Western Canada’s Premier Landscape Construction and Property Maintenance Business
Your Space, Your Style.
Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes is Western Canada’s premier landscape construction and Christmas light installation business. We also offer property management services including snow removal and yard maintenance. COMMITMENT Assiniboine is built on a commitment to excellence and we take pride in every single project we complete. The results of our work are high quality construction and 100% customer satisfaction.
SERVICE S Landscape Construction – Stone Patios, Retaining Walls, Trees, Sod, Fences, Decks. Property Maintenance – spring clean ups, lawn care, bed maintenance, hedge / tree care, snow removal. Christmas Lights – installation, take down, maintenance, sales, rentals, 60 ft boom truck. Snow Removal – residential, acreage and commercial snow removal.
NA MESAKE Our namesake peak is considered one of the most beautiful mountains in the Canadian Rockies. Nicknamed “the Matterhorn of the Rockies,” the 11,871 ft Mount Assiniboine is easily identifiable from the top of most mountains within a hundred kilometers of it. The peak was first climbed in 1901. We take inspiration from the beauty of this area.
Ironstone stackable boulder retaining wall with flagstone patio and fresh sod
PEAK OF EXCELLENCE Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
2
Your Space, Your Style
Charcoal Rocky Mountain paver with Ironstone stacke boulder retain wall
OUR MISSION It is our mission to provide the best quality workmanship, service and product available, at the best price, to our valued customers.
OUR GUAR ANTEE Assiniboine has a full 2 year guarantee on all landscape construction projects and stand 100% behind all of their work! If a homeowner has any concerns about the construction of their project, Assiniboine’s team will immediately schedule a return to make any necessary repairs. Assiniboine is licensed, insured, WCB compliant, and has an Alberta Bonded prepaid contractors license to ensure your peace of mind. We are an A+ standing member of the Calgary BBB. We provide references upon request.
CALL TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE! Thank you for taking an interest in Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes, we look forward to working with you. Feel free to give us a call anytime to request a free estimate, we are open Monday – Friday to take your call.
403.301.3300 service@assiniboine.com www.Assiniboine.com Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
/assiniboinelandscaping
3
Your Space, Your Style
Your Space, Your Style. Functionality, durability and charm are what matter most in a landscape. The landscape experts at Assiniboine will work with you from conception to completion to create the yard that fits your vision and budget. We encourage you to imagine what your plans are for your yard and to base your decisions around them. We ensure that you get the most value for your hard-earned money and our goal is that you end up with the yard you’ve always dreamed of, a yard that reflects your space and your style.
Stained cedar pergola with custom beams, calibrated natural stone patio, cedar fence, and mulch beds Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
4
Your Space, Your Style
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
5
Your Space, Your Style
Working
for You
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
6
Your Space, Your Style
Before Assiniboine breaks ground your project manager will meet with you to go over your plans, your product choices and any last minute changes you might like to make.
START DATES & PRICING Upon agreeing to the project scope you will be given a start date and a final price estimate. You will know the final price of the project before any work is started or money has changed hands. If revisions do occur in the project, estimate sheets are updated as needed, which keeps you fully aware of costs throughout the project. It is our expectation that you will not receive any price surprises upon completion of our work.
Finished retaining walls with forms for concrete steps
ONE PROJECT - ONE CREW Assiniboine always works on a 1 crew per 1 project basis. This means that your yard is the only work priority of the crew that is designated to it. You can get to know your crew and take comfort in the fact that they’re staying at your job until it’s done. This assures the work is completed on a tight time line. Nobody who books with Assiniboine is left with a big mess and wondering when their contractor will return to finish the job.
Partially finished barkman paving stone patio
TIDY WORK SITE S Our project managers make every effort to keep your yard organized and clean throughout the building process. We go out of our way to respect the fact that our construction site is your home.
SATISFACTION Assiniboine will do what it takes to ensure 100% customer satisfaction. Booking a job with us gives you peace of mind that the project will be completed on time and on budget.
Laying sod
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
7
Your Space, Your Style
Amico stone driveway and retaining wall
Landscape Construction
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
8
Your Space, Your Style
Designing a plan for your yard should be an exciting and enjoyable experience. With a little bit of planning, research and decision making, you can create the space that most suits your tastes and lifestyle. IDEAS TO GET YOU STARTED: Imagine what you want and write it down. How will you use your yard for parties, gardening, kids playing, privacy, sun, shade, fires and access? Making a list helps frame what’s important. Walk around your neighborhood and take photos of yards you like. Check the Internet for new ideas. Assiniboine.com has examples of our work. Also check out expocrete.com, burnco.com, bluegrassnursery.com and stone-concept.ca for material ideas. Layout garden hoses or spray paint your yard to get a feel for sizing. Visit a local landscape center to see products up close and to get a feel for colours and textures so you know all the possibilities. Book your project with Assiniboine, sit back and get ready to enjoy your yard!
Rustic cobble, double circle raised patio
Barkman dimensional pavers
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
9
Your Space, Your Style
Landscape
Design
You may want to hire one of our landscape designers to create a computer automated scale drawing of your yard which is useful on larger projects with a lot of different components.
Your Space By Design Katherine Kinch is the founder and principal of Your Space By Design, an interior and landscape design company that has been based in Calgary for over 5 years. We work closely with her and others like her to complete large projects where the client needs help to conceptualize a design. She is passionate about transforming indoor and outdoor spaces into beautiful places. “I usually provide a complete design that incorporates the client’s wish list and then give them suggestions for features or areas that can be enhanced or improved,” says Kinch. “Clients really like this because it gives them a solution to work with a complete plan for all their wants. I also give them product options for different areas so they see which one they like best.” Katherine’s website is www.yourspacebydesign.com We encourage you to call her. We love to complete her plans. Katherine Kinch
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
10
Your Space, Your Style
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
11
Your Space, Your Style
5
Things to Consider When Designing Your Landscape words by Katherine Kinch
1.Style You will need to consider the house exterior, surrounding landscapes and your personal preferences to determine the style of your landscape. It is important to understand the maintenance requirements and location restrictions to ensure your desired landscape style is feasible. For example, a cottage garden may have the summer color you desire and suit your home but you will need to commit to the maintenance that would be involved.
2.Function How do you want to use your outdoor space? Will you be gardening, relaxing, dining, entertaining or playing with the kids? These are just some of the possible functions you may want to consider. A good designer will spend time with you discussing how you will enjoy your outdoor space and help you to prioritize what should be included.
3.Location Once you have determined the various functions, you need to incorporate these into the landscape plan in the most suitable locations. For example, you will need to consider light exposure when placing garden beds and privacy when situating a hot tub patio. Proximity to the exterior door closest to the kitchen is important when deciding the location of your outdoor dining area. If the desired shade or privacy does not exist, you will want to ensure the location chosen can accommodate a structure and vegetation to transform the space.
4.Transition When the locations of the key areas of the design are decided you need to create the various zones considering shape and size. It is important that the transition between the zones is seamless and flows. The obvious way to transition between spaces within the design is with pathways, well placed beds and lawn areas. You can also create a visual link between zones by repeating the key plants and materials throughout.
