Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

This article was crafted with the help of Bryan Sebring from Sebring Services

Tackling a basement remodeling project can be a huge undertakingwhether you simply want to make the space more livable or design a more elaborate room that allows your basement to blend in with the rest of your home.

We enlisted the help of one of our Best Picks, owner Bryan Sebring of Sebring Services, Inc., Residential Remodeling in Naperville, IL, to answer some of the questions you may have concerning the basement renovation process.

There are many reasons why homeowners may want to transform their basement into a usable space, but Bryan says that one of the most common motivations for a basement remodel lies with having children.

Parents may have young kids and are sick of tripping over toys in the dining room or family room. For those customers, we typically create a playroom and TV room. Parents with teenagers often want their kids to have a fun basement to hang out ina place where they can watch TV or play games.

While the majority of Bryans projects are kid-focused, some homeowners want adult areas that may include a bar, pool table, and TV area for football season.

The basement could also be transformed into an additional bedroom for guests, in-laws, or a live-in nanny. Bryan cautions that if you are adding a bedroom to your basement, you have to make sure that you have an escape window, and most houses built before 2002 dont have the correct egress or escape window.

Basement windows in older homes usually require you to lift the whole window out to escape during an emergency. To meet current codes, homeowners need normal-use windows that lift or slide open easily.

To add the right window to an older house, the company has to cut the concrete and dig the window wells out deeper, which will cost the homeowner more.

Bryan says that exercise rooms are also a popular renovation for the basement. When creating an exercise room, you want to make sure that its not too small because you wont use the room if it is.

The standard ceiling height in a house is eight feet; in most basements, youll probably have below thatcloser to seven feet. For an exercise room, though, you have to make sure you have good ceiling height, especially with treadmills, says Bryan.

You want to be able to step on a treadmill and use the incline without touching the ceiling. Bryan recommends adding large double doors to open up the space while working out. Sometimes well add glass panes to the double doors so that you can see through to more space.

The biggest thing with basements, in general, is to give the illusion that the space is grand, big, and open, not confined.

As stated before, basements can be a challenging remodel because they often have lower ceilings than the rest of the house and lack natural light. However, a good contractor will be able to overcome the challenges basements present.

Were really conscious about making the spacein the basement feel bigger. Thats why we use ambient lighting such as track lighting or overhead recessed lightingwe add a lot of ambient lighting, which helps brighten up the basement and points your eye away from the ceiling.

Lamps that point your eyes up toward the ceiling are best for rooms with cathedral ceilings where you want to show how grand the space is, says Bryan. In basements, you want to point your eyes down. Because the bulb in ambient lighting points down, your eyes are going to naturally look down.

Another way to distract the eye from a low ceiling is to add wainscoting instead of crown molding. We advise against adding crown molding unless the ceiling is at least eight feet high.

Crown molding will draw attention to how low the ceilings are, explains Bryan. Instead, well do wainscoting, which is a trim that is about three feet up from the floor; it helps keep you from noticing how low the ceiling is.

Dark paint can make many rooms feel cozier, but in a basement, it can make everything appear dark and smaller. I always suggest that homeowners paint their doors and trim white over staining them, says Bryan.

When you stain your wood doors and trim, it gives the basement a darker look. But white paint really helps to keep the space bright.

As mentioned earlier, egress or escape windows are required for basements that have a bedroom. Egress windows can also help to bring natural light into the basement, but Bryan advises against adding windows if its not required.

Its great to add a window to your space, but its very expensive, and it can add significant costs to your overall project, he says. If youre on a budget, I wouldnt suggest it. If you dont plan on using the space for sleeping, an egress window is not necessary.

We will return tomorrow with more basement remodeling tips from Bryan Sebring, owner of Naperville, IL, Best Pick company Sebring Services. He gives advice on how to remodel on a budget, how to remodel an older home, and what other information you should know before hiring a remodeling contractor.

