We used StoneMark Landscaping to install our brick paver patio and I cannot recommend them enough! They do beautiful work and, once the work started, they worked fast and left minimal mess in our yard. I live in a new construction neighborhood and have seen a lot of different Hardscape projects installed - StoneMark took great care to make sure they didn't kill the grass on the sides of our house when transporting pavers to the backyard. They also worked with me on my design (which was an amateur pencil sketch) and executed my project to perfection! We continue to get compliments from family, friends and neighbors and are so happy we chose StoneMark to bring our vision to life. You could not find a more caring and respectful crew! read more

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We inherited a front stoop from the previous homeowner that was reinforced with brick risers and pavers. On the top stoop, there were several bricks that were deteriorating below our front doormat. It looked like some of the bricks on the edge were replaced over time and either didn't match or were unlevel. The hardest part was finding a replacement brick that matched in color and size. It turns out, they don't make these particular bricks anymore. We called Stonemark Hardscapes along with 2 other companies to have them all assess the situation and propose solutions. Pete from Stonemark seemed the most knowledgeable and we liked his solution the best. Even though the same style brick didn't exist, he gave us some to choose from and said they could be cut to fit the interior bricks on the stoop and the size difference wouldn't be noticeable. He also agreed to fix the loose bricks on both the first and second stoop and put in some chicken wire around the whole stoop, which we had requested in an attempt to prevent the annual digging/nesting of skunks and opossums. When he and his crew showed up, they were courteous enough to stay off the new grass seed that I had just planted off of our walkway. For an additional charge, they added paver sand and sealer for the whole walkway and stoop. They got the job done in one day and we were very pleased with the work! We loved how the replacement bricks looked even with the old bricks as a border. They were a little on the expensive side, but I think I got the right value for the price. There were a few minor issues with a couple of things, but after a lot of communication with Pete, they took care to make sure that we were satisfied with the work and the end result. read more

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Summary: Pete's personality and good reviews got him the job, but he's now disappeared with over $10k of our money and a 75% complete project. A lawyer is now involved to seek reimbursement...don't let this be you. What started out as a great experience has, unfortunately, not ended the same way. We entered a contract with Pete / Stonemark to rip out our old concrete patio and walkways, which was a pretty large job. Pete was very personable and knowledgeable, and he came in with a decent quote close to others, so we decided to go with Stonemark. While there were a few delays getting started, permits were acquired with the city of LF and the work started without concern. Between October and November, Stonemark completed our back patio and back walkways. The work seems to be high quality and the crew was friendly. Through some "discounts" Pete offered, against my better judgment, I ended up paying for the job in full before the front walkway and front porch was completed. Pete promised that we'll "be the first project completed in the spring." When Spring came around, I started getting in touch to find out when they would complete the front walkway/porch and fix a small low spot in the back patio. When he did answer his phone the 1 time (out of many attempts), he gave a lot of excuses as to why he was delayed for the season (illness, crew issues, etc), but said the work would be started in the coming weeks. Despite repeated attempts via phone, text, and email, Pete has ghosted us and left us with no choice but to hire a lawyer to help get reimbursed. read more

We hired Stonemark Hardscapes to create a backyard oasis and boy did they do that! Not only were they exceptional & professional, but Pete (owner) takes it to another level with his personal attention to each owners requests! Prior to hiring Pete, I researched a few companies that SPECIALIZED in patio design as I've known far too many people who hired a landscaper or the "cheap" option. Eventually, that back fired when they had to re-do the patio years later. When Pete came out, we explained that we enjoyed entertaining and wanted a family friendly patio. Pete's quote was comprehensive & competitive especially considering his long list of references and years in business. Stop what you're doing and call Pete, I promise you will not be disappointed. We will be working with Pete again next year when we redo our front! Thank you Stonemark for creating the perfect place for a staycation summer! Also a big thank you to his crew who also does a great job! read more

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Update: BUYER BEWARE - unfortunately I have to go public with our experience after 6 months of trying to privately have Pete deal with the situation. While some of my original review still stands (the pavers are outstanding), the grass they installed is a complete disaster. They didn't prep the yard before laying the sod, didn't remove construction debris (per contract), didn't pitch the yard the way we discussed, or roll the grass. What is left is a lumpy, muddy mess that we paid thousands of dollars for (see pictures). When we originally contacted Pete about the issue he claimed he would rectify the situation. Due to weather it couldn't happen right away. Now he is ignoring all communication. Unfortunately, we paid cash to help him out. Now we are left with little recourse except to tear out 8 month old grass and start over. We wanted to support a small business and are now paying the price. Be careful in trusting Pete, he has proven he is not a man of his word. ****original review, before we could walk on the grass*** In the world of construction you typically don't get exactly what you pay for- Pete from StoneMark is the exception! He and his crew were absolute professionals: hardworking and courteous. One aspect of the project wasn't exactly right and they rectified it immediately. TheyPrice was very fair and Pete was very communicative. Overall could not have asked for a better experience. read more