5.Ambiance After you build the patio for your outdoor room you can add ambiance, which draws you into the space and encourages you to use the area as it was intended. Ambiance can be added by introducing elements that appeal to the senses such as a heat source, lighting or a water feature. Outdoor structures including pergolas, privacy screens and raised beds can be placed to define an outdoor room which adds intimacy to the space. As a finishing touch you can introduce outdoor dĂŠcor elements such as furniture and planters into the space which add both function and color to create a warm and inviting ambiance. Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
12
Your Space, Your Style
Custom stone firepit
Ironstone steps with flagstone pathway
Roman euro patio with pressure treated deck
Kendal flagstone patio with stone slab step
Rustic roman pisa retaining wall with roman revers a cap and roman euro patio Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
13
Your Space, Your Style
Family
Time Enjoying what’s special
Your Space, Your Style.
Stacked Rundle decorative wall
“
We were very pleased with Assiniboine and we’re planning on using them again this summer to complete some other work. We booked our job in June and the job was done in a timely fashion. It was great to be able to enjoy it all summer.
C
“
algary summers are short, so Danielle McDonald was pleasantly surprised that their landscaping was completed within a week by a hard working Assiniboine crew. The McDonalds weren’t sure exactly what they wanted with their yard when they called Assiniboine for their consultation but by the end they were comfortable and excited about what they had chosen. “We were very happy with Assiniboine’s service,” said Danielle. “The gave us a lot of suggestions about what would work in our space. We chose a dark Rundlestone rock and we used it on some retaining walls and two flower beds. One of the beds is a kidney shape and it’s raised. We love how the work compliments the colors in our house.”
T
he McDonald’s chose to fill their flower beds with black mulch. They wanted a crisp look that was low maintenance. Filling the beds with trees was also a great experience. “The crew leader came by the house with several different options to choose from. He talked us through the characteristics of each plant and we chose some low maintenance options.”
Family
Time
Q&A
Project Manager Interview
You probably have some questions when thinking about your project. Here are a few common questions Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes gets asked, answered by one of our project managers. What are the 5 most important tasks that need to be accomplished on the initial site walk through? 1. Go over the estimate, review the scope of the project (which is all the line items), and where they are going to be installed. 2. Re-measure all components of the project to ensure both parties are on the same page as far as sizes go and proper numbers can be confirmed. This helps prevent any unwanted ‘surprises’ throughout the construction process. 3. Go over all final product decisions - confirm styles, patterns and colours. 4. Go over the places (driveways/streets/alleys etc.) where product can be delivered, access points to the yard, where to park and ensure that neighbors have been notified of the construction. 5. Receive a deposit cheque so all product can be ordered and construction can commence according to plan.
What are the best ways for a client to prepare for your construction team? Get all your ideas and plans confirmed before construction is scheduled to start. Lay out a hose or spray paint the yard to get comfortable with the scale of the project. View all different products (if possible) to confirm you like the colours and styles. Notify your neighbors of the construction and that it will be messy for a bit. Plan to ‘be around’ the city during the construction process so that you can do daily site visits. Have your plant favorites ready, we can provide advice but want to make sure you get what you want. Make plans for Rover (your dog) because it will be muddy and the fences/gates will be open. Pisa II and capstone steps under construction
The best projects are usually a result of what?
The best projects are usually the result of strong communication between the homeowner and the project manager. Both need to ‘work together’ to bring the best out of the lot and create the ideal landscape. Assiniboine’s project managers are the best in the business and listening to their opinions and advice will help ensure that you get an “Assiniboine Quality” yard. With proper design, quality product and superb workmanship you are sure to get the yard of your dreams.
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
18
Your Space, Your Style
Ironstone tiered retaining walls with mulch beds and perennials
What should a client expect on the final walkthrough? The final walk through is a chance for the client and project manager to go over the entire project and address any last minute details that need to be fixed up. Once you’ve gone over all the details together, the client will make the final payment and begin to enjoy their beautiful new landscape!
How does a warranty call work? If there is ever an issue that comes up with your new landscape, although it rarely happens, we are prepared to solve it! Simply go online and fill out a warranty request outlining the problem and submit a photo of the area in concern. Once Assiniboine receives your request we will be in immediate contact and schedule you in for the necessary fix up.
Stackable ironstone retaining wall
Stackstone dry wall around dry river bed with cobble stone patio surrounding
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
19
Your Space, Your Style
From a
Charcoal Holland Pavers in a herringbone pattern, cedar mulch and a decorative boulder
Your Space, Your Style.
Caption to go here which describes the yard
Landscaping is a great way to make your new house feel like a home. When Darin Zandee and his wife Jennifer moved to Calgary from Fort McMurray recently, they bought a house whose property needed a lot of work. But now that everything’s coming together, their space is starting to feel more like their own. When the Zandees first moved in, the front yard was overgrown with an array of greenery that obscured the entrance to the front of the house. Not only that, there wasn’t a place to enjoy the late afternoon sun. “Our Assiniboine Project Manager, Justin, is great to work with,” says Darin. He has worked on our yard a few years in a row now and we ask for him specifically because he takes the time to make a good plan with us.” “The first year they ripped up the whole front yard, except that big Blue Spruce tree,” adds Darin. “And we had a clean slate to work with for that front patio.” The transformation in the front yard is spectacular. It’s not just the look that’s changed, the whole front of the house has a much
more welcoming feel than it used to. And a space that was once overgrown is now the perfect spot to unwind at the end of the day. “The front yard is west facing so we get wonderful evening sun,” says Darin. “We spend the early evenings there enjoying the sunset and talking to neighbours.” The patio is a natural extension of the pre-existing brickwork on the house, while the herring-bone pattern of the paving stones is contained within a fine line of edge brick. And the large decorative stone next to the Blue Spruce has the effect of anchoring everything together. “Justin helped a lot with the design and recommendations of materials,” says Darin. “And most importantly, he ensured high quality and precision.” So what was once an unusable, almost uninviting, tangle of greenery and crumbling old bricks is now like an additional sunfilled room of the Zandees’ home. “We share the space constantly with family and friends,” adds Darin.
Materials
&Products
Charcoal cobble paving stone pathway and mow brick border with 10 mm rundle gravel and 10 mm washed gravel ground cover
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
22
Your Space, Your Style
Stained cedar retaining wall and decorative pergola
Product choices can make or break the aesthetics and value of a landscape. Choose both quality and functional products in a ‘popular’ colour to increase your satisfaction. Assiniboine will help you make the right choices for your property and lend our years of expertise to help make your yard a sanctuary.
Fresh sod, cobble mow brick, black mulch and a variety of perennials
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Charcoal pisa II retaining wall and revers a cap capstone, with rundle groundcover and assorted perennials
23
Your Space, Your Style
Mow brick border around black mulch perennial garden bed
PRODUCT CHOICE S Cover hard to maintain areas with a decorative touch that suits your style. Assiniboine offers a large variety of products you can choose to fill your spaces with. Each product has a different texture, colour and objective. Some materials have a high value for decorative effect and some are low maintenance and functional.
ZERO MAINTENANCE AREAS Assiniboine uses the industrial weed fabric from Burnco, which is the ultimate in weed restriction for worry free areas, yet it still allows water through so you can have plants growing as well. Fill your spaces with whatever stones or gravels suit your preference. Will you or your dog be walking on the stones? Perhaps pick something round. Want to have less traffic in a spot? Perhaps pick a sharper stone.