Click Here to View Your Local Best Pick Basement Remodeling & Additions Contractors

This spotlight article was crafted by Sebring Services, a Best Pick in Basement Remodeling & Additions in Chicago. While we strive to provide relevant information to all homeowners, some of the material we publish may not pertain to every area. Please contact your local Best Pick companies for any further area-specific advice.

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Explore Basement Remodeling Ideas with a Best Pick (Part 1 ...

Spice up your kitchen with new kitchen cabinets from The Home Depot. Shop our selection of in-stock kitchen cabinetry, opt for cabinet refacing, or choose custom cabinets, complete with all the storage and accessories you need for your familys busy lifestyle. Whether youre searching for a particular color, texture, door style or brand name, we have the right kitchen cabinets to help you create a kitchen youll love coming home to.

In-stock Kitchen CabinetsIf you have a short timeline and a tight budget, consider our wide variety of quality in-stock cabinets. Shop from our in-stock cabinet collections, ready-to-assemble cabinets and fully assembled kitchen cabinets. Note that in-stock does not always mean in-store. In-stock means the cabinets are available quickly. Some cabinets are available to pick up in-store today. Others can be shipped quickly, next day or in as little as three days.

In-stock cabinets cost less than custom cabinets, but you dont have to sacrifice on style or quality. Our in-stock cabinets are built to be strong and durable. Choose from fresh, on-trend, yet timeless colors and door styles. Plus, you can accessorize with every-day accessories such as trash pullouts, organizational drawers, and more.

Custom Kitchen CabinetsWant to change the look and shape of your kitchen? Have a substantial budget and timeline for a full kitchen renovation? Well, you might be in the market for custom kitchen cabinets. Custom cabinets allow you to upgrade the look of your cabinets and change your kitchen layout. These cabinets are hand-made to fit the dimensions of your kitchen. As the name implies, you get to customize your cabinets to be any color you want. Choose from thousands of colors and material combinations. If youre not sure of the color and style you like, order a door sample to touch, feel and truly experience your design choice before you buy it. You can modify cabinet depths, widths and heights to fit your exact space. Then, kick it up a notch with decorative mouldings, glass door upgrades and premium storage options.

What To Expect From the Custom Cabinet ProcessBecause custom cabinets are made just for your kitchen, the process will take longer. It all starts with signing up for your free in-store design appointment. During your appointment, one of our trained designers will discuss your kitchen goals, budget and style preferences. Next, a certified installer will come to your home to perform on-site analysis and make sure all of your questions are answered. During the final step of the design process, your designer will show you a 3D rendering of your future dream kitchen for your approval. Once your cabinets are ordered, expect it to take a few weeks before they arrive. Then, youll be able to sit back and watch as our experienced and licensed installers transform your kitchen. Check out our kitchen cabinets buying guidefor more details on the timeline and expected costs for your custom project.

Cabinet RefacingIf you like the layout of your kitchen, but the style looks outdated, then cabinet refacing may be the perfect design solution for you. Consider it a mini-makeover for your kitchen. By simply replacing the cabinet doors, you can update the color and style of your kitchen cabinets. It takes less time than a full kitchen remodel. Plus, you can still use your kitchen and appliances during the installation. Learn more with ourcabinet refacing cost guide.

Kitchen Cabinet ExtrasDesign your kitchen cabinets to fit your busy lifestyle and personal taste. You'll find all of the popular styles, including classic, modern, and transitional style kitchens. We have a large selection of accessories and storage options including Lazy Susans, soft close drawers, wine cabinets, waste bin cabinets, cutlery organizers and more. Plus, we have all the tools and necessities to finish your kitchen cabinet project, including fillers, toe kicks, end panels, and crowns.

Get Started on Your Dream KitchenThe Home Depot is also your go-to for kitchen cabinet hardware, countertops, sinks, faucets and kitchen islands. We offer free kitchen design services, plus installers who are licensed, insured and experienced. Schedule your design appointment now and get started on the kitchen of your dreams.

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Kitchen Cabinets at The Home Depot

Concrete is also quite versatile. A simple finish can provide you with the benefits of its durability. Or choose a decorative option to give your patio or walkway a unique and distinguished appearance and durability.

