Remedying a lacklustre landscape in Warkworth, Auckland

Dealing with disappointment

Joel’s newly built brick and weatherboard home in Warkworth was warm, well-insulated, and met all healthy home requirements, but the outside was a different story. Patchy grass was an eyesore when he looked out the window, an under-sized concrete driveway left muddy tracks either side, and the backyard was simply unusable.

Joel wanted a family-friendly outdoor living space that matched the quality of his new build and, although he’d just gone through the lengthy process of building his own home, he was determined to undertake a full landscape renovation to ensure he had the property he desired.

Unimpressed with the landscaping, Joel reached out to Warkworth’s local Zones Landscaping Consultant Sandy Lochhead to take advantage of her expert advice and Zones’ comprehensive approach. 

Refining the plans

Aside from a few must-haves, Joel didn’t have the landscaping specifics figured out, so Sandy offered her suggestions to get the ball rolling. 

The first of Sandy’s ideas included a swimming pool, but the high cost was a deterrent for Joel. He was willing to make the appropriate investment to get the landscape design he was after but still wanted to get the best value. Removing the pool from the plans offered more flexibility within the budget and, after a few rounds of discussion, Joel and Sandy managed to refine the project scope. 

The final design included planting, mulching, and lawn updates in both the front and back yards, a covered deck at the rear, and a driveway expansion that would be functional and improve the property’s curb appeal. Joel was happy to move forward and signed off on the $103,000 estimate so Sandy could get the work going as soon as possible. 

Moving along

Sandy’s in-house project manager, Kyle Lochhead, joined the team during the construction stage to ensure the process ran smoothly. The two coordinated the contractors and started the project off with excavation. Inclement weather caused some delays early on but Kyle kept Joel updated so he could plan accordingly. 

As the construction progressed, the landscape started to take shape. Retaining walls went up around the perimeter of the backyard to create separation between the lawn and planting area. Kwila was used to construct the low-profile deck for its longevity and durability, as well as its high-end look. Finishing touches were placed as the project wrapped up. The final cost came to $114,000, the increase due to significant tipping fees.