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Pete from Stonemark Hardscapes charged us $1,200 to replace a retaining wall and add pavers to our front stoop. He did not replace our retaining wall nor did he finish our front stoop. So he basically stole all that money from us. He filed a permit with the Village but did not pay the village for the permit. The village has also sent him a citation. read more

My husband and I decided to give our back yard a facelift this summer for our son's 1st birthday party. Pete and his team were amazing to work with - they created a stone patio and a fire pit and finished it off with a clean modern softscape in a timely fashion and for a reasonable price. We will be reaching out to Pete and his team next season for another project. Great job! read more

Pete and his crew did a fantastic job on my patio project. He helped me with the design all the way through completion. He was patient when I made changes and made sure that the final project was exactly what I wanted. I can't believe how quickly they got the job done and it looks great. I'm so happy with it! read more

We hired Stonemark Hardscapes to demo an existing concrete walkway and install a paver patio in our back yard with a planter bed & lights. Pete was great to work with, he brought out a couple of patio material books and a brochure of patios he'd personally done and left them for me the first time we met, which set him apart from the competition, and in the end, the great reviews they had, coupled with the portfolio Pete left for me showing their quality work product is what led me to choose Stonemark over the other contractors. Pete met me at Lurvey's to pick out the stones and was helpful in the material selection - I had a hard time deciding and he provided me with a few options of quotes. The crew that installed the patio was led by Jose and they were expert level. I am a perfectionist and can be very picky and one of my concerns in general was getting the border right because I wanted it around the patio and the walkway separately. Jose laid it all out perfectly so that the borders for the patio and the walkway met at the exact right spot. We've been enjoying our patio now for a couple of weeks and hopefully for a long time to come! read more

StoneMark Hardscapes - AFTER - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

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Pete is great but if there is an issue buyer beware. He doesn't respond to text or calls. We just needed to get information from him so we could fix the problem ourselves and still no return calls. Terrible customer service read more

Stonemark was exceptional. Pete worked with me to develop our vision and the patio turned out perfectly. Pete was at our house every day to ensure that things were going smoothly. The patio work they did was meticulous. I would highly recommend them to any friends or family. read more

Pete and his team did an amazing job on our backyard project, from demolishing our deck, to the removal of pesky shrubs and the placement and design of our brick patio, which opened up our backyard so much. Everything was done so quickly and professionally, from start to finish! Pete is a great, super down-to-earth guy and was very understanding in regards to our budget for this project. I am SO pleased with the way everything turned out, and just in time for my birthday. read more

Stop looking and call Pete. From the beginning he provided common-sense guidance as we discussed what we were trying to do. We never got the sense he was upselling, he wanted us to land on a sensible project. He was excellent to work with, including when we requested a change of direction after the project started. No nonsense, no pushback, he was awesome about listening and ensuring that we were going to get the results we wanted. We have done basements and bathrooms, but Pete is the first contractor I would ever WANT to work with again! In the end, we love the results and we have legitimately transformed our backyard. read more

Pete's crew is top of the line. Pete knows the business and has good advice. They put in Richland Pavers to create our patio and they look gorgeous! Great trim work, everything. read more

