Rocks for my front yard (Phoenix: house, work, business)

[AOYAS]

Hi. The rocks that cover our front yard (instead of grass) are kind of boring, and I feel that they don't adequately cover the ground (thin layer). To me, they look similar to what a gravel road looks like, instead of the pretty gray/white/pink/red granite stones or lava rocks like our neighbors. I think it was the "base" landscaping design that the builder offered the original owners of our home (aka they didn't upgrade). Our backyard has a nice, thick (6 inches or so) layer of white/gray/pink granite stones. It's just our front yard that is stone-challenged.

Anyway, we'd like to have new, pretty rocks laid to cover our front yard so that it looks nicer. Problem is, we have no idea how to do this, who to call, how much it costs, etc. I don't imagine it's difficult to have this done, considering half the population of Phoenix has some sort of rock cover in their yard, but I'm worried that it's really expensive. Our ENTIRE lot is 7600 sq ft, but I'm not sure the dimensions of just the front yard.

--Does anyone have any info regarding what type of business would handle this type of work (landscaper, mason, etc)?

--Can anyone give me an idea of how much it would cost for us to have rocks laid to cover our front yard?

--Can anyone give me a referral for a company you have used recently to have this done?

I'd appreciate ANY info anyone can offer. Thanks in advance!

[aj661]

Originally Posted by AOYAS

Hi. The rocks that cover our front yard (instead of grass) are kind of boring, and I feel that they don't adequately cover the ground (thin layer). To me, they look similar to what a gravel road looks like, instead of the pretty gray/white/pink/red granite stones or lava rocks like our neighbors. I think it was the "base" landscaping design that the builder offered the original owners of our home (aka they didn't upgrade). Our backyard has a nice, thick (6 inches or so) layer of white/gray/pink granite stones. It's just our front yard that is stone-challenged.

Anyway, we'd like to have new, pretty rocks laid to cover our front yard so that it looks nicer. Problem is, we have no idea how to do this, who to call, how much it costs, etc. I don't imagine it's difficult to have this done, considering half the population of Phoenix has some sort of rock cover in their yard, but I'm worried that it's really expensive. Our ENTIRE lot is 7600 sq ft, but I'm not sure the dimensions of just the front yard.

--Does anyone have any info regarding what type of business would handle this type of work (landscaper, mason, etc)?

--Can anyone give me an idea of how much it would cost for us to have rocks laid to cover our front yard?

--Can anyone give me a referral for a company you have used recently to have this done?

I'd appreciate ANY info anyone can offer. Thanks in advance!

I just went to Pioneer and picked out the rock I liked. If you give them (any decorative rock business) the dimensions of the yard, they'll tell you how much you need. Again, this is something you COULD do yourself, but it is a lot of work. It cost me a few hundred for about 10-12 yards of rock. Then it was me, my wife and kids with shovels and a wheelbarrow. Did it over a week end during the summer a few years back. They'll deliver and dump it in front of your house.

[Ponderosa]

DO IT YOURSELF! It's a rite of passage in becoming an Arizona resident - though you really should procrastinate until July before you do it. Typical front yard makeover will take about 5-7 tons of stone at about 35 bucks a ton delivered - more rock if it's really bare or never been done. They dump it in the road or your driveway (road is better so they don't crack the driveway). It'll take less than a day to do that much. It'll cost about 2x as much (including labor) to have it done.

Like AJ said, Pioneer is all over town and they have display yards with the various types and also many other stone products you can use in the yard. Take a baggie sample of what you have and get the same color. Note that some HOAs limit the size (must be at least what is called 3/4 minus) in the front yard. I liked the sized gravels - 1 to 2 inch looks good in front yards.

[jlhct]

Originally Posted by Ponderosa

DO IT YOURSELF! It's a rite of passage in becoming an Arizona resident - though you really should procrastinate until July before you do it. Typical front yard makeover will take about 5-7 tons of stone at about 35 bucks a ton delivered - more rock if it's really bare or never been done. They dump it in the road or your driveway (road is better so they don't crack the driveway). It'll take less than a day to do that much. It'll cost about 2x as much (including labor) to have it done.

Like AJ said, Pioneer is all over town and they have display yards with the various types and also many other stone products you can use in the yard. Take a baggie sample of what you have and get the same color. Note that some HOAs limit the size (must be at least what is called 3/4 minus) in the front yard. I liked the sized gravels - 1 to 2 inch looks good in front yards.

I just went to Pioneer yesterday too to pick out gravel for my front yard. I am not interested in watering and mowing the front lawn

I'm not going to take that rite of passage though, I'm having a landscaper do it