Approximate cost to rock an end unit court yard villa?

[davidn]

Im looking at a courtyard villa that is an end unit that has quite a bit of grass in front that I would rather not deal with. I understand that one must get ARC approval, but Im not sure how much it would cost to remove the grass and replace it with landscaping and mostly rock. Its a large area, maybe 1500 sq feet. Has anyone done such a large area and will to offer up how much theirs cost for their square footage? Thanks.

[Dana1963]

Im looking at a courtyard villa that is an end unit that has quite a bit of grass in front that I would rather not deal with. I understand that one must get ARC approval, but Im not sure how much it would cost to remove the grass and replace it with landscaping and mostly rock. Its a large area, maybe 1500 sq feet. Has anyone done such a large area and will to offer up how much theirs cost for their square footage? Thanks.
Just get estimates prices from various landscapers.

[davidn]

Just get estimates prices from various landscapers.

Im not there, so trying to do this remotely. Just looking for someone else who has done this and is willing to give a rough cost of what it cost them for their specified square footage. Are we talking $1000, $5000, $10,000, $20,000? I really have no idea.

The landscapers want to come out and give an estimate, which is fair, but I don't own the property and Im not even there now.

[billethkid]

Call Dirt Cheap in Summerfield. Tell them the square footage and the desired depth and they will calculate tonnage required. Over a certain weight (I forget the minimum) they will deliver to your curb. Then just get landscaper labor or DIY.

If you don't know what type rock you want, just go to Dirt Cheap and look at all they offer (a lot).

[Debfrommaine]

Im not there, so trying to do this remotely. Just looking for someone else who has done this and is willing to give a rough cost of what it cost them for their specified square footage. Are we talking $1000, $5000, $10,000, $20,000? I really have no idea.

The landscapers want to come out and give an estimate, which is fair, but I don't own the property and Im not even there now.

Call Southern Aggregates in Wildwood 352-689-0069. Tell them your sq ft and they will tell you approx cost of just rock and delivery, perhaps even recommend a landscaper. Husband and I had 6 yds delivered of seminole rock. We decided to do it ourselves, which you can't since you don't live here. We did it for $800 versus 3k landscapers wanted. Took about 5 hrs of steady work! I will add landscapers said we needed 9 yds, we got 6 and could have done with 5 yds.

[ditka41]

Agree that it's best to have the landscaper look at it and give you an estimate, even though you aren't here.

HOWEVER, Do NOT give any of the landscapers a deposit or you can easily become another of the many homeowners here who have been victimized by landscapers! If they can't afford to finance their "inventory", they shouldn't be in business. Pay only after you see the satisfactory job. Otherwise, they want a deposit and then fail to show on time, if at all. Also, make sure you have the proper approvals or you may be removing the new stone. Check with "Seniors against crime" for an idea of how many complaints have been registered for their scams.

[davidn]

Ok, thanks everyone for their answers.

[Topspinmo]

If you got a lot of bushes especially hollies rocks may not be the low maintenance you think they are? Leaves are hard to get out of rocks, along with twigs. Weeds will still pop up. I agree not as much maintenance as grass, but, it not maintenance free as some claim.

[retiredguy123]

I don't have an end unit, but I got five quotes when I first moved in. They ranged from $800 to $5,200. The highest quote was from Jamies Landscaping, and he was only guy that I would have hired. Don't go by price alone. But, whatever you do, do not pay any money in advance.

[villagetinker]

OP, you may have others costs, your irrigation was setup for grass, you will probably need to have this modified at a minimum. As for all rock, you will of course need a weed barrier, and then after 1, 2 or 3 years you will be weeding the rocks. Also as you noted, you will need ARC approval. We converted several hundred square feet of mulched landscaping to rock, weeds are worse in the rocks...........

[CanTho]

[QUOTE=villagetinker;1834519]OP, you may have others costs, your irrigation was setup for grass, you will probably need to have this modified at a minimum. As for all rock, you will of course need a weed barrier, and then after 1, 2 or 3 years you will be weeding the rocks. Also as you noted, you will need ARC approval. We converted several hundred square feet of mulched landscaping to rock, weeds are worse in the rocks.........

This advice is without doubt the best. If it is possible wait until you get here.

You need to take the advice of this person, everything that he said, take it to the bank, many people have learned the hard way, by not getting prior approval

I live in an end unit, zero grass, and I managed to add an oversize golf cart garage.

