Armer Tree Service & Landscaping

Review: In 2012, Armer Tree Services & Landscaping (P.O. Box [redacted], [redacted], PA [redacted]) installed a small, interlocking paver patio (100 sq. ft) at my home. Since that time, the pavers have settled and some have spread apart, exposing the aluminum edge restraint surrounding the patio which now sticks up above the pavers.

The Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI), the authority on segmental concrete pavements in North America, recommends that the BASE MATERIAL be 3/4" Modified 2A crushed stone with a minimum thickness of 4 inches for residential patios (in cold climates ,the base thickness is increased).

Armer Tree Services & Landscaping used 1.5 yard of sand dust only for the base material which does not meet ICPI guidelines, hence, the settlement is due to inadequate base compaction. As noted above, standard paver patios call for a base of 2A modified stone at least 4 inches thick.

I consulted with half a dozen local residential patio installers, all of whom use 2A modified stone and emphatically say not to use stone dust only for the base. All agreed that the contractor should come back and fix the problem via a proper installation.

I have been patient in allowing Mr. Tom Armer, owner of Armer Tree Services & Landscaping, to make a suitable, good-faith effort to resolve my complaint and correct the unsatisfactory workmanship. On Monday, July 7, 2014, Mr. Armer came to inspect the patio and agreed to “re-do it”. After waiting two months and hearing nothing from Mr. Armer, I sent him a letter on August 23, 2014 asking him when he would be able to do the work. I attached a graphic depicting the components of a proper installation of an ICP system (obtained from ICPI website) that includes a proper soil sub-grade, fabric underlayment, compacted aggregate base (2A modified), sand bedding, edge restraint, and sand-filled joints (polemeric sand is preferred). I specified that if I did not hear from him by Friday, August 29, 2014, by receiving detailed documentation outlining the work to be done along with all materials, etc., I would file a consumer complaint.

Mr. Armer called me on September 2, 2014 assuring me he would fix the patio noting, “I was just trying to save you money”. He said he would be able to do the work mid- to late-September. I have heard nothing from him since that time; it is clear Mr. Armer is giving me the runaround and has no intention to uphold his word and reputation by fixing the problem with my patio that resulted from his company’s deviation from accepted patio construction standards.Desired Settlement: Re-install my residential patio according to Interlocking Concrete Pavement Institute (ICPI) standards (the way it should have been done initially).