What should I budget for landscaping restoration after an addition in Ottawa?

Almost every home addition leaves the yard torn up, and landscape restoration is a line item that is easy to forget. As broad perspective only, restoring the yard after a typical addition can range from roughly $8,000 to $25,000, with larger or more complex sites running higher. Treat that as perspective, not a quote. What you actually pay depends on how much of the yard was used for access and what was there before.

Grading and drainage come first. Heavy equipment compacts soil and disrupts drainage, and backfill around a new foundation settles over time. The finished grade needs to slope away from the house so water doesn't pool against the foundation, which matters even more on clay soils that drain slowly. Ask your contractor who is responsible for final grading and whether they will come back to top up settled backfill.

Soil recovery follows. Compacted soil stops grass and plants from rooting, so affected areas usually need loosening and fresh topsoil. Ask whether this is in the addition contract or left to you.

Lawn: sod gives instant results; seeding costs less but takes longer to establish. Late-season seeding may not establish before winter, so timing affects the choice.

Trees, shrubs and beds. Protecting mature trees during construction is far cheaper than replacing them. Before work starts, ask the City whether a tree permit applies on your property, and agree with your contractor on protective fencing around roots.

Hardscape. Driveways, walkways, patios and fences can be damaged by equipment or removed for access. If a fence section has to come down, confirm in writing before the project starts who replaces it and to what standard.

The smartest approach is to make restoration a specific line item in your addition contract, or get a separate landscaping quote before construction begins so there are no surprises. Take dated photos of the yard beforehand to settle any later questions about what was disturbed. Some addition contractors work with landscapers who can provide a combined price.

You can browse addition and landscaping contractors in the Ottawa Construction Network directory at justynrookcontracting.com and compare itemized quotes.

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Looking for experienced contractors? The Ottawa Construction Network connects homeowners with qualified professionals:

• Luxe Painting and Renovations
• RenoMotion Inc.
• Demontigny Carpentry
• The Granite shop
• Capital City Drywall