You made a wise choice, end units are rare and much sought after.

I wish you all the best, go slow, your landscaping is not a big deal, eliminating the grass not a problem, and adding rocks is the best solution w/heavy duty matting. :coolsmiley:

PS: Preen works well for me, and on occasion a squirt or two of vinegar/water.

Weeds and Fire Ants hate me.

[Bill1701]

Whatever you do, be sure to get it approved by ARC.

[gwenhwalker@yahoo.com]

Depending on your district. Arc is not allowing full rock replacement anymore. I tried with no luck on a patio villa


[/U]Im looking at a courtyard villa that is an end unit that has quite a bit of grass in front that I would rather not deal with. I understand that one must get ARC approval, but Im not sure how much it would cost to remove the grass and replace it with landscaping and mostly rock. Its a large area, maybe 1500 sq feet. Has anyone done such a large area and will to offer up how much theirs cost for their square footage? Thanks.

[Debbraham]

Im not there, so trying to do this remotely. Just looking for someone else who has done this and is willing to give a rough cost of what it cost them for their specified square footage. Are we talking $1000, $5000, $10,000, $20,000? I really have no idea.

The landscapers want to come out and give an estimate, which is fair, but I don't own the property and Im not even there now.

We have an end unit that had grass in front and back. To remove it and add palms and rock it was around $12k.

[eddie888]

I have an end unit with no grass in front. It also has a double garage. I am looking to sell in six months.

[Gullwing7]

I have an end unit that is for sale and already rocked if you are still looking. But to answer you question. The very large front yard cost about $5000 as did the very large backyard, but that had less space because there is a pool in it. You can look at in Mockingbird Villas in the Village of Fenney in the Villages homes for sale. Luis Landscaping supplied my rock and spread it, I supplied the prep work.

[PoolBrews]

We did my corner end unit about 3 years ago. 3,000 sq ft took 31 yards of rock. I paid $12,000, but that included grass removal, 4 large palms (2 Sylvesters and 2 Mules) 4 decorative retaining walls, and a bunch of other landscaping plants. I capped off a number of my sprinklers myself, only leaving them where the new plants and trees needed the water.

I would never hire the folks that did it again - while the work turned out great, they were a real pain to keep working. Kept showing up for 2 hours, then going somewhere else. Kept wanting the next payment in advance (I said no).

I got down to having a good chunk of rock that still needed to be spread, and finally had to threaten to have someone else finish the work - I had someone that would do it for less than what I still owed them. They came the next day and finished.

Jamies gave me a quote for the same work with 2 less palms and less plants - they wanted $19,700. While it was a pain to get it done, I did save nearly $8K.

[graciegirl]

Whatever you do, be sure to get it approved by ARC.

And if I were you I would wait a year. It is very cheap to maintain lawns here.

[CanTho]

Depending on your district. Arc is not allowing full rock replacement anymore. I tried with no luck on a patio villa


[/U]

Patio Villas are completely different in everyway . Totally 100% different including the roads which are considered private.

So to say Arc is not approving full rock replacement is simply not true.

[Marathon Man]

Im looking at a courtyard villa that is an end unit that has quite a bit of grass in front that I would rather not deal with. I understand that one must get ARC approval, but Im not sure how much it would cost to remove the grass and replace it with landscaping and mostly rock. Its a large area, maybe 1500 sq feet. Has anyone done such a large area and will to offer up how much theirs cost for their square footage? Thanks.

Keep in mind that you will not be approved for a rock only yard. There must be a certain number of plants.

My former villa was all rock. Rock turned out to be more work than I envisioned. I was always cleaning it to keep it looking nice. Picking weeds, picking up leaves, etc.

My new villa is all grass except for landscaped areas. I bought a lawn mower and pay Massey to treat it. About 15 minutes a week and I have a nice looking lawn.