Cobblestones, bricks or pavers can be used. They are all more costly than concrete.

All of these options tend to pop or sink leading to a surface that is not level due to the climate in Northeast Ohio. During the snowy winter they can make it harder to shovel. The space between them becomes a great spot for weeds to grow in warmer weather.

Another option people consider to hide existing concrete is putting a stone overlay on top of the concrete. This material loosens easily and deteriorates quickly when installed over damaged concrete. An overlay also creates height differences that often arent taken into consideration before the product is applied. There will be a difference where the new surface meets existing surfaces like garage floors and driveways. Other downsides are that the overlay material is porous (more likely to stain) and its susceptible to chemical damage.

When replacing your existing patio, walkway or steps, planning comes first. You may want, or have to, place the patio, walkway or steps in the same location. Or you may have the option of placing them in a new and better location. When the new patio or walkway is installed it may be a good time to resolve some grading.

For your new project you can choose between several standard finishes or decide to add visual appeal by having the concrete stamped and/or colored.

If you already know exactly what you want great! If not, ALBA Contractors Inc.s courteous staff can provide you with professional guidance with the planning stage.

The first step in replacing your existing patio, walkway or steps is demolition of the existing materials. ALBA Contractors Inc. employs a skilled demolition crew who will remove your old patio, walkway or steps quickly and with the least amount of disturbance. All debris will be removed and disposed of properly.

The quality of your new concrete is directly related to the use of high quality materials and the skill of the crew. ALBA Contractors Inc. doesnt cut corners and youll see details of that in a moment where quality is explained. The installation of your new project will be done by skilled trade people with the ability and experience to properly perform each step of the process. Each step impacts the final quality and durability of your new concrete patio, walkway or steps.

If your project is to install a new patio, walkway or steps then you have many options available to you. Design and planning is an important part of this process, and the trained and courteous professionals of ALBA Contractors Inc. are available to help you.

Your new patio, walkway or steps could have a standard finish like a broom finish or hand finish. Or you may choose add a decorative finish like stamped and/or colored concrete to enhance the look. With these you can have the decorative appearance, feel, and color of brick, tile, slate, or stone.

The quality and durability of your new patio, walkway or steps is a direct outcome of the use of high quality materials and the skill of the installation crew. In a moment youll see details of how ALBA Contractors Inc. doesnt cut corners where quality is explained.

No one else takes care of you like we do. After the work is complete, ALBA Contractors Inc. will power wash to make sure everything is cleaned up. Whether theres dirt on your street, house or even your car, well make sure your place is clean.

One of the biggest aggravations for homeowners after getting a new patio or walkway is that installers leave a gap between the new concrete and the lawn. In order to install the forms for the new concrete, the adjacent area must be cut back about 4. This area is usually your lawn. You will not have to deal with the hassle of filling this in or getting someone else to do it when you choose ALBA Contractors Inc., well take care of this restoration for you, leaving you with a truly completed project!

There are a lot of factors that affect the quality of your concrete. These factors affect not only how your new patio, walkway or steps look when completed but also their lifetime and durability.

Unfortunately these factors also provide a way for other contractors to cut corners. Thats why we think you should know a few things

The right concrete mix is critical to the outcome of your project. The concrete mix used by ALBA Contractors Inc. is a special mix developed from our 20 years of experience to be the best for use in the climate of the Cleveland area. Its important to know too that we will not water down the concrete mix to make it cheaper or easier to install.

The proper depth of concrete required for your project will be used.

Overworking concrete once its poured will reduce its strength. Quickly and properly working concrete requires not only skill and training but also the proper tools. The installers of ALBA Contractors Inc. are skilled and trained, and they have the right tools to prevent overworking of the concrete.

Make sure youre getting quality when choosing the contractor for your concrete driveway.

