How to Get a Landscaping Map of Your House
When you purchase a new home, you may want to redo the existing landscaping. Before doing additional construction, especially anything to do with laying pipes or digging trenches, it's good to know what's already there beyond the surface plants. It's ideal to have a landscape design to work with. You can either create the design yourself by taking measurements and drawing it out, or you can work with a landscape architect or designer to get one done professionally. You may also want to contact various agencies to track down existing property plans to work from. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Drawing paper
- Notepad
- Measuring tape
- Pencils
- Landscape software
- Existing plans
Instructions
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Purchase a copy of your lot plat from your County Recorder's office. This record is inexpensive to acquire. It usually shows exact measurements of your property, the boundaries, elevations and so forth.
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Visit an art supply store and purchase a few large sheets of drawing paper similar in size to those used for blueprints.
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Measure your home's plot size and shape. Start at one corner and work to the next until you have measured the entire property. Write the measurements down in your notepad.
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Add measurements for the house, other outbuildings, walkways, patios, decks, swimming pool and driveways. If you know of existing septic tanks, or underground cables and pipes, make a note of where these are located -- you may or may not end up using these on a basic landscape design, but the information is good to have.
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Draw the mapped measurements onto the paper(s), laying the home, building and other objects in their appropriate locations. Use the top of the map as "north." Add in simple sketches for trees, shrubs and vegetable or other garden areas.
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Consult with a landscape designer if you prefer someone else draw up a map of your yard. They'll take the measurements and do professional sketches. Alternatively, you can use software made specifically for landscape design. Once you get past the learning curve, you'll be able to view different possibilities for your home's landscaping plans.
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Tips & Warnings
Working with a professional will often save you time, money and headaches, but you can also take a basic landscaping class at many community centers, garden shops, nurseries and colleges.
If you've just bought your home, ask the real estate agent or the prior owner if there are existing plans to work from. These also help save some time and effort.
References
Resources
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