<![CDATA[Ball Contracting Enterprises, LLC - BLOG PAGE by: Bill "The Landscape Guy"]]>Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:31:40 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Drainage ]]>Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:36:16 -0800http://www.ballcontracting.com/1/post/2011/08/drainage.htmlProper Drainage is key to a healthy landscape.  At Ball Contracting we will design and install a strategic drainage system specific to your location.  Our drainage systems will meet your needs as well as comply with local storm-water laws and permits.  Drainage systems are needed to fix issues with standing water, storm-water run-off, or other water problem areas.

NJ  and FL Drainage Systems Construction Services
  • French Drains- Stop surface water from invading your home before it reaches the foundation with an outdoor French drain system.
  • Dry Wells- Instead of adding excess water from downspouts and drains to your lawn, drywells are sub surface chambers that store and dispose water back into the ground naturally.
  • Surface Drains- Eliminate wet areas that can form into ice or stop water from seeping into garage doors with surface catch basins and strip drains.
  • Gutter Drains- Take the water coming off your roof away from your home to prevent flooding and property damage.
  • Storm Drains- Large scale water issues need large scale solutions, storm drains help you when the weather is at its worst.
  • Drainage Pits- Areas designated as drainage basins will keep wet areas away from where you and your family are.
  • Drainage Piping- The right choice of piping product depends on the conditions and the needs of the system, only a professional will be able to help with these important decisions.
  • Box Drains- Simple box drains can make the difference of a wet lawn or patio and a dry one.
  • Driveway Drains- Many driveways slope towards your home and there is not much to stop the water runoff from entering your garage or basement, strip drains will stop water in its tracks.
  • Backyard Drains- A dry healthy lawn is the key to enjoying your back yard.
  • Standing Water Drainage Solutions- Sometimes it’s as simple as soil composition and adding gravel to wet areas to make them usable.
 ]]><![CDATA[First Post!]]>Fri, 20 May 2011 03:19:01 -0800http://www.ballcontracting.com/1/post/2011/05/first-post.html
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Plan for Success - Get a Landscape Design!  OK, it's Spring time and you're ready to get out of the house and use your backyard, right?  OH _ _ _ _!!! (you fill in the blank)  The patio looks bad and the lawn is a wreck.  If this keeps up, you're on track for another Summer of hiding in the house or going to the neighbors to enjoy the pool.  Sound familiar?  Where do you start?  That's simple.

There's one of two scenarios:  either you have no landscape at all, or you need to renovate your existing landscape.  In either case you need to start in the Landscape Design phase.  In most cases a landscape renovation won't require a big design unless you want to do a lot of relocating of existing plant material or hardscaping (pavers, block etc).  Remember, "Most people don't plan to fail, they fail to plan". 

Ladies and Gentleman you need to start with a Landscape Design.  Would you go on a road trip without a map or a GPS?  The landscape plan is your GPS!  The landscape design will save you money in the long run.  First of all, it levels the playing field as far as estimating the job goes.  What does that mean?  Well, lets say you have a "blank slate" of a back yard to start with.  You interview a few Landscape Designers or Landscape Architects in your local area and choose one to work with on the design (yes, you will have to pay for a design).  If you choose a firm that also does the "build work", they will more than likely credit you back the design fee if you use them to build the job.  If someone offers you a "FREE Design" they probably have not put a whole lot of thought into it and it will show in the installation.

Before the Landscape Designer or Landscape Architect comes to your home, make a wish list of all the items your dream Landscape would have in it.  "Get Creative".  The designer or architect will incorporate these items in the design phase.  You can now use this plan over the next couple of years to build your dream landscape as the budget dictates.  If you get a big check in the mail (first thank God), then build the walls and patio.  If you have a lean year, do some of the planting yourself - from the plan (and still thank God)!  See how it works?  This will help you avoid putting a tree where a patio is supposed to go, or a patio where the irrigation system should run - see what I mean?

SOME IDEAS OF WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR DREAM LANDSCAPE:
1-   PATIO AREA: STAMPED CONCRETE, PAVERS, CONCRETE OR SLATE
2-   WATER FEATURE - POND
3-   DECK
4-   IRRIGATION
5-   FENCE
6-   POOL
7-   PAVER WALKWAYS AND PATHS -  PLANTING AREAS
9-   LAWN AREAS OR SOD
10 -OUTDOOR KITCHEN, BUILT IN GRILL, SINK, FRIDGE
11-  OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM - STEREO, TELEVISION, SPEAKERS
12-  OVERHEAD STRUCTURE - PERGOLA OR GAZEBO


What does the Bible say about Gardens?
by Wayne Blank A garden is a selected area of ground that is cultivated to produce fruits, vegetables, flowers or trees. Gardens were prevalent during Bible History, when they were often enclosed within a wall of earth or stone, or a hedge, and guarded by a watchman as protection against animals and thieves. Frequently used as places of worship and prayer (by the righteous, and by pagans), gardens were also used as a spiritual analogy for God's blessings upon believers, or for the unbeliever's fruitlessness. Gardens were sometimes used as burial places, a somewhat appropriate irony, since the dead are like sown seeds with the potential of new life e.g. "Thy dead shall live, their bodies shall rise. O dwellers in the dust, awake and sing for joy!" (Isaiah 26:19 RSV)

The First Garden
"And The Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east; and there He put the man whom He had formed. And out of the ground The Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food, the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." (Genesis 2:8-9 RSV)

I'd love to put my experience to work for you.  If you're looking for suggestions on a Landscape Design in Toms River, NJ or Sarasota FL and you have any questions you can contact me at 732-270-5437 or go to my facebook page www.facebook.com/ballcontracting1

I'm currently helping people in the two areas I reside: Toms River, NJ and Sarasota, FL.

God Bless You
Bill "The Landscape Guy"
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