Frequently Asked Questions
About Our Company
Q. Is your company licensed and insured?
A. Absolutely. We carry a full General Liability insurance policy along with Worker's
Compensation insurance for each one of our employees.
Q. Will the customer tend to see the same employees on a regular basis, or is there a high turnover rate of employment within the company?
A. We are proud to say that our foreman has been with us for 6 years, and the other
team members are a steady group of employees. We are an owner-operated company and
it is more common than not to see the owners working alongside the team.
Q. How long has Captiva Landscaping been in business?
A. We have proudly been serving the Macomb and Oakland county areas for over 10 years.
Landscaping
Q. Do you charge for an estimate or a landscape design?
A. We will gladly meet you on your property, when your schedule allows, to go over your project, at no charge to you. Should the project require a design, one will be drawn up and presented at a pre-determined fee.If Captiva Landscaping is awarded the project, the design fee is waived.
Q. Where do you get the plants and trees from that will be planted on our property?
A. We insist on purchasing plants/trees from local nurseries that we have dealt with for many years. We have found that Ray Wiegands Nursery has outstanding products, as most of them are grown on their farm in Lenox Township. This ensures that the plant is tolerant of MI weather and soils.
Q. Is a warranty provided with the installation of plants and trees?
A. All bushes, trees, and perennials come with a one year warranty from the day they were installed, assuming that the property owner has followed the watering schedule. Sod, annual flowers, and transplanted products do not carry warranty.
Q. How often should my new landscaping be watered?
A. Depending on the current weather conditions, trees will need the equivalent of a 5 gallon bucket of water(3 times per week), bushes will need 30 seconds of soaking from a hose(4 times per week), and new sod will need water twice a day for 20 minutes per zone for at least the first 3 weeks.
If the owner notices any kind of wilting, MORE water is required. However, over watering can drown a plant/tree as well. If the soil is saturated or has standing water, it is too much. The soil around the base of the plant/tree should be wet enough to hold itself together in a clump, not too dry and not a liquid consistency.
Q. Does your company hire outside sub-contractors?
A. We prefer to keep as much work 'in-house' as possible. We install ALL of our bushes/trees and ALL of our pavers/retaining walls. Should the project require a full installation of an irrigation system or specialized tree work, this is one of the few times we bring in a sub-contractor. If a sub-contractor is brought into the project, we have done work with them in the past and trust them.
Brickpavers and Retaining Walls
Q. What is the advantage of pavers over stamped concrete?
A. While stamped concrete has come along way with designs and patterns, it cannot bring the same benefits of pavers. Brickpavers have a texture and feel about them that puts them in a class all of their own. The colors, patterns, sizes, and design choices are endless. Also, should anything happen to your patio or walkway that needs repair, the area of repair is only as big as the problem. Pavers can be taken up, have the foundation repaired, and new or existing pavers be re-installed. Concrete, on the other hand, could develop a crack through the center of your patio, with no way of fixing it - short of removal and new concrete poured.
Q. What is the foundation under brickpavers?
A. With all paver installs, the foundation is the most important part. Once a good, solid base is laid, the pavers can be installed. To achieve a good base, the earth beneath the area must be excavated. Upon compaction, the base material is a crushed limestone that becomes compacted, then a layer of slag sand that becomes rock hard with water and compaction. Once the whole area has been leveled and compacted, the pavers can be laid out. Concrete edging around the entire perimeter of the patio/walkway is put in to ensure that the pavers cannot lose their form. The concrete is then covered in dirt, so it is not visible.
Q. Once the paver patio or walkway has been installed, should it be sealed?
A. We don't recommend sealing pavers until at least 3 months after installation. The natural minerals in the stone will be brought out by sun and rainwater in this time period. Should the owner choose to seal the pavers, that is something that may have to be done on a regular basis throughout the life of the paver. Captiva Landscaping does not seal any pavers.