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Patios, Walkways and Steps - ALBA Contractors

2-Car Garage Door with Windows

Adding a garage onto an existing home offers many perks including extra storage space, protecting your car from harsh weather such as ice, snow or extreme heat and a safe and secure point of access to your home. Garage additions are generally quite expensive, but in todays housing market you can get an average 65% return on investment if you decide to sell your home. That puts garage additions near the top of good home investments, with kitchen remodels topping the list. Many homeowners choose to install a workshop area creating space for the storage of tools and materials needed to complete your next DIY project. Most garage additions will be built by a licensed, insured and qualified contractor, but there are small garage projects that can be completed by a handy homeowner.

On this page of RenoCompare.com, review pictures of new garages, some built by other homeowners and others by contractors. Hopefully you can get a few ideas for your project or share your recently completed project pictures and costs with us.

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Pictures and Ideas for Garage Additions - RenoCompare

With Maid Right house cleaning services on your side, achieving a cleaner, more comfortable home has never been easier. Our owner/operators are invested in every home they clean and use the most advanced systems and technologies in theirresidential cleaning services. With our house cleaning services, your home will receive 100% safe, non-toxic cleaning and disinfection and youll regain the freedom and spare time your busy life demands.

Its the combination of engaged owner/operators and provenhousekeepingservicesthat truly sets Maid Right apart from cleaning services. When you choose Maid Right for house cleaning services, you will be working with an owner/operator who is truly invested in your homes cleanliness. Our owners are present and engaged in each of their clients needs and preferences. If you ever have a question, concern or special request, youll know who to call. Our Maid Right owner/operators understand the level of trust needed to welcome house cleaning services into the home. Your home is your sanctuary and our owners and cleaning teams will treat it with the respect it deserves. Your home will be visited by the same cleaning crews at each visit. They will come to know your preferences and you wont have to worry about having strangers in your home. Each Maid Right location is bonded and insured for your safety and peace of mind.

Maid Right cleanings are governed by the systems and standards charted in our Maid Right Signature Cleanmaid service program. This industry-leading program outlines rigorous, best-in-class standards for the products, systems, and strategies used by Maid Right owner/operators. With Maid Right residential cleaning services, you can count on:

At Maid Right, we go beyond surface-level clean. As the exclusive users of Enviro-Mistfor professionalhouse cleaning disinfection, we combine sparkling house cleaning services with medical-strength disinfection. Enviro-Mist uses an EPA-rated, biodegradable disinfectant to eliminates odors and 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and viruses. This disinfectant is 100% non-toxic and safe for young children, pets, asthmatics, and allergy sufferers. Thanks to the unique mist-release system, Enviro-Mist can wrap every surface in your home with a protective, no-residue shield. Enviro-Mistallows Maid Right house cleaning service professionals to disinfect any room and any surface, including upholstery, carpeting, and computer keyboards.

Maid Right owner/operators work closely with every Maid Right client they serve. Your local owner will be personally involved with every house cleaning service visit. From customizing a cleaning plan to your familys needs, to ensuring your home is deep cleaned at each visit, to follow-up and ongoing communication, you can count on your local Maid Right owner/operator to provide the personal attention your home and family deserve. Your local Maid Right owner/operator uses our Maid Right Trackersystem to measure results and for consistent client-cleaner communication. Through the use of log books, a scoring system and feedback surveys, well be checking in regularly to ensure your complete satisfaction with the house cleaning services we provide. While we strive to exceed your expectations with each visit to your home, sometimes things dont go exactly as planned. The Maid Right guarantee ensures our home cleaning services will always meet both ours and your high standards. Our guarantee is the strongest in the house cleaning industry. Under this policy, if you report a cleaning shortcoming within 24 hours, well return within two business days and correct the issue. If not, your next visit comes at no charge.

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House Cleaning Services | Maid Right

Feb 3, 2012 By Matthew Stock.

YOU NEED DRAIN TILE! This is a common sentiment that homeowners hear when they have water in their basement. Sometimes you are told by a friend who had a Drain Tile System installed in their home. Maybe you heard your handyman mention Drain Tile being a common solution to basement seepage problems. It could have been that guy on your block who seems to have his nose in everyone elses business. You know the self proclaimed Mayor of theneighborhood!

