How to Compare Landscaping Quotes in Hamilton: 10 Questions to Ask

To compare landscaping quotes fairly, compare the lines, not the totals: what is being removed, how deep the base is, where the water goes, what the materials cost and whether they are marked up, what is left out, and what the warranty covers. Two quotes with the same bottom line can be for two very different jobs, and the cheaper one is often the one missing something.

These are the ten questions we would ask any landscaping company in Hamilton, including us. Ask them of every quote you get, and the right one usually picks itself.

1. What exactly is being removed, and where does it go?

Old sod, a failed patio, a rotten wall, broken concrete: every job starts with taking something out, and it should be on the quote as its own line with disposal included. A quote that says nothing about removal has either forgotten it or is planning to leave the old material on your lawn.

2. How deep is the base, and is it compacted?

For a patio, a walkway, a driveway or a wall, the base is the job. Ask for the depth in inches and whether it is compacted in layers. For a driveway, ask why it is deeper than a patio’s. A contractor who cannot answer this is quoting pavers on dirt. Our interlock page lists what we put under ours.

3. Where does the water go when you are done?

Every surface and every wall has to shed water somewhere that is not your foundation or your neighbour’s yard. Ask which way the patio falls, what is behind the wall, and what happens to the downspout. If the answer is a shrug, the drainage is not in the price. See yard drainage for what the answer should sound like.

4. Are the materials marked up?

Pavers, stone, sod, soil, plants and mulch all have a cost at the supplier. Ask whether that cost is passed through or marked up. We bill materials at what they cost us, with the contractor discount passed to you, and the material line on our quote is the supplier’s number.

5. What is not included?

A good quote says what it leaves out: new soil if the grade needs it, root removal if a stump turns up, plants, sealing, a permit fee. A quote that lists nothing as excluded has either included everything or will add it later. Ask which.

6. What happens if something unexpected is found under the ground?

Old patios under new lawns, buried concrete, soft fill and stumps are normal on Hamilton properties, especially on the older streets and the escarpment lots in Ancaster. Ask how a surprise is handled. The right answer is that the work stops, you are told, and nothing extra is done until you agree to it.

7. Did anyone measure the grade?

For a patio against the house, a wall, or a drainage fix, the slope decides the job. Ask whether the levels were measured or the quote was written from the street. Many smaller jobs can be quoted well by phone, text or email from measurements and photos; a sloped yard cannot. Our post on measuring the grade before a patio quote explains why.

8. What is the warranty, and what does it cover?

Ask for the warranty in writing and ask what it covers. Ours is a 1-year craftsmanship warranty: if something we built moves or fails within a year because of how we built it, we come back and make it right. A warranty on the materials is the manufacturer’s, and it is separate.

9. Are you insured?

Yes should be the only answer, with liability coverage on every job so your home is protected while the crew works. Ask to see it if you like. We are fully insured and Hamilton owned and operated.

10. How does payment work, and when do you start?

Ask for the payment schedule before you sign. Ours is a first payment when the agreement is signed, then payments as stages are finished, with the last on completion; the agreement sets it out. Ask for the start window too, and how you will hear about weather delays. We give a heads-up on any delay and let you know when we are coming, with as much notice as we can.

A few more things worth knowing

• Reviews tell you how a company behaves when something goes wrong. Read the three star ones.
• Photos of finished work should be the company’s own. Ask where a job in the photos is.
• A quote in writing, itemized, is the only kind worth comparing. A number on the phone is a guess.
• The lowest quote is sometimes the best one. It is just rarely the one missing the base.

Frequently asked questions

How fast can you come out and give me a quote?

We usually reply within the hour. A lot of the time we can quote over the phone, by text or by email from your measurements and photos; when the job needs a look at the grade or the ground, we come out first.

What does your quote include, and will the price change once you start?

Every item of work on its own line with its price, what is excluded written down, and the warranty. The price on the quote is the price, unless something unexpected is found under the ground, in which case we stop and talk to you before going on.

Will you take a small job, or is there a minimum?

There is no minimum. A single garden bed, a run of edging or a few steps is as welcome as a whole yard.

Get a quote you can compare

Call (905) 906-0671 or send the form on our contact page. We are quick to quote, quick to start, and we answer every call.