We purchased a home with a huge backyard and so much potential -- but it was completely overgrown,…read moreand it was hard to envision what could truly be done with the space. From the moment I reached out to Pat, we connected right away. He is incredibly knowledgeable about landscape design, layout, and all things plants. He really helped us see what was possible. Pat then introduced us to Ricardo, who is the expert in hardscape, mechanical work, and overall execution. Ricardo and his team worked tirelessly to demo our backyard. Once it was cleared, we finally saw how much usable space we truly had -- and we even uncovered a view! We were so pleased with the entire process -- from design to execution -- and absolutely love the end result. Working with Pat and Ricardo was seamless, professional, and collaborative. We're already looking forward to having them transform our front yard next. We highly recommend Universal Pavers for anyone looking to reimagine their outdoor space!

We started off by calling for an estimate. Pat came over and reviewed our design plans, listened…read moreto our concerns, shared many great suggestions, and then gave us a reasonable quote for our backyard project. His knowledge of plants is extensive, and he also helped us with many practical design elements. Ricardo and his crew worked very hard in transforming our yard. They put in a drainage and irrigation system, a PVC deck with lighting, paver patios, artificial grass, and a variety of plants. His attention to detail and getting things right even when it added to his labor and material costs was appreciated. The quote was more reasonable than 2 other quotes and there were no "surprise and add-on costs." We are very happy with the high quality of the work, the affordable cost, and the beautiful result of the project and highly recommend Pat & Ricardo with Universal.

We had a great experience NAB Construction! Our pickleball court had broken concrete on one end,…read moreand was too short on the other. NAB removed all the bad concrete and replaced it with pavers, and on the other side of the court, they added 5 feet of concrete where we had lawn, as well as adding to our existing retaining wall. After the pavers were installed, I noticed something not to my preference with the paver layout. I contacted Nick, our site manager from NAB, and he was very responsive, and arranged for Nate (the company president) to come out right away and discuss the matter, which was resolved that same day to my complete satisfaction. Nick also was happy to arrange for a few other small tasks related to bricks and concrete on our property to be taken care of, and they were - at no added cost. NAB construction was not the lowest bid we got for this work, but I have learned the hard way that going with the lowest price is not always a great idea, and I am glad I went with NAB for this project. I'm very satisfied with the results of this project, and would not hesitate to recommend NAB construction to others.

We got a new driveway with pavers installed back in 2023. It turned out great and we enjoyed…read moreworking with the owner Nate. We wanted a walkway installed so we went back but this time we dealt with someone by the name of Nick Vard. He was very unprofessional and used the terms "outside the scope of work" and asked us to make a "commitment" several times. I went to Brickyard on a Saturday at 8AM per the direction of Nick but when I called him about our selection he never called me back. He blamed us and said they lost money on the job because it took longer than expected. He tried to convince me to use a brick I did not like. And the biggest disappointment was the drainage that they left unfinished. We spent almost $10k but we feel like the job is incomplete. Wish we could recommend them but if they continue working with Nick Vard you should stay away.

We had a great experience with Linda, owner at Sunrise Garden Design. She patiently listened to our…read moredreams and desires, and helped us land on a backyard design that was practical and beautiful. She clearly communicated her expertise and when our questions drifted to the actual execution of the work, she would always say "that is for the contractor to decide". While some may think this response abrupt or uncaring, Linda is clear in what she does (design) and does not do (installation). We did end up tweaking some design elements to lower installation cost but overall followed her plan. Even when we asked for different plants after her main design was completed, she helped us out at no additional cost. It was a good learning experience for us and we are happy with the final result. Thanks Linda for your great service!

My husband and I are so happy we enlisted the services of Sunrise Garden Design and had the…read morewonderful opportunity to work with its owner Linda. Linda's design process from beginning to end is extremely effective! It involved friendly communication and relationship-building to ensure we provided her with our plant interests and overall desired garden outcome that helped her with designing our front yard. Linda's expertise in plant knowledge and garden design resulted in a drafted plan that was very detailed and informative. In addition, Linda's contractor referrals helped to seamlessly complete the project process. About six years ago, we had our front yard transitioned from lawn to drought-tolerant plants, but it hadn't been thriving. With Linda's help, we were able to keep the healthier plants and incorporate their place in the yard into Linda's plan. We appreciated that as well as her suggestion to transplant many of the existing plants that didn't really fit the front yard's plan to the backyard area where they can still be enjoyed. Linda's gardening love and enthusiasm is infectious! With our newly completed front yard and improved backyard, I'm looking forward to increasing my own gardening skills and enjoying the therapeutic benefits it can provide.

We met Susan from Creative Exteriors Landscape Design when we were enjoying the Walnut Creek Garden…read moreTour a few years ago. She was very friendly and engaging when we met her and we subsequently saw a few of the gardens she had designed while on the tour. When we finally made the decision to update our front and back yards from grass to drought tolerant plant, we met with Susan to discuss what we were looking for. I wanted to have a "desert-scape" look, with a gravel mulch or base, in the front yard and my wife, Mary, wanted a colorful backyard filled with all the color and all of the flowers that we could plant! We were also adding a large 15' x 20' covered patio area to our existing covered patio area and adding additional aggregate patio under the new covered area. We also wanted to add a circular brick patio and fire pit to the back yard in an area that was currently lawn. Susan definitely understood the assignment and went right to work! She took photos of the existing front and back yards and produced a beautiful plan that met both of our desires. We tweaked a few things along the way and Susan helped us make our dream backyard a reality. She recommended a couple of landscape companies to bid on the job and we chose, Steve Gardell of Gardelle Construction to do the job. They were great to work with. Their entire team was amazing! Susan remained in contact during the construction and actually was onsite the day that the plants were delivered to make sure they were placed correctly. When we had concerns a few weeks later about a few of the plant choices we had made, she cheerfully guided us in replacing three or four plants with new varieties that she and my wife picked out. It's been a few months now since everything was finished and we could not be happier! I'm attaching some before and after pics for your review. All of the pictures that have lawn/grass in them are the before picks. If you're contemplating a landscape project, we could not recommend Suan any higher. Please contact her. You will not be sorry!

