You’ve scheduled the project and the crew is coming soon. A few simple steps before they arrive make the job go faster, keep your routine as normal as possible, and help the crew focus on the work instead of logistics. We send a pre-construction checklist to every customer before their project starts. Here’s that checklist with the reasoning behind each step.
Clear the Work Area
Remove items from the areas where we’ll be working: patio furniture, planters, grills, toys, garden tools, hoses, trash cans, anything portable. The crew can work around these things, but clearing the space before they arrive means they start on the actual project immediately instead of spending time relocating your belongings.
If we’re working in the backyard, clear the access path too. On many Portland properties, the only route from the driveway to the backyard is through a narrow side yard. Firewood stacks, recycling bins, bikes, stored lumber, and planting pots along that corridor slow down every material run. The crew will be moving through that path dozens of times per day carrying materials and pushing wheelbarrows.
Move Cars from the Driveway
Move vehicles from the driveway to the street so we can have materials delivered there. Sod pallets, aggregate loads, paver pallets, and equipment all need a staging area close to the work zone. The driveway is usually the best spot. If you have a two-car driveway and the crew only needs one side, we’ll let you know in advance.
Unlock Gates
If the backyard is fenced, make sure the gate is unlocked and opens wide enough for equipment and materials to pass through. Standard wheelbarrows need a 36-inch opening. A mini excavator (used on retaining wall and large drainage projects) needs 48 inches minimum. If the gate is too narrow, we discuss alternative access during the site visit so there are no surprises on install day.
If your property has a coded gate, locked entry, or HOA rules about contractor access, work hours, or parking, let us know when you schedule the project so the crew arrives prepared.
Let Us Know About Water and Power Sources
Please inform us where the closest outdoor water spigot and electrical outlets are located. Sprinkler installation and sod projects need hose bib access. Make sure the closest spigot to the work area is functional and any attached hose is disconnected so the crew can connect their equipment. If the spigot is inside a locked enclosure or on the neighbor’s side of the fence, let us know ahead of time.
Most landscaping equipment is battery-powered or gas-powered and doesn’t need an outlet. If any component of the project requires electricity (landscape lighting testing, for example), we’ll request access during the pre-work walkthrough.
Make Arrangements for Pets
Keep dogs inside or in a secured area away from the work zone for the duration of the project. Open gates, running equipment, exposed trenches, and unfamiliar people on the property create hazards for pets. Even friendly dogs that want to greet the crew slow the work down because the crew has to watch for the dog on every equipment pass and every material carry.
If the project spans multiple days, establish a routine where the dog is secured before the crew arrives each morning. The crew typically arrives between 7:30 and 8:30 AM.
Finalize Your Material Selections
Spend time before the project choosing your materials and making sure the color, size, texture, and style are exactly what you want. This applies especially to paver projects (paver color, pattern, border options), retaining walls (block style and color), and sod (grass blend for your sun and shade conditions). Material changes after the crew has started can delay the project by days while new materials are ordered and delivered.
If you’re unsure about a selection, call us before the project starts. We’re happy to review options, show additional samples, or visit the site again to compare colors against your house and existing landscape.
Leave Contact Information
Please leave a phone number where you can be reached during the day. You don’t need to be home while the crew works (most customers aren’t), but the crew lead may need to reach you if a question comes up during the installation. Unexpected soil conditions, a buried sprinkler line that wasn’t on the plan, or a material decision that wasn’t covered in the estimate are all things that occasionally come up and are easiest to resolve with a quick phone call rather than waiting until evening.
Call Us with Questions Before the Project
If anything about the project, the timeline, the materials, or the process is unclear, call us before the crew arrives. Questions that get answered during a five-minute phone call the week before are much easier to handle than questions that come up at 8 AM on installation day with the crew standing by.
What You Don’t Need to Do
Don’t try to pre-dig, pre-grade, or pre-demolish anything. We have the equipment to do it correctly and efficiently. Homeowner pre-work that’s done to the wrong depth, wrong grade, or wrong location creates more work for the crew, not less.
Don’t water the lawn heavily the day before a project involving excavation. Saturated clay is significantly harder to work with than dry or moderately moist soil. If it rained naturally, that’s fine. But don’t run the sprinklers the night before a paver excavation or a drainage trench installation.
Don’t worry about the lawn being imperfect. If the grass is long, weedy, patchy, or dead, that’s probably why we’re there. The crew has seen every condition and nothing surprises them.
And Most Importantly: Relax
Our crews are experienced professionals trained to take special care of your property. We understand that having construction work done at your home is disruptive, and we do everything we can to make it go as smoothly as possible. The work area will be cleaned up at the end of each work day. Materials and equipment will be staged neatly. And when the project is done, we’ll walk the finished work with you to make sure everything meets your expectations.
If you’re unable to complete any of the items on this checklist, just let us know and we’ll make arrangements.
Questions before your project? Call (503) 847-9110 or reach out online.