GARDENS If a garden and planting are high on your priority list then you probably want to go with a mulch. Mulch is much better at water retention and will also compost over time creating nutrients for your plants. Mulch should be topped up every 3-5 years. Crushed rundle pathway, with rundle stone slab step, mulch beds, fresh sod and a cedar deck landing / wrap around stairs Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
24
Your Space, Your Style
Materials
&Products
Fresh sod, charcoal pisa II retaining wall steps and capstones
PRODUCT CHOICE CONSIDER ATIONS
• A washed gravel is both economical and attractive for low maintenance beds.
• A Holland / Double Holland brick combo is a clean and tight brick combo.
• A mow brick edge provides a durable functional edging between grass and bed areas.
• Flagstone prices can vary substantially, it’s always a good idea to mark down your favorites.
• Complicated brick designs are usually a little more
expensive as there is more cutting and wastage involved than in simpler patterns.
• Curved walls and caps are usually a little more expensive
Charcoal cobble circle patio
per sq. ft. as there is a lot of cutting and fitting involved, which results in wastage.
• Composite decking, although more expensive than wood, is a clean maintenance free way to build a raised deck.
• On sloped yards, sometimes tiered decks can be used instead of retaining walls as an option to save money.
Armour stone retaining wall
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
25
Your Space, Your Style
Ground
Cover
LARGE WOOD BARK
SMALL WOOD BARK
FOOTHILLS PREMIUM MULCH
CEDAR MULCH
MONTANE MULCH
BEST VALUE
Mulch
Mulch
Mulch
Mulch
Mulch
BLACK MULCH
CALICO LAVA ROCK
40MM BURGUNDY LAVA
GOLDEN LAVA ROCK
40MM BLACK OBSIDIAN
10MM TANNED
10MM LIMESTONE
10MM RED SHALE
10MM RUNDLE
20MM BLUE PEARL
20MM CRYSTAL WHITE
20 MM LIME STONE
Mulch 7MM WASHED ROUND
10MM WASHED PEA GRAVEL 14MM WASHED ROUND
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
26
Your Space, Your Style
Names of product may vary depending on suppliers
Stone Options 20MM MONTANA RAINBOW
20MM SALT & PEPPER
20MM TANNED
28MM WASHED ROCK BEST VALUE
28MM WASHED ROUND
40MM LIMESTONE
40MM MONTANA RAINBOW
40MM PINK GRANITE
40MM PURPLE SPARKLE
40MM RUNDLE
40MM TANNED
40MM WASHED ROCK
LARGE BURNCO BLACK
MEDIUM BURNCO BLACK
LARGE ROCKY RUSTIC
MEDIUM WASHED RUSTIC
SMALL ROCKY RUSTIC
4-8” MONTANA RAINBOW
4-8” RIVER ROCK
6-14” RIVER ROCK
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
27
Your Space, Your Style
BACKYARD O F
D E L I G H T S
Charcoal pisa II and revers a cap capstones, rundle flagstone upper patio, cedar mulch, charcoal barkman dimensional paving stone patio, cedar fence and arbour / bar area – designed by raeslandscapedesign.com Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
28
Your Space, Your Style
Your Space, Your Style.
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
29
Your Space, Your Style
BACKYARD O F
“
D E L I G H T S
“Both Tom and I were really happy with the service we received from Assiniboine”
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
30
Your Space, Your Style
Tom and Nadine’s backyard is the epitome of
Your Space, maximizing space and Your Style. implementing lifestyle in landscape design. Their house, located close to downtown, has had extensive renovations over the last couple of years and when this modernization process was close completion, the focus finally turned to the property’s landscape. The couple’s south facing back yard receives great afternoon light and they wanted to exploit the largest amount of area where they could enjoy the sun. To this professional couple, their backyard was intended to be an area of reprieve after hard days of working in the office. Their first approach was to work with a landscape designer who analyzed their intended uses of the space and walked them through the options. The couple, which have small children, needed an enclosed area where the kids could play. Nadine, who enjoys gardening, wanted space to employ this hobby craft, and Tom, who enjoys a cooking on his large BBQ, wanted a deck and patio where they could entertain. When Assiniboine broke dirt on the project there was a lot to do. The original yard had severe slope and the re-countouring of the land required a set of retaining walls interrupted by stairs to be built. The end product included a large stone patio, stone walls, kids area, fire place, deck, fence, sod and vegetation. Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
31
Your Space, Your Style
Your Space, Your Style.
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
32
Your Space, Your Style
BACKYARD O F
“Both Tom and I were really happy with the service we received from Assiniboine,” said Nadine as I join them for a Sunday afternoon lunch outside. “The poor guys had terrible weather to work in when they were at our place but they worked really hard to get the job done despite the fact. Eric [the crew leader] was very approachable and his advice was well heeded all the way through. He helped me pick the plants for the garden and everything turned out amazing. Our backyard is really delightful now.”
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
33
Your Space, Your Style
D E L I G H T S
Patios
& Pathways
Rundle flagstone patio finished with crushed rundle and mow brick border, stacked rundle raised bed / firepit
Villagio, Blu 60 & flagstone blended Stone Patio, Double Sided Stone - Mini Creta Seating Wall and a Valencia firepit - www.stone-concept.ca
Assiniboine provides the best products and installation in the industry. Our patios are clean, classy, functional, timeless, and aesthetic. You’ll love the longevity of an Assiniboine patio because we use the proper construction techniques for the foundation. Like any great structure, if it’s built on a solid base it is going to pass the test of time. You can also see the mark of a “quality” Assiniboine patio in the finishing touches. The right cuts, the right border and the right design choices all contribute to a world-class finished product.
Rinox - Proma 60mm Tile Paving Stone Patio with Solino Retaining Step & Capstone www.stone-concept.ca Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Charcoal Holland / Double Holland Paving Stone Driveway
35
Your Space, Your Style
Patios
& Pathways
Rustic cobble paver ‘ying yang’ with circle pattern incorporated
Rustic Cobble Pavers Whether you need a pathway and steps to your front door or around the side of your house, or you want to create the ultimate patio for your outdoor gatherings, Assiniboine is the right choice to get it done. We create beautiful extensions of your house that your guests, neighbors, and family will love.
Why Choose Stone? CHAR ACTER Paving Stone patios are first class features that can be personalized to suit your desire.
DUR ABILITY Unlike stamped concrete, paving stone won’t crack, fade, or get wear patterns.
EASILY REPAIRED Assiniboine patios rarely sink. However, in the unlikely event one does, it only takes a matter of hours to redo and make it look as good as new.
PRICE Cheaper than stamped concrete and comparable to regular poured concrete.
M AINTENANCE Sealed with polymer sand, our patios have low water permeability and are resistant to weeds and ants.
