ROBERT LANEY YARD GRADING

We purchased our home in Matthews, NC in August 2012. After a year or so of living here, we became aware that our septic system was failing.  We sought assistance from the Union County Environmental Health Department which issued a repair/installation permit for the job.  Our existing system, which is located to the immediate south of our home, was to be completely excavated, all lines and stone to be removed, and a new chambered septic field system was to be installed in its place.   

After several meetings determining the best way to approach a system given the layout of our property, we hired Robert Laney Landscaping and Septic to remove the old system and install a brand new septic system. On February 25, 2014, the date of our work project to begin,  Robert Laney, Sr., of Robert  Laney Landscaping and Septic arrived at our house on time but chose to not remove the old system. Instead he chose to install the new system immediately southwest of the existing system on what was thought to be virgin ground. Laney was paid $6,000 on that date for a proper septic field installation. 

 

Since that time, we have had continuous problems with our new septic field as chronicled below. We have reached out to Robert Laney no less than 35 times and he has visited our property on several occasions to attempt to correct these issues. These interactions include (but are not limited to):

·        March 24, 2014 One month after install, field began to leak from line 4 and Laney visited our home and shut off last line (4) of system to attempt to regulate water flow and stop leak.

·        May 2, 2014 Laney came to turn down pump pressure in attempt to stop distribution box from overflowing, also adjusted water flow to attempt to diagnose leaking line 4 issue.

·        July 15, 2014 Laney came to dig up 4th line after it was determined that line 3 was leaking into line 4 due to a previously installed gravel septic line that was not removed by Laney on original installation (known as “crossover”).  Laney also dug up a second leaking location closer to the tree line and “uncovered” a trash pile that also was not previously removed on original installation.  Laney left yards of effluent-contaminated soil and trash in our yard -- which sat for more than 2 months until its eventual removal by Laney.  Leak locations were filled with soil and compacted, as Laney prescribed that would be a “proper fix”. 

·        Oct 8, 2014 Laney returned to remove yards of contaminated soil and trash from our yard, based on repeated and numerous attempts to compel him to do so.  At same time, Laney dug up another location between line 3 and 4 that continued to leak above ground near a large oak tree in yard. Also, additional soil was also added to area behind chicken coop lines 2 & 3 in an attempt to mitigate a “squishy” soil problem that would never dry out.

·        May 12, 2015 Laney came to inspect new above ground leak problems coming from line 2 and 3 in tree line behind chicken coop.

·        June 8, 2015 Laney came out with crew - dug up line 2 approx. 10 feet back of chicken coop and said he found “the end of the line” and didn’t need to dig further. That same evening, I  dug 15 feet further back and found even more line despite Laney’s declaration.

·         June 11, 2015 Laney came with a crew to repair line 2 & 3 leaks behind chicken coop.  Additional dirt was added in an attempt to stop leak.

·        Dec 4, 2015  Called Laney to request repairs to new leaks found below line 4 (near area previously repaired in July 2014) as well as a returned leak behind the chicken coop, from an area previously repaired in June 2015.

·        As of today’s date, Laney has since refused to address these existing leaks and has even refused to simply inspect the problems despite numerous email, web and 2 certified mail attempts to gain his attention and action.

Mr Laney has Gren ding this for 54 years and it shows. He knows all there is to know about his trade and that's who I like to do business with.

READ THE WHOLE COMMENT!!! MR LANEY IS AWESOME!!! After buying 6 acres and many referrals we had a and quot;DIFFERENT GUYand quot; come out to clear some land so that we could have a general idea of the lay of the land... done a decent job other than leaving a massive hole with all the debris piled in it for me to deal with later. The Hole being approx. 20' wide and about 10 to 12' deep. Not a big deal considering I was responsible for burning it in my own time. Problem was they dug it 30 yards from my house. Anyway... I ran across Robert and quot;Mr Laneyand quot; Clearing and grading land for my soon to be neighbor. I asked for his card and explained I was on the same road. He told me to jump in his truck and we went immediately to my property to take a look. I was very impressed with his knowledge and eagerness to help. We set a time and date and he showed up ON TIME. I went by on my lunch break and was amazed at the progress he'd made just since that morning. AND just as the other review mentioned...He showed up at 7:30 and left at 5 or 6! He cleared , graded, bush hogged, you name it. He provided what I asked for and more... This man Delivers... Best thing is he's VERY VERY reasonable! I have since made plans to have him install my Septic system as well as do some final landscaping now that my home is almost complete! I give this man an A+! I will add another review and pics when we get final grading completed. This man knows his stuff and will be there when he says he will.

We were a little skeptical as there was a Yelp rating that was not so good however, we were referred to Robert by another Angies List contact we used to pump our septic tank. Robert came out on a Sunday and met with us to see our issues. Rain held off getting the job done immediately but after one day of no rain, Robert called and asked if he could start the next morning. He arrived right at 7:30 with two men and they worked non stop all day until 5. They cleared all the trees, stacked them up as well as the roots and debri. They laid the panels and connected everything. They left it so my husband can see the work as well as the inspector. They came the following day right on time again and finished the job.

We had received pricing from two other companies just for the tree removal and Robert was much less than half of their pricing. We are going to use him again in the spring to remove more trees, grade and plant seed. We are very please with the outcome.