After much planning and research, we hired Concrete Innovations to do the concrete work for a major landscaping project and we’re sure glad we did.
Our 30-year-old home (and landscaping) is on a large wide pie lot. The scope of the project was huge, including two existing paving stone patios in the back, both ‘pie slice’ side yards and all of the front entry including concrete steps, patio and a dated crumbling brick planter box.
All these areas have been replaced with exposed aggregate concrete. The project required removal of all old material, some tricky grade changes, even trickier solutions for getting around a narrow edge of the property and all the drainage from our downspouts to beyond the concrete. All the possible solutions were discussed in advance; most still needed modifying on the spot as complications and surprises arose.
Concrete Innovations worked in conjunction with the various trades (metal artist for privacy screens and gate posts, pipefitter for gas-line to firepit, irrigation, landscaper). These tradespeople have all complimented the work done by Concrete Innovations.
All the crew, led by foreman Carter, were hardworking, polite, helpful and a pleasure to have on our property. They worked in very difficult conditions happily and cooperatively. The weather wasn’t always on our side. They were always on time and stayed with the project until completion. The job site was well organised and they cleaned up daily. We really appreciated their ‘Can Do’ attitude AND Carter’s calm approach when we discussed different ideas and approaches.
We alerted our neighbours, apologizing for the impact a project of this scope would have on them. They complimented us on the crews, appreciating how hard they worked and how they respected them, cars in the cul-de-sac and even helping the city workers on garbage, recycle and compost days.
Mario runs very good crews, with staff who have worked for him for years and who are very loyal to him and Concrete Innovations. This is backbreaking work, and they worked without complaint. When the landscaper needed rocks moved, they pitched in and helped.
If we have a complaint, it was with some of the communication with Mario. Unfortunately, Mario had some significant delays in responding to us, both in the initial quote a year before and in the winter proceeding this work, leaving us uncertain of price changes and details. (Part of this ‘problem’ is that they are so busy!)
That said, we also delayed the project twice and as luck would have it, I had to leave during the project to deal with a family emergency.
We found Concrete Innovations because of personal referrals and were impressed by the positive reviews online. They deserve them. Work of this scope needs to be done by the right people and we’re thankful we found them.
PS: After the landscaping project was completed, my husband hired them to install a garage trench drain system. This project, done by a different crew, with Ryan and Steve at the helm, was equally impressive and worthy of all the compliments above.
