Quality of work was uneven. When asked to fix, he gave an explanation that the surrounding ground…read moreas the limitation. However, even within the work area, the surface was wavy. He recommended a fix that would cost more. I didn't want to fight or pay more for him to fix. In addition, I'm wasn't happy that he increased the quote on me 3 times. I essentially had to prepare each time.

I don't want to leave negative reviews because I understand everyone is working hard to make a…read moreliving, but this was the first time I had to stop a contractor after 1.5 days because I was stressed and concerned about the way the work was progressing. I wanted my backyard demoed to install draining and concrete to make it low maintenance and fix draining issues during heavy rains. I felt the materials purchased didn't look right and were also different from what other contractor bids mentioned the material they would use. I even consulted AI and other forums online to make sure my intuition wasn't off. Either way, I don't think these materials purchased were the issue because if I am working with a good contractor, they would be able to either adjust to my request in a respectful manner or explain their approach rather than gaslighting me. First, Tran purchased triple wall HDPE pipes for a very long run for the draining (20+ feet). I assumed we'd be using PVC pipes and that was also the recommendation from most as PVC is more durable and less prone to bellying during the installation process. If issues arise, it's also a better material to snake through rather than triple wall HDPE as it is smoother and more durable. When I asked if the triple wall HDPE pipe could be returned and to use PCV instead, Tran responded as if I were crazy and mentioned the PVC pipe is not for outdoor use. I was taken aback and wasn't sure how to respond to this, I've only seen copper or plastic piping used for my indoor plumbing and there was PVC piping used outside we can see right in front of us as we were talking. Second, it's best not to use 90 degree elbow for my situation, and it's better to use 45 degree elbow to avoid clogging. If you've gone through elementary school, then clearly you can tell the elbow purchased is 90 degrees. I asked Tran if he could use 45, and he responded "These are all 45, you can take this to home depot and check." The elbow clearly looked 90 degrees, so I had to go out to home depot myself, take a picture of the clear difference between the 90 degree elbow he had purchased vs the obvious 45 degree elbow at the store, then he responded, "Ok, let me get the new elbow." This is the second instance of gaslighting that made me feel confused and concerned to trust this contractor to continue work. Third, because the draining was going to be installed underneath concrete, this means it will be challenging to unclog or check for issues if something went wrong in the future. I asked about this and wanted to communicate my desire to install some sort of drain cleanout, but I was cut off and Tran simply stated "I've done this so many times" and never answered my question properly. I felt taken advantage of and disrespected with the gaslighting while working with this contractor. I am spending a lot of money and this is a huge job that needs to be done correctly, as trying to fix plumbing underneath concrete isn't the same as fixing plumbing underneath an indoor sink. The fact that an elbow could not even be purchased properly was the last straw and I did not feel comfortable moving forward. I give 2 stars for showing up each day and working hard to demo the backyard as there was a lot of weeded grass and plants that needed to be removed.

Jose was great to work with for our front yard and porch. The estimate was fair and he always kept…read moreme updated with the schedule. We are very happy with the results

Hired VJ Concrete to replace gravel patch with concrete patio. Crew did good job overall but wished…read moreall the concrete cured properly. As you can see in photo, one square looks blotchy which is unfortunate for new concrete. I've reached out to Jose but he hasn't answered about fixes.

I have used Pedro twice now for large scaled front and back yard concrete with intricate border and…read morestamping and dying details work it turned out amazing. He communicated well and explained the process and what my option's were and did everything he said he was going to do with precision and care. The amount of detail and consistency through out the project even though done at two separate times really speaks highly of his work. He was referred to me from a contractor that has been using him for years and I'm so happy with everything from start to finish. I think as a home owner we all need to understand that this is quickly becoming a lost trade on the residential side where quality and details matter and there are few out there that truly understand the old ways of laying concrete and that the people like Pedro who are still in this trade need to consider more than just a deadline of completion which seems to be the biggest concern I see on his other reviews. This is a forever upgrade to your home and weather, supplies, and labor all play a key part so give yourself and the contractor some time and leniency to work it out and give you the best product possible. Just my two cents from going through it myself.

Pedro's Concrete, Lic. 999304. Pedro and his crew put in a…read morebeautiful walkway on to our front yard. The demolishing took 1 day, the concrete poured in 1 day. Railings installed 2 weeks later. The crew is fast and efficient. Pedro is a pleasure to work with. Highly recommended.

