TJB-INC Landscape & Drainage Contractor

"Thank you for the kind words! It was a pleasure creating your updated custom water feature."

"Thank you for putting your trust in TJB-INC to handle your complex drainage issues. I am confident that we worked out the most cost effective solutions that will address and correct all of the issues. Happy (Dry) Holidays!"

"This client had a set of stone stairs that were failing. TJB-INC removed the existing stair system and replaced it with pressure treated timber supports capped with bluestone treads salvaged from the demolition of the original system. The void spaces were filled with 1/2 clean stone to allow for proper drainage and limit soil contact with the timbers. This will ensure the longevity of the new stair system for many years to come."

"TJB-INC offers a paid on-site consultation for many different issues including drainage & storm water management. Many times we can come up with DIY solutions for our clients saving them thousands of dollars from unnecessary construction. The goal of the consultation is not to sell our drainage services but strictly informational and debuck the misinformation that is out there. We give honest, correct solutions that a client can then shop to different contractors and get an apples to apples comparison. This client has decided to do a DIY project and save over $5,000 by knowing now how to do the project correctly. Ted has guided the client with follow up emails and suggestions on where to purchase products & equipment rental."

"This has been a special client of ours for over 30 years. Many years ago, they wanted to turn an old unused pool into a landscape feature. TJB-INC created a wonderful water feature with a large wetlands area with 2 streams, 2 bridges, and an 11 x 16 pond. Many different perennial gardens have been added to the yard over the years adding to the overall appeal of the grounds."

"Thank you for your review. This client had received quotes from other contractors who wanted to over engineer (and overcharge) for a relatively simple drainage problem. With our years of solving problems like this, TJB-INC was able to implement our solutions which solved the problems and save the client lots of unneeded excavation and disruption all while spending less money. Win, Win in our minds."

"Thank you for your review. This was a drainage job where the water table was very high and the customer's basement sump pump discharged its water into the rear yard creating a muddy mess as well as flowing downhill into the neighbor's rear yard. TJB-INC was able to collect this discharge water and relocated it to the front yard. We installed a below ground 4" pipe system that also included (6) 4' deep underground vertical drains along the side out the house to allow the water to be stored until the ground could reabsorb it. When the water table rises too high and the underground storage area cannot store any more water, the excess water exits the system through a NDS pop-up emitter in the front yard. TJB-INC received a call from client about 2 months after the install that there was a new puddle in the rear yard. We sent down a crew to investigate and found that the pitch of one section of the pipe that was installed was not steep enough due to a large underground boulder. TJB-INC re-installed new pipe through a different section of the property and connected back into the vertical drain section at no additional charge to the customer. During the winter of 2018-19, the client called saying the water table was now very high and the basement sump pump was working overtime creating lots of extra water. This water was now coming out of the pop-up emitter in the front yard as designed but was flowing over the sidewalk and into the street where it was flowing into the city storm drain. The problem was with the cold temperatures, the sidewalk and roadway had now turned icy creating a slipping hazard. TJB-INC went back down and installed a diverter valve on the sump pump discharge so during the winter months, the excess water could be directed back on to the rear property where it would follow the downhill elevation into the neighbor's rear yard. We charged the client for the cost of the parts and 1/2 hr of labor."

"The client has a house on the Branford shore who's front door was 10-12' below the level of the road. They had a small street side parking area but had to walk down old rotted stairs on the far side of their property. The client asked TJB-INC to replace the rotted stairs but we knew they needed a totally different solution. TJB-INC proposed building a new closer and safer entrance/staircase into their home. The challenges included massive exposed rock ledges that made design & construction difficult but we over came them. TJB-INC created a descending curved staircase down and through the rock ledge along with multi-level planting beds using 6" x 6" pressure treated timbers. We topped the steps with custom cut Bluestone treads to add interest and longevity. Because of all of the rock ledge, a special drainage system had to be created to keep the new entrance safe. This was a fun project for the crew because they had to constantly improvise the design to meet the terrain but still make the outcome safe and attractive. This was one of our favorite installations of the year!"

