As tensions between Canada and our southern neighbour continue, there’s no better time to reinvest your travel fund into your home and build a private retreat in your own backyard.
“This is a big trend this year,” says George Gaffiero, who co-owns Imagine Landscaping with his business partner Callan Rose. He notes there’s a growing desire among homeowners and cottagers to create outdoor spaces that feel like escapes.
George has been beautifying backyards for over 25 years with custom stone and interlock patios, retaining walls, fire pits, water features and more.
With outdoor living spaces, you are expanding the usefulness of your backyard and making it easier to embrace the seasons. By adding elements like dining spaces and lounge areas, as well as accents like water features, your backyard can feel like a luxurious five-star hotel.
“This is the perfect opportunity for us to keep our dollars at home, and use them to invest in an escape we can enjoy again and again.”
While a trip down south may last you anywhere from a week to a month, a custom backyard design allows you to have your own at-home getaway anytime, and for many years ahead.
Custom design
When it comes to designing your outdoor oasis, George suggests allowing your design to be led by how you like spending your time. Do you want to be able to eat outside or spend evenings around a roaring fire with friends, or is your focus more on sunny days with kids dashing in and out of the pool? Is the space for summer use only, or do you want to enjoy it in three or even four seasons?
“With the right elements and plantings, you can create a natural landscape that feels extremely private, even if you live in a suburb.”
However, the most important choice you’ll make is who you hire to build it. Unlike some larger landscape crews that boast about fast turnarounds and bottom-of-the-barrel pricing, Imagine Landscaping has built a strong reputation for having a small, highly skilled team built on quality and trust.
“We are extremely straightforward with our clients on everything from timelines to budgets,” says George. Some landscape companies will try to win your business by offering the lowest possible price. However, he notes, rock-bottom prices don’t often come with rock-solid results.
While we’re all drawn to the lowest possible offer, those prices (especially when they’re a fraction of the other quotes) are offered as bait to reel in customers, knowing full well that they will go over cost as the project progresses.
“We’ll then run into people a year or two down the road that regret their choice because they ended up spending thousands more in project add-ons or unexpected repairs.”
Strong foundation
Instead of focusing on the number at the bottom of your quote, George suggests focusing on construction. One often overlooked area is the choice of base material.
“You want to look for an installer that uses an open base system.”
The open base system consists of clear stone with spaces in between each stone. This improves water drainage and prevents heaving as the ground freezes and thaws, regardless of how much rain or snow you experience.
“We’ve compared it to other systems; those built with an open base system are 90 percent less likely to need repairs even after years of use,” says George. “This type of system is critical in our region, especially when faced with harsh winters like the one we just came out of.”
In addition to the construction, it’s also important to consider the materials you’ll see and walk on.
As an authorized contractor of Unilock Stone, Imagine Landscaping uses cutting-edge materials designed for strength and longevity. For decades, Unilock has made a name for itself as a hardscaping industry leader.
“With Unilock, we’re on the cutting edge of everything that happens in the industry, and our clients get the highest quality product, backed by a transferable lifetime guarantee.”
For George, it’s all about quality and trust. They offer the highest quality product and communication every step of the way.
“From timelines to budgets, we have you covered as we create a personal escape in your backyard.”
TEXT SHELANNE AUGUSTINE
PHOTOS ANDREW FEARMAN