Q. Is a warranty provided with the installation of brickpavers?
A. A two year warranty is provided with the installation of all pavers. If there is any shifting, sinking,
or cracked pavers within the project, immediate attention will be given to the problem. The only time
a warranty will not be provided is with the repair of existing paver work.
Q. Do block retaining walls actually 'retain' anything?
A. In some cases, retaining walls are necessary to hold back grade increases, landscape beds, or provide
some sort of structure. In most cases, though, block retaining walls are created as visual benefits to
the landscape as a whole. The block can be used in many applications such as garden walls, pillars,
courtyard walls, sitting walls, firepits, BBQs, custom steps, and raised patios.
Q. What is the foundation under a block retaining wall?
A. Similar to brickpaver work, the foundation of a retaining wall is the most important part of the wall.
The area under the wall is excavated to approximately 6" under grade, filled back in with a slag sand
that becomes rock hard when mixed with water, and leveled. Every block is hand laid and
individually leveled to ensure a perfectly level wall. Most walls have a matching cap piece, that is cut
into place with a concrete saw, to give it a very formal and finished look.
Q. How do the retaining wall blocks stay together without moving?
A. Depending on the type of block used, some have interlocking lips in the back that grab the block below
it, or some have a vertical pin used between courses. No matter what, though, Captiva Landscaping
uses construction adhesive between EVERY block/cap to make sure nothing moves to the touch.
Lawn/Landscape Maintenance
Q. Does Captiva Landscaping do weekly lawn maintenance?
A. Yes, we have maintained homes in a very small area of Shelby and Rochester for a number of
years. Unfortunately, though our service area is very tight and not too spread out. Please feel free to
contact us to see if your property falls into this area.
Q. Does your company do maintenance on landscape beds?
A. We specialize in putting together custom landscape maintenance packages for the clients needs and
budget. Some of our services include turf aeration(recommended 1 time per season), bush trimming
(recommended 2 times per season), topdressing of mulch beds(recommended 1 time per season), and
seasonal clean ups.
About Our Company
Q. Is your company licensed and insured?
A. Absolutely. We carry a full General Liability insurance policy along with Worker's
Compensation insurance for each one of our employees.
Q. Will the customer tend to see the same employees on a regular basis, or is there a high turnover rate of employment within the company?
A. We are proud to say that our foreman has been with us for 6 years, and the other
team members are a steady group of employees. We are an owner-operated company and
it is more common than not to see the owners working alongside the team.
Q. How long has Captiva Landscaping been in business?
A. We have proudly been serving the Macomb and Oakland county areas for over 10 years.
Landscaping
Q. Do you charge for an estimate or a landscape design?
A. We will gladly meet you on your property, when your schedule allows, to go over your project, at no charge to you. Should the project require a design, one will be drawn up and presented at a pre-determined fee.If Captiva Landscaping is awarded the project, the design fee is waived.
Q. Where do you get the plants and trees from that will be planted on our property?
A. We insist on purchasing plants/trees from local nurseries that we have dealt with for many years. We have found that Ray Wiegands Nursery has outstanding products, as most of them are grown on their farm in Lenox Township. This ensures that the plant is tolerant of MI weather and soils.
Q. Is a warranty provided with the installation of plants and trees?
A. All bushes, trees, and perennials come with a one year warranty from the day they were installed, assuming that the property owner has followed the watering schedule. Sod, annual flowers, and transplanted products do not carry warranty.
Q. How often should my new landscaping be watered?
A. Depending on the current weather conditions, trees will need the equivalent of a 5 gallon bucket of water(3 times per week), bushes will need 30 seconds of soaking from a hose(4 times per week), and new sod will need water twice a day for 20 minutes per zone for at least the first 3 weeks.
If the owner notices any kind of wilting, MORE water is required. However, over watering can drown a plant/tree as well. If the soil is saturated or has standing water, it is too much. The soil around the base of the plant/tree should be wet enough to hold itself together in a clump, not too dry and not a liquid consistency.
