General:
What forms of payment do you accept?
Cash, Check, Visa Card, Master Card, Discover Card
Do you finance?
Unfortunately no, however, we are working on it so feel free to ask if there has been a change.
Does every crew speak English?
Yes, every crew does speak English; most of our employees are bilingual.
Do you require a deposit for work?
Each project has different payment terms but there is no deposit required
Do you offer discounts?
No we feel our services are accurately priced
Will the person who gives me a proposal be on the job site?
Yes and no, each crew has a foreman who manages each job and our superintendent oversees each foremen and individual project; however that representative is always available.
Landscaping:
Is there a fee for the initial consultation?
No, we do not charge for the initial site visit. This is your opportunity to share your ideas and vision for your project as well as meet us and ask us questions.
Do I get your proposal at our initial consultation?
We can usually provide you with an estimate at our initial consultation; however, our staff will prepare a detailed written proposal that will be provided by mail or email as desired.
What is design / build?
A design / build is a project where we take your ideas, elaborate on them, working within an approved budget.
I want to complete my landscaping in phases, can you do that?
Yes, we can work with you to determine how best to complete your project.
If you come out and do an estimate, am I obligated to work with you?
No
I don’t know what I want, can you provide an idea?
Yes, our office staff jokes that our estimator will “pick your brain”, we ask what your style is, do you know what colors you like, do you want low maintenance, and much more to determine what we think would achieve an atmosphere that you will love. We will give ideas of what blends well together as well as what grows well in your climate.
I have landscape plans; will you provide an estimate to install?
Yes
Do you provide landscape plans?
Yes
I live in an HOA (home owners’ association); will you take care of all the paperwork?
Yes, we have a great working relationship with several of the HOA’s in the Bay Area. The only thing we will need from you is the application as well as your signature on the application. We will take care of the rest.
I want to start my project tomorrow, can you begin that quickly?
We begin projects on a first come first serve basis. We generally do not begin a new project in the middle of an existing one. We believe in quality, not quantity; however, we have several landscape crews which allows us the ability to complete multiple projects concurrently.
How long will my project take?
The time required to complete your project depends on the scope of work.
I just want to spruce up my existing landscaping, can you do that?
Yes
I am building a new pool; will you work with my pool contractor so the landscaping can be completed together?
Yes, we can work directly with your contractor to make this as minimally invasive.
I am building a new home; can you provide a landscaping proposal without an existing home?
Yes
How do I consider quote comparisons?
There are several factors to think about with pricing.
Are your other estimates from a state licensed contractor registered with the California State Licensing Board (CSLB)?
Any project over $500.00 is required to be completed with a CSLB license. A contractor cannot possess a license without first passing a background and testing. A city business license is not a contracting license.
Do they provide proper insurance coverage?
Contractors are required to carry Workmen’s Compensation insurance by law. This cannot be stressed enough. If their employee is injured on your property and they do not have the proper insurance, you can be legally liable to pay for injuries and rehabilitation. Your home owner’s insurance may not cover those costs.
Are materials the same quality? Do they have the knowledge and ability to answer any questions on-site?
Does their estimate include everything discussed?
We have heard from clients who were under the impression they were getting more from others and ended up with less. Our estimates are generally compared apples to oranges; being they are not comparable. Feel free to show us the other estimate and we will let you know honestly if it is apples to apples or apples to oranges.
Is landscaping a good investment?
Yes, there have been several studies focused on this question.
Money Magazine determined that landscaping offers an excellent return on investment and ranked top out of any home improvements. In addition, there was a study done by the American Society of Landscape Architects in conjunction with Money Magazine finding a recovery value of 100% to 200% of landscaping costs which can be gained when selling your home.
Clemson University stated that homes with excellent landscaping sell for 6% to 7% more than comparable homes with just good landscaping.
Michigan State University concluded the same however the value of the home with excellent landscaping improved as much as 12%.
The Society of Real Estate Appraisers opinion on landscaping is that a nicely landscaped home adds value and actually causes home to sell faster.
Does your staff do all the work or do you sub it out?
Our team completes all phases of the work. We do not subcontract projects.
Maintenance:
Do you offer weekly or bi-weekly maintenance?
Yes
I only want my front landscaping maintained, will you do that?
Yes
I am having people over and want to get my landscaping spruced up; can my regular maintenance come out and do an extra service?
Yes
My neighbor has the same size property and their monthly maintenance bill is different than mine, why is that?
Every property is different, some requiring more detail than others. Size of properties plays a small part in pricing.
Do you make up my service day missed because of the holiday?
No
Drainage:
How often should I check my sump pump?
A sump pump should be check biannually to ensure it is clean and operable. The ground fault circuit interrupter should be tested monthly.
What is a subsurface and surface drain?
A subsurface drain is commonly called a French drain; the drain comes in two sections, a perforated subsurface collection pipe to collect ground water and a closed line surface water collection pipe. Both pipes are generally placed in the same trench and directed independently to discharge collected water to an outfall point.
Why is drainage so important?
Water generally causes the most significant distresses to a structure. As for foundations, soil expansion and contraction due to significant moisture swings in supporting soils can result in movement distress to a structure and sometimes failure of foundation sections. Water can also cause damage to steel reinforcement within a foundation section.
My crawlspace is wet, what does that mean?
When crawlspace soils are wet it generally indicates poor control of seasonal roof water, excessive landscape irrigation and sometime surcharges of ground water.
My crawlspace is very dry and dusty, isn’t that a good thing?
