Saratoga Landscaping - Approved Plans - Work Underway

[lucky760]

Awesome! Glad if I can help. : )

Note that there are several different colors available, and you can even mix two different colors together if you'd like. (That's what we're doing.) Check out the Orco website:

• Antique Cobble
• Villa

 

[lucky760]

Today's work yielded some nice progress. The flagstone is all set and level. The cap on the wall is fully-formed and still curing.

I was surprised by the crew when I arrived home and was able to see them in action for the first time. I don't think I've ever seen a crew composed of mostly American workers. It's an unusual sight to say the least.

 

[JasonTheArtist]

Looking good! I just got a quote back from John and was definitely a little steep. More than what he is charging you. I'm going to see what I can do to bring down the price.

 

[lucky760]

Looking good! I just got a quote back from John and was definitely a little steep. More than what he is charging you. I'm going to see what I can do to bring down the price.

That's for doing the entire hardscape with flagstone, am I right? I figured that'd be an enormous cost because just doing our little California room comes with a heck of a cost.

 

[phanpd]

Looking really good so far, keep the pictures coming!  Sounds like I got a bit of saving to do for our future landscaping...

I think I have a copy of that By Hand software, but mine doesn't work really well.  :-\

 

[songkou]

Where do you get a copy of the Design Guideline?  It mentioned in the Stonegate HOA CC&R but I didn't find it in the CD that Saratoga salesperson gave me.  Is the plan submitted to Stonegate HOA, or Saratoga HOA?  Is there even a separate body governing Saratoga HOA?  Is there a website for the HOA?  Can someone provides some contact info on the HOA?  Thanks.

 

[lucky760]

Where do you get a copy of the Design Guideline?  It mentioned in the Stonegate HOA CC&R but I didn't find it in the CD that Saratoga salesperson gave me.  Is the plan submitted to Stonegate HOA, or Saratoga HOA?  Is there even a separate body governing Saratoga HOA?  Is there a website for the HOA?  Can someone provides some contact info on the HOA?  Thanks.

I've attached all the documents you need. They're for all of Stonegate, so you just need to find the sections that apply to your specific community. (It'll either say Saratoga explicitly or "detached condominiums.") I can't attach the full CC&R document because it's over 9MB. The CD they gave me didn't work either, so they emailed it to me. Just ask the sales office.

There is one HOA for all of Stonegate, Professional Community Management (PCM), in Lake Forest. Their website is pcminternet.com. You should be able to find contact info there. If you have specific questions about the design restrictions, you can ask Rick Zarski.

[edit]
Oops, looks like one of the design files is too big at 2MB. Again, ask the sales office and they'll email all you need. : )

 

[JasonTheArtist]

Where do you get a copy of the Design Guideline?  It mentioned in the Stonegate HOA CC&R but I didn't find it in the CD that Saratoga salesperson gave me.  Is the plan submitted to Stonegate HOA, or Saratoga HOA?  Is there even a separate body governing Saratoga HOA?  Is there a website for the HOA?  Can someone provides some contact info on the HOA?  Thanks.

IP should have given you a copy when you signed a purchase agreement.

 

[songkou]

lucky, thanks.

The Guidelines is definitely not in the CD they gave me.  How did you get yours?

Where do you get a copy of the Design Guideline?  It mentioned in the Stonegate HOA CC&R but I didn't find it in the CD that Saratoga salesperson gave me.  Is the plan submitted to Stonegate HOA, or Saratoga HOA?  Is there even a separate body governing Saratoga HOA?  Is there a website for the HOA?  Can someone provides some contact info on the HOA?  Thanks.

I've attached all the documents you need. They're for all of Stonegate, so you just need to find the sections that apply to your specific community. (It'll either say Saratoga explicitly or "detached condominiums.") I can't attach the full CC&R document because it's over 9MB. The CD they gave me didn't work either, so they emailed it to me. Just ask the sales office.

