Release Your Creative Juices

I've been working in Langebaan the last couple of weeks, doing work for an old client of mine when I saw this on my way home.

OK, lets take a closer look.

Do you see what I saw?

A tree trunk that looks like a crocodile. I had to use it.

Weighing about 300 kg, we struggled to get it on site.

After some trimming with the help of a chainsaw, this is what the end result looks like.
Now to get the right spot.

No need for a guard dog. This will scare the living daylights out of any robber.

What to do with Old Wheelbarrows

I hired a chainsaw today, at Atlantic Tool Hire in Vredenburg, to scalp a feature, when I saw this creative use of old wheelbarrows.

Can you figure out what the tables are made of?

Landscaping in Langebaan

I've been fortunate to work in the most beautiful places this year. My previous job was in gorgeous Newlands and I'm currently busy in Club Mykonos, Langebaan. I will never be able to live inland. There is nothing like the sound and smell of the sea to relief stress. No wonder Discovery Medical Aid rates are less when you stay near the coast.

Leveling Out Slopes

Anyway, just look at what a difference a Dry Stone Wall can do for your garden. It's harder work than working with a manufactured Concrete Retaining Wall Block, but it gives a more natural and nicer look.

Before:
Wasted slope, weeds and irrigation standpipes protruding for everyone to see.

After:
Increased useful space and better looking end result.

My Facebook Like Button Feels extremely Lonely.

Hi Everyone,

I just added my Facebook Like Button and has no likes yet.

The button looks very lonely and might go into hiding. Please help "Button" and click Like.

Regards

Mark
Ps. What you do for the one, you might as well do for the other. While you're at it; follow us on Twitter.

Retaining Wall in Newlands

Dimensions: 4.4 m x 25 m

We were so lucky to work next to beautiful stream, which were quite relaxing. It was important not to effect the environment in any way.

Before Pictures:

[Site Clearance and Preparation]

[Solid Wall needs Retaining Wall to Secure]

During:

[Foundation Trench]

[Dry Concrete Mix Foundation]

[Out of the Ground]

[2.4m High]

After:

[Site Clean and No Negative Impact on the Environment]

[What a Good Feeling. We're done.]

My Favorite "On The Road" Pics So Far This Year

SABS minimum width for public roads not applicable in Newlands

[Taken near SACS in Newlands]

Why must I clean the chimney? What can possibly happen if I don't?

[The House next to the dump-site in Wynberg]

I started a new venture; cleaning Koi Ponds. They call me the Koi-Man from Atlantis.

[Stodles in Bellville]

Upside down you turn me!

[Passion Fruit at my house in Brackenfell]

Experienced Retaining Wall Contractors

I've been consulting on and installing Retaining Walls since 1991. I started my own business, Creative Retaining & Landscaping, in 2001. We can install every type of Retaining Wall. From Gabions and Concrete Block Retaining to Dry Stone Walling. During this time I've picked up vital experience.

(1) For Starters, there's a Difference between Private Residential and Commercial Retaining.

• When tendering on Government or Commercial Walls, everything has been drawn up, surveyed and put in a Bill of Quantities before the contractor gets to the site. This may take weeks or even months. The contractor need to tender his rates and apply. There are more red tape though. For instants, Health and Safety, site establishment and certificates. This makes it very expensive, but the client is almost certain of getting a top notch end result and the installer is almost certain of getting payment.
• Residential Quotes work a bit different. It's more informal. Saving money is usually an important part of the transaction. The person doing the quote needs to do the measurements on site, mostly alone and sometimes without any surveying equipment. I usually email the quote the same day or the day after, because it's not always about the best price, but the best service. Designs are not as elaborate as above and Health and Safety is not priority, bringing the price down quite significantly.

(2) Experience is More Important than Education and Price.

More experience = More mistakes made = Less mistakes will be made in the future.

Although Education are very important, especially when it comes to forces, soil types and calculations; without experience it could lead to overkill or tunnel vision. I had a young engineer tell me to cast concrete in every concrete block and to reinforce it. This almost doubled the cost of the wall. Concrete Retaining Wall blocks are designed to be able to move (a little bit). In a similar situation a brick wall would crack, thus using the retaining wall blocks. So, to cast concrete in each block it makes it impossible for the blocks to move and you might as well build a normal brick wall with reinforcing.

If an experienced contractor tell you that you need 1000 blocks and a newbie quotes on 900, don't just except the cheapest, ask some questions.

(3) Everybody has got their Own Opinion.

Have you listened to a conversation at a braai? Doesn't matter which subject, nobody has exactly the same opinion. It's the same with Retaining Walls. Everyone believe their design is the way to go, but there are unlimited varieties that will stand the test of time. If you are a practical person, normal common sense will tell you if a design is risky.

Finally: My advise it to ask contractors for references, some pictures of their work, their experience and education to make a calculated decision.

(Photo: My introduction to Retaining Walls, back in 1991.)