Q. Does your company hire outside sub-contractors?
A. We prefer to keep as much work 'in-house' as possible. We install ALL of our bushes/trees and ALL of our pavers/retaining walls. Should the project require a full installation of an irrigation system or specialized tree work, this is one of the few times we bring in a sub-contractor. If a sub-contractor is brought into the project, we have done work with them in the past and trust them.
Brickpavers and Retaining Walls
Q. What is the advantage of pavers over stamped concrete?
A. While stamped concrete has come along way with designs and patterns, it cannot bring the same benefits of pavers. Brickpavers have a texture and feel about them that puts them in a class all of their own. The colors, patterns, sizes, and design choices are endless. Also, should anything happen to your patio or walkway that needs repair, the area of repair is only as big as the problem. Pavers can be taken up, have the foundation repaired, and new or existing pavers be re-installed. Concrete, on the other hand, could develop a crack through the center of your patio, with no way of fixing it - short of removal and new concrete poured.
Q. What is the foundation under brickpavers?
A. With all paver installs, the foundation is the most important part. Once a good, solid base is laid, the pavers can be installed. To achieve a good base, the earth beneath the area must be excavated. Upon compaction, the base material is a crushed limestone that becomes compacted, then a layer of slag sand that becomes rock hard with water and compaction. Once the whole area has been leveled and compacted, the pavers can be laid out. Concrete edging around the entire perimeter of the patio/walkway is put in to ensure that the pavers cannot lose their form. The concrete is then covered in dirt, so it is not visible.
Q. Once the paver patio or walkway has been installed, should it be sealed?
A. We don't recommend sealing pavers until at least 3 months after installation. The natural minerals in the stone will be brought out by sun and rainwater in this time period. Should the owner choose to seal the pavers, that is something that may have to be done on a regular basis throughout the life of the paver. Captiva Landscaping does not seal any pavers.
Q. Is a warranty provided with the installation of brickpavers?
A. A two year warranty is provided with the installation of all pavers. If there is any shifting, sinking,
or cracked pavers within the project, immediate attention will be given to the problem. The only time
a warranty will not be provided is with the repair of existing paver work.
Q. Do block retaining walls actually 'retain' anything?
A. In some cases, retaining walls are necessary to hold back grade increases, landscape beds, or provide
some sort of structure. In most cases, though, block retaining walls are created as visual benefits to
the landscape as a whole. The block can be used in many applications such as garden walls, pillars,
courtyard walls, sitting walls, firepits, BBQs, custom steps, and raised patios.
Q. What is the foundation under a block retaining wall?
A. Similar to brickpaver work, the foundation of a retaining wall is the most important part of the wall.
The area under the wall is excavated to approximately 6" under grade, filled back in with a slag sand
that becomes rock hard when mixed with water, and leveled. Every block is hand laid and
individually leveled to ensure a perfectly level wall. Most walls have a matching cap piece, that is cut
into place with a concrete saw, to give it a very formal and finished look.
Q. How do the retaining wall blocks stay together without moving?
A. Depending on the type of block used, some have interlocking lips in the back that grab the block below
it, or some have a vertical pin used between courses. No matter what, though, Captiva Landscaping
uses construction adhesive between EVERY block/cap to make sure nothing moves to the touch.
Lawn/Landscape Maintenance
Q. Does Captiva Landscaping do weekly lawn maintenance?
A. Yes, we have maintained homes in a very small area of Shelby and Rochester for a number of
years. Unfortunately, though our service area is very tight and not too spread out. Please feel free to
contact us to see if your property falls into this area.
Q. Does your company do maintenance on landscape beds?
A. We specialize in putting together custom landscape maintenance packages for the clients needs and
budget. Some of our services include turf aeration(recommended 1 time per season), bush trimming
(recommended 2 times per season), topdressing of mulch beds(recommended 1 time per season), and
seasonal clean ups.