PDS Contracting Llc
We hired Pete and his crew at PDS contractors to redo our front patio area and to put in a patio in the back of our house. We had met with Pete twice before the date he was supposed to start work. He was very nice and professional. He was young (in his 20's) and clearly driven. He acted like the job was simple and gave us options. He wasn't great about responding to emails when it came to asking questions or getting prices for the stones we chose It was on the day he arrived with all his machinery and equipment, that he told us that he would have to do something a little different than we originally agreed on. It was my husband who pointed out that his plan to put in new stone wouldn't work for a number of reasons. Pete hadn't really thought it through and realized his mistake. We then had to make a split decision to go with another, less desirable and attractive front porch area. Rather than putting in new stones, we had to fill the area with small pebbles. (Which Pete also didn't think to point out that now we wouldn't be able to showel a path to get in the front door in the snow. ugh!) Pete didn't apologize but acted like it was our fault. He offered us a discount for the material difference. However, we had to put in the stepping stones ourselves.
Next, Pete was halfway through putting in the stone patio in the back (which looks great I must say) when he realized that he hadn't anticipated a drainage issue. Again, he was annoyed with us because he was going to have extra materials left because the patio would have to be smaller than originally planned. He wanted to charge us for the unused materials! Eventually, he offered a small discount and no apology.
In the meantime, by bringing all the equipment on to our lawn, much of the lawn was completely torn up and ruined. (This is a big lawn) He had not warned us about this. He acted like putting down topsoil and grass seed was no big deal. And that ruining the lawn was no big deal. However, we were leaving on a trip the following day for 3 weeks! Needless to say, the lawn has not grown back in, and Pete again blamed us for this. Pete was unresponsive to owning up to his mistakes and we never received the refund we asked for.
On the up side, Pete is a hard worker and his guys are professional enough. Even though they accidentally cut a thermostat line to our carriage house that will cost us to replace and they left me with a broken water pitcher from the water I would bring out to them on hot days. I think they ran over it.
We cannot recommend using this company. Pete is young and is driven to grow a great business. He has a long way to go to get there. What an unfortunate experience this was. Thank goodness my husband was able to at least catch mistakes before it was too late. The grass will need to be replanted which is another expense we could have lived without, not to mention the water bills! read more
