Landscaping and Hardscaping in Cambridge

Concrete driveways. A plain broom finish slab on a compacted aggregate base with wire mesh, control joints cut where the slab wants to crack, and a proper apron at the street. Our guide to concrete driveway installation in Cambridge walks through it, and the concrete driveways page has the full scope.

It depends on the forecast more than the calendar. Concrete needs a run of days above freezing to cure properly, so late-fall work waits for a mild stretch, and we would rather move a date than let a new slab freeze. Most of the season is fine; it is the two ends of it that need watching. See concrete driveways.

Usually a thin slab on an uncompacted base with no joints. The base settled, water got under it, the freeze lifted it and the slab broke where it had no joint to crack along. We replace it on a compacted base with mesh and joints. Read about cracked, sunken concrete walkways.

Usually. Natural stone walls, steps and flagstone paths suit downtown Galt, and we source stone to sit beside what the house already has. Stone is billed at cost with no markup, so the choice is about the look. See retaining walls and walkways.

No. The quote is one written price for the work; there is no travel charge for Cambridge. Distance affects scheduling, so we group Cambridge work and tell you the dates when we quote.

We tell you directly. We try to give a heads-up on any delays and let you know when we are coming, with as much notice as possible. Because we group Cambridge work, a rain day can shift a block of dates, and you hear about it from us first.

A 1-year craftsmanship warranty, the same in Galt, Preston and Hespeler. It covers our workmanship for a year after the job is done, we are fully insured on every site, and the warranty is stated on your written quote.

Not in Cambridge. The City says water from eavestroughs, downspouts or sump pump lines cannot be aimed at a neighbouring property or straight onto an entrance, walkway, stair or sidewalk, and yards have to be graded so storm water does not pond. We extend the downspout to a spot that drains, or add a drain where the yard cannot take it. Read about yard drainage.

Up to 2.1 metres from the front face of the house back to the rear property line, 0.9 metres in front of the house, and no more than 0.75 metres near the corners of a corner lot. No permit unless the fence encloses a pool. That is Cambridge's Fence By-law 92-05, and we build to it. See fences and gates.

Yes, with a Region of Waterloo permit. From May 31 to September 30 the Water Conservation By-law limits lawn watering to one day a week, so new sod needs the Region's temporary permit, which allows watering any time on the first day, then daily within the set morning and evening hours, then every other day up to day fourteen. One permit is allowed per property each year, and from October 1 to May 30 none is needed.

Usually, and if the lot sits inside the Grand River Conservation Authority's regulated floodplain its permission comes first. The GRCA's Map Your Property tool shows the line, and we check it before we quote so the approval time is in the schedule and the plan suits what will be approved.

For a tree 20 centimetres or more across, yes: Cambridge requires a Private Tree Removal Permit to remove, cut down or otherwise injure a tree that size on private property. We plan patios and driveways around the roots of the trees you keep, and taking a tree down is an arborist's job.

Yes. Cambridge needs an Access Permit for any new driveway access or change to an existing one, with a drawing of the existing and proposed driveway, the curb cut and the materials; the maximum width is 7 metres and at least 45 percent landscaped space has to remain. If a City tree must come out to make room, the City does that work and the owner pays for it.

A retaining wall taller than 1 metre can need one, depending on where it sits, while landscaping and fences, other than pool enclosures, do not. A detached shed of 15 square metres or less, one storey, used only for storage and with no plumbing needs no building permit, though it still has to meet zoning. See retaining walls.

Possibly. Site Alteration By-law 23-103 regulates placing fill, removing topsoil and changing the grade. A light regrade that does not change where water goes is usually fine; a terrace or a lot of fill is checked against the by-law before we start. We tell you at the quote. Read about grading.