Confessions of a design snob: those strong opinions extend to garden and landscape design. So, in…read more2005, when we had enough of the juniper and pyracantha dominating the landscape of the original ranch home we had purchased a few years earlier, we started searching for a landscape designer. Of course, landscape architects and designers abound in our neck of the woods. Most were uninspiring. Many offered a "signature" design that they rubber-stamped upon every garden. As if gardens can be purchased off-the-rack. I can't quite recall how we found Susan, but I am so glad we did! She was collaborative, listened carefully to the vision of my land plan, and introduced a sophisticated plant palette that not only worked with my preferences but also the unique conditions of our property. The plant palette flowered and peaked throughout the seasons, introducing visual variety all year long. She helped us select a landscape contractor, showed up at important milestones to ensure that our collective vision was implemented, and helped me spend our limited budget wisely (we acquired a few 15-gallon trees, splurged on key 5-gallon anchor shrubs and 1-gallons; but saved money by purchases dozens upon dozens of 4-inch plants that I installed myself ... after after work, in the dark, with a headlamp on). The prior property owners never installed drainage and therefore caused the soil to be a sodden, stinky, clay-ey mess devoid of nutrients. So the new plants took a few years to establish. Five years later, the garden was drop-dead gorgeous and extraordinary - not only to behold but to enjoy. More importantly, Susan and I had such a fantastic time working together that we've kept in touch for the past 14(!) years ... and adapted the garden (through "garden refreshes") as our needs changed. Our continued collaboration allowed us to enjoy the garden as it evolved from the pristine weekend destination of a gardening enthusiast to a relaxed outdoor space that accommodates family gatherings, a play structure, games, and soccer nets. I have and will continue to recommend Susan to any one who will listen!

Alex and his team at Lamorinda Landscaping are the best!!! After painful and expensive dealings…read morewith others, SO glad I was given their contact information. Not only did they help me by working within my budget, Alex has followed up every other week to make sure that everything they installed or fixed is working properly and that the new lawn is growing as it should. He is very knowledgeable and very kind. I would give them 10 stars if I could.

Lamorinda Landscaping has been taking care of my yard for three years and I am so happy with their…read moreservices. We have done a few big projects and they also provide my weekly maintenance. I am very confident in their advice and expertise. They have even helped me with a few emergencies. I highly recommend them!

We recently completed a landscaping project that included a new front lawn, a backyard fire pit and…read morefire ring, an expanded planting area, and new irrigation in both the front and back yards. Overall, we are happy with the finished project. The fire pit and planting area turned out beautifully, and the lawn looks great. There were a few dead spots in the new grass, but the team returned and repaired them. There were a couple of details that did not fully meet our expectations. We had a propane box installed to supply the fire pit, and we were disappointed with the cover, which was made from only two large standard tiles and does not look as finished as we had hoped. We were also surprised that much of the irrigation system was installed using flexible tubing rather than Schedule 40 pipe that was trenched and buried. Since much of the tubing is covered only by bark, we are concerned it could be damaged as people walk through the area. That said, Nick did a good job helping us plan the project and was very responsive whenever we had questions or concerns. Despite a few areas that could have been handled differently, we are pleased with the overall outcome.

We worked with Vanessa Grimaldo on a renovation of our backyard in Berkeley. Vanessa and Black…read moreDiamond Paver Stones transformed our dilapidated, overgrown backyard by installing paver stones, synthetic grass, a proper drainage system, and a rebuilt staircase. The finished backyard looks excellent and the quality of the construction appears high. Vanessa specifically provided excellent, white-glove service throughout the entirety of the project and was super responsive to all of our communication. We did have a number of issues arise with the crew (mainly excessive dust seeping into our house and trash being left behind on the neighbor's property line), as well as the accounting department (an accidental attempt at overcharging us), but Vanessa always did an excellent job of troubleshooting these issues and helping to guide everybody towards a resolution. She also worked diligently on our backyard design and expertly guided us through several iterations and unexpected construction issues. I highly recommend working with Vanessa and Black Diamond Pavers.

Working with Tyler on the design for my front yard was productive and fruitful from start to…read morefinish. He recommended a variety of plants that fit the layout of my yard and were deer-proof and drought-tolerant. His horticultural expertise is extensive, and he was responsive and a pleasure to work with. I recommend him highly and without hesitation.

I've long wanted to replace my front lawn with low maintenance plants but didn't have a vision…read moreother than incorporating a dry creek. I also had a pretty skimpy budget and needed to comply with the water company's rebate requirements. Tyler created a plan that filled every wish. His finished site plan reflects his extensive plant knowledge and a very fine eye for detail. He is well acquainted with the water rebate program and was able to answer questions thereof. I also used his service to purchase and deliver plants, and have him onsite to place the materials. This service alone is worth every penny; he moved plants and boulders around to the best aesthetic. After everything was complete, he came back for some fine-tuning and recommendations for my gardener. To save money I had my gardener do the installation but really wish I'd had the budget for a more extensive job done by one of Tyler's more experienced contractors. But I'm very happy with the result and recommend Tyler without hesitation. He's also a really nice guy and so easy to work with!