Don't Confuse a Landscape Contractor for a Landscape Architect, or Construction vs. Design

SAN DIEGO - Dec. 4, 2013 - PRLog -- In the second installment of the Landscape Contractor Standard of Care series, Jeremy Rappoport discusses the pros and cons of using a landscape contractor or gardener for design-build projects.

The traditional method of construction relied upon delegation of project design to an architect or landscape architect and delegating construction responsibilities to the general or landscape contractor.  For many industries and project types, this method is still fundamental to most forms of construction.  However, design-build contracts and design-build contractors are increasingly being used for a variety of projects and reasons.  Historically, the design-build concept dates back several millennia as the “Master Builder” concept, whereby one master contractor was responsible for an entire project.

The concept of design-build places the responsibility for the design, implementation and construction upon a single contracting entity.  From an Owner or Agency viewpoint, design-build may be preferable as it creates a single point of responsibility upon the contractor.  The design-build concept may reduce client risk and overall project cost.  If a client can minimize risk and potential project costs, why not always use a design-build contract method?

Unlike many trades, landscape design, construction, and maintenance are often lumped into a single category, creating confusion between the various professions within the landscape industry.  Landscape design is a profession unto itself, with Landscape Architects the designated, licensed professionals performing the work.  Architects are educated, trained and licensed for producing landscape plans, specifications, details, notes and a variety of related studies to ensure their final design product will accomplish the goals and requirements of their client.

In California, contractors are trained, educated and licensed as a C-27 landscape contractor.  Unlike a B-1 general contractor license, a C-27 landscape contractor is licensed specifically for landscape construction and maintenance.  The C-27 is a "specialty" license, it does not permit a landscape contractor to perform other trades or act as a general contractor, nor does it confer any landscape design knowledge or certification.  Licensed landscape contractors typically bid on projects, providing a landscape contruction, installation, or maintenance proposal to potential clients.

Gardeners are unlicensed and typically used by residential homeowners for maintenance purposes.  In the state of California, it is illegal for an unlicensed company or individual (such as a gardener) to contract for work greater than $400 in value, however this does not prevent gardeners from being hired for construction, installation and maintenance projects.  Clients using an unlicensed gardener for contracting purpose do so at their own risk and peril.

Landscape architects are utilized to design, prepare plans, make submittals and obtain permits for commercial, sub-division and public works projects.  Their plans and specifications are part of the contract documents provided from their client to landscape contractors for bidding purposes.  The landscape contractor performs a plan "takeoff", documenting all of the quantities, specifications, notes, and details and then creates their pricing and proposal based on that information.  At no point in that process is the contractor allowed to deviate from the plan and contract documents.  The roles between designer and contractor are strictly enforced and understood by the client, landscape architect and landscape contractor.  Unlicensed gardeners are excluded from this process.

In the first installment of the Landscape Contractor Standard of Care, http://landscapeexpertwitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013... the discussion focused on primary contract documents required for professional landscape contractors and their clients.  Contract documents focus on a design, plans, specifications, notes and details that provide the contractor information on how to price, bid, and construct a project.  But what happens where there are no landscape plans or specifications for a project, no information is provided to the contractor to provide an accurate bid, quote or estimate and if awarded the contract, no information on how to construct the project?

Read the full article, the Pros and Cons of Using a Landscape Design-Build Contractor at http://landscapeexpertwitness.com/wp-content/uploads/2013...