We had a great experience working with Simon and his crew at Luckystar Landscaping, and I wouldn't…read morehesitate to recommend them. Simon and his team completed essentially all of our exterior landscaping, including both the left and right property-line fences, hardscape and softscape, artificial turf, a decomposed granite patio, Delta Blue Bolero grass, irrigation, mulch, and gravel. The fences were built exactly to the required design, including the use of metal fence posts, and Simon was very attentive to getting the details right. I pay a lot of attention to detail and can be pretty particular about execution. What I really appreciated was that Simon and his crew never seemed put off by the high bar. They understood what we were trying to achieve, worked tirelessly to meet it, and still managed to move at an impressive pace. My experience with Simon is that as long as your design intent is clear and properly communicated, he will find a way to accomplish it. He also had no problem with me being very hands-on throughout the construction process, which I really appreciated. Beyond the contracted work, Simon was incredibly helpful with things that were technically outside the original scope. He was also very flexible with scheduling when I ran into material-supply delays, and always approached changes and problems with a positive, can-do attitude. Just as importantly, Simon is a genuinely enjoyable person to work with. I really enjoyed our end-of-day beers together after wrapping up the work -- a small thing, but it says a lot about the kind of working relationship we had. Simon and his crew are hardworking, capable, responsive, and great people to have around. We're extremely happy with how everything turned out, and I'd happily work with them again.

Simon and his team always work hard. Start early and end their day late. They work efficiently and…read morehard! He is upfront with his pricing and also considers the solution against the product. That means you get a good solution that doesn't break the bank. He called out the fact that I chose a product that was not not good quality and we discussed a solution and I am so happy with the solution. So grateful that he consulted with me and we came up with a solution. Also, they work hard all day long. The work ethic on his team is fantastic. I hired them five years ago and today they are the same as they were. If I could bring him into every project I do... I would do it without question.

KC Paving responded to my inquiry quickly, made a fair estimate, offered a quick start date and…read morewere fast and professional. The machinery and manpower was impressive and exceeded my expectations. The workmanship is top quality, should last for years without settling and looks great. I *highly* recommend KCPaving in the Menlo Park area. We needed a front walk installed with a cement landing extension added to our last step - and we needed it in a hurry. I found KC Paving on the internet and received a prompt reply, quick on site meeting and an estimate the next day. A large crew showed up on the expected date with 2 large machines to facilitate the earthmoving process. The work was done continuously in about 3 days. Happy we made this choice. Thanks KC Paving! Joe Junkin Menlo Park

KC Paving is a professional and very detail-oriented paving company, and we couldn't be happier…read morewith the final result of our new driveway. Reasonably priced, they are expert in both asphalt and concrete which makes putting in a steep and difficult 150-foot driveway a "one stop shop". Jorge did a great job with the bid and process, and Eliseo was a fantastic foreman on the job. a great company which will add lots of value to your home for the price.

We had Black Diamond design and install pavers for our front and back yards two years ago. A few…read moremonths back, we noticed loose pavers on the stairs leading up to the house and larger-than-normal gaps between the pavers in other locations. I called Black Diamond and Chavalah and Ayla in customer support scheduled repairs within a couple of weeks. Hector came out and not only fixed the pavers we had marked, but also proactively inspected the remaining pavers and fixed them as well. We're glad to have chosen Black Diamond for this project.

We worked with Vanessa Grimaldo on a renovation of our backyard in Berkeley. Vanessa and Black…read moreDiamond Paver Stones transformed our dilapidated, overgrown backyard by installing paver stones, synthetic grass, a proper drainage system, and a rebuilt staircase. The finished backyard looks excellent and the quality of the construction appears high. Vanessa specifically provided excellent, white-glove service throughout the entirety of the project and was super responsive to all of our communication. We did have a number of issues arise with the crew (mainly excessive dust seeping into our house and trash being left behind on the neighbor's property line), as well as the accounting department (an accidental attempt at overcharging us), but Vanessa always did an excellent job of troubleshooting these issues and helping to guide everybody towards a resolution. She also worked diligently on our backyard design and expertly guided us through several iterations and unexpected construction issues. I highly recommend working with Vanessa and Black Diamond Pavers.

