Dreamscapes Landscaping.LLC

Review: Contractor provided work replacing my front porch steps and putting in a railing last fall. The first time, the concrete steps did not hold up. The concrete crumbled throughout the winter and made a mess. Wood railing was uneven and unstable. Contractor returned over the summer to redo the steps and provide a different railing. The steps are not smooth and not level. Edges are sharp enough for someone to cut themselves open if they would fall. The railing is not properly secured and unstable. It would not be safe for ANYONE to grab a hold of to break a fall. Attempts were made over the summer to contact this contractor over these issues, but no response was ever returned. I feel this contracting business is really just out to take advantage of people and will not recommend them to anyone for anything.Desired Settlement: Doing the job right or a refund for the horrible job that has been done.

Business

Response:

In regards to complaint lD# [redacted]. Initially when the cement steps were put in, she was told that due to the weather the cement steps might not set right. It was mid Nov of 2012. She was told we would come back in the spring to make sure they were ok. This was done on Nov. 30th 2012. We went back on 5/22/2013 and redid steps due to they didn't set right. She decided that day that the wood railing she had picked, she didn't want anymore. We told her we would be back to change it. We went back on 6/412013 and put in a metal railing. We checked the steps and they were fine. She had called and complained on 6/15/2013 that the steps didn't look right. We had went back out on June 18th 2013 and redid the steps again. A picture of the steps are enclosed in the envelope of the final product after being redone on 6/15/2013. The metal railing was bolted down with brackets and 4 bolts to the cement steps. When we went back on 6/15/2013, the railing was fine. There was no complaints from her about the railing, except wanting a different railing then the wood. From the attempts we already made to fix the steps, I honestly feel we are not going to make her happy. As for a refund, mare money then the amt billed to her was spent. For the extra cement, metal railing, and employers paid to come back. I feel we have eaten enough money in that job. But, I will leave it up to your discretion. Regards, [redacted] DreamScapes LLC

Consumer

Response:

I would have to disagree with most of the statements Dreamscapes made in regards to my complaint. They were contacted several times over the summer. A few times by me, and many other times by my boyfriend. My boyfriend had left several messages for Mr. [redacted] and never received a return phone call. The very last time Mr. [redacted] was here doing work was only because my boyfriend used someone elses phone to call him (since he was ignoring our phone numbers.) I have attached a picture for you that shows the first set of steps Dreamscapes put in that did nothing but crumble apart last winter. As I had mentioned in my first complaint, the first railing they installed was nothing but uneven pieces of wood slapped together and the wood was splitting down the middle. This is why they were expected to do the job again, and while they say they had to spend more money than what I was estimated for, there is no reason why it shouldn't have been there responsibility to soak up the costs for there mistakes. Mr. [redacted] even admitted to my boyfriend that he had the (awful) wood railing made by someone who "said he was a carpenter". I will now explain the photos I have attached that show the terrible work that was done, not once, but twice. The first photo is of the first set of steps put in by Dreamscapes that crumbled apart all winter long and made a terrible mess for me to clean up. The second and third one is of the second set of steps that were put in. As you can see, they are not at all smooth as the business claims they are. The fourth photo shows one of the ends of the railing and how it is not safely secured with bolts as the business claims it is. In fact, as you can see, the screws are not even tight into the concrete and therefore my railing has been unsafe for anyone to use. In closing, I strongly believe this business has only there best interest in mind, and not the customer. It is both selfish and unfair to take hundreds of dollars from someone and leave them with a mess like this. I don't doubt it if the steps I have now end up falling apart this winter too. I feel this business should be responsible for either giving me a refund or doing the job the right way, but after two attempts, I can't say I believe they even know how to do it right, but I will leave that for you to decide. Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, [redacted]