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Rustic cobble pavers with raised roman stackstone tree well
36
Your Space, Your Style
Roman euro paving stone patio
Raised rustic roman pisa retaining wall with charcoal roman revers a cap capstones, and roman euro patio
Desert buff roman euro pavers
Charcoal Rocky Mountain paving stone blend
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
37
Your Space, Your Style
Patios
& Pathways
Villagio, Blu 60 & flagstone blended Stone Patio, Double Sided Stone - Mini Creta Seating Wall and a Valencia firepit - www.stone-concept.ca
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
38
Your Space, Your Style
Charcoal Rocky Mountain paving stone blend
Charcoal Roman euro pavers
Norther roman euro paving stone patio
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
39
Your Space, Your Style
Fireside
THIS RUSTIC FIREPIT BRINGS THE GREAT OUTDOORS TO YOUR OWN BACKYARD
Your Space, Your Style.
Stacked Rundle firepit, Retaining Wall / Seat with custom cut rundle capstone and rundle flagstone patio
THIS RUSTIC FIREPIT BRINGS THE GREAT OUTDOORS TO YOUR OWN BACKYARD n outdoor space becomes so much more A useable when there’s a focal point, a place where family, friends and neighbours can
lot of work to get it level,” says Calvin. “They did it all by hand. The yard was already landscaped, so they couldn’t get any machines to work in there.”
gather together, sit outside and socialize. For Kris Cormier, the Project Manager, is proud of the way Calvin Chew and his family, the Rundle stone everything turned out. “It’s simple, ordered and tied together,” fire pit has become the perfect addition to their he says. “So it’s super solid.” home. Calvin came across a picture of a stacked Rundle stone fireplace and saw the potential for his own yard, which was already a lush expanse of healthy grass. The yard actually has a significant slope to it. But the Assiniboine crew was able to work with the natural terrain and integrate the fire pit into the landscape.“It took a whole
Calvin wanted something different for his backyard, something that would stand out. “We didn’t want something where the bricks all looked the same. We wanted that natural rock look.” The Rundle stones are perfect for that. And now Calvin and his family have a beautiful outdoor extension of their home, a place where they can sit and exchange stories over the comfort of a roaring fire.
Your Space, Your Style.
“
Fireside
Now Calvin and his family have a beautiful new outdoor extension of their home, a place where they can sit and exchange stories over the comfort of a roaring fire.
Memories are made in spaces like this one.
“
Retaining Walls
Stacked armour stone retaining wall
Tiered stackable ironstone retaining wall with foothills alpine mulch beds and assorted perennials
Retaining walls and steps add character to a landscape and value to your property. Walls and steps can be built out of a variety of products and in a variety of ways. Armour stone retaining wall
20 MM LIME STONE
Grey cornerstone tiered retaining wall and steps Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
45
Your Space, Your Style
Retaining Walls
Roman stackstone decorative walls with roman pisa and roman revers a cap capstone, cobble mowbrick border, and roman cobble paving stone patio
Assiniboine takes into consideration many factors when it comes to building a retaining wall including height, retaining function, needed structural integrity, the space available, and the character of the property. Transform a difficult to mow hill into a terraced, functional, safe and productive showpiece. Terracing also increases water retention which allows vegetation to absorb more and grow healthier, while preventing soil erosion.
Rustic pisa II retaining wall with charcoal capstones and rustic roman euro patio
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
46
Your Space, Your Style
“If you have no immediate plans to move, all the better: Landscaping is the one home improvement that actually appreciates over time.� money.cnn.com
Stacked ironstone retaining wall
Rustic roman pisa retaining wall with charcoal capstones
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
47
Your Space, Your Style
N
Natural Stone for You atural stone is a durable, stackable and aesthetic construction material that fits well in large spaces. The Ironstone featured here is a premium product more durable than sandstone and
comes is quarried rectangular blocks allowing for great stack-ability. Natural stone makes excellent retaining walls, stone slab steps, flagstone patios and fireplaces. The great part about natural stone is we can order the rocks in all type of sizes, smaller rocks for features like flower beds to larger stones needed for retention. The most common types of natural stone we use in Calgary are the Ironstone (featured here), Armour stone (light grey) and the most poplar Rundle Stone, which is quarried out near Canmore Check out Burnco for all the different varieties and stone products available.
Your Space, Your Style.
Black Onyx retaining wall with shale grey piedemonte coping, 10 mm rundle path with mow brick border and f
Retaining Walls
Pisa II and capstone retaining wall
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
50
Your Space, Your Style
fresh sod
Pressure treated 4x4 tiered retaining wall with pergola
Stackable ironstone retaining wall
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Charcoal Pisa II retaining wall,revers a cap coping and 28 mm washed gravel bed
51
Your Space, Your Style
Your Space, Your Style.
Making it Count The Art of Maximizing Beautiful Days and Nights
F
F or the family who likes to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors, Calgary can be a difficult place to live. That is, of course, unless you’re strategic with your landscaping. “I’ve been here almost 20 years and my wife and I have grown accustomed to Calgary and its temperature fluctuations,” says Michael Magnien, Assiniboine client and homeowner in Douglasdale Estates. “The yard itself is kind of tilted towards the north-east, but where we have the patio, it gets sunshine until late afternoon. And we’ve got it situated so that the benches that we put out on the perimeter are the last place that the sun sits on.” This is such a great project. Here at Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes, we love seeing our clients’ passions come through in their yards. “One of the things that we really enjoy about the yard now is that we’ve always gravitated towards living close to park lands for outdoor activities,” says Michael.
“When it came to matching the angles on the patio and the stairs with the angles of the kitchen nook that comes off the house, that was cool.”
“That’s why we’re down by Fish Creek Park and our yard echoes that…I always like to be surrounded by trees and greenery.” Of course the landscape wasn’t always so perfect. Assiniboine worked with the Magniens to fulfill their vision and make it what it is today. “The space wasn’t very useable before,” says Michael. “We have three kids and the people who we bought the house from were through all that, so they’d converted the yard into an herb garden. They had a pond and all sorts of shrubbery. It had gone feral…you couldn’t use the yard.” The transformation is amazing. What was once a mess of dying plants, dirt and concrete from the previous deck is now the tidy, suncatching expression of style that you see in the photos. “We’re really pleased. We had a basic idea of what we were after but we were able to take some of [Assinibone’s] suggestions and make it all work together,” says Magnien. “And when it came to matching the angles on the patio and the stairs with the angles of the kitchen nook that comes off the house, that was really cool.” All subtleties aside, the landscape is really about capitalizing on favourable weather conditions. “When the nice weather comes you want to be outside as much as you can to take it in while you have the opportunity,” says Magnien. “ And the way we have the patio right now we can BBQ year-round. It’s great.”
Making it Count
Holland Pavers in a herringbone pattern in northern with a charcoal border, pisa II and revers a cap steps
Steps
Armour Stone Slab steps and stackable retaining wall
Charcoal pisa ii with revers a cap steps and instep led lighting
Steps draw the eye and inevitably become the centerpiece of any landscape. Assiniboine can build steps in a variety of styles and products to suit any budget. Whether you choose to use timber, stone, or cement, steps provide both beauty and function. Sometimes the combination of multiple products can bring an entire landscape together, (walls and patios) and they create a focal point with synergy.
4�x 6� pressure treated steps and tiered retaining wall with rustic cobble pavers
Pisa II & revers a cap with cobble pavers Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
57
Your Space, Your Style
Steps Rustic pisa II retaining wall & steps with charcoal capstones and rustic roman euro paving stone patio
CONSTRUCTION CONSIDER ATIONS
• Steps average between 6” - 8” rise, which should be kept as consistent as possible.