Quick Guide to Estimate the Cost of Building a Retaining Wall

Most Retaining Wall Contractors will give free quotes, but it is always good to know more or less what you are in for before possibly wasting your and the contractor's time.

It's the quickest quote for me to do. All you got to know is how to calculate square meter and cubic meter.

For this guide, I'm referring to Concrete Retaining Blocks.

How do you calculate the amount of Retaining Wall Blocks you need?

You measure the length of the proposed wall and the height you want it to be. If the wall is less that 1.5m high, I'll add 0.3m to the height and 0.6m if it's higher than 1.5m.

This is because some blocks must be underground to improve the stability. Don't take short-cuts.

To get the square meter of the wall, multiply the height with the length. 

If you use Cape Brick's Retaining Wall Blocks, it takes 12 of their blocks to fill a square meter. So to get the amount of blocks for the wall, you multiply the square meter with 12.

It's about R25 per Smooth Face Block and R30 per Rockface Block, including delivery.

How do you calculate the cost of labour for Retaining Wall Installations?

My average labour cost per block is about R24. This includes supervision, labourers, fuel and admin costs. 

Factors that can influence labour costs:

• Access to the site is difficult. Do you need a helicopter? Is it far from roads?
• Uphill or downhill? Carting blocks uphill can be very tiresome and may ask for more labourers.
• Filling. If there is plenty of filling, it could influence the tempo, thus will increase costs.
• Natural obstacles. Underground water or huge boulders will influence the rate.

Extra costs that can add to your quote.

1. Foundations - Most walls higher than 1.5m require a concrete or stabilized foundation. To be safe, work on R250 per meter.
2. Filling - This is the most difficult calculation. I recommend you make a drawing. Work on R200 per cube, including labour.
3. Sub-soil drains - If you use the system I recommend, you can look at R80 per meter excluding filling.
4. Compaction - When the filling area is wider than 1 meter behind the block, I'll use a forward reverse, but don't come to close to the blocks, as the compactor will move the blocks. Rather use a hand compactor. Work on R450 per day.

All you got to do now is to add all together in an excel sheet. If you can afford what you get, you can now ask Retaining Wall Installers for quotes.

Amazing Alien Looking Creature Poisoned Me

How to do Sub-Soil Drains Cheaper.

First of all, sub-soil drains is also known as french drains or "sifdreinering" in Afrikaans.

We use it to drain excessive underground water from your property, sportfields or roads. So if your garden is waterlogged or there is damp deposits on your walls, it's time to install some sub-soil drains.

For years I did it the old conventional way:

1. Dig a trench,
2. Put bidim in the trench, of which the width is at least 2m,
3. Install perforated pipe,
4. Fill with 19mm stone and compact,
5. Cover bidim over stone and level with existing soil.

Then one day, I got a Retaining Wall Installation in Hout Bay. Water was seeping out of the embankment like I've never seen before and I asked a geotech specialist for advise on drainage.

His advise was to use this new system, I'm going to share with you. It not only drains away water faster, but is also way cheaper than the conventional method.

The new method:

1. Dig the trench,
2. Rap a 500mm wide bidim sock around the 110mm pipe and install,
3. Fill and compact with clean white filling or building sand,
4. Level.

So where do you save?

1. You need less bidim,
2. Sand is 3 times cheaper than stone.

Other advantages is that it's easier to install and last longer.

After completion of the above mentioned retaining wall, it drained about 600 litres per hour.

D.I.Y. Irrigation Installation. How Much Do You Save?

I did my first irrigation installation in Van Riebeeckshof, Bellville back in 2001. I can remember being impatient and not waiting for my supplier's rep to show me the ropes. Instead, I tried to connect the manifold to the main waterline myself. When I opened the stop-cock, the water pressure popped the manifold right off and sprayed water and mud all over my clothes.

To make things worst; there were 3 guys in a Nissan 1300 bakkie, that witnessed the whole episode. They couldn't stop laughing. I closed the valve and disappeared to the back garden. When I came back after about 20 minutes, they started laughing all over again. I couldn't help but to join them.

My second job was way easier, in fact things just got better from then and it's second nature now. If you are a D.I.Y. person, you may have better luck, but is it worth doing it yourself?

I'm going to list the Pro's and the Con's, but not in that order. I'll start with the Con's.

The Con's:

1. Irrigation Contractors get up to 40% discount on irrigation parts. That amount is more or less equal to the labour. So if you decide to DIY and don't get the products at the discounted price, you might as well get a professional contractor to do the installation.
2. You got to do a lot of research before commencement. Do you know what's your water pressure? How many pop-ups can you put on one line? Do you know how to connect the Controller to the Valves? How do you assemble a manifold?
3. Installers usually have extra fittings. If you're new to irrigation or don't do it often, you tend to exclude things you didn't think of and will do several trips to the supplier to buy that "things".
4. It will take you way longer to complete, especially if you dig the trenches yourself. An average home irrigation installation take us 1-2 days. I will take a single person at least 4 times longer.
5. You miss out on 4 days, you could have spend with your family and friends.