But just exactly what is Drain Tile? What does the Drain Tile do? How does it work? Read on as we try to answer your questions and give you a clear understanding of what Drain Tilesare.

Drainage Tile Systems have many uses in both agricultural and constructionapplications:

Although Drain Tile is a common term used interchangeably, it is often referred toas:

Although material, size and shape of the piping varies, there are commonqualities:

Although this overview of Drain Tile has plenty to offer, stay tuned for more in-depth blogs about Drain Tile, its specific uses and applications.

As for your home, tell the Mayor he can keep out of your business you are calling the experts! Set up a free evaluation and we will send one of our experienced Advisors to evaluate whether you need Drain Tile or another time tested solution to your basement seepageproblems.

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What is Drain Tile 101 | How Drain Tile Works | U.S ...

Homeowners strive to maintain healthy plant life in their gardens and landscapes, but oftentimes shrubs suffer casualties, or fall ill from disease for a variety of reasons. From too little watering to pest infestation, proper disease identification is crucial to the survival of your shrubs. Depending on the specific type of shrub affected, the disease, diagnosis and treatment will all vary.

Similar to humans, when the needs of shrubs are not met, a decline in health will result. A landscape professional, trained and knowledgeable about plant health, can inspect and diagnose sick shrubs but for those determined to do a little self-diagnosing, here are some fundamentals to get you started.

Begin your prognosis by eliminating improper growing conditions or shrub pests as the culprits for your shrubs demise by looking for gnaw marks or stripped leaves, which will indicate rodents, rabbits, or deer. Once you are certain your shrub isnt being eaten by bugs or animals, you can move on to analyzing the type of disease. When diagnosing shrub disease, there are two categories for which your ick will be classified: abiotic or biotic. Abiotic diseases are man-induced diseases that involve non-living factors such as lack of space for root growth, prolonged levels of water toxins, or extreme heat, light or soil pH levels. There are a host of resources on those topics. Lets explore the biotic causes of woody-shrub diseases that are scientifically or biologically-induced, such as fungi, bacteria, viruses and nematodes.

Identifying the Disease in Woody-Shrub Fungus Materials

Its important to note that you should identify your infected shrub first as not all diseases affect one type of plant. This will help narrow down your market of diseases to identify. Be sure to check the trunk, leaves, branches and roots to note the specific symptoms from which your shrub is suffering. There are numerous types of shrub diseases so lets explore some of the most common biotic diseases and symptoms of what to look for when diagnosing your sick shrubs and how to treat each disease.

Fungus: Powdery Mildew Fungus

This common type of disease is a fungal growth that leaves a white powder on surfaces of shrub foliage.

Treatment:

Bacteria: Fire Blight

This common type of bacteria leaves twigs and branches on shrubs wilted and blackened. Often, the affected branches will bend over into the shape of a shepherds crook.

Treatment:

Nematodes

Symptoms include browning shrubbery and vegetation, which may cause undergrowth to die and/or fall off the plant. Root systems will be affected and plant growth will be stunted.

Treatment:

Virus: Rose Mosaic Disease

You will notice signs of this virus if your shrub experiences color changes in its leaves, specifically a mosaic pattern of light or dark greens. Additional symptoms and signs include stunted growth and uncommon color changes.

Treatment:

Prevention

Many people focus on the health of their plants in the summer and then that attention wanes. Its important to be proactive to prevent shrub disease throughout the year. Be aware of the following factors that are all important to good plant health:

While these are some of the most comment shrub diseases, theres a laundry list of other culprits that can be detrimental to your plants. A landscape professional can help identify problem posers and identify an appropriate treatment plan and recommend steps to ward off disease before it strikes.

Photos courtesy of Sun Valley Landscaping, Omaha, NE.

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Identifying Shrub Disease - Love Your Landscape

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Confidential

Boston, MA 02116 (South End area)

Our company is growing and we're looking to add a registered Landscape Architect to our team. The primary focus for this position will be focusing on new

Tellepsen Landscaping Services, Inc.