• All Assiniboine retaining walls include proper drainage (weeping tile, washed rock wrapped in fabric).
• A retaining wall can be constructed up to 1 meter high without a city permit.
• A fire pit must be built over 2 meters from combustible materials or property line.
• Ask about drainage or underground weeping tile so you don’t get ice over your steps or path in the winter.
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
58
Your Space, Your Style
Stackable ironstone stone slab steps and stackable retaining walls, with charcoal holland pavers and washed gravel low maintenance beds
Charcoal pisa II & revers a cap capstones with cobblestone patio
Rundlestone slab steps Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
59
Your Space, Your Style
Ironstone slab steps and retaining wall
Steps
Charcoal Pisa II capstone steps
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Desert buff Roman Pisa retaining wall & steps with charcoal revers a cap coping
60
Your Space, Your Style
Roman Pisa and revers a cap steps with roman euro pavers
Roman Pisa & capstone steps with roman euro pavers in rustic with charcoal border
Charcoal Pisa II and capstone retaining wall and steps
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
61
Your Space, Your Style
Arrival
STYLE
W
hen you pull up to the home in Calgary’s Pattison Hills that Gordon and Françoise Robertson have lived in for the last 27 years, your attention will be drawn towards their driveway. It’s a masterfully designed mosaic of paving stones that connects
seamlessly with their front steps and fits in beautifully with the overall aesthetic of their home. The Robertsons came up with the idea on their own and with a little input from Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes, the driveway that Mrs.Robertson so proudly stands on in the photo became a reality. “The Driveway really picked up the front of the property,” says Françoise. “And it really improves the first impression when you drive up to the house.” Years of harsh Calgarian weather had deteriorated the home’s original driveway and the job was an urgent one. The Robertsons were quite happy with the timely manner in which the project was completed, especially with the shortage of available contractors after the flood. “The young man that did the job was very courteous and very professional,” says Françoise. “He showed up every day, even on the weekends, in order to get the job done.” Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
62
Your Space, Your Style
Your Space, Your Style.
“The young man that did the job was very courteous and very professional, he showed up every day, even on the weekends, in order to get the job done.�
Rustic pisa II retaining wall & steps with charcoal capstones and rustic holland / double holland paving stone driveway Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
63
Your Space, Your Style
Borders & Decorative Walls Decorative borders around beds and low maintenance areas are an easy and aesthetic way to create a barrier between products that aren’t meant to mix (gravel/mulch and grass). There are a variety of ways to do this and they all have their pros and cons. Mow Brick Pros – Very durable, easy to maintain, can easily mow over it (hence the name) thus trimming not required, looks great pulling all elements of brick together (colours/textures), thicker border preventing mulch/gravel from getting whippered onto grass. Cons – can be a pricey line item if a lot of length is required.
Wood Border Pros – Fairly cheap and wide long enough to provide a good barrier, durable. Cons – Only available in straight lines and sharp angles, wood can be chipped or ruined by maintenance activities.
Plastic Edging Pros - Marginally cheaper, clean lines, fairly durable plastic, barrier between bed / grass. Cons – Only marginally cheaper than mow brick, plastic can kink and lines can become distorted by mower, mower can shred if ground heaves, have to trim grass anyway while mowing.
Stackstone Pros – Raised beautiful walls creating a real feature in the yard, can be combined with mow brick to provide a super low maintenance finished product, create height and depth for the yard, a real defining feature of the yard, can be used in situations up to 2’ in height, able to create a small tiering effect. Cons – more expensive than mow brick when height isn’t required, a decorative wall, not a weight bearing retaining wall, shouldn’t be used to construct steps.
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
64
Your Space, Your Style
Roman Euro mow brick border with alpine / foothills mulch
Rustic roman stackstone curved decorative wall
Charcoal Stackstone and Rustic Holland Pavers
4 * 4 pressure treated edging with rustic roman euro pavers
Ironstone 3” – 5” raised border
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
65
Your Space, Your Style
Charcoal roman euro mow brick with 3� rundle border and black mulch
Charcoal cobble mow
Borders & Decorative Walls
Decorative stacked rundle retaining wall
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
66
Your Space, Your Style
w brick with 20 mm rundle perennial beds and fresh sod
Charcoal cobble mow brick with 20 mm rundle, black mulch and rundle flagstone pathway
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
67
Your Space, Your Style
Your Space, Your Style.
Timber tech composite decking with regal aluminum and glass railings
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
68
Your Space, Your Style
Elevated
OASIS
Elegant and Hassle Free
T
he view from the deck was one thing that particularly sealed the deal for Dale and Doreen when they bought their new home on Calgary’s west side.
At that time, sixteen years ago, the subdivision was brand new and there was a sea of wooden roofs that their deck towered over. The real selling point was the majestic Rocky Mountains which could be seen in the distance. These days, as the trees in the neighborhood have grown, this empty nest couple has an elevated perch among a canopy of leaves, but still the mountain view remains. It’s a place where the couple often shares a morning coffee and where they maintain a host of blooming plants in the summer.
“The project was completed on time and on budget.” Originally a completely wood structure, after sixteen years in the house, the deck was falling apart. The wooden spindles were becoming shaky and grandchildren needed to be warned about slivers. They
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
69
prolonged the life of the deck as long as they could by painting it on a yearly basis but finally the decision was made to get something new. “We were very pleased with the work Assiniboine did for us,” mentions Doreen as she sips her coffee on a warm summer morning. “We use the deck almost everyday in the summertime. We witness amazing sunsets from our perch and we love it.” “We wanted a hassle free, low maintenance solution for our new deck,” Dale ads in. “We choose composite flooring because we liked the idea that it will never rot, not bleach from the sun and that we’ll never have to paint it. We also went with aluminum railings to avoid future slivers and we put in patio glass to increase the view.” For this couple, a few moments on the patio can make all the difference in the day.
Your Space, Your Style
Decks, Skirting
& Railings Stained cedar deck
Composite deck with 58� & 42� obscured glass and aluminum railings
There are several varieties of railings to choose from on your deck. Wood rails can be built in a number of styles, also, you can consider lower maintenance aluminum railings or use glass and aluminum railings to provide a more open and spacious atmosphere.
Composite deck with black aluminum rails and obscured glass Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Composite deck with cedar pergola & railings with black aluminum spindles
71
Your Space, Your Style
Types of
Decks
Composite deck with black aluminum rails
COMPOSITE
Pressure treated deck with custom benches, storage area and steps
PRESSURE TREATED
Tiered cedar deck with custom slate inlay border
CEDAR Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
72
Your Space, Your Style
Decks are a beautiful extension of the house and they add living space in the summer. Assiniboine builds several kinds of decks and we approach each one with the idea that this is where you spend quality time barbecuing, entertaining and relaxing. DECK CONSTRUCTION
• Decks can be constructed up to 2’ above ground without a permit.
• If a permit is required, permitmasters.ca can expedite the permit process.
• Deck railings must be 42” high to meet building codes. • Deck Skirting is an excellent way to ‘finish’ a deck off. • Ideally decks and fences should be constructed using the same materials.