I can't say enough good things about Eric and his dad -- they are truly the best concrete team I've…read moreever worked with. This is actually my second time hiring them. A couple of years ago they helped me with a smaller concrete project, and I was so impressed by their professionalism and craftsmanship that I knew I would reach out again when it came time to redo my entire backyard. From the very beginning, Eric stood out for his clear communication and honesty. His quote was very fair compared to other contractors I contacted, but what really made a difference was how much thought he put into the design and planning. My backyard was in pretty bad shape -- uneven ground, cracked areas, and even a section near a retaining wall that wasn't very stable. Eric carefully looked at every problem and came up with creative, affordable, and effective solutions. He never tried to upsell or rush decisions. Instead, he made sure I fully understood each option, and he adjusted the plan to fit both my budget and my vision. During the construction, Eric and his dad worked with incredible efficiency and attention to detail. Every single day, they arrived on time, worked hard, and cleaned up so thoroughly before leaving that I could barely tell it was an active construction site. That level of care and respect for a client's home is rare and deeply appreciated. The final result completely transformed my backyard -- the concrete surface is smooth, solid, and beautifully leveled. They even paid attention to the small finishing touches that many contractors might overlook. The project was completed right on schedule, exactly as promised. Eric and his father are honest, reliable, and take great pride in their work. You can tell they truly care about doing the job right, not just getting it done. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to hire them again or recommend them to anyone who needs high-quality concrete work. They're the kind of people you feel lucky to find -- hardworking, trustworthy, and genuinely good at what they do.

Eric and his father were a pleasure to work with. Eric kept me updated throughout the project with…read moretexts and photos. He responded quickly to any questions I had and made the entire process smooth. I highly recommend them.

Mud Worx did an exemplary job on our concrete countertops in our high-end loft in San Francisco…read more Frank worked beyond the estimated number of days to get the work done right to the level of excellence he demanded. Their pricing was excellent and their approach top-notch. Frank also went above and beyond to clean up and leave the job site better than he found it. Natalia was also on top of everything and a great communicator on billing and details. Highly recommended, you won't find nicer and more trustworthy folks to work with. (Will update with more photos once the other contractors have completed their tasks.)

Frank and the crew did an excellent job of replacing old and irregular concrete in the atrium of my…read moreEichler home with a "state of the art" customized modern design that looks great! It's refreshing to find a company that does quality work, is always looking at ways the project can be improved, and does so in a timely fashion.

We recently finished a full front yard renovation with Jefferson Landscaping, and we couldn't be…read morehappier! They handled everything: lawn removal, bender board installation, and fresh gravel/wood chips. They even added a charming fence that perfectly defines the space. The standout feature is definitely the new flagstone pathway leading from the sidewalk and driveway--it is absolutely gorgeous. We've already had numerous neighbors stop by to compliment the work; I honestly think we have the best-looking yard on the block now! Jeff has an incredible eye for design and offered brilliant ideas for the layout, boulders, and decorative accents. He was super responsive to all our questions, and even when we made a few mid-project changes, he didn't charge us extra, which we truly appreciated. I highly recommend Jefferson Landscaping and will definitely be hiring them again for our backyard!

I had first talked to Jefferson 12 years ago for my backyard. He then had done a design for…read morebackyard. We got the backyard done with someone else due to lower price ( Not by much but we did not know any better. ) we love the design but the decision to not go with Jefferson was something I regretted so when it came time to redo Frontyard the only person I consoled was Jefferson. He came up with great design within budget. Him and and his crew were professional and stated work quickly and finished in very reasonable time. He communicated every day to where they were and what they have planned for the day and week. My family and I are very happy with results and would recommend him for your next landscape project.

We hired Ecosite Landscaping for pavers, artificial turf, a retaining wall, and LED lighting, and…read morewe couldn't be happier. They were quick to respond, very professional, and easy to communicate with throughout the project. Great workmanship and smooth process. Highly recommend them!

We had a terrific experience working with Augustin on our front yard project. We wanted to design…read morea drought resistant Japanese style front yard. Augustin directed us to places where we could find stepping stones, boulders and plants for our design. He met us at the rockery and guided us to stepping stones and boulders that were perfect for our project. We greatly benefitted from his advice and experience. Augustin and his crew then did an incredible job of placing the stepping stones, boulders and plants that created the Japanese front yard we wanted. Augustin and his crew are fantastic!