Once a building is complete, the landscaping must be added. While many people think of this as nothing more than gardening, there are many different projects that must be completed before plants are added. Large buildings, and even small ones, must have a place to park vehicles. If a great many deliveries by truck are expected, there must be a place for the trucks to load and unload goods. The pavement necessary to support large trucks is much different from that needed to support personal vehicles. Each part of a landscaping project must be tailored to meet the needs of the building's inhabitants.
Whether a building is for office space or residences, pavement choices must be made that are within the local building codes. Many new landscapes must be constructed using porous paving to keep rain water from running off the property. This is often used for parking lots. Rain water pours through the pavement and into a bed of small stones to filter out pollutants. The water then filters into the dirt below and eventually into the water table.
Modern building codes also affect the way paths, walkways and other paved areas are built. Walks and patios or plazas are generally constructed with permeable paving stones. These stones have gaps that allow rain water to go directly into the ground rather than moving to nearby storm water drains. The ground below these pavers must be configured to absorb rainwater as well as keep the pavers level and in place.
There are a great many steps that must be taken before a new building's landscaping is complete. Even before grass, bedding plants and trees go into the ground, there are many decisions to be made. Any paved areas must be completed according to the local building codes before the building's landscaping will be approved.