• Deck construction always starts with a pressure treated wood frame, then can be finished with pressure treated cedar, vinyl or composite.
• Decks should always be constructed on cement pilings with no wood under the soil.
• Instead of skirting, weed fabric and gravel can be used under decks to create a ‘clean’ finish.
Deck Skirting
Cedar deck and stairs integrated into cornerstone and pressure treated retaining walls
Pressure treated deck, railings, steps and vertical slat skirting
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Cedar slat skirting & access hatch
73
Your Space, Your Style
Stained cedar lattice deck skirting
Decks, Skirting
& Railings
Quarrystone paving stone patio, with composite deck, aluminum and obscured glass railings
Cedar deck and privacy lattice
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
74
Your Space, Your Style
Cedar deck with custom planters
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
75
Your Space, Your Style
Pergolas, Lattice
& Arbors
Pergolas, Arbors, and Privacy lattices can be built in any style and for any function that you desire. You can copy a design you saw down the street, or in a magazine, or you can dream your own up. Let us know what you’re interested in and we can make sure it’s built to last and to impress.
Stained cedar pergola with decorative beams
Custom curved cedar pergola
Pressure treated pergola, privacy lattice and deck frame, with vinyl decking and black aluminum and glass railings
Stained cedar deck with built in planter
Decorative privacy lattice fence
Composite deck with cedar pergola and railings with black aluminum spindles
Pressure Treated deck and privacy lattice with cobble stone patio
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
77
Your Space, Your Style
Painted pvergola with 58” Glass and aluminum railings, and vinyl decking
PERGOLA S Pergolas are the ideal way to create an outdoor room, providing a feeling of shelter from the elements, and a bit of shade to boot! They can be constructed in a variety of styles using various different products to create a focal point in a yard. They also provide an ideal location for guiding your vines or hanging potted plants.
PRIVACY L ATTICE Due to the typically elevated nature of a deck, Assiniboine can build a variety of privacy lattices to break the line of sight between you and your neighbors and minimize the “fishbowl” effect.
ARBOR S Add some style and structure to your path, gate or garden with a decorative arbor. They can provide height, privacy and even strength to a gate or just add a little pizzazz for those lucky enough to walk through it. Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Cedar pergola over vinyl deck finished with cedar tongue and groove
78
Your Space, Your Style
Decorative cedar privacy lattice fence
Pressure treated pergola and hot tub privacy lattice
Decorative cedar privacy lattice/arbor
Stained cedar and painted pressure treated decorative fence and privacy lattice Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
79
Your Space, Your Style
Pergolas, Lattice
& Arbors
Pressure treated deck and pergola with black aluminum railings
Cedar pergola with barkman dimensional paving stone patio
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
80
Your Space, Your Style
Tiered pressure treated pergolla and deck with charcoal rocky mountain pavers
Custom cedar pergola with river rock base and fireplace and roman euro charcoal paving stone
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
81
Your Space, Your Style
“Every time there were changes, there was a new estimate. Everything was black and white and nothing was hidden.�
Your Space, Your Style. Pressure treated deck with vertical slat skirting, white aluminum railings, decorative sidewalk block patio finished with low maintenance washed gravel bed. Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
82
Your Space, Your Style
Functional
VALUE R
ita and Marc Klasa have lived in their Strathcona Park home since September, 2000. For about a decade, an old white fence separated them from their neighbours before it was agreed upon that it was time for an update.
Everyone decided over a cup of coffee that a cedar fence would look much nicer and steps were taken to make that happen. But as is so often the case, one home project led to another. In building the fence, the Klasa’s were left with a hump in their backyard after removing an old planter box that housed a low-yielding raspberry plant. They also had a decrepit old deck that needed replacing, so Rita went to home shows and interviewed a few different landscape companies for inspiration. She had a budget in mind and it took a few years to find a company that could help realize her vision in an affordable manner. “Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes showed up, measured everything right away and provided me with a quote that was reasonable,” remembers Rita. Everyone worked together with the resources they had to create the cost-effective, easy-care landscape that the Klasa’s were looking for. Along the way, Rita says that she appreciated Assiniboine’s honest approach. “Every time there were changes, there was a new estimate. Everything was black and white and nothing was hidden.”
Pressure treated stairs and vertical slat skirting with washed gravel and fake grass ‘zero maintenance’ finish
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Another example of precision construction on a pressure treated deck
83
Your Space, Your Style
Fences
&Gates
Cedar horizontal slat decorative fence
Stained cedar fortress style fence with decorative arbor and gate
Double wide cedar gate
Fences can add privacy and act as a barrier for your property. They can be the finishing touch on a great landscape design. Assiniboine offers many different selections when it comes to building your perfect fence.
Pressure treated fortress style fence with decorative iron gate
Decorative cedar gate and arbor Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
85
Your Space, Your Style
Cedar fence with decorative lattice top built on combination of rustic pisa and capstone and 6” * 6” pressure treated retaining walls
Pressure treated fortress style fence built on a sandstone wall
FENCE CONSTRUCTION
• All fence posts are sunk 30” into the ground. • 2 bags of cement are used on every post. • Gate posts are sunk 36” and 3 bags of cement are used. • Gates larger than 42” wide can cause posts to twist due to the load factor of a large heavy gate.
• Usually fence costs will be split among the neighbors who share it.
• A real property report is the ideal way to find the property line. • Fences are usually constructed on the property line. • Standard Fence Height is 6’. Stained friendly neighbor style fence with decorative arbor Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
86
Your Space, Your Style
Cedar fortress style fence
Cedar lattice top estate fence
DECK/FENCE REMOVAL SERVICE Sometimes the first step in a new deck or fence job is the removal of the older product. Assiniboine is happy to deconstruct your old deck or fence and take the materials to the dump. This service is provided as an additional line item in the budget provided.
Aluminum railing with custom cedar and lattice paneling
Pressure treated fence with 6’ aluminum spindle decorative fence Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
Pressure treated fence with decorative wrought iron inlay
87
Your Space, Your Style
Decorative cedar gate with wrought iron inlay and horizontal slat fence
Pressure treated fence replacement for townhomes
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
88
Your Space, Your Style
Fences
&Gates
Pressure treated fence with charcoal pisa II and capstone retaining wall
Decorative cedar arbour and gate with pressure treated posts
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
89
Your Space, Your Style
URBAN
Sanctuary
Clean lines and modern style create the perfect urban contemporary getaway
Your Space, Your Style.
Landscape designed by: Katherine Kinch - www.yourspacebydesign.com
Black onyx retaining wall with shale grey piedemonte coping and techno bloc blu 60 paving stone patio
URBAN
Sanctuary
Clean Lines and Modern Style Picture this: six to seven years after your backyard project is initiated, the Columnar Aspens that you planted are thirty feet tall and the Blue Oak grasses have matured into a healthy row of well-nourished foliage. Between the Aspens and your Redwood Privacy Lattice, the backyard is yours and nobody else’s. This is your space, and it’s the ultimate reflection of your style. There’s no better place to kick up your feet and soak in the serenity of your own private kingdom. When the sun sets over the western horizon and the air takes on that classic Albertan chill, you turn on your hard-wired gas fireplace and flick the switches on the two torches that sit on either side of your garden. Your backyard is the perfect place to gather with the people you care about.
