Good Questions, Straight Answers.

Most of our projects invest between $50,000 and $250,000, design and build included. An outdoor living space typically lands between $50,000 and $85,000, a complete backyard between $75,000 and $130,000, and a whole property between $120,000 and $210,000. Size, features, finishes and the site move the number; the investment guide shows how.

We set it after we've walked your property, in a written agreement, before any design work begins. It's based on the site's size, its grade and how much you want to build, and it won't rise if your build budget does. It's paid in full when you sign the design agreement and isn't credited toward construction. It covers the survey, design meetings, revisions, a 3D model and other design services. What design includes.

Because an honest price needs a design. Slope, soil, access, utilities and the design itself all change the number. Ranges help you plan; the fixed-price proposal comes once the design is final. How we build our ranges.

No. A per-square-foot figure leaves out the base, drainage, utilities, design and everything around the patio, which is where most of a project's cost and quality live. We give whole-project ranges instead.

Most projects begin around $50,000. If your budget is smaller, we can design a master plan for the whole yard and build it in phases, starting with the part you'll use most.

The design fee is paid in full when you sign the design agreement. The build is a fixed price, paid in stages. That means 25% at signing, another 25% at the pre-construction meeting and progress payments as construction proceeds, with the remaining balance due at substantial completion, subject to any retainers in your contract. When money changes hands.

Project timelines vary based on design needs, project scope and construction availability. We'll discuss anticipated timing with you during the consultation. The eight steps.

As early as you can. Build dates depend on construction availability, so starting the design early gives you the most options.

A friendly conversation with our office, with no sales pitch. How you want to use the yard, the property, your timing and a comfortable range, then an honest next step. Book a consultation.

Yes. We design the whole property once, then build the part you'll use most first, so later phases connect cleanly.

Everything needed to price and build it. A site survey, a concept plan, 3D renderings, grading and drainage, materials, planting and lighting, and the investment estimate that becomes your fixed-price proposal. Landscape design.

They're landscape designers. In Idaho the title "landscape architect" is reserved for licensed professionals. Our designers design residential landscapes and work with licensed engineers wherever walls or grading call for one.

Often, yes. We review the plan, refine what needs refining for the site, and price it the same way: a fixed price that matches the drawings.

Yes. We prepare the drawings and plant lists your architectural committee asks for, and build exactly what it approves. Getting a landscape past your HOA.

Our crew, and subcontractors where a project needs them, all managed by one project lead. The designer stays involved until the last plant is in.

Yes. Taller walls, structures, gas and electrical work usually need permits and inspections. We check the rules for your city and lot and pull them ourselves.

A written warranty, and a visit after the first season. One year on workmanship from substantial project completion. Plants are covered for one year from the date of installation, provided an adequate, reliable irrigation system is in place before planting. Coverage is subject to the terms, conditions and exclusions in your construction contract.

Yes. Fine Grade is a registered Idaho contractor (RCE-69481) with general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Before you sign, you receive Idaho's homeowner disclosure. What to check before you hire anyone.

No. We design and build complete landscapes. We're happy to recommend trusted maintenance companies, and we stand behind our own work with a written warranty.

Across the Treasure Valley. Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Star, Kuna, Garden City, Nampa and Caldwell, and the towns around them, from Payette, Emmett and Horseshoe Bend to Idaho City, Marsing and Melba. Check your ZIP.

Yes, and it's better when we do. Designing the landscape alongside the house or the pool means grades, drainage, utilities and views are planned once, together.

Pressurized irrigation usually runs from about mid-April to early October. Dates vary by irrigation district and year, so we design zones and planting around your system and the season. Water-wise design.

Yes. It takes more planning: grading, drainage and wall engineering come first, and in Boise slopes over 15% fall under the hillside overlay. Building on a foothills lot.

Plants that like sun, wind, alkaline soil and dry summers. We design with adapted and native plants, place lawn where it earns its keep, and water each zone to what it needs. Gardens & planting.