"Thank you for your review. When I am hired as an on-site consultant, my purpose is to solve your issues and instruct you how you can repair them yourself if possible. You were in great physical shape and the to fix your drainage problem would only take a couple of hours. I felt is was better to instruct you how to do the job yourself than to sell you my companies services. Now you have the knowledge in place to tackle more issues if they ever pop up in the future! ... TED"

"Thank you for your review. After 42 years in the business, it always amazes me how some contractors can take a simple logical solution to a problem and turn it into an unnecessary potential major project for the customer. I guess they just need a lot more experience. TJB-INC always looks for the most effective solution which most times is the simplest. Glad we able to solve your backyard drainage issues cost effectively. ... TED"

"Thank you [Member Name Removed] for hiring TJB-INC for your paver patio project. I think the end result came out better that we all expected with the addition of the solar paver lights in the custom stoop that we created. We look forward to working with you on future projects. ... TED"

"This was one of the most challenging drainage situations we have had in awhile. Multiple points of water over 3 different properties all needing to be gathered and piped to a central discharge location. TJB-INC used over 1,100 ft of 4" PVC drain pipe, 60' of 10" pipe, central galley with 10 inbound pipes + 3 outbound pipes, underground springs, (2) neighbor's illegal discharge systems into our customer's property that had to be added into our design, and heavy clay soils that bind up water. TJB-INC was up for the challenge and installed a customized design that addressed all of the problems."

"TJB-INC used our New Holland LS180 Skid Steer with a 5' wide heavy duty brush cutter capable of pulverizing growth up to 5" in diameter. The overgrowth was no match for our machine."

"Thank you for the kind review! It was a pleasure creating a playable backyard for you and your family. If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to give Rob or myself a call. ... TED Note: Remember to keep watering the new lawn through out the summer. It will take 3-4 months for the grass to reach maturity with a full root system. If the grass dries out this summer, it will perish."

"Thank you for your service request and your feedback after we were done. Call on us next time the pond needs cleaning and we will glading come out and get it back into shape again. ... TED"

"Customer hired a local cheap contractor to perform the original installation and we were called in couple years later to repair and rebuild the collapsing walls and walkways. We were hired Fall of 2014 to reconstruct to the original contractor's designs and elevations which were not installed up to industry standards. TJB-INC repaired all of the sunken areas and the steps that were falling apart. We were told to match the existing look and elevations which we did. We were called back to seal the surfaces in the spring of 2015 once the temperatures rose to above 50 degrees. The customer called us back in the fall of 2015, to redesign and configure the rear 3 steps that were a tripping hazard. We notified the customer we had a 2-2.5 month lead time. We changed materials & elevations to code and constructed 2 standard height stairs that solved the tripping problem. We also addressed the poor drainage conditions that we were not allowed to fix originally making the rear entrance area not only safe but dry. All work was completed on schedule and before the cold winter months arrived. Customer was just getting anxious as the time went on. Understandable due to their previous contractor's work. Customer kept calling marketing line, not customer service line so some of their anxious calls did not get returned as quickly as they liked. (We received hundreds of calls a week and can get backlogged answering them timely). In the end, all was well. Project was completed and TJB-INC was paid in full. A recent check of the project showed all repairs holding up perfectly as promised. Total cost of the all of the repairs were around $7K."

"It was a pleasure working for you and helping to create a new wonderful new entrance into your beautiful home. Thank you for choosing TJB-INC Landscape & Drainage Contractors."

"Thank you and it was a pleasure working with you."

