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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are some frequently asked questions and answers about our products. If you need specific help or your question isn’t answered here, you should head to our forums. Learn more about our warranty and payment terms here.
A Segmental Retaining Wall system comprises of a set of interlocking stackable block units, which combine to form your wall. A similar principle to that of Lego blocks.
The primary benefits of a segmental retaining wall over a poured concrete wall or a rock and mortar wall are as follows: Segmental walls are designed to allow for the release of water which prevents hydrostatic pressure (water pressure). Being that they are dry-stacked without mortar, they have the ability to be much more porous and allow for greater water permeability, which will ultimately aid in the life and structure of the wall. Additionally, segmental retaining walls are exactly as stated, they are segmental. The reason this is an advantage over poured concrete walls or rock and mortar walls is that the wall allows for movement in the earth without impairing the integrity or the structure of the wall. A poured concrete wall or a rock and mortar wall is a rigid system that can crack when the ground moves or heaves.
Segmental retaining walls generally follow a routine design for construction. Factors that generally constitute a successful wall are as follows: a well compacted footer, the proper backfill, wall alignment as it is being built, and the use of reinforcement, such as geo-grid. However, each wall is designed or engineered according to many factors. These typically include: the height of the wall, the soil consistency, surcharge above the wall, what the wall is retaining, and the placement or location of the wall. A lasting retaining wall should always meet these factors and any other factor that could jeopardize the success of the wall’s intentions on a case by case situation.
Geogrid is a polyester or polypropylene material that is used to stabilize the soil behind the wall. Recommended for use on walls over 4 feet high, and those walls on a slope.
You only a permit if your Retaining Wall is over 4 foot high.
For a permanent wall stricture the general lifespan is said to be between 50 and 100 years. This does however depend on the conditions of the soil and groundwater of your site.
No, you do not need a concrete footing, it will actuallyadhere the wall from being able to naturally shift. It is best to use a coarse stone aggregate for the Retaining Wall footing.
Yes you certainly can. There are specific Retaining Wall blocks that are made to allow the implementation of curves or even corners.
It is recommended that you consult an engineer when the wall you are building is over 4 foot high, and when the conditions of your site are unusual or specific.
A retaining wall can provide a wide array of benefits for businesses or private homeowners. A retaining wall can assist in the following: making an unusable hill a usable area, provide stability for the placement of parking lots or buildings, add aesthetic value to the home or business, and increase the market value of a home or business due to the transformations that a retaining wall can provide.
JT’s Landscaping provides a 3 year warranty on all paver stone and wall system installations. This warranty is in effect from the completion date of the project. If any paver stone or wall settlement occurs, within reason, it will be repaired as quickly as our schedule permits at no cost to the customer.
Pavers offer a variety of advantages over poured or stamped concrete. Pavers offer a wide variety of colors, styles, and shapes. Pavers can offer a more aesthetic way to compliment any landscape. Additionally, concrete pavers are comprised of densely formed concrete to meet the needs of highly used areas without compromising the integrity of the patio, sidewalk, or driveway. Lastly, pavers are segmental and interlocking. The advantage of this factor over stamped concrete or poured concrete is that it allows for movement in the earth without cracking the structure of the paver system. Unlike a poured concrete area, a paver system, if damaged, can be fixed with ease. The damaged area can be removed and replaced with little to no evidence of repair.
Every job is unique. Price can vary based on the amount to be torn out, to the type of paver, to the amount of material needed, to the amount of cuts that need to be made. The best way to find out is to discuss your unique project with one of our professionals.
The standard process of install interlocking concrete pavers involves the following steps:
• Remove Existing Concrete (if any exists)
• Prepare Ground for Installing Pavers (Excavate Soil/Grade/Level/Compact)
• Install Base (4″to 8” of base rock and screed 1” base of sand)
• Install Edge Restraint (Either Pave Edge/Snap Edge or concrete footing)
• Layout Pavers (Install pavers, then saw cut around borders, circles and blockouts.)
• Plate Vibrate #1 (Plate Vibrate sand into the pavers.)
• Sweep Sand (Sweep excess sand to get into the joints.)
• Plate Vibrate #2 (Plate vibrate sand into the pavers.)
• Clean Up (Clean up and wash down.)
Yes, the total price of the project can change based upon your selection of pavers. Before preparing a formal estimate, JT’s Landscaping will help you in deciding what pavers are best suited for your project, and the estimate will incorporate the cost of your selection.
You can walk and drive on the pavers as soon as they are installed. Unlike concrete, there is no waiting period for the area to cure.
The term “interlock” comes from the friction of joint sand between pavers. This interlock provides pavement superiority in a multitude of ways. The pavers distribute traffic loading over a greater surface. The pavers remain flexible and can withstand minor and major movements of the native soils. Maintenance and repairs (if required) are simplified because no mortar is used in the installation process.
