Activity

When I think of corten I initially think about the oxidized/rust surface.  That may not be what you’re planning on, but if so, I’d wonder if there would be a problem with shoes leaving tracks at the ends.  If this was an approach to a house or motor court, would the rust/residue be carried onto car floor mats or the entry of a house in wet w…[Read more]

Miles, I have the first edition of Total Habitat’s book.  Do you have the 2nd edition?  If so, what differences/improvements are there?  I’d love a copy.  Thanks.

does this type of product which we usually call here “artificial wood” fall under the “plastic timber” category ?

http://www.artowood.com/gallery-en.php

Sorry, just improving my vocabulary 

With twenty five years of experience I have never heard of anyone using corten as a paver. You will have issues with slipping and icing in the northeast. I would be very concerned about using this even with a diamond plate finish.

I passed Section 3 and 4 last April, and as the test is now formatted there isn’t much in the way of grading “design.” Instead of 4 vignettes which you had to grade from scratch, you now have many vignettes which need to be analyzed. Some are plans for which you will need to calculate spot elevations (you are given a starting elevation, distances…[Read more]

I have taken Jerry Hastings expensive prep course twice in the past, and failed the section anyway. Now that the section is computerized, I think his course is obsolete.  

Thank you.  I have visited her website and when I can muster up the time and money to take the grading and drainage section yet again, I will contact her.

I have failed the old vignette style grading and drainage section E numerous times.  I should have been licensed years ago.  I have not attempted the new format.  I am really tired of spending so much money on this.  So far not being licensed has not stopped me from having plenty of work.  So, I am debating if I should continue.

<< But, even with over 30 yrs. of site grading experience…graded over 500 projects during my LA career, I’m not so sure I could pass the “computerized” version of the LARE Grading exam. >>
Robert,
I bet with a little practice and some minimal guidance you could blow away the grading problems on the current exam.
Ray

do you know which piece of the grading test you are failing ?

Thank you so much Bob.  Life has been so busy lately that I can’t even find time to take the test.  Since I only have grading to pass, I really need to complete the process and get licensed, so some time soon I will try again.  I have taken the UCLA grading prep weekend course twice, and I still failed the darn thing.  Very upsetting, esp…[Read more]

We have designed some garden planters using material from this company http://www.aztecplasticlumber.com/.
Its a good quality, but a bit on the pricey side.
Good luck.

Laura I’m out of breath reading your post. Great information.  Thanks so much. We definitely want to have a beach entrance at one end and I like the rocky interior

I have dealt with water gardens, bog gardens,wetlands and other water quality issues. Water is never easy! I designed-never built my own natural pool. This will be a trial and error project. An inexpensive construct might be done using a liner. I’ve used fish quality vinyl-good till a deer waded in. Industrial vinyl pond and canal lining is…[Read more]

Thanks for the time taken to bring up some details, sounds just exactly like the type of project I’d love to work on ! We had created community gardens in my faculty, and all loved it. Have fun !

Hi Goustan,
The original post may be a little misleading. The 6”x6” or 8”x8” timbers aren’t intended to be a full seated bench, but rather a temporary perch while working in the garden plot (there are legitimate benches throughout the space for those looking for a place to rest). The wider edge also allows for placing hand tools (anything…[Read more]

Thank you for the lead Mitch

I know what you mean : been in SZ too for a few months. Loved the projects, loved my boss, but daily conversations limited to “go eat ?” when it was time for lunch just killed me. I ended up totally isolated, depressed, video-games addicted and my english got worse than ever.
HK, Singapore, Philippines, India, Middle East stronger in…[Read more]

Sorry, can’t help for material, but curious to know about decision to have wide timber for seating : isn’t it bothering for gardening ? Could you please be kind to share how decision was made (client/users decision…) ?

CLARB doesn’t make it very affordable either.