"Thank you for the kind review. Enjoy the new house! ... TED"

"Thank you for the kind review. If we can be of any further service, please call us @ 203-287-0636. ... TED"

"Thank you for your review. I am glad you are happy with the service & I received notice from your wife that you are renewing for 2013. Thank you again. ... TED"

"We are a professional Snow Removal company with 15 plow trucks, 3 loaders, 46 snow blowers. We stockpile 40+ cuyds of sand/salt mix and Magic Salt at our 5600 sqft building on 1 acre of land we own in Hamden. We have on hand, pallets of 50 lb CMA Ice-Melter for icy sidewalks. We have been in business since 1976 and most of our customers have been with us for 20+ years. Our minimum charge for snow removal is $65.00 with 10% residential and 90% commercial customers. Customers hire TJB-INC because we have a reputation of providing excellent, reliable, on-time snow removal services for many years. They do not hire us because we are cheap. We charge a fair price for our services. When a new customer calls us, we provide a written contract detailing how we charge for Snow Removal services and must be signed before we start service. We hire a third party source, The Connecticut Weather Center (climatic data collection center for the National Weather Center) to determine snowfall depth. No surprises. Just because Mother Nature drops copious amounts of snow and we charge to clear it, does not make us the bad guy. This customer, [member name removed] is complaining about a massive snowfall in February 2013. Our area received the second largest recorded single snowfall in Connecticut history. 40" of snow which resulted in drifts that were 4' - 6' high, Due to the impassible conditions, the National Guard was called in to assist our local town plows. Roads took up to 5 days to get plowed open. People were stuck in their homes for up to a week. As far as [member name removed] property, the town road was not cleared for several days. Once the road was open, we had to use a front-end loader to clear the property. 1 car garage with driveway, corner lot with over 200' of sidewalk. Our charge of $184.00 was below market value and was fair based upon the equipment needed and time spent. It was also exactly what our contract said we would charge based upon the depth of snowfall, 40". Our customer's are always welcome save money and clear their own property before we show up. This customer waited for us and paid the bills when sent. We continued to service the property for the remainder of the season. The customer did not renew for the next season."

"Actual bill to customer was $70.20 + CT tax to clear his double wide driveway of 6" - 9" of snow, not $150.00 as stated by customer. Snow depth as stated on all of our contracts is determined by a 3rd party source, The Connecticut Weather Center not TJB-INC. Our pricing has been the same for the past 10 years that this customer has been a client. He has been one of the first to renew year after year with no price increase. I do not understand the low score of this review and will contact the customer to see what is really going on."

"As always, there are two sides to every story. The customer called me and said she was an Angie's Member and wanted an estimate for some yard work. I explained that for basic yard work, she was out of my service area. She said she really needed my help so I agreed to go give her an on-site estimate. Since the property was over 1 hr away, I blocked out a 3 hr window for this estimate. I arrived on site and the customer and I walked around the small property. The job consisted of basic shrub pruning, edging a garden bed, pulling weeds, & hauling the debris. I wrote up the estimate detailing what shrubs were to be pruned and what weeds to pull. I explained to the customer that I had to add a travel charge due the extra travel time to and from the job. The customer reviewed the estimate and agreed that what was written was what she wanted done. Customer signed the estimate and gave me a deposit. The next week, I met with my foreman and went over exactly what was to be done. He took 2 additional workers and went to complete the job. When the crew arrived on site, they met with the customer and the problems started. The estimate was explicit on what was to be done. After the crew was working for an hour, the customer came out and changed the entire scope of the work to be done. The crew wanting to please the customer said ok to the extras that the customer was asking for. (Bad Mistake) Unfortunately, I was out of the country on vacation so I was not reachable by phone. After the first set of extra work was done, the customer continued to add additional scopes of work. What was estimated as a 6 man hr job turned into an 18 man hr adventure plus additional drive time. There was not enough time in the day to complete the new scope of work that the crew had to redrive back out the next day. They completed all the work and the customer paid the balance on the original estimate but has not paid for the additional work that was completed at her request. Customer was happy enough with the work that she bought the crew lunch. Now I receive a review from this customer stating how terrible we were. This is not a fair evaluation. The customer took advantage of the crew and changed the scope of work without paying for the additional crew time. Ted J Greiner President & CEO"