Should I DIY My Hardscaping or Hire a Pro?

Hardscaping makes a beautiful addition to any home. If you are planning on selling your home, you can increase your home’s value and add curb appeal. If you are simply wanting to upgrade your forever home, you can create a comfortable space for entertaining your family and friends. Now the question comes…Should I DIY my hardscaping or hire a pro?

Chances are, if you have already began to plan and budget for your a new patio or a hardscaping addition to your backyard, you have probably realized that these projects are a big investment. You may be tempted to attempt a do-it-yourself project as a way to save money. DIY home improvements are growing popularity among homeowners and they are seen as a creative way to upgrade homes without breaking the budget.

In many cases, DIY is great choice. It really depends on the skill level required for the project and the cost of the materials and equipment you need to complete the project. For more complicated projects like hardscaping, hiring a professional may be the better decision. Continue reading to learning exactly why you might want to hire a pro.

Hiring a Professional is Cost Effective

We have already talked about the fact that most people choose DIY projects over hiring a pro because they want to save money. But when it comes to hardscaping, hiring a pro may be the more cost effective choice. At Hinkle Hardscapes, we have an extensive collection of high quality equipment, which are all necessary when creating an outdoor space that could include elements like a patio, firepit, or outdoor kitchen.

If you choose to do-it-yourself, you will need to buy or rent any equipment you do not already own. Because we purchase in large quantities, we also have access to materials and products at discounted prices. This allows us to offer homeowner competitive pricing on the hardscaping work we perform in their lawn.

Save Time When You Hire a Professional

Whether you are laying a patio or creating an entire backyard retreat, quality hardscaping work takes time. There is an involved process required to prepare the ground for the work and properly seal the work to make sure it remains resistant to weather changes. By letting the professionals build your hardscaping, you can devote your time to your family, work, or get out of the house to be with friends.

A typical hardscape project for a crew of 4 hardscaping professionals usually takes around 3 days. So for 3 days, with a crew of 4 professionals working 9 hour days, you are typically looking at 108 man hours. Keeping in mind that our guys are doing this type of work every day, so they are really good at it. I would guess the average person should account for 150 hours just because this type of work isn’t what they do day in and day out, so there will be a learning curve to it.

Avoid Mistakes By Hiring a Professional

High quality hardscaping will last for years after installation. Unfortunately, if mistakes are made during installation the weather can quickly harm outdoor patios or other hardscaping structures. If the ground isn’t properly prepared or the work is not sealed correctly, you may find yourself repairing or replacing your hardscaping within a few years. When you hire a professional, you hire someone who has extensive experience and training, which enables them to avoid mistakes that could cost you time and money.

Summary

At the end of the day this all depends on your skill level. If you’ve poured concrete before, or laid brick/tile/pavers, then maybe this is something that you can do on your own and save some money. If you don’t have that type of expertise, then our advice is to tackle some of the easier projects that can make your home look amazing, like adding flower beds, trees, rock beds, etc. Most landscaping projects can be handled by the homeowner and can actually be fun for the family to do together in a weekend, but maybe leave the patios, fireplaces, and built in grill stations to the pros… 😉

To learn more about budgeting and planning for a hardscaping addition to your backyard, click hereor call 816-741-2035 to schedule a free hardscaping design consultation.