Creative Hardscapes and Stone

Eight months ago, I paid Mr. Chris Settle (owner of Creative Hardscapes and Stone) $20,000 to remove and replace a stone retaining wall running the length of my home (approximately 130 ft. long, 3 ft. high). Mr. Settle started work on October 15, 2017 and in the past eight months has collected $13,500 more. A stop work order was issued by Metro Nashville because the work site was not properly maintained (the old retaining wall and mud was dumped in the front yard), there was no erosion control and no permits were filed. At that time, I learned that because Mr. Settle excavated into the toe of my hillside in an area with colluvial soil, we must have engineered drawings of the scope of work. Additionally, permits should have been filed but could not be because Mr. Settle is an unlicensed home improver. At this point, Mr. Settle abandoned our job and has refused to meet the requirements by Metro Codes to have the stop work order lifted. He has also refused to refund our money. We are now experiencing foundation damage to our home and water intrusion issues from the lack of drainage over the past eight months. Also, because of the improper excavation into a dangerous hillside, we are now at risk of a landslide. Unfortunately, we now have lost the money we paid to Mr. Settle ($33,500) and have to find an additional $50,000 to repair all of the damage he has caused to our home, and hopefully we can do that before another huge storm causes even more damage.
Product_Or_Service: Retaining Wall