Probably, it is actually moisture swings that occur in supporting soils resulting in wet dry cycling of soils which causes movement and distress.
Foundation:
I do not know what the cause of my problem is; can you give me a bid to fix what the issue it?
Generally yes; however, sometimes we will suggest that the property is evaluated by an independent foundation inspector and will provide bids based upon their recommendations.
Do you complete foundation or drainage inspections?
No; however, we generally refer our sister company FDRW, Inc. for an inspection and evaluation report.
I have a report that says what repairs I need to do, can you bid off that?
Yes
Is it okay to postpone foundation repairs?
Repairs can be postponed; however, once a foundation begins to fail, it should be addressed as soon as practical to alleviate more significant damage.
Will my insurance pay for damaged foundation repair?
In our experience, insurance policies will typically not cover foundation or building subsidence. We recommend contacting your home owner’s insurance agent. Many times they will provide a report with recommendations for repairs.
How long do foundation repairs take to complete?
Each property is different and depends on the scope of work. Your proposal will have a time frame included.
Are permits required for foundation repair?
Typically, yes.
Do you pull the permits or do I (homeowner / agent / etc.) need to pull the permit?
We generally include and obtain all necessary permits. Each proposal will state whether the cost to obtain the permit is included.
How long does pulling a permit take?
Every City and County has different requirements and plan check approval time. In our experience, it has ranged from one day to four weeks.
If there is a permit, do I get to keep the permit when the job is completed?
When the project is completed, we will take it back to our office to make copies for our records and upon receipt of final payment, the permit and all project related documents will be mailed to you in a completion packet.
I have my own engineer I would like to use on the project, are you limited to only working with specific engineers?
Yes, we are happy to work with all qualified professionals.
What is underpinning?
Underpinning is the term used to outline one of many methods of foundation or structural stabilization. There are several basic as well as various combinations of repair methods. We generally provide the method that appears to be the most cost effective and prudent for each individual project.
Do I need to move out of my home while having my foundation worked on?
Generally no, we do our best to make the repair work as minimally invasive to you as possible.
I have a slab foundation; do you have to cut a hole in my floor to work on it?
Sometimes, it really depends upon the engineering design.
What is the difference between settlement cracking and cosmetic cracking?
Both are similar, cosmetic cracking is usually less significant and is typically an indicator of an underlying problem.
What is a floor level survey?
A survey provides measurements of floor level elevations at a given time and location which allows comparison of data to determine the extent of level variations in a structure and whether there is ongoing movement or distress.
How often should I complete a floor level survey?
It depends on the goal of the surveys. Seasonal surveys generally offer the most information. The more information over a longer period of time allows for a better determination of whether a structure is actually moving excessively.
What happens to my landscaping around the foundation if you have removed it?
We take every effort to safely transplant any landscaping removed so that it may be replaced. In your proposal, it will state if areas are going to be removed and / or replaced.
Will fixing my foundation close any existing cracks? Will it cause new ones?
Sometimes cracks close and others open. It depends on the extent of past movement, previous repairs and the structure in general. We usually have a pretty good idea of the extent of cracking repairs that may be necessary and will discuss them with you prior to completion of any project.
Will I be able to sell my home after having foundation repairs?
Yes, all repair methods are HUD, FHA and VA approved repairs. We will provide you with all original documentation of your repair to provide to your real estate professional to disclose.
I have a 401k loan for my foundation repair, can you do the repair?
Yes, we have worked with several buyers that have 401k loans successfully.
I’ve had conflicting recommendations and I am totally confused, how do I know my repair plan is the correct one?
Repair work is generally based off of the recommendation of inspectors, engineers and third party reports before the work is completed. It is very important that you work with a licensed contractor specializing in foundation repair. We often compare different options for repair, from the minimal to the full scale repair, as well as discuss budgets and overall objectives, to ensure that any work completed is the most prudent and cost effective repair.
Do you clean the property after the job is completed?
Definitely, all dirt that is excavated from your property is hauled away before the project is completed. The jobsite is cleaned of debris and any work related soils. If you would like to keep excavated dirt on-site, please let us know at the beginning of the project and we will be more than happy to do our best to accommodate.
Will you walk the job with me at the beginning and the end?
Yes, we will do a job walk through the morning the work begins as well as throughout the project if you have questions. At the completion of your project, we will do a final walk through and answer any questions you may have.
Service Area:
Cities: Alameda, Alamo, Albany, Antioch, Belmont, Benicia, Berkeley, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Burlingame, Campbell, Castro Valley, Clayton, Colma, Concord, Corte Madera, Cupertino, Daly City, Danville, Dixon, Dublin, El Sobrante, Fairfield, Hayward, Hercules, Hillsborough, Kensington, Kentfield, Lafayette, Livermore, Lodi, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Manteca, Marin City, Martinez, Menlo Park, Mill Valley, Millbrae, Milpitas, Moraga, Monte Sereno, Mountain View, Napa, Newark, Oakley, Oakland, Orinda, Pacheco, Palo Alto, Pinole, Pittsburg, Redwood City, Richmond, Rio Vista, Rodeo, San Anselmo, San Bruno, San Francisco, San Jose, San Leandro, San Pablo, San Rafael, San Ramon, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sausalito, Suisun City, South San Francisco, Stockton, Sunnyvale, Sunol, Stanford, Tiburon, Union City, Vacaville, Vallejo, Walnut Creek
Counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Joaquin, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Solano, Sonoma, Stanislaus