Unfortunately, my experience with Stonemark Hardscapes and its owner (Pete) was about as bad as it could get. Do they do good work? By the looks of other reviews, I think so. However, I never got the chance to find out. Last summer, I called Pete's business and set up an initial consultation for him to discuss my patio needs. He was 45 minutes late; a little annoying but no big deal as I'm a patient person. My first meeting with him ended up being very pleasant and I thought I had the right person for the job. He even got me a solid quote one week later as promised. We proceeded to exchange several emails on the project over the course of the next couple weeks, he sent me an initial contract that I signed AND sent back, and we spoke over the phone about trying to line up a time for my wife and I to go to one of his design centers to pick out our paver choice...this all within a few weeks of my initial meeting with him. And that is when everything literally went downhill with him. He suddenly became very hard to get a hold of (responses to my messages became delayed and then stopped all together). The literal next step was for us to set up a time to choose our desired materials as stated and he simply would not follow through on that action. After two weeks of trying to get a hold of him including politely letting him know that I could wait a little longer to do this if now wasn't the best time, I *still* could not get him to respond back. The one time I did he sent me a text message (after I tried calling him) telling me he would call me back in 20 minutes; yeah, that never happened. And that was the final straw for me. I had been nothing but patient and polite with him, and desperately wanted to give him my business, but I was done at that point (not that I really had a choice). I sent him a final email expressing how disappointed I was in his lack of professionalism and inability to even have the common courtesy to follow up with me, and rescinded the contract. To this day, I still don't know what happened and why he suddenly decided after three weeks of correspondence (+ sending me a contract that I signed) that he was no longer interested in following through on my project??? If you don't want to do it, fine. I may not like that, but at least let me know and instead of going silent. Oh, and he never responded back to that last email I sent him referenced above. Customer service means everything to me and Stonemark Hardscapes failed very bad in this area. read more

Stonemark Hardscapes installed a new front stoop, stairs, pathway and pillars (on either side of our two fence gates). The finished product looks beautiful - we receive many compliments from passersby. Pete was easy to work with, the cost of the project was very competitive and Ricardo and his crew did great work. We would highly recommend this company if you're in need of any hardscaping on your property. read more

I have been wanting a new patio for 14 years, and this year Pete and his crew made it happen and I couldn't be more thrilled. My husband and I are sticklers when it comes to those we hire for service, and we expect nothing but the best. We also supervise closely, so anyone hired has to be fine with that. Pete was responsive right from the initial contact, and helped us work through all of the details of our project, even meeting us at the landscape design center to select the materials for our project. The price was competitive. Pete's team was efficient, thorough and tidy with hauling and cleaning up the old patio and new construction materials. They did hit a power line that we did not know was running from the house to the garage during the excavation phase, but fortunately the line was not sliced through and my husband was able to provide a repair. The only thing that I really had an issue with was that the crew left their food and drink garbage in our side lawn instead of throwing things away in the large trash cans that were sitting right there on that side of the house. I would definitely recommend Stonemark Hardscape. If you need me, you can find me enjoying my new patio! read more

Pete and his crew helped us all along the way on our patio renovation. Pete was good about making suggestions as well as listening to our wish list on the renovation concept. The team worked really hard every day including some of the hottest days of the summer. The final product is a great patio with excellent attention to detail. We would use Stonemark Hardscapes again. read more

Pete and his team were phenomenal. We had a large patio and driveway project and got a few different quotes and he was very competitive. We had a unique request to put concrete in for a basketball court in our backyard. We also had a vision for a partly raised patio with a seat wall and Pete worked with our vision and budget to help us design everything and then made sure it all happened quickly and with quality. His workers were always respectful and hardworking and Pete put up with our questions and timing demands. We are so impressed with how quickly they got it all done! We couldn't be happier with our beautiful patio and we've gotten so many compliments on it already! Highly recommend Pete. Not only will the work be quality, but he's truly a pleasure to work with--so personable, funny, and friendly! read more

I'm so excited about our front & back yards so pardon me for rambling on but feel free to skip halfway down the post to read about the AMAZING StoneMark Hardscapes: We bought our home 4 years ago in foreclosure and the backyard was literally rotting and the eyesore of the neighborhood. My husband and I served as GCs for the entire interior and exterior work, and neighbors loved it, when we got to the back and front yards, we were financially depleted yet wanted our yard to be a show-stopper and had no idea where to turn. We called random companies throughout the city, some drew images of what they could do, others told us what they could do but the key attributes we wanted like, a fire pit, some sort of a water feature etc carried a hefty price at least by the standard of most of the contractors. We were so exasperated, frustrated and had lost all hope because by the time we finished rebuilding the house itself, we did not have enough money to work the yard of our dreams (and we didn't think having a fire pit should be that unattainable). One day the light bulb went off to go to Lurvey (google it if you don't know, yes they seem pricey but mind you we went in pretty well informed because we have already talked to to many contractors), they helped us come up with designs at a cost and recommended a couple of companies- I just thought "I'm sure we cannot afford a Lurvey-recommended contractor, no way in hell" We spoke with both companies; met one company that we weren't so sure about and then met with the owner of StoneMark Hardscapes, Inc (Pete). My husband and I were immediately taken aback, he just stood out. You could tell he has enough jobs and he is at the point where his goal is to make the client exceptionally happy. He was pleasant, laid back, jovial, positive and just genuinely excited to work with us. We discussed the yards, showed him our designs, he added some suggestions, provided paver and cost saving options and we knew without a doubt, this was our guy. His cost estimate was very fair and although I was still worried about a few added feature here and there after his estimate, he kept saying "don't worry about it, we will figure it out" which gave me a lot of comfort and we did figure it out. I had a great vibe about Pete and I was right (remember, we GC'd our entire home build-out talking to 2-3 contractors for each scope so we know when the right guy is around). Pete met us at Lurvey and we spent a lot of time selecting every single type of stone; from the pavers, seat wall, fire pit, paver trim, water feature, flagstone for the front etc. I mean, he took a lot of time out for us without rushing us. On the first day of work, him and his crew showed up on time and it felt like magic (not kidding) it felt so great seeing the bobcat, trucks and equipment ready to haul out our rotting yard. The energy between Pete and his guys was exceptional, you can tell they are happy and love working with him. One of his guys, Jose, is in my mind, The visual artist; great, amazing guy with a laser-sharp eye for precision and design. The guys were all great, worked hard and gave their all to us and our house. We have had several fires in our backyard, soooo many compliments from neighbors and knowing that we were not taken to the cleaners on price is SUCH a heartwarming feeling and I cannot recommend this company enough. I urge you, just call Pete, you will be pleased, doesn't matter how small or large your space is. Great service, great work, great prices and fair all around. Linda read more

