Does anyone xeriscape?

[agm]

I need to place a bid on a job that includes laying gravel, no plants. How much do I charge? I know how to charge for the material, but what about the labor? Please help!

[hoskm01]

Any more info on the job? Using a tractor? By hand? No plants, must not be a drip system, how many sq ft? Pics? I do a lot of xeriscape here, could lend some info.

[Az Gardener]

The old formula we used to use is one man can move and spread 2-tons of granite in 1 hour that is within a reasonable distance from the pile say150-200' max. You also need to figure in grading. The last few years I have had trouble getting more than 1.5 per hr but I used to have full time landscapers now I have maintenance guys that do a few improvement jobs so they are not as fast. A unit price is a good way to go. I think the going rate here is 60-65 bucks a ton .1-ton of granite 1/2"-3/4" covers 150 sq ft 2"-4" 1/4"minus covers about 125 sq ft. Shop your rock, their is as much as 2.00 per ton difference here in town depending on who you call.

[sheshovel]

Real Xeriscape does include plants..just ones that can survive after being established in areas with very little water..it also includes design elements just like any other landscape..so what your doing is just putting down gravel..I would not put that under the title of Xeriscape.Xeriscapes can be very involved and beutifull landscapes if done properly

[agm]

I guess I shouldn't call it really xeriscaping. MY BAD. The guy has some shrubs and small plants but wants them removed and just wants gravel layed. I will be putting sod in some of the places also and I know how to charge for that but laying gravel is something I don't typically do. Thats why I was asking for help. I don't know if i am supposed to charge by the sq. ft. or by the hour or what. The total square footage is 590. I will also be done by hand since it's not that big of an area.

[sheshovel]

You need to tell us how much gravel..how many yards and if you are providing the material to the job or what.Usually applying a yard of gravel runs $75.00 a yard..that includes the gravel but you need to tell us how much you are paying for the gravel.
because we usually charge by the amount of gravel applied not the sq'

[hoskm01]

Agreed. Is the total area for gravel 590? If so, your in for an easy job for 1 man for the day. You can easily do 5 tons in a day by hand. Have you considered pre-emergent before you put the rock down, any weed barrier? Gardener, you must be able to stretch that rock pretty far. I only do 110-115 ft per ton, depending on the size of course.

[Paradise Landscapes]

You need to tell us how much gravel..how many yards and if you are providing the material to the job or what.Usually applying a yard of gravel runs $75.00 a yard..that includes the gravel but you need to tell us how much you are paying for the gravel.
because we usually charge by the amount of gravel applied not the sq'


Just on a side note, What kind of gravel is at that price?
I normally use #57 river stone on Average. Just Curious.

[sheshovel]

1/4"crushed at 30.00 a yard

[hoskm01]

Sheshovel,
We use tons here to measure, do you know what the tonnage is per yard, for comparison, for say, 1/4"crushed?

[Az Gardener]

A yard is very close to a ton usually they use ton cost on products that don't change much when wet like rock. Yards are usually used when the product weighs more when wet like dirt mulch sand etc. I have seen some smaller rock yards have sized buckets on the loaders and no scale so they will sell by the yard. Yes that 150 # is a pain but when your bidding commercial thats the # you have to use to be competitive. Makes a big difference when you are bidding 100's of tons of granite. I agree with you, when doing residential I go about 100-125 per ton depending on rock size. Thank god I'm not in that commercial rat race any more.

[agm]

If my calculations are correct, it will be 3.6 yards of gravel. (2 inches thick) It will be 3/4 crushed gray gravel. Here it goes for $20-25 a yard. The material I will supply. (of course I will mark up...usually 20%). Oh and I don't know about 1/4 " crushed but I know 3/4 crushed (1 ton) is approx. 3/4 of a yard.

[Furness & Sons L&L]

Shoot me an email, i am also here NM. Ive been doing this for over 12 years 8 on my own. Sounds like a smal job for this area but those are the money makers when you have a few lined up! We have a solid formula that i feel is full proof when it comes to figuring out your total cost, from start to finish.
acalawncare@msn.com