In a simple answer, yes you can but under certain criteria. If the condition of the existing pavement is in poor state (major cracks, settling etc.) it may be a better solution to start over and build the base system up properly. Also, do you have enough threshold clearance to accept a 2 3/8 thick paver plus the 1” sand bedding course? Another consideration is how you will adjoin the pavers to meet other existing pavements (garage surfaces, sidewalks, etc.). If you find your existing pavement meets these conditions, then pavers can be installed on your pavement with a few modifications to the installation process.
No, sealing is just an option. But sealing the pavers does have some advantages. Sealing your pavers will make clean up of stains easier, help prevent vegetation growth, and will darken and brighten the color pigments in your pavers.
If the pavers were installed properly, with the recommended materials and installation methods, you have created a sterile environment to allow weeds to grow through the pavers. There will still be times when seeds can blow into the top of the joints and start growing in any organic material that has built up in the joints. If this happens, you can normally pull them out very easily or remove them with a topical weed killer spray.
Occasionally, some pavers may have a whitish residue upon them. The whitish colored residue is called efflorescence. Efflorescence is a natural by-product from the cement hydration process and can be found in any concrete or mortar product. Calcium oxide inside the paver reacts with water in the capillaries and forms calcium hydroxide. This seeps to the surface, and reacts with the carbon dioxide in the air to form calcium carbonate, a whitish residue. When moisture on the surface evaporates, the white efflorescence becomes visible. If efflorescence is present, it will wear off over the course of time with traffic and the elements.
Unlike concrete, pavers will almost never crack. Pavers are 8000 psi (3-4 times stronger than concrete, stone or asphalt). Pavers will never crack or chip unless abused, but over long periods of time, there can be some settling/shifting. JT’s Landscaping prepares the subgrade to the ASTM standards to restrict any shifting/settling.
Yes you can! The most important part of installing pavers on your driveway is your base material preparation. Ensure that your base material is compacted and you use a good edge restraint, and you should have a sturdy enough paved surface for vehicle use.
Yes. Pavers are very appropriate for around pool areas, for they provide a slip resistant surface, making it a safer environment. The moisture and water is soaked up by the sand in the joints, rather than being left to create a slippery surface. Pavers also provide a cooler surface to walk on than concrete!
We use polymeric sand in the joints instead of coarse sand. Polymeric sand is brushed into the joints between the pavers, then a light mist of water is sprayed over the entire driveway. The water activates the polymers that bind the grains of sand together creating a solid yet flexible joint. Polymeric sand will not wash out of joints and will maintain its bond season after season even in our harsh climate.
Polymeric sand is a granular material placed between the joints or seams in brick pavers or stone in patios, walkways and driveways. Its primary function is to improve the interlock and therefore the durability and stability of a paved surface
JT’s Landscaping provides a 3 year warranty on all paver stone and wall system installations. This warranty is in effect from the completion date of the project. If any paver stone or wall settlement occurs, within reason, it will be repaired as quickly as our schedule permits at no cost to the customer.
There are three distinct advantages to using low voltage lighting. Safety, fixture selection and installation. Low voltage lighting uses a 12 volt system instead of the normal domestic voltage of 110 volts. It’s much safer to have outside because there’s no shock hazard from damaged fixtures or slices cables if you should happen to come in contact with them. There is a wide variety of sizes, shapes and applications that are smaller and more compact, yet produce stunning results. People who have installed these systems, professional or “do-it-yourselfers” say a big benefit is the cleaner installation that it provides. The low-voltage systems use less hardware to distract from the grounds and offer less disruption to gardens.
Most systems can be installed in one day.
No disruption. If trenching is required across the lawn, a small incision is made about 6-8 inches deep, the wire is placed inside, and the grass folded over top of it. As long as there is normal rainfall, there should be no damage to the lawn. In the dirt areas, the wire is buried 6-8 inches deep. Where there is mulch, the wire is placed just under the mulch, for ease of seasonal mulching and landscaping.
The average cost to run our lighting system is about $8.00 per month.
We install all systems with a one year workmanship and minimum 10 year repair or replacement warranty on all fixtures, along with lifetime manufacturer’s warranty on all transformers.
Our average installation runs around $2,500. This includes the fixtures, the transformer, the labor and installation materials, and the warranty.
Landscape lighting systems can be controlled in several different ways. Photocells detect when the sun has set and turn the system on, and then turn it off when the sun rises. (On at dusk, off at dawn). Timers allow you to program when you want the lights to come on and when you want them to go off.
There is even a version of timer that varies the on and off times slightly to make it look like the system is being activated by a person, even when you’re away. Photocells and timers can also be used together, for example to turn the system on at dusk and to turn it off at a prescribed hour.
JT’s Landscaping takes great pride in offering the complete landscaping package. We feel that a fresh cut lawn is only the first step in achieving a top-notch yard. Our maintenance crew leaders are trained to see the entire property, and understand that we enhance as much as we maintain.
Absolutely. We understand that not all clients will require every service we offer. JT’s Landscaping will work with you to provide the best service package possible.
Your property will be given a specific day and time to be serviced each week. Although Mother Nature can delay us, we take pride in being punctual and reliable.