There is one HOA for all of Stonegate, Professional Community Management (PCM), in Lake Forest. Their website is pcminternet.com. You should be able to find contact info there. If you have specific questions about the design restrictions, you can ask Rick Zarski.

[edit]
Oops, looks like one of the design files is too big at 2MB. Again, ask the sales office and they'll email all you need. : )

 

[JasonTheArtist]

Thanks @No Quarter,

I will definitely do this.

 

[qwerty]

Similarly if you go super cheap, a savvy buyer is going to reduce their bid by the amount it would take to bring the property "up to par" for the neighborhood.

its irvine - there are no savvy buyers.

 

[lucky760]

Another day down and lots more exciting progress. The stacked stone veneer is on the seat wall and the flagstone floor is complete. They've also laid the border pavers all the way around and the full paver areas will be started tomorrow.

My only concern with the flagstone floor is that it leaves only a tiny gap for the weep screed in the far back corner. It makes me worry about the HOA.

 

[Irvine_Dreamer]

Today's work yielded some nice progress. The flagstone is all set and level. The cap on the wall is fully-formed and still curing.
I was surprised by the crew when I arrived home and was able to see them in action for the first time. I don't think I've ever seen a crew composed of mostly American workers. It's an unusual sight to say the least.

Looks great!
What's the name of the flagstone you used?
For paver, I'm thinking of using Orco Antique.

 

[qwerty]

My only concern with the flagstone floor is that it leaves only a tiny gap for the weep screed in the far back corner. It makes me worry about the HOA.

as long as the holes of the weepscreed are exposed you should be fine. also, its a covered porch so the walls getting wet is unlikely and the weepscreed is for drainage when it gets wet. the HOA wont care, its in your backyard and not hurting anyone else.

looks good. the sitting wall is a good idea.

 

[phanpd]

This porch is gorgeous!  Great work!

 

[stromung]

@Lucky
I don't understand but what is weep creed? 

 

[phanpd]

@Lucky
I don't understand but what is weep creed?

 

[qwerty]

@Lucky
I don't understand but what is weep creed? 

if you walk around a house, close to the floor, you will see a piece of metal that is covered with stucco with holes in it, the metal is at about a 45 degree angle, in older homes the stucco tends to fall off and the metal is with the holes is just exposed. the holes allow for drainage/ventilation when the stucco gets wet from rain, sprinklers etc.

 

[lucky760]

@Irvine_Dreamer - Sorry, I don't recall any specific rock names for the flagstone. Good choice of pavers. I really like the Antique Cobble look. Thanks for the reassurance about the weep screed.

@phanpd - Thanks! Just behind the white bucket in the photo is where our fountain will go. I can't wait to see that installed, but it'll probably be next week after all the hardscaping. We also want to [eventually] put a propane-powered fire table centered in the patio.

@stromung - The weep screed is the part of the wall that allows for moisture to be released from the wall, both from water coming down the wall and water being wicked up the wall. Here's a great video explaining it: youtu.be/0xhDmocn8jU

 

[lucky760]

Wow. I don't know if my photos do it justice, but I was a bit speechless when I got home. Most of the pavers are in now and it makes an immediate, immense difference in how large the entire yard feels. I absolutely didn't expect the completed floor would make the sardine can feel any bigger, but it really does and I'm elated.

We're also really happy with the paver colors our landscaper recommended because we weren't really sure with what we'd chosen and also weren't sure if he was making a great choice for us. We have a mix of 75% Tuscany and 25% Sandstone, which looks great and ties the seat wall and flagstone together with the pavers very nicely.

The pavers will be completed tomorrow and they'll start cleaning everything up. Then Monday they'll start putting in irrigation and prepping for the landscaping. Also Monday we'll be going to the nursery with our landscaper to pick out all our plants and trees. We also plan on trying to visit the Mimosa Nursery in Anaheim (or Buena Park?), thanks to the recommendation by @No Quarter, to look at tropical fruit trees.

Anyhow, here are some photos: