It took me some time to post this review due to Yelp's character limit, as it was important to be…read moreas clear and detailed as possible. I originally intended to include the full text message documentation, but due to space limitations I have summarized those exchanges here. While the porch may look acceptable to a casual observer, there are significant workmanship and professionalism issues that future customers should be aware of.
I hired Luke's Landscaping and Hardscaping in August 2023 to replace my original front porch. I contacted Jim (the owner) based on positive Yelp reviews. He responded promptly, came out to inspect the job, discussed his experience, and later provided a contract. Before hiring, I asked a question based on feedback from another contractor. Jim became defensive and upset, accusing me of questioning his expertise, which I found concerning.
Jim's price was lower than other bids, which ultimately influenced my decision. In hindsight, this was a mistake.
Jim and his worker Mikey worked long hours and communicated throughout the project. However, several issues arose:
1. My original porch had a decorative rectangle shaped directly into the concrete, which I requested be replicated. This was overlooked during the pour, and by the time it was noticed, the finisher stated that the concrete was already setting and could not be shaped at that stage. Jim later cut the rectangle into the fully cured concrete. While the cut itself is neat, it is deeper than a shape created during finishing and now collects debris, requiring ongoing cleaning.
2. The porch height was altered unevenly. The left side was raised approximately 1.5 inches while the right side remained at the original height, resulting in a noticeable slope. This caused the top step to be slanted and deeper than before. I was not informed this would occur.
3. My original porch had a bullnose edge across the steps and front.
Only the top step was initially bullnosed. When I questioned this, Jim said the original porch did not have one. I later provided photos proving it did. After that, he added the bullnose across the porch.
4. Two days after the pour, I noticed a crack. When I texted Jim, he initially insisted it could only have been caused by sabotage. Later, when he saw it in person, he attributed it to expansion. A second crack was also found. Jim patched both cracks using a different cement than what had been poured by the company he hired for the new porch and assured me multiple times that the color would match. Once dried, the patched areas did not match and have since re-cracked.
5. After I paid in full, Jim contacted me stating he had underbid the demolition and asked me to contribute additional money toward dump fees. I offered $250 beyond the contract. He then continued to push for more money and stated that he would repaint the damaged railings and redo the cracks if I paid additional demolition costs. These items were not upgrades or additional work--they were corrections to issues created during the original job and should have been addressed as part of the contracted work. I ultimately sent the additional $250 as offered.
6. Concrete splatter from the pour covered all porch railings. Jim's team attempted to clean the concrete off, but in doing so pulled off the newly applied paint, leaving the railings discolored and ashy and requiring full repainting. Jim later claimed he had told me not to paint the railings beforehand; this was never said at any point prior to the work.
7. When I later contacted Jim about an unresolved crack and two brooms mistakenly taken from my property, the communication escalated. Jim became hostile, accused me of disrespect, and ended the working relationship. Though he stated the brooms would be returned, they were not.
8. During demolition, the lower front-facing concrete was chipped. Only the top portion was resurfaced, leaving a visibly two-tone appearance. When I raised this concern, Jim stated that the lower portion was simply dirty older concrete and that over time the new white concrete would look the same. This explanation was given after the work was completed and without prior discussion or approval. What he said was FALSE; it is 2 different colors of concrete.
Afterward, three independent contractors asked whether rebar had been installed. It was not. I was told this likely contributed to the cracking.
What began as a promising project resulted in multiple defects, cracks (now three total), additional costs, and unprofessional conduct. I paid approximately $5,000 and will need to hire another contractor to correct the work.
If you consider this company, ensure your contract includes post-job cleanup, reinforcement details, and a written warranty, and do not make final payment until everything is complete and satisfactory.