I made a call to Stonemark Hardscapes after reading rave reviews..I explained the job I was looking for to start next spring. Brian was due to come out I had to cancel on him the day before. I had a meeting to attend. So, I rescheduled and confirmed the next appointment I heard nothing. I left three messages no call back. I am disappointed that they thought my time was not important enough for them to call and cancel or leave a message saying they could not come. Sincerely, Julia read more

I am writing this because I hired this company due to the excellent reviews and Mr. Pontikis seemed knowledgeable and was very personable. I don't want someone to make the same mistake I did and use this company. Three months after my driveway was repaired, sand washed out between pavers causIng bricks to move and chip. And even though sealer is suppose to last two years, the sealer became ineffective and weeds and moss subsequently grew. I immediately called Mr. Pontikis but received no response. For over five months, I called and emailed eleven times. He responded twice that he would get back to me but never did. Otherwise, he has ignored all of my communications. Initially he told me he offered a one year guarantee, which he will not fulfill. The owner is definitely not a man of his word. read more

Pete and his team has a done an excellent job from the time we requested an estimate to project execution. They were very reasonable. Pete is very meticulous and explained all the items his team would perform and it is well documented in the contract. He did pull all the permits and contacted JULIE. The job was completed in a timely manner. The team lead by foreman Jose knows exactly what needs to be done. Their design and attention to detail is terrific. We have received several compliments from friends, neighbors and family. They even went out of their way to do work that was not in the contract. We were very happy with the work and the crew is amazing. Final photos are also referenced. We highly recommend Stonemark for their craftsmanship and hard work. read more

We just used Pete as a contractor on our new patio. It was an awesome experience from start to finish. Pete gave us a very reasonable price and was willing to work within our budget. We took us to look at pavers and spent a great deal of time coming up with a great plan for our space. Our job started on a Saturday with demolition of our existing deck. Pete's crew is quick, clean, and friendly. They continued on Monday and finished adding our entire 400 sq. foot patio with seat wall, step and built in lights by the end of the day on Wednesday!! They left the space clean and just as they found it. We would highly recommend Pete for your outdoor needs. We would use him again in a heartbeat! read more

StoneMark Hardscapes - Finished product - Landscape Architects or Designers Near Me - Lake Bluff, Illinois

We absolutely love the hardscapes StoneMark installed for us. Our new front porch, walkway, and backyard patios definitely have the "wow" factor we wanted. Pete helped us imagine, design, and execute such an amazing look for our home. We are very pleased with Pete and StoneMark Hardscapes. read more

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Stonemark did a great job on our bluestone patio - Pete was easy to work with and his crew was great. I highly recommend them.

We´re thrilled with our brick patio! Pete was great to work with, made the process easy, and had great ideas to help us get exactly what we wanted. The crew was fast and thorough removing our old deck and trees, then laying the patio. The quality of the brick work is excellent and all the neighbors have told us how great it looks. read more

We cannot speak highly enough of Pete and his team. They are a hardworking, knowledgeable, and personable crew. They started and finished the job when predicted, and we couldn't be happier with the finished product. We are already getting compliments on the work. Pete made the process extremely easy. Thankful to have found them!! read more