Landscape Construction, Auckland

Yes, frequently. A large share of our build work comes from architects, landscape architects and developers who have their own design team. We price off the drawings, flag any constructability issues during tender, and build to specification. We don't try to redesign your designer's work mid-build. If we spot a clash or a better detail, we raise it through the proper RFI channel rather than just changing it on site. Clean process, clean handover.

Earlier than most people do. Bringing us in at developed design stage (before tender) saves money and time. We can review constructability, flag detailing that will blow the budget, suggest material substitutions that achieve the same look for less, and help phase the landscape works around the building programme. By tender stage the cost decisions are largely locked. Auckland developers who engage us at concept or developed design typically end up with a smoother build and a tighter price.

Yes. We do paving in concrete, exposed aggregate, natural stone, pavers and permeable systems. Retaining walls in timber, block, concrete and gravity stone. Decking in hardwood and composite. Full subsoil and surface drainage including soakage where soils allow. Where engineered retaining or specialist drainage is required, we work with consulting engineers and produce as-built documentation for council sign-off. Hardscaping in Auckland's clay soils needs proper drainage detailing; we don't skip it.

Fixed price against complete documentation wherever possible. We break the price into clear sections (earthworks, drainage, hardscape, planting, irrigation, lighting) so you can see where the money goes and value-engineer specific elements without unpicking the whole quote. Variations are priced and signed off before they're built, not bundled into a final invoice. For projects without complete drawings we'll quote a schedule of rates plus a target sum, with regular cost reporting through the build.

Our own crews. Planting and irrigation are part of the same contract, not subcontracted out at the end. Plants are sourced from established Auckland and North Island nurseries we've used for years, so we get quality stock that's acclimatised to the conditions. Irrigation is designed and installed in-house with proper zoning, controllers and as-built plans handed to the maintenance team. If we're also doing the ongoing care, the transition is seamless: the same people who planted it look after it.

We run a written programme from day one, sequenced around the broader development works. Pre-start we walk the site with the main contractor to lock down access, staging areas, services routes, and the landscape works order relative to other trades. During the build we submit daily diaries, attend site meetings, and flag any changes to programme in writing before they affect the handover date. If weather or a preceding trade causes a delay, we communicate it immediately rather than absorbing it silently and then surprising you at the end.

Workmanship is warranted under the standard defect liability period agreed in the contract, typically twelve months. Structural elements (retaining walls, paving, drainage) are covered for defects in materials and installation. Planting warranties depend on site conditions: we warrant establishment where we control the soil prep, irrigation and initial maintenance. Where another party takes over maintenance immediately after handover, we document the handover condition with photos and a written report so there's a clear baseline if a warranty call comes in later.

We hold SiteWise Gold, which most main contractors and councils require for site access. Before work starts you'll receive our site-specific health and safety plan, task analyses for high-risk work, and current certificates of compliance for machinery and operators. Crew are inducted on each site and hold relevant tickets (NZQA machinery, working at height, first aid). Where traffic management is needed on roadsides or shared access, we supply a compliant TMP and qualified traffic controllers rather than cones and hope.

Yes, and it's the cleanest possible transition. Our Care team takes over from the Build team, so the people looking after your grounds are the same people who installed everything. They know where the irrigation zones run, what was planted and why, where the drainage outlets are. For developers and body corporates, we offer a combined build-and-maintain contract that covers the build, an establishment period through the first summer, and a long-term maintenance programme. One contract, one invoice, one point of contact.

We're direct about what drives cost. Paving material, retaining system choice, planting density and irrigation specification are the four biggest levers. If the budget needs to come down, we'll identify which lever gives the most saving with the least visual or functional impact, and we'll tell you what you're trading off. We don't just substitute cheaply and hope you don't notice: we present the options with pricing at design stage so the decision is yours to make, not ours to make silently at tender.