Houston, TX 77033 (Southeast area)

Minimum 8 years professional practice in the profession of Landscape Architecture. Proficiency in and able to oversee the preparation of CD sets including

Pharis Design, Inc.

Austin, TX 78704 (South Lamar-South Congress area)

Bachelors degree from an accredited landscape architecture program 2 - 7 years experience. We are an established landscape architectural and planning studio,

ColtraneFernandezZavala Group, LLC

San Antonio, TX 78208

Experience in City of San Antonio Landscape and Tree Ordinances. Experience in landscape design and all aspects of construction document production.

Utah Landscaping

Farmington, UT

$18 - $20 an hour

Selected applicant will need 1-2 years of experience with landscape design and have a willingness to learn. Personable and professional (you'll be interfacing

Harder Services Inc

Hempstead, NY 11550

$50,000 - $60,000 a year

2 + years of experience estimating construction and landscape projects. We handle bid/build projects in New York City, and 5 boroughs which include green roofs,

Utah Landscaping

Bluffdale, UT

$18 - $20 an hour

Selected applicant will need 1-2 years of experience with landscape design and have a willingness to learn. Personable and professional (you'll be interfacing

City of Jersey City

$50,000 - $60,000 a year

Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture or Landscape Design with a valid license as a Landscape Architect issued by the New Jersey State Board of Architects

SCOTS LANDSCAPE

Large Landscape Design Build Company is looking to add a designer to its staff. Must be comfortable in all aspects of design & sales.

Tony Casale Inc.

To assist the landscape estimator with day-to-day tasks, while also helping project managers.

Environmental Landscape Design

Develop landscape design plans for existing and new customers. Bachelors Degree, Landscape Design or related degree required.

Webster Landscape, Inc.

Should have a strong understanding of landscape construction. Must have the ability to generate documents and graphics for all phases of landscape design,

$51,440 - $66,868 a year

This experience must have included original landscape design. Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university

Spiezle Architectural Group Inc.

4-8 years relevant landscape design experience preferred. Bachelor Degree in Landscape Architecture, or related discipline.

Licensed Landscape Architect in TN is required. Coordinates all landscape and hardscape documents with Architects' and Civil Engineers' documentation.

MARCHETTO HIGGINS STIEVE ARCHITECTS

If you have a good eye for detail, ability to create interesting compositions and beautiful landscapes and/or interiors we want hear from you.

Apple Tree Landscapes

This position will evolve into a lead landscape architect/project architect position as the current landscape architect is assuming a new role in the firm.

Wyss Associates, Inc.

Rapid City, SD 57701

Degree in landscape architecture, strong written and verbal communication skills with experience in AUTOCAD, and/or Photoshop and Sketchup as well as site

Bachelors Degree in Landscape Architecture required. Minimum of 4 years of landscape architectural experience with the ability to develop conceptual design

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Landscape Architect Jobs, Employment | Indeed.com

The average salary for a Landscape Architect is $58,111.

How has your pay changed over time for your market? Find out by taking our salary quiz.

A landscape architect designs outdoor spaces for residential, commercial and public use. The landscape architect provides consultations to clients to assess their needs and determine how the desired concept could be carried out. The architect makes sure that the plan is appropriate for human use and the environment. They use AutoCAD, SketchUp, Adobe Creative Suite and/or other related software to design landscapes for the clients approval; the ability to read and create blueprints is also imporRead more

Landscape Architect Tasks

The top respondents for the job title Landscape Architect are from the companies SWA Group, Norris Design and Olsson Associates. Reported salaries are highest at Stantec where the average pay is $64,715. Other companies that offer high salaries for this role include SWA Group and SmithGroupJJR, earning around $64,000 and $58,000, respectively. Olsson Associates pays the lowest at around $47,917. Norris Design and Kimley - Horn and Associates, Inc also pay on the lower end of the scale, paying $51,690 and $54,306, respectively.

