10 Best Professional Services in Hague, NY

Permeable pavers systems can be used to reduce the amount of stormwater runoff that is leaving your site. "Permea" permeable pavers by Techo-Bloc were installed to create this permeable paver driveway apron to reduce the amount of runoff directed on to this property in Lake George from the roadway upgrade. "Aberdeen" slabs and "Mista" permeable pavers were used in combination to create this courtyard at the Inter Lakes Hospital in Ticonderoga, NY "Mista" permeable pavers by Techo-Bloc were installed to create this permeable paver entranceway at a seasonal residence on Lake George. Investigating the existing site conditions, drainage paths and sub-surface soil conditions help to properly design a peremable paver system that functions properly. Permeable pavers are considered a "green infrastructure" per the New York State Stormwater Regulations.

By David De Franco Landscaping

Local Design Professionals know the Ropes

So you are planning to build a house or construct an addition in the Lake George region. You don't know where to start or you have started and it has taken a long time and you have no permit approvals and it feels like time is not on your side. The construction industry can be very tricky to navigate. Do you want to hire an architect? Or work directly with a house builder who will develop the plans? Who do you use for a surveyor? Do you need an Engineer to design the site? Is there a need for a septic system and a drinking well on the property? OR is there municipal sewer and water? Is there wetlands on the property? Are there steep slopes? The site you select can really impact the design process and could even hinder it depending on your site layout. There are so many steps that need to be taken to obtain a building permit in the Adirondacks. You will need to have multiple consultants and sub-consultants involved in the design process and then multiple contractors and sub-contractors. There is a lot of teamwork in this process, but there also needs to be that point person that can lead the way and can see the light at the end of the tunnel along with knowing how to get there in a timely and cost effective manner. It is a very tricky process to get through for even seasoned project managers who do it for a living, let alone someone that wants to build a house while working full-time. Many of the decisions you make initially will affect how the process works and the number of hurdles, or in our business-we call them road blocks you will need to step over. It can be overwhelming when in the process-you will have what feels like a few steps forward and then another road block falls in front of you out of nowhere and you feel like you are back at the starting line, except many months and possibly years have gone by and you feel like you are no further along to building that dream house. You need to make sure that you hire the right design professionals at the start so that you are not backtracking later in the design process. Design professionals need to listen to what their client is saying and ask the right questions. When do you want to be in this house? The customer also needs to communicate all of their desires and what they expect from the design consultant. An open discussion at the beginning of the design process can certainly make the whole construction process work. Problems can mushroom from the design process into the construction phase because at this stage-changes can be very costly and also drag out the construction schedule and deadlines, ultimately affecting the targeted completion date. Local design consultants typically have a lot of experience working with the local review agencies and the members of the community, such as the Planning Board members, are familiar and comfortable with these design professional's work. It goes along way. There is typically a history or working relationship between all of the players-which makes the process run a lot smoother. So before starting your next project, whether it is in Lake George, NY or Lake Tahoe, CA-contact your local Chamber of Commerce, Town officials, Real Estate agents and ask them who they would recommend. Chances are they know the design professional to turn to because they have experienced these same problems in the past. It never hurts to contact a few design professionals to get different opinions and perspectives which will help you make a better decision.

By David De Franco Landscaping

DeFranco Landscaping committed to preserving beauty of Lake George

DeFranco Landscaping work around the Lake George basin was featured in the August 2013 issue of TURF Magazine. For the whole article: http://www.turfmagazine.com/article-9831.aspx Anthony DeFranco is a licensed professional engineer, specializing in stormwwater design, site design and sustainable landscaping using native plants and green infrastructure design to handle stormwater runoff. His father's landscaping firm has been in business for over 30-years, primarily working around the Lake George basin. "We believe it is essential to protect this beautiful lake with natural landscaping that also has a purpose of filtering runoff before it enters the lake. One of the best ways to prevent stormwater runoff is by hydroseeding disturbed surfaces quickly,” says DeFranco, “the process promotes quick seed germination. Hydroseeding with a tackifier (chemical compounds that stick to the surface) creates a slurry, allowing the fiber mulch and seed to adhere or bond to the soil. It’s a popular method to use on steep slopes around the shoreline. We also apply hydroseeding in combination with biodegradable erosion-control blankets on very steep slopes that are prone to erosion.” The Lake George Park Commission also has a regulation that requires any disturbed surface within 500-feet of the high water mark to have a protective coating securely placed over that area within 24-hours to prevent sediment from entering the water body.” According to DeFranco, rain gardens (excavated depressions filled with a soil media mixture of sand, topsoil and organic material), when properly designed, can help control stormwater runoff. “The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, considers rain gardens as a ‘“green infrastructure”’ measure.” DeFranco Landscaping constructs rain gardens allowing the stormwater to infiltrate through, as the roots of the native plantings take up contaminants during a rain event. “Rain gardens are typically designed so there is no standing water in the basin after 24-hours of a rain event,” adds DeFranco. "Plants in the rain garden need to be able to tolerate wet and dry conditions at various times.” Native plantings are favored for rain gardens. In 2010, the Lake George Watershed Coalition recognized DeFranco Landscaping with the Frank Leonbruno Lake Stewardship Award for their use of native plants in their designs. Working with many environmental agencies, the Lake George Waterkeeper and local municipalities, DeFranco is encouraged by what he sees as a willingness of private citizens and government to join forces to protect the lakes and the environment. “I have noticed a lot of people wanting to work with us because they know we have another level of expertise and knowledge about which permits are required for projects around the lakeshore. Stream and shoreline restoration projects are some of the tougher projects because they typically require multiple permits from multiple agencies.”

By David De Franco Landscaping