Little Frog

Frequently asked questions

Getting started

What kind of work does Little Frog do?

We build landscape projects: retaining walls, paver patios, paths and steps, ponds and water features, plantings and garden beds, fences and gates, and new sod. Most of our jobs are bigger builds that take more than a day or two.

Do you do lawn mowing or yard maintenance?

No. We're a project company. We build your project, hand it over, and give you written care notes so you know how to look after it.

How does a project start?

1. You get in touch and tell us what you have in mind. If you have plans, a survey, strata rules or photos, send them along.
2. We book a site visit to see your yard, listen to what you want and measure everything.
3. We send you a written quote, built line by line from those measurements.
4. Once you say yes and the deposit is in, we book the utility locates, sort out any permits, order materials and set your start date.

Do I need a design or plans first?

No. If you have plans, a survey or a designer, send them and we'll work from the newest set. If not, we work from the measurements we take on site.

Site visit and quote

What happens at the site visit?

We walk the whole yard with you first and listen to what you want. Then we:

• measure each area you want work done in, and mark the edges with flags or paint if you're OK with that
• take photos for the quote (we ask you first)
• check the access route for machines and deliveries, and where materials can go
• look at slopes, drainage and the soil
• ask about anything under the ground, like irrigation or lighting lines

Will you give me a price on the spot?

No. We measure everything first and send a written quote, so the price is based on your yard, not a guess. We'll tell you at the visit when to expect it.

What does the quote look like?

It's broken into sections, so you can see each part of the job and where the money goes. If you'd like to do the work in phases, or swap something out, we'll adjust the quote with you. Everything included is listed on it, and so is anything that isn't (for example city permit fees, engineer fees, or electrical work, which is done by a licensed electrician).

Does my quote have an end date?

Yes. Material and plant prices change with the seasons, so each quote shows the date it's good until.

What are your patios and paths made of?

Pavers and natural stone. Pavers last, and if a section ever needs fixing we can lift and reset just that part. We'll bring colours and patterns to show you at the site visit.

Timing and seasons

When can you start, and how long will it take?

Every job is different. Your start date is set once the deposit is in, any permits or approvals are done, the utility locates are back and materials are confirmed. Some materials (special paver colours, wall block, natural stone, pond liners and pumps, large plants) take longer to arrive, so we order those first. We confirm your start day 2–3 days ahead.

Does the weather affect my project?

From about October to March the ground is often wet. Heavy rain can stop digging and base work, so jobs in those months can take a few extra weather days. If the weather moves anything, we tell you the same day.

Fall and winter are a good time for planting here, though soil work goes slower in the rain. New sod can also go down in the wet season.

When should I get in touch?

Early is best if you'd like to enjoy your new space by a certain time of year. That leaves room for the quote, any permits and material delivery times.

Where we work

What areas do you cover?

Serving Vancouver and the Lower Mainland.

Permits and utility locates

Do I need a permit?

It depends on the job and your city. Things that often need a permit or city approval:

• retaining walls about 1.2 m (4 ft) or taller, or walls holding up a slope, a driveway or a building (these often need an engineer's design too)
• removing trees or working near protected trees
• work on the boulevard or city land, or a bin or truck parked on the street
• some pond and fence rules (depth, fencing, height)

Rules change from city to city, so we check them for your address before we start.

I'm in a strata or HOA. What do I need?

Get written approval from your strata or HOA before we start, and let us know what they need from us.

What is BC 1 Call, and do I need to do anything?

BC 1 Call is the free service that marks public underground utilities (like gas, power and phone lines) before anyone digs. We book it for you at least 3 business days before we dig, and we dig by hand near the marks.

BC 1 Call does not mark private lines on your property. Please tell us about anything like this in the work area:

• irrigation lines and valves
• landscape lighting
• gas to a BBQ, fire table or heater
• power to a hot tub, shed or garage
• drain tile, sump lines, a septic tank and field, or a well

If a private line is likely where we're digging, we may need to bring in a private locator.

During your project

What do I need to do before day 1?

• Move cars, furniture, pots and anything else in the work area.
• Keep pets inside.
• Unlock gates or share gate codes.
• Let us use an outdoor tap and power outlet.
• Tell us about private underground lines.
• Give your neighbours a heads-up if access, noise or the property line is involved.

What happens once you start?

• Before we dig: we take before photos, protect what stays (plywood on lawns and driveways, tree protection, covers for windows and siding), and set up a spot for materials and a bin.
• Layout: we mark out the layout and grades and check them against the plan and the locate marks.
• The build: the work goes in stages, for example clear and dig, base, build, finish, plant.
• Check-ins: we walk the job with you on the first day, part way through, and at the end.
• Who to call: you get a contact for your job before we start.

Do I need to be home?

We need access to the work area, water and power. We book the final walkthrough at a time that works for you.

What if you find something unexpected in the ground?

If we hit buried debris, rock, big roots or soft ground that we couldn't see at quote time, we stop, show you, and price it before carrying on. Nothing extra goes ahead without your OK in writing.

What if I want to change something part way through?

No problem. We write up the change and give you the price before we do it. It goes ahead once you OK it in writing (email or text is fine).

What does cleanup look like?

We tidy up every day. At the end we haul away old material and job waste, clean paths and driveways, remove the protection, fix any ruts from our access, and check everything against our before photos. Any leftover pavers or caps you paid for are stacked for you to keep for future repairs.

What happens at the end?

We do a final walkthrough together. We show you what was built and where things are (for example a pond pump and filter, or a wall's drain outlet). If anything isn't right, we write it down and agree when it gets fixed. You get written care notes for the work we did, plus product names and colours so you can match them later. When you're happy, you sign off, and then we send the final invoice.

Payments

How do payments work?

Payments are made in stages: a deposit, a progress payment and a final payment. The amounts for your job are on your quote, and the final invoice goes out after the walkthrough and sign-off.