This is how you pictured it when you started dreaming up the idea: people sitting on the retaining wall (that’s why you put the extra caps on) and the glass beads of your fireplace casting a comforting hue into the fading night. The fireplace is in the perfect spot, heating your space and making it that much more enjoyable. Why watch TV when you can sit outside and feel like you’re miles away from anywhere else? “This is my favourite job that I’ve ever worked on,” says Kris Cormier, the Project Manager that worked with the homeowner to create this incredible, zero-maintenance backyard. “I love the details, like how the pattern of the paving stones doesn’t really repeat itself,” adds Cormier. “You could just tell the space was going to be perfect for them.”
Plants
& Vegetation
Once the hardscape has been constructed, the next thing to do is ‘furnish’ it. Plants bring color and life to a yard and if done properly can add tremendous value. Let Assiniboine work with you to provide advice and suggestions on how to make your dreams come to fruition.
Raised allen block retaining wall around decorative bed
Perennial bed with mow brick border, decorative sandstone, dry river bed and montane mulch ground cover Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
95
Your Space, Your Style
Types of
Gardens
All garden bases start with a deep layer of premium ‘garden mix’ (peat, loam and sand) to create ideal growing conditions.
Small rundle boulder retaining wall with 20 mm limestone and black died mulch and assorted shrubs / perennials
THE SHRUB GARDEN This is the lowest maintenance of all 3 garden types… It consists almost exclusively of shrubs and trees that are low – no maintenance, this type of garden is definitely covered in mulch or sometimes weed fabric and gravel. The shrubs in this type of garden can still provide a wide variety of color and usually doesn’t need any watering, and very little pruning.
THE PERENNIAL GARDEN This type of garden is for the mildly engaged homeowner who wants vibrant color and life, but doesn’t have a lot of time to maintain it.
Assorted perennial garden finished with garden mix and montane mulch Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
96
Your Space, Your Style
THE ANNUAL GARDEN This garden provides the most color of all garden types and is where the homeowner gets to plant new flowers every spring‌ No mulch is used in this type of garden as new flowers are planted and removed on a seasonal basis. The size of this type of garden should be kept manageable because the same soil that grows the best flowers is also great for weeds.
Allan block europa collection abbey blend, with cedar mulch bed and assorted shrubs and perennials
Assorted perennial garden finished with garden mix and montane mulch
YOU PL AN , WE PL ANT Assiniboine is happy to plant the vegetation that you have picked out for your project. You choose the plants you want and we will put them in the soil.
WATERING Once your beds have been planted it is up to the customer to water the vegetation appropriately. We do not offer watering services for your plants.
MAINTENANCE Weeds taking over your flower beds? Let us help. We provide everything from one time overhauls to ongoing maintenance. Assorted perennial garden with mow brick edging Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
97
Your Space, Your Style
Charcoal roman euro patio with rundle flagstone pathways and black mulch beds
Creating a Piece of Liveable Art
S
ome people see the empty plot of land on which they built their new house as a chore, a final task in the completion of creating their new home. But some people see that pile of dirt as a blank canvas, a clean slate on which they can express their sense of style and create a space that they can truly call their own. Really, the unfinished yard is like a blank sheet of paper awaiting the creative touch of the human hand and mind.
Your Space, Your Style.
Leigh Douglas had a vision for her new home in Mackenzie Town’s Elgin. And with the help of Assiniboine Lights and Landscapes, she turned that vision into one of the nicest yards we’ve ever taken part in creating. “It was such a good idea,” says Kris Cormier, the Project Manager who worked with Leigh to execute her plan. “We built it up the way she wanted it and I think it looks awesome.” Leigh also credits Katherine from Your Space by Design in the creative process. “She was invaluable…She listened to everything on my wishlist and then came up with the overall design.” It’s the details that make this project so visually appealing. Notice how the path to the garage follows the curve of the Roman Paving Stone patio. And look how seamlessly the Rundle Flagstone path blends into the design. This isn’t just landscaping. It’s art. “I loved Katherine’s idea for the pathway that meanders through the yard and around the patio,” says Douglas. “And Kris’s knowledge and experience were very helpful,” she adds. “Because of his recommendations, I am confident that my patios, walkways and paths will stand the test of time.”
Leigh’s responsible for the beautiful gardens that you see in the pictures, noting that she added a truckload of compost and black mulch to create flower beds for her plants. “The patios and walkways naturally divide the yard into separate areas for various themed perennial beds,” she adds. As with any landscaping project, it’s essential to factor in the local weather and natural environment. The yard faces south, so it gets plenty of sun through the day. There is a nice shady spot in front of the garage though, which is where Leigh included a small patch of grass for her dog Rio (The Rio Retreat). And she also included a smaller, second patio that has beautiful views of the environmental reserve and natural pond beyond her yard. “The small patio at the edge of the yard is perfect for reading and admiring the view,” says Leigh. It’s so apparent in talking with Leigh that she’s proud of her yard. And when you look at the pictures of what it looked like before she started breaking ground, you really appreciate her vision. “This is definitely one of the cooler projects I’ve been a part of,” adds Cormier.
“The small patio at the edge of the yard is perfect for reading and admiring the view”
Christmas
Lights
Multicolour c6 LED lights on house and tree with some icy white LED C6 on the other tree
Christmas
Lights
White traditional Christmas lights on roofline
Assiniboine lights and Landscapes is the premier Christmas Light Installation business in Western Canada. We specialize in large trees, steep roofs and bringing attention to your home or business during the holiday season. Blue LED tree wrap and large spruce tree with mini trad’s in hedge
OUR PRO CESS To get started or learn more about how Assiniboine operates, simply follow these easy steps. Having your Christmas lights set up has never been this easy!!! 1. Pick up the phone and give us a call. You will be greeted by one of our friendly office staff who are ready to answer any and all questions you may have. 2. Book an appointment, you do NOT have to be home, (our crews only work outside). 3. Tell Assiniboine what type of lights you have or want (Assiniboine will rent, sell or set up your lights) and where you want them installed. 4. Leave out instructions with your lights on your front porch for us to install. Assiniboine will test all your lights to make sure they are in perfect working order and replace any bulbs or strands that aren’t working with stock they have available on site.
Icy white LED icicle lights Warm white LED C9 lights
5. Call to pay your invoice and enjoy your Christmas Lights!
Assiniboine’s installations are the best in the business. All extension cords will be tucked away out of sight and timers set so that you have a hassle and worry free light experience. Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
104
Your Space, Your Style
Christmas lights in Calgary is a tradition that the entire city joins in on, making
evenings a joy as the festive season rolls around. For anyone that has installed their own lights before, you will know that it is easier said than done. Borrowing your neighbors ladder and braving cold, icy driveways and roofs only to have a sagging, half finished job is not what you had in mind when you started. That’s where Assiniboine comes in. As an Assiniboine Christmas light installer for 6 years, I now look forward to catching up with regular clients who realize it is simpler and safer to call in the professionals. For those that might be considering adding to the charm of your street or enticing some more business by having lights installed, here are a few trends and things to consider before calling the office to speak with one of the our staff about installing your lights.
