

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
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KingHigh said:
It would have been a waste if no one were to use it.



Funny you would say that. The ceiling isn't closed out yet and wouldn't you know it, a robin made her nest in the there. I won't let anyone disturb her until her brood is out of the nest. At this point, that is the main hold-up for completion.
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You supply the food and beverages, and @RU4Real and I will solve the problem for you. Don't let the robins assert control. We have had similar issues, and they can be very persistent and territorial. To boot, one of the ones we had years ago seemed to have a nonstop stream of crap emanating from her.
:CHOP:

It's weird. We have a lot of other birds in our yard. Blue jays, cardinals, sparrows, and what we think is grackle. We all happily co-exist. Robins, however, are a major nuisance.
 
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koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
37,428
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Knight Shift said:
@koleszar does top notch work. Crew is awesome. And he is a heck of a nice guy.
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Awe gee wiz, thanks for the glowing revue. The farm fresh eggs is what put us over the top, isn't it. LOL

ClassOf02 said:
@koleszar can you service Hunterdon? I could be wrong but feel like you’re a Monmouth County guy.
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I really appreciate you thinking of me to do the work. However, the job we did in Warren was done in 2010. That was a time when we would go anywhere for work, even went to Jersey City to do work for JCP&L. However, now we're so busy in the Monmouth area we don't travel much outside our home base footprint. Once again, thank you for offering us the opportunity to bid on your job.

gef21 said:
I actually need some work done too.
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If you're in the Monmouth county area I would look forward to discuss your project with you and give you a proposal. If not, I'd like to thank you for thinking of us, I really do appreciate the offer.
 
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C

ClassOf02v.2

Heisman
Sep 30, 2010
13,780
15,234
103
koleszar said:
I really appreciate you thinking of me to do the work. However, the job we did in Warren was done in 2010. That was a time when we would go anywhere for work, even went to Jersey City to do work for JCP&L. However, now we're so busy in the Monmouth area we don't travel much outside our home base footprint. Once again, thank you for offering us the opportunity to bid on your job.
Click to expand...

No prob! Always want to give fellow RU fans first opportunity.
 
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koleszar

Heisman
Jan 1, 2010
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RU4Real said:
Wait wut
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Now I had to go back and change it because of your sick depraved mind. Customers I like I give a dozen eggs to, not many people have had true free ranged farm fresh eggs. Though If I was you, I wouldn't count on getting any eggs.:WideSmile:
 
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bobzilla_rivals662093

Redshirt
Dec 6, 2001
17
10
0
Just finished a 650sf deck and 12x16 pergola yesterday, took me 11 weeks of 4 hr days. But i’m retired and theres a pandemic going on. Spent $1k on 7 tons of stone and gravel and $3k On PT lumber and hardware. Also added about 60’ of a 2’ retaining wall with chop block, and a couple french drains and 40’ gravel path to theside yard. I figure it was about $25k if i had to get bids on everything. Would love to add pics but not sure how.
 
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RUBlackout

All-American
Mar 11, 2008
10,931
7,028
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I’m in Monmouth county and looking to do some work actually.
Had a patio and retaining wall put in around my pool 2yrs ago

I was looking to get a circular patio and fire pit put in off that patio. I was $10,300 for a 14ft circle that has a sitting wall on half the circle and also has to Elevated to to level.

I love in Colts Neck and seems like any project I have gets quoted extremely high

@koleszar Would love to talk And if I can give my money to Rutgers people all the better
 
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Knight Shift

Knight Shift

Heisman
May 19, 2011
88,856
86,872
113
koleszar said:
Awe gee wiz, thanks for the glowing revue. The farm fresh eggs is what put us over the top, isn't it. LOL
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No, it was your terrific smile and the 37 pieces of flair you wore.



Seriously, you guy were the neatest work crew we ever had work at one of our houses. I think you left the roof and ground area cleaner than when you started. And the workmanship was outstanding. 1,000,000 times better than this disaster:
 
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