Each property will receive 3-4 prunes per year, although some vigorous plants can require an extra trimming to give your property the well manicured lawn you desire.
Azaleas and other flowering shrubs (gardenias, camellias, etc.) should be pruned within 30 days after they finish flowering. This will give them the time they need to form new buds for the next year! Our maintenance crews have the proper knowledge and experience to handle all of your pruning needs
Our maintenance crews are fully outfitted with the most efficient tools to deal with the heaviest fall loads. Leaves and other debris will be cleaned up from the yard on a weekly basis, and our leaf trucks will perform a complete leaf removal several times throughout the fall season.
Yes! JT’s Landscaping strives to provide the complete landscaping service. You can expect to have your annuals and perennials properly deadheaded and pruned on a regular basis, as well as receive the proper fertilization to provide eye-catching results.
We would prefer it! Our irrigation specialists will optimize your system for each season, and make spring-start up and winterization a breeze. Give us access to the control panel, and we’ll take care of the rest.
There are several methods to ward off deer from feeding on the foliage of your trees and shrubs. You can use spray repellents, nuisance repellents and physical barriers. Spray repellents often give off a scent undesired by deer or a foliar spray might have a bitter taste. Nuisance repellents are often motion censored water sprinklers and other things of that nature. Physical barriers are often put up as netting or wired fencing. The best defense would be a physical barrier. JT’s Landscaping offers the installation of deer netting in helping protect plants from the damage they cause.
Yes. We trim three or four times throughout the year. Each visit has a different approach. Depending on the time of year, we may be selectively pruning specific plants or we may be coming in to trim back over growth. We provide this service for the health and appearance of your trees and shrubs. Pruning is essential to plant health.
The black soot forming on your leaves is a result of an insect infestation. Insects such as aphids feed on the foliage meanwhile forming a saliva type substance. This substance is known as “honeydew”. This
honeydew starts as a sticky substance and eventually turns black. That’s what is giving the leaves that black color. Ask us how our program helps control aphids before this can occur.
Once Japanese beetles make it to their adult stage, it is really difficult to keep them off your plants. The best defense is to treat for them before they emerge from their grub stage. The best way to do this is by applying grub control to your lawn in early March and again in the middle of April. If you currently have beetles feeding on your foliage, they have to continually be sprayed with an insecticide until they are gone for the season. Ask us how we can set you up on our grub control program.
We also have an insect control that is applied in early spring. This treatment consists of a specially formulated insecticide that the plant absorbs and translocates to the leafs and protects the foliage from the surface feeding beetles.
Fungi can show signs in many different forms. Most commonly, you will notice fungus issues on the plant foliage. Black spots on leaves (lesions), holes in leaves (this is common to laurels and cherry trees when stricken with shot hole disease), and discoloration know as blight. Some uncommon signs of a fungal problem would be substances forming on the branches. Possibly a powdery, green substance or in some cases a gall (which is the swelling of an infected area of the branch).
There are two main issues commonly causing holly leaves to turn yellow. It could be that your hollies are iron deficient and lacking that essential nutrient. Secondly, your root systems could be struggling to stay healthy. The plants could be experiencing a disease known as root rot. Some things that contribute to root rot are poorly drained soils or compacted soils. Over mulching can contribute to root rot as well. If you suspect this, give us a call and we will help you fix your problem.
Yes. Trees and shrubs only require fertilization two times a year. It is essential to provide your trees and shrubs with this annual fertilizer to “refuel” the plant material after a long year of growing and fighting environmental hardships. Read about how we provide nutrients to trees and shrubs through our deep root injection method. Our deep root injection treatment is actually a double application and feeds your plant for an entire year.
Plant Health Care is an approach to plant care that focuses on the health and growth of plants. The objective of our plant health care program is to maintain or improve the landscape’s appearance and overall health using the most cost-effective and environmentally sensitive practices available. We use a 5-6 treatment program to protect your trees and shrubs from damaging pests. Within this program, we also provide the plants with nutrients essential for healthy growth. We at JT’s Landscaping and Lawn Care look at plant health care as a way of protecting an investment you, as a client, have made to enhance the overall appearance of your property.
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Testimonials
Tiffany B. of Raleigh, NC
“I want to say that I agree with Michelle completely. When you and I talked prior to us becoming a customer, I told you that I entrusted you with our grass and was relying upon you to take ownership of its beauty. It is absolutely apparent that you take great pride in your work and I stop my car on the way home from work and in the driveway as I leave in the morning to appreciate how the yard looks. For that I cannot thank you enough.”
D.J. of Raleigh, NC
“JT’s Landscaping has provided all landscape services for our facilities since we moved into our new 17 acre site 8 years ago; I have been thoroughly impressed, especially with their attention to detail, knowledge, friendly staff, schedule adherence, creative (yet, cost effective) bed plantings, etc. As a result, my husband and I hired JT’s to provide all landscape services, to include design, for our home several years ago. We remain very happy customers and regularly receive high compliments on our lawn and the overall property attractiveness.”
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