The Pro's:

1. There is a chance that you'll save money, if you get a discount on the parts.
2. The satisfaction after completion of your own installation when it works.

As you can see it all depends on what type of person you are.

If you're not the DIY type. Give me, Mark, a call for a free irrigation quote at 0829275169 or email me at creative@vodamail.co.za

5 Reasons Why You Must Start Your Own Home Nursery

I'm going to jump to the reasons I believe you should start your own home nursery. My initial goal was to start a Wholesale Tree Nursery and in the process supply my own Landscaping Business.

What happened was that I got hooked, treating my plants better than my dog, talking to them and visiting them at least a couple of times per day.

So why should you?

1. You learn more about a plant's character, than you read in any book. Plants that I used to plant in full-sun, I now know does better in semi-shade or morning sun. You learn which plants to grow from seeds or cuttings.

2. It is a great hobby to keep you out of trouble and your kids can join in the fun. 

3. It's a great way to relief some stress. Especially when you see new growth.

4. Contribute to the environment. Plant indigenous trees or plants that release high volumes of oxygen in the air, like Portulacaria afra.

5. Grow your own organic Fruits and Veggies. As soon as you invest in something it's got a value. You will treat your Fruits and Veggies like gold. I almost fired my garden service for stealing my avocado's.

I hope I convinced you. Please comment on your experiences.

Don't Ever Buy Compost From the Street

When you're new to gardening and want to feed your beds and lawn with some compost, it's easy to fall prey to the "Bakkie Suppliers". They go door-to-door selling compost at a good price. Weeks later your lawn is covered in weeds and the lawn looks worse of than before.

Not far from my home, their are hawkers selling bags of compost and plants. If you decide to take a chance with hawkers, avoid "Kraalmis", because it usually contains weed seeds.

The fact is, you don't know what you get. I recommend going to the Big Boys with a proven track record. They sell a variety of products to suit your needs.

For years I only believed in Eco-Gro. Their product was phenomenal and you could hear the plants grow. Unfortunately, they were closed down due to some safety issues and I had to look elsewhere.

Luckily, there are other great suppliers, who's products are safe and clean. Here's my list:

1. Reliance Compost - 100% Certified Organic Compost
   
   
   
   2. Agri Organics - Mother Nature's Farming Friend.
   
   3. Stanler Farms - When the compost hits the fan, it's the quality of the product that counts.
   
   
   

Where to Buy Great Pots for Your Garden.

Pots are a must when there is sufficient funds allocated for the landscaping budget of a property. The bigger the property, the bigger the pots. It just adds character and value to your outdoors. Look at the pictures below. I must say, I got carried away and bought R40,000-00's worth of pots on this site, but can you imagine small pots against these high walls?

What I Look for When I Buy Pots.

1. It must look natural. Everyone has different tastes and I will personally never use very colorful pots outside. I go for earthy colors.
2. I don't want to see paint stripes or red oxide stains on pots. A pot can so easily look kitsch and will negatively influence your overall look.
3. I must like the design and prefer manufacturers with a wide variety.

Here's My List of 3 Preferred Suppliers.

1. Desert Pots - They are my favorite supplier. Their pots are also very affordable.        
   
                     
   
   
   
    
   
   
   They were recently bought by the owners of Elemental Pots and you can look at both ranges at one promise.
   
   
   
   2. Cape Garden Centre - I love their great service, the quality of their plants and their large variety of pots and other landscaping products.
   
   3. Habitat - Although they're not known for their pots, but rather their huge tree nursery, I love their range. Expensive though, but as natural as you can get.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   If you know of a pot suppliers that's worth a visit, please comment on this article. I'm always open to new styles.

4 Reasons Why You Should Use Retaining Walls

Firstly, when I refer to Retaining Walls, I think of the Loffelstein blocks, Retaining Wall Blocks, Gabions, Split Poles, Brick Walls and Dry Stone Walling.

 Dry Stone Walling

 Gabions

 Loffelstein

 Split Poles

Retaining Wall Blocks

Brick and Mortar Wall

They all work on the same principle, which is that they must be able to retain the forces coming from the soil behind it. The most popular is the normal retaining wall blocks as it's the cheapest method. Gabions are usually the most expensive, but the most secure method.

Dry Stone Walling is the most natural, while a Brick Wall is more clinical. The choice depends entirely on your taste and budget.

Why Should You Use One of These Walls?

1. When your property slopes and you need to level it out to create more useful space.

2. When your property is level and you need to create raised beds.

3. To protect an embankment from eroding.

4. To use as edging and separate lawn from the beds.

Lastly, Retaining Walls add to the value of your property.

With almost 25 years experience, it's not only fun to install these walls, but you get very creative.

Call us for a prompt free quote and I'll be glad to share my creative juices.