The Cairn & Cedar Method: a deep-dive.
Site visit, design, quote, build. The four-step Method that every Cairn & Cedar project follows — explained in detail, with real timelines and what to expect at each phase.
— Why this matters
The Cairn & Cedar Method, Deep Dive — and why it matters in Vermont.
The Cairn & Cedar Method exists for one reason: to prevent the failures that happen when design and build are separated. Here’s exactly what each step entails, what you contribute, and what we deliver.
— Quick reference
— The detail
What to know.
The working detail — what we apply on every Cairn & Cedar project.
Step 1: Site visit (Week 1)
Two-hour walk of your property with the registered landscape architect. We measure light angles, slope percentages, drainage flow, soil samples, mature tree health. We listen to what you want, what you’ve tried, what hasn’t worked. No PowerPoint. Within one week, we send you a written scope-of-work and order-of-magnitude budget. Free, no obligation.
Step 2: Design (Weeks 2-14)
Hand-drawn schematic on tracing paper for review at your kitchen table. Free revision pass. Then full construction documents — site plan, planting plan, hardscape sections, grading, lighting, schedules. Two formal reviews built in. Stamped for permits when required. Typical timeline 8-14 weeks; complex sites longer.
Step 3: Quote (Week 14-16)
Fixed-price proposal organized by phase and trade. Stone source (specific quarry), timber source (specific mill), plant nursery, labor hours, equipment, drainage, lighting — all line-itemed. Reviewed line-by-line with you. Change orders signed before any change happens during construction.
Step 4: Build (Construction season)
Our in-house crew on site every working day. Weekly progress photos to clients. Architect walks the site at every major milestone — footings, hardscape rough-in, planting day, punch list. Punch list closed before final invoice. Two-winter inspection schedule built in.
What you contribute at each phase
Site visit: time, candor about what you want and what you’ve tried. Design: feedback on schematic, then on construction documents. Two reviews. Quote: review of the line items, ask questions, sign the contract. Build: regular access to the site, decisions on minor field issues, payment per the agreed schedule.
What stays the same regardless of project size
Whether the project is a $25K stone wall or a $400K full estate master plan, the Method stays the same. The phases scale; the structure doesn’t change. Same architect on every site visit. Same crew on every build.
— Frequently asked
What clients want to know.
What does the site visit cost?
Free. Two hours, anywhere in Chittenden County. We bring measuring tools and curiosity. We leave you with a written scope and budget range within one week.
Can I hire you for design only?
Yes. About 30% of our master-plan clients use our drawings with their own contractor. The Method still applies — site visit, design, quote (for design fee), and we remain available for site visits during construction.
What if the budget comes back higher than expected?
Common. We’ll work with you to scope down, phase the project, or identify what to defer. Fixed price means the number you sign is the number you pay — but it also means we’d rather scope honestly than scope cheap and surprise you.
What if I want to change scope mid-project?
Document the change, re-price, sign a change order before any new work happens. The original scope’s price doesn’t change; new scope is added explicitly.
Will the architect actually be on site?
Yes. Architect leads the site visit, draws the design, walks the site at every major construction milestone. Not a ‘design firm with field crew’ separation — same person across the project lifecycle.
What’s the warranty?
Two-winter inspection on hardscape and cedar work — we walk the site in spring of years one and two, address any issues, no charge. Two-year plant warranty on planting plans we install.