It all started well. They were very enthusiastic, willing to adjust plans (and price), and work with our ideas. We even discussed about how we wanted it done right and were willing to pay for the quality. We paid half down for the $8,620 project. In the beginning the workmanship was good and ""appeared"" to be done right. However we are not professionals in this area and trusted that it would be right. Due to circumstances out of their control they got behind on the project. That's where things started to unravel. In the end they got in a hurry, used substitute workers, and the craftsmanship suffered greatly. \r
What we've discovered: \r
The foundational stones for the wall do not go all the way around the 18 foot diameter patio. They left approximately 10 feet on either side of the patio without the foundation stones. This leaves the bed of sand underneath the wall exposed in some places and subject to erosion. \r
The trench for the natural gas line was not dug deep enough according to code requirements (which they said they would do). The key to turn on the gas at the fire pit was not even connected to the valve. And the flange for the valve was loosely inserted into a part of the stone they drilled through (rather sloppily) and not cemented into place. \r
The step at the entrances on either side of the patio were poorly fitted and left without supporting stones underneath leaving the bed of sand, upon which the steps were placed, exposed to erode away. \r
The cap stones on the 25 inch high wall are poorly fitted and not well planned... Meaning the end pieces on each wall are small, look out of place, and were cut so the natural stone finish is gone and the interior aggregate of the stone exposed. \r
Pressured to pay at the end, my wife paid the remaining amount, without our being able to inspect it thoroughly. We've decided to call that the cost of tuition. We've asked them to come back and fix the issues. They made an appointment to do so but have never showed and now they don't return calls. So far we've paid $500 to other professionals to fix the gas connections in the fire pit. We've fixed some things our selves replacing stones in certain places and putting backing stones in place to hold the sand bed where ever it is exposed. \r
We're not done fixing things yet and it will likely cost more. I would post pictures here if it were possible. The company was referred to us by another construction company. So our hopes and confidence were high. In the end this was more than disappointing. If they had stood behind their work and corrected the issues this would have been a very different review.
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