I originally contacted Estrada Design Build after seeing an ad in a local magazine.  John Vasiliou, their landscape architect contacted me immediately.  He explained how Estrada worked, and I liked the idea of having a landscape architect married to the implementation arm of the company. 
 
I met with John during the early phases of construction of our new home and he introduced some really interesting ideas that enhanced what I visualized for my landscape/hardscape plan.  After hearing some of John's thoughts, I gave him free reign, and he came back with an awesome plan!  After comparing prices and guarantee periods from other estimates, the choice was clear, that Estrada would win my business.
 
Estrada showed up early, worked hard, met in person with me at every milestone to go over progress and answered all of my questions.  I was extremely impressed.  They executed every aspect of the project and the finished product looked better than the rendering.  The plant material was beautiful, and the crew brought every aspect of the project to life, better than I could have hoped!
 
If  you are thinking of having outside work done, I would highly recommend Estrada Design Build.  They do amazing work and stand behind their product.
 
Thanks
 
Peter & Jennifer Penzell
-proud homeowners
  

What's the difference between a designer and a landscape architect?

 
A landscape architect will have a master's degree in his or her field and can typically operate at a totally different level than a designer. The training and educational process for a landscape architect is very in-depth and takes years to complete. In addition, a landscape architect will undergo continuing education on a regular basis to stay up to date on new techniques and advancements in the industry.
 
If your project requires design (most projects do) strongly consider a qualified landscape architect. Many have the ability to consider and account for things that a designer may not. Grading, drainage, environmental impact, future project phases and continuity are just a few things that a good landscape architect considers as they put a conceptual plan together.
 
However, check references and areas of expertise. All landscape architects are not created equal and some may not specialize in your scope of work. For example, one may be great at creating poolscapes and another's strong suit may be large planting schemes. Some are versed in many areas depending on experience. Bottom line is ask a lot of questions and do plenty of research.
 
If you're building a small patio or minor planting scheme a designer may suit you fine. On a larger project with multiple elements, you would be doing yourself an injustice by not considering an experienced landscape architect. Protect your investment and do it right the first time.