Good Questions, Straight Answers.
Everything people ask us before they call, answered first and plainly. Something missing? Ask a designer.
Investment and Fees
What does a Fine Grade project cost?
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.
How much does the design cost?
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. What design includes.
Why don't you publish exact prices?
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.
Do you price by the square foot?
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.
What's the smallest project you take on?
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.
How do payments work?
The design fee is agreed before design begins. The build is a fixed price, paid in stages. When money changes hands.
Process and Timing
When should we start?
Design in fall and winter, build in spring. Spring and summer build dates fill early, so starting the design in the off-season puts you first in line.
What happens on the first call?
Thirty minutes with a designer, not a salesperson. How you want to use the yard, the property, your timing and a comfortable range, then an honest next step. Book a consultation.
Can we build in phases?
Yes. We design the whole property once, then build the part you'll use most first, so later phases connect cleanly.
Design
What does the design include?
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.
Are your designers landscape architects?
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.
Can you build a plan from our architect or another designer?
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.
Do you handle HOA approval?
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.
Building
Who builds the project?
Our own crews, led by one project lead. The designer stays involved until the last plant is in.
Do you pull the permits?
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.
What warranty do you give?
A written warranty, and a visit after the first season.
Are you licensed and insured?
Yes. Fine Grade is a registered Idaho contractor with general liability and workers' compensation insurance. Before you sign, you receive Idaho's homeowner disclosure. What to check before you hire anyone.
Is It a Fit?
Do you offer maintenance or small repairs?
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.
Where do you work?
Across the Treasure Valley. Boise, Eagle, Meridian, Star, Kuna, Garden City, Nampa and Caldwell, and nearby when the project fits. Check your ZIP.
Can you work with our builder, architect or pool company?
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.
Treasure Valley Conditions
When is irrigation water available?
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.
Can you build on a steep foothills lot?
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.
What grows well here?
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.
Keep Planning
Let's Design Your Yard.
A design consultation, a clear process, and a designer who tells you honestly what's possible within your range.
Rather talk? Call or text (208) 994-9204 Mon–Fri 8am–5pm