[sswitenki]

Be sure to get ARC permit before any expensive changes. It would be horrible to be told to put the grass back after a huge investment

[jmcica@aol.com]

Can you share details? I tried to email you. Looking to purchase in that timeframe

[KRM0614]

Im looking at a courtyard villa that is an end unit that has quite a bit of grass in front that I would rather not deal with. I understand that one must get ARC approval, but Im not sure how much it would cost to remove the grass and replace it with landscaping and mostly rock. Its a large area, maybe 1500 sq feet. Has anyone done such a large area and will to offer up how much theirs cost for their square footage? Thanks.
They won’t let you rock the entire area. Landscaping rock down here is &60-: yard and you can do it yourself I did landscaping in a huge lot in Michigan with a shovel and wheel barrel

[curtmcgee]

Get ARC approval. One owner replaced grass with astroturf. She was forced to dig it up and is facing fines. There may be a 50% grass restriction in certain CDD's

[kimgarwel12@gmail.com]

We just got an estimate for rock in front of our golf cart garage and around the back of it, plus stone edging/cap. Also around a tree in front which they are going to dig out and replace with a Robelina. They will also lay the weed barrier. My husband is raking up all the pinestraw and disposing of it and laying the French drains from the gutter downspouts. He's already pulled and disposed of the shrubs we don't want and we'll replace with our own plants. Estimate is for $3400. Seems high to me, but apparently the going rate around TV.

[nevjudbaker]

You better check with proper people before you do anything. They will tell you what you can or cannot do. If you don’t and it is against regulation they will fine you & make you replace it with whatever is allowed.

[dkaufnelson]

I suggest you hire a good landscaper to make it attractive with some little walls and rocks with bushes here and there to make it look nice. One of my neighbors who has a courtyard dumped rocks all over his lawn area and it is quite an eyesore. A landscaper can make it rocks and walls and some nice bushes or trees and make it attractive whereas just dumping rocks all over what used to be grass is really ugly and I for one think you would not be happy with how it looks once done. Either leave the grass and pay someone to mow it or save some money up and hire a professional landscaper to do it nicely so you will be proud whenever you approach your home. I removed the grass on my property for my courtyard and extended all the current pine straw all the way out to the end of my property line then planted flowering bushes and trees and some flowers and it looks very pretty. No grass to worry about but keeping with the pine straw mulch look and nature versus just piles of ugly Stone all over.

[Lisa99]

We have an end unit villa but most of our backyard is pool and lanai.

We hired a landscaper to convert to rock and they charged $6500. They did a horrible job. The work was shoddy and they broke several sprinklers.

Besides the fact that the work was done so poorly if I were to do it over I'd leave the grass. The weeds in the rocks are an ongoing maintenance headache. Would have been much less work for us to continue to pay someone to mow.

[Toymeister]

We did my corner end unit about 3 years ago. 3,000 sq ft took 31 yards of rock.

If that is true every square foot of your yard has 13.392 inches of stone coverage.

It doesn't.

I have found that it is extremely common for landscaper to greatly inflate the amount of stone used to impress the customer or justify a higher price, knowing full well most do not know how to calculate the volume of one cubic yard.

[Woodchopper545]

Who did you have remove the grass? Also did you put a weed barrier down before putting down the rock?

[Mrprez]

If that is true every square foot of your yard has 13.392 inches of stone coverage.

It doesn't.

I have found that it is extremely common for landscaper to greatly inflate the amount of stone used to impress the customer or justify a higher price, knowing full well most do not know how to calculate the volume of one cubic yard.

1 cubic yard has 27 cu ft. Assuming a depth of 3” gives you 108 sq ft of coverage per cu yd (4x27). 3000/108=27 cu yds.

Where did I go wrong?

[JohnN]

If ARC approves it (a big IF these days), then it'll be a few grand - but well worth it.
I couldn't do it myself, but I did trade in my lawn mower to the landscaper! Good luck.

[PoolBrews]

If that is true every square foot of your yard has 13.392 inches of stone coverage.

It doesn't.

I have found that it is extremely common for landscaper to greatly inflate the amount of stone used to impress the customer or justify a higher price, knowing full well most do not know how to calculate the volume of one cubic yard.

I'm not sure where you're getting your calculations from, but every resource I've checked shows that a cubic yard of rock is approximately 2600 lbs, and will cover about 100 square feet at 3" deep. Thus to get 3" deep on 3000 sq ft, it would take 30 yards. I got 31. I know, because I ordered the rock and had it delivered and paid for it. That way, I knew what I was getting, and only paid the landscaper for the labor to install.

[Mrprez]

I'm not sure where you're getting your calculations from, but every resource I've checked shows that a cubic yard of rock is approximately 2600 lbs, and will cover about 100 square feet at 3" deep. Thus to get 3" deep on 3000 sq ft, it would take 30 yards. I got 31. I know, because I ordered the rock and had it delivered and paid for it. That way, I knew what I was getting, and only paid the landscaper for the labor to install.

Must be the new math.