Plan It, Dig It, Build It Your Step-by-Step Guide to Landscape Projects

by Sauter, David

• ISBN13: 9781401810443
• ISBN10: 1401810446
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-12-10
• Publisher: Delmar Cengage Learning

Summary

The wealth of information in this one text will meet the needs of virtually all beginning landscapers. The author has presented each project in a step-by-step fashion, beginning with complete lists of materials and tools needed to complete the job. The book clearly explains how to plan a project, including preparing a layout plan and staking out the work. And, readers will appreciate the photos and diagrams that will enable them to visualize the completed project. Recipes are included for such projects as paved patios and walkways, fences, decorative pools and waterfalls, berms, plant removal, arbors, retaining walls and steps.

Table of Contents

Introduction	xi
Plan It, Dig It, Build It!: Safely	1	(9)
Accident Prevention	2	(1)
Tool and Equipment Operation	2	(1)
Reviewing Safety Information	3	(1)
First Aid	3	(1)
Personal Protection	3	(4)
Use of Proper Clothing and Safety Equipment	4	(1)
Heat and Cold Injury	4	(1)
Wildlife	4	(1)
Hazardous Plants	5	(1)
Back Injury	5	(2)
Specific Construction Hazards	7	(3)
Working Around Utilities	7	(1)
Working Below Grade	7	(1)
Operating Electrical Equipment	8	(1)
Operating Power Sprayers	8	(1)
Operating Tractors or Loading Equipment	8	(1)
Clean Worksite	9	(1)
Working with Chemicals	9	(1)
Planning Your Project	10	(38)
Reading Landscape Plans	11	(5)
Reading and measuring with architect's and engineer's scales	13	(3)
Preparing a Landscape plan	16	(4)
Preparing a basemap of your site	17	(3)
Additional Methods for Locating Objects	20	(4)
Finding Utilities on Your Site	24	(3)
Public Utilities	24	(1)
Locating utilities on your site	25	(2)
Private Utilities	27	(1)
Laws That May Affect Your Project	27	(4)
Legal Issues	27	(1)
Zoning Ordinances	28	(1)
Tree Ordinances	29	(1)
Deed Restrictions	29	(1)
Building Permits and Landscape-Plan Review	29	(1)
Checking regulations	30	(1)
Performing Calculations for Landscape Projects	31	(7)
Performing Item Counts	32	(1)
Performing Linear Measurements	32	(1)
Performing Perimeter Calculations	33	(1)
Performing Area Calculations	34	(1)
Volume Calculations	35	(1)
Weight Conversions for Bulk Materials	35	(2)
Math for construction	37	(1)
Pricing Your Project	38	(5)
Estimating the cost of your project	39	(4)
Project Layout	43	(3)
Using a baseline to lay out your project	44	(2)
Tools for Construction	46	(2)
Preparing the Site for Construction	48	(14)
Protection of Plant Material	49	(3)
Protecting plants from construction	50	(2)
Removal of Unwanted Site Elements	52	(8)
Softscape Removal	53	(1)
Removing sod and ground covers	53	(3)
Hardscape removal	56	(1)
Removing unwanted trees and shrubs	57	(3)
Recycling and Waste Disposal	60	(2)
Grading, Erosion Control, and Drainage	62	(27)
Site Grading	62	(10)
Grading your project area	65	(3)
Fixing poor soil problems below your project	68	(2)
Building a berm	70	(2)
Erosion Protection	72	(7)
Using Cover Crops to Reduce Erosion	73	(1)
Mulching for Erosion Protection	73	(1)
Installation of Erosion Control Blankets (Erosion Blankets)	74	(1)
Installing erosion blankets and cover crop	75	(4)
Site Drainage	79	(10)
Surface Drainage	79	(1)
Subsurface Drainage of Surface Water	80	(1)
Installing a French drain	81	(3)
Installing a subsurface drainage system with an inlet	84	(4)
Subsurface Interception of Water	88	(1)
Landscape Retaining Walls	89	(37)
Planning for Wall Construction	90	(11)
Wall Layout	90	(1)
Excavation and Base Preparation	90	(1)
Installing the base for a retaining wall	91	(3)
Beginning Walls	94	(1)