Skills in Design, Project Management and Client Interaction are correlated to pay that is above average. Skills that pay less than market rate include Adobe Photoshop and Autodesk AutoCAD.

An entry-level Landscape Architect with less than 1 year experience can expect to earn an average total compensation (includes tips, bonus, and overtime pay) of $45,479 based on 122 salaries. An early career Landscape Architect with 1-4 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $50,748 based on 819 salaries. A mid-career Landscape Architect with 5-9 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $61,149 based on 682 salaries. An experienced Landscape Architect with 10-19 years of experience earns an average total compensation of $69,153 based on 590 salaries. In their late career (20 years and higher), employees earn an average total compensation of $77,393.

Employees with Landscape Architect in their job title in San Francisco, California earn an average of 17.3% more than the national average. These job titles also find higher than average salaries in New York, New York (15.9% more) and Boston, Massachusetts (9.8% more). The lowest salaries can be found in Dallas, Texas (7.3% less).

This data is based on 2,455 survey responses.

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Landscape Architect Salary | PayScale

Privacy, safety, beauty, and convenience are some of the considerations to keep in mind when landscaping around swimming pools. The best plants to grow near a pool will be those that lend the area a special charm and that don't create a mess.

Plantscan provide beauty and -- in the case of shrubs -- privacy around a swimming pool. They soften the harsh lines of pool equipment and help pools to blend more naturally with the surrounding environment. If you grow plants that are tall enough, they will form privacy screens around the area. But plants must be chosen wisely. Strive for low-maintenance plants. For instance, you do not want large deciduous trees around a swimming pool, as you will end up fishing all ofthose leaves out of the water. Even needle-bearing evergreen trees can be among the messiest trees. A good alternative is a broadleaf evergreen bush such as Hetz Japaneseholly (a type that lacks prickly leaves). Avoid fruit trees: Not only are they messy, but the fruits also attract bees (and stinging bees are not a good match for all of that bare flesh that will be parading around your swimming pool). And as beautiful as flowers are, be aware that they, too, can be bee-magnets, so you are forced to make a decision (it is your call): Is it worth risking a bee sting to have lovely flowers around the pool? Even worse, plants with invasive root systems can damage a pool over the years, so choose the same kinds of plants that you would for planting around a septic tank (another structure susceptible to root damage).

Note that just because a plant appears on the list that follows, that does not mean that you can install it just anywhere near a pool. Most notably, a couple of plants with thorns are included on the list, simply because they are relatively mess-free. But avoid growing thorny plants in areas where you will be walking (for example, spots where you will be entering or exiting from the pool), so that you will not have to worry about getting jabbed by sharp thorns. Instead, grow them on a side of a large pool where human activity is kept at a minimum. They are not suitable for small pools (where space is at a premium).

Growing a mix of foliage plants and flowering plants is smart: That way, when the flowers peter out on one plant, there will still be a plant nearby with great foliage that offers visual interest. If not attracting bees is a priority for you in your pool landscape, then you may wish to stick with foliage plants exclusively. These plants may be good options but check to see whether or not they are cold-hardy enough to grow in your region:

Fencing around swimming pools is a must when small children are present, for the purpose of safety. The right fence design can also offer you privacy. If you do not like the look of a fence, soften it by training vines to grow over it; the vines will enhance privacy, to boot, on types of fences that do not offer a solid barrier. Another safety feature around pools is outdoor lighting.

Patios or pool decks provide not only beauty but safety for swimming pool areas. Climbing out of the water, you can be assured of a slip-resistant surface to land on with a scarred concrete patio. If you opt for a brick patio instead, be sure to keep the surface of the bricks rough (you will have to clean moss off the bricks periodically). For convenience around swimming pools, nothing beats a closed gazebo in which you can change into or out of your clothes and relax in the shade. Outdoor furniture also affords convenience around your swimming pool, as do barbecue equipment and outdoor furnaces. A full outdoor kitchen may also be in your sights if you have a large enough budget.

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Landscaping Around Swimming Pools - The Spruce