THE FIRST RULE OF LIGHTS though is that more is usually better and when you turn on the switch for the first time you will agree. As an installer, clients often look to me to design a Christmas lights layout for their house. Having installed lights on hundreds of houses myself and our other installers know what will look best and give you the best bang for your buck. The common trend is to hang lights on your house where they will be seen so most people opt for the front of the house facing the street, or along the corner if it is a corner lot. Trees are a real conversation piece so if you have a nice spruce tree in your front yard or outside the living room window in the back yard it is sure to impress. And don’t fret, we have yet to find a tree too big to hang Christmas lights in. LED LIGHTS are by far the most efficient and every year more and more clients that don’t already have LED lights are switching over. LED lights don’t burn out mid way through the season, are more energy efficient and less fragile than the old fashioned glass bulbs. THE FINAL CONSIDERATION IS COLOR. In my experience the popular colors are the traditional Christmas multi colors and the classic look of white lights that is timeless. That isn’t to say that any vision you might have personally for your Christmas light display this coming season will look out of place, so don’t hesitate to describe exactly what you would like before heading back inside for a warm cup of coffee while we get to work. As an avid skier and climber, your second storey peak in frigid winter temperatures is merely training for the coming winter playing in the mountains. -Anthony Bonello (Crew leader and seven-year light
installation vet.) Multi color LED C6 lights on a spruce tree Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
105
Your Space, Your Style
Traditional White incandescent Christmas lights
Warm white C6 LED’s in 2 large spruce trees
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
106
Your Space, Your Style
Icy white C6 LED’s in some small trees
Christmas
Lights
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
107
Your Space, Your Style
Lawncare Ben blowing off grass clippings to ensure a spotless yard
Spring, Summer & Fall
Relax. Let Assiniboine take care of your lawn maintenance throughout the year. Spring clean-ups are the first step to a healthy lawn throughout the summer and fall. Here’s what’s involved: APRIL 1 – MAY 31
MAY 15 – OCTOBER 15
LEAF CLEAN UP
LAWN MAINTENANCE
Clean up and remove all the debris that the fall and winter left in your yard.
Is provided on a weekly or biweekly basis. Our crews will cut and trim your lawn and blow clean all hard surfaces.
POWER R AKE OR DETHATCH
VACATION CUTS
Removes old thatch, debris and moss while stimulating new growth resulting in a thicker lawn.
Let us know when you want us to be there and your property will be well maintained while you’re enjoying your trip!
AER ATE Increase nutrient & water absorption, and helps oxygenate the soil.
MOW AND TRIM Cleans up the appearance of the grass and kick starts growth.
HED GE AND TREE PRUNING Let us know if you need a hand to keep your yard manicured and we’re happy to help out.
BED MAINTENANCE
FERTILIZE
Weeds taking over your flower beds? Let us help. We provide everything from one time overhauls to ongoing maintenance.
Provides your lawn with the proper nutrients it needs to be thick and green all summer.
FERTILIZE
DEBRIS REMOVAL
Fertilizer should be applied 3- 4 times a summer for your lawn’s optimal health.
We haul everything away so you don’t have to worry about it!
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
108
Your Space, Your Style
Snow
Removal
Assiniboine uses boss plows, the best on the market
Assiniboine provides residential, acreage and commercial snow removal in Calgary and the surrounding area. Our equipment varies from shovels, scrapers and snow blowers, to skid steers, plow trucks, sanders and dump trucks. Serving homes, acreages, commercial and industrial properties. No matter the size, Assiniboine is equipped to do the job. Assiniboine also offers different contract options ranging from removals on a per time basis to unlimited snow removals throughout the season.
HAND SHOVELING The tried and true staple of snow removal are crews who are there when you need them.
POWER BRUSHING Allows us to clean the walkway much more thoroughly than just the shovel, important for high traffic areas.
PLOW TRUCK Perfect for acreages, access roads and parking lots, our trucks use BOSS plows, the best in the business!
SKID STEER Ideal for industrial / commercial locations where space is a factor and we need to pile snow high for lack of space or for high volume contracts.
SALTING & SANDING For those days when no matter how you clean it, the ice is still there. We make your surfaces safe to walk and drive on. Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
109
Let us clear your sidewalks for you
Your Space, Your Style
Year Round Estate& Property Maintenance If you are looking for a year-round, worry free property maintenance solution, then look no further. Rather than just piecing together your maintenance needs, we can provide an ‘all inclusive’ package to keep your yard looking perfect no matter the season.
CONDO BOARDS / PROPERTY MAINTENANCE Assiniboine has a team of highly trained and dedicated individuals who are focused on providing year round outdoor maintenance. For one consistent monthly fee we can make sure everything from your spring clean, weekly maintenance, fertilizing, leaf clean, snow removal to sanding and gravel is maintained. As a client, you will get ONE dedicated property maintenance expert who will be wholly responsible for all your needs and requests. You will have a direct cell number for your crew leader, year round full time office support and a dedicated estimator who can provide numbers to any of your ideas or needs. We are experienced in dealing with all types of tenants and special requests, give us a call for more details.
ESTATE MAINTENANCE For those homeowners who are looking for a worry free maintenance solution this may be the answer for you. You let us know what you are looking for – weekly lawn and bed maintenance, hedge pruning, fertilizing, snow / ice management. You name it we can do it, and we can bundle it all into 1 easy and consistent monthly payment which makes budgeting easy.
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
110
Your Space, Your Style
Recommendations “Everybody we had contact with at Assiniboine was super. I was most impressed with Trevor (the project manager) and Matt (the head crew chief). Trevor’s customer service was exemplary. And it was obvious that Matt had a lot of experience and was very good at what he does. The two young guys that did a lot of the work were excellent too - hard-working, polite and respectful.” - Libby
“My patio/walkway project with Assiniboine was completed last week, and I just wanted you to know how happy I was with my project manager, Kristopher Cormier. His knowledge and experience was very helpful and because of his recommendations, I am confident that my patios, walkways and paths will hold up for years to come. He patiently answered all of my many questions, stuck to the estimate and kept me informed of the process and scheduling of the project. Kris and his crew were hard working, as well as extremely polite and professional - even when dealing with some grumpy next door neighbors! He really did go above and beyond and it was a pleasure working with him.” - Leigh “I can’t say enough good things about these guys. Matt knew exactly what I was looking for in terms of the design and the result FAR exceeded my expectations. These guys worked their butts off and still found the time to have some fun (with me). I was particularly impressed with how they were continually cleaning up the work site. I was actually sorry to see them go” - Nadene
Assiniboine would like to thank Dave Duncan at Soul Exposure photography, Katherine Kinch, Rae’s Landscape Design, everyone at Summit Communications, all our amazing clients, and all our world class people for facilitating & building all the beautiful landscapes you’ve seen in these pages.
MAGAZINE PRODUCTION, LAYOUT AND DESIGN BY SUMMIT COMMUNICATIONS 250.344.5578 | INFO@SUMMITCOMMUNICATIONS.CA
Assiniboine Lights & Landscapes
111
Your Space, Your Style
Your Space, Your Style. We build and maintain the property of your dreams. 403.301.3300 (Calgary) | www.Assiniboine.com