Drainage Behind Walls	95	(1)
Compaction Behind Walls	96	(1)
Wall Heights and Stabilization	96	(3)
Terracing	99	(1)
Ending Walls	100	(1)
Building Retaining Walls	101	(19)
Wood Landscape Timbers	101	(1)
Building a timber retaining wall	102	(6)
Segmental Wall Blocks	108	(1)
Dry-Laid Stone	108	(1)
Building a segmental block (precast concrete) retaining wall	109	(7)
Building a stone retaining wall	116	(4)
Stair Installation	120	(6)
Building retaining-wall stairs	120	(6)
Landscape Paving	126	(36)
Planning and Preparation for Landscape Paving	127	(35)
Access to the Site and Delivery of Materials	127	(1)
Project Layout	128	(1)
Excavation and Subgrade Compaction	128	(2)
Utility and Related Preliminary Work	130	(1)
Base-Material Installation	130	(1)
Installing the base for a paved surface	130	(4)
Pavement Patterns	134	(1)
Paving patterns	134	(4)
Splitting and shaping paving material	138	(1)
Splitting paving materials using a brick set	139	(2)
Setting Bed for Unit Pavers	141	(1)
Edge Restraints For Paved Surfaces	142	(1)
Installing Landscape Paving	143	(1)
Unit Pavers	143	(1)
Installing a patio using bricks or concrete pavers	144	(6)
Stone	150	(1)
Installing a stone patio	150	(5)
Granular Paving	155	(1)
Installing a granular-material walkway	156	(2)
Stepping Stones	158	(1)
Installing stepping stones	159	(3)
Wooden Structures	162	(27)
Planning the Work	163	(14)
Woods and Materials for Exterior Use	163	(3)
Decay Resistance	166	(1)
Wood Strength	167	(1)
Wood Color and Exterior Finishes	167	(1)
Cost and Availability	168	(1)
Wood Quality	168	(1)
Lumber Dimensioning	169	(1)
Fasteners and connectors	169	(2)
Supporting Wooden Structures	171	(6)
Building Wooden Structures	177	(12)
Arbors	177	(1)
Construction of a 4' x 8' overhead arbor	177	(7)
Trellises	184	(1)
Construction of a trellis	184	(5)
Fences and Free-Standing Walls	189	(40)
Planning the Project	190	(3)
Patterns	191	(1)
Fence Alignment and Wind Resistance	191	(1)
Layout	191	(1)
Fencing on Slopes	192	(1)
Maintenance Strips for Fences	192	(1)
Fence and Wall Installation	193	(36)
Wood-Surfaced Stringer Fencing	194	(1)
Installing a wood-surfaced stringer fence	195	(8)
Wooden Prefabricated Panel Fencing	203	(1)
Installing a wooden panel fence	204	(4)
Vinyl Fencing	208	(1)
Installing a vinyl fence	209	(6)
Chain-Link Fencing	215	(1)
Installing a chain-link fence	215	(9)
Dry-Laid Fieldstone (Rubble) Free-standing Walls	224	(1)
Installing a free-standing stone wall	225	(4)
Water, Edging, Lighting, and Other Site Amenities	229	(40)
Planning for Site Amenities	229	(2)
Locating Amenities	230	(1)
Utility Hookups	230	(1)
Foundations for Amenities	231	(1)
Water Features	231	(16)
Pools	232	(1)
Installing a flexible-liner pool	233	(5)
Installing a rigid-liner pool	238	(2)
Fountains	240	(1)
Installing a pool fountain	241	(2)
Cascades	243	(1)
Installing a stone-lined cascade	244	(3)
Edging	247	(12)
Natural Edging	247	(1)
Natural edging	247	(2)
Plastic Edging	249	(1)
Installing plastic edging	249	(3)
Bender-Board Edging	252	(1)
Stone Edging	252	(1)
Installing bender-board edging	253	(2)
Installing flat-stone edging	255	(2)
Vertical Brick Edging	257	(1)
Installing vertical brick edging	258	(1)
DC (Direct Current) Lighting	259	(7)
Installing a direct-current (DC) lighting system	260	(6)
Free-Standing Stairs	266	(3)
Building free-standing stairs with stacked slab material	266	(3)
Advanced Projects	269	(4)
Advanced Projects	269	(3)
Final Thoughts	272	(1)
APPENDIXES	273	(11)
Appendix A: Alternative Designs for Overhead Arbors	273	(4)
Appendix B: An Alternative Design for a Trellis	277	(1)
Appendix C: Designs for Wooden-Surface Fences	278	(2)
Appendix D: Comprehensive Landscape Projects	280	(4)
Glossary	284	(7)
Index	291