Team Lewis Landscaping

The job was done well, and in a timely fashion.

Team Lewis was hired to do snow removal in our community. They came through and made a small path through one street and left. We expected them to return but after 15 hours since the snow stopped they have not shown up and do not answer their phone after numerous calls. As a result this 55+ community is stranded. We hope no one will need emergency response.

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Seth Lewis was prompt in assessing the job, and prompt in starting. Unfortunately, it took three visits to complete the work over 3 weeks in May 2015. They were supposed to provide a detailed maintenance schedule for the rest of the year. The key feature was that they would return every 3 weeks to maintain the property, and let me know in advance so I could outline other things that needed to be done.
After 8 weeks of weed growth, I had heard nothing and saw no one. I called the office and Seth's cell phone (4-5 times total) and sent 2 emails to separate sites. All were ignored but one, and only after I contacted one of the Team Lewis workers at another property site, and indicated I was in need of service. In reply to the last email Seth said he would provide a plan (that was July 9, 2015) and have someone come to do the work outlined in my emails. Someone came, sprayed a few weeds, incompletely cleared a few weeds, and ignored most of the items I requested. That was the last contact until they sent a form letter on Sept 21, 2015 explaining they had problems with the weather and were catching up. No plan was provided over the 5 intervening months.
I'm truly sorry this did not work. The owner seemed like a nice person and sincere. Unfortunately this was all for show and was not followed up by responsible action. I would never recommend this company.

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Contract was signed May 2, 2014, with Team Lewis? owner, Seth Lewis, to replace and expand (two tier) existing deck with composite materials, create paver area under deck, install waterproof barrier under deck, plant and landscape beds/hill and mulch. The upper part of the deck was already in place but boards were to be replaced with composite material.  Permit was needed for the lower part of the deck.  Mr. Lewis estimated the job was about six days of work and assured us that the job would be done in time for a graduation party that was planned.   We called the project manager, Justin, to find out when they were starting (he did not contact us).  We were told they were waiting for the permits and work would start May 27, 2014, and be completed by June 6, 2014, in time for the party.  
Work did not start on time due to a delay in (TL) submitting and getting permits approved.   We were not notified.  When we called Seth Lewis on May 27, 2014, asking why work wasn?t starting, he deferred all conversations to the project manager.  After a week, we asked if they could at least do the landscaping and other work since the permit was only for the extension on the deck.   They started a few days before the party; therefore, we held our party with tractor tire marks all over the yard, plus they had to reinstall the deck stairs that they took off.  We were repeatedly told that the township was being ?difficult?  -- not that the plans were filed late or that the plans were rejected multiple times.
Once Seth Lewis received the deposit check, he was not heard from.  Everything had to go through the project manager, who was not competent for the job.
Deck work did not start until July 2014.  In November 2014, the job was still not done, the parts that *were* completed were not done according to plan, and the job failed its third inspection, although paid for in full.  We filed a complaint with the Attorney General?s office.  Only after the complaint was filed did Seth Lewis get involved.  We met with Seth and his associate and agreed on a ?punch list? of items that needed to be addressed.  In spring 2015, TL contracted with another builder (Mione Family Remodeling) to correct the items on the list and get the job to pass inspection.
 
A third-party engineering firm was hired and they gave a list all the issues with the structure.  We met with Seth Lewis and Chris Mione to discuss the issues.  Mr. Mione wrote up a contract to build the deck to code and also to address the problems created by TL.  Since TL felt they ?under priced? the cost of the job and ?lost so much money on the job?, Seth Lewis said he could not afford to pay Mione to make the corrections so the job could pass inspection and asked if we would split the cost.  We felt we had no recourse other than to pay half so the job could be completed and pass inspection.
The builder ran into MANY problems trying to fix the deck and make it to code (for example, screws were not screwed all the way into the wood but covered with decking, no lines were square, cuts were not straight).  One of the original failed inspections was for flashing.  When Mione went to correct the problem, they found that the incorrect type of flashing was used and it was not installed properly.     
The deck was left with raw edges and exposed wood.  Mr. Mione?s price included ?finishing? the deck.  TL said the job was not priced out to include ?finishes?.
 
Work was completed by Mione and the deck passed inspection on June 9, 2015 (a full year after the original job deadline).   Per the punch list, TL was supposed to return to clean up the landscaping.  We contacted TL three times without a response.  When he did respond, we were told he ?put the order through?.  A week and a half later, we bought our own mulch and completed the job ourselves.  We then received a text from Seth Lewis stating TL would do the landscaping at the end of the week.  We advised we could not wait and completed the job.  We did not hear from TL after that.

• Main issues with the job were: 
• -Inferior mulch caused weeds to grow within a month
• -Damage to neighbor?s property
• -Did not remove old landscape fabric completely; mulched over some of it
• -Patio not made to plan (colors and shape).  The landscapers/hardscapers were using a simulation drawing as a plan (not even the correct drawing as we had multiple drawings when we were trying to decide on the deck)
• -We discussed under deck systems with Seth Lewis.  He said he wasn?t knowledgeable on the subject but he would speak to his builder.  There was a ?miscommunication?.  We assumed we were getting a professional deck weather proofing system.  Mr. Lewis stated that those systems were "expensive".    What we received was a do-it-yourself job which was done with shoddy workmanship and cheap materials (plastic seamed together and caulked). (see photo)
• -Decking materials bought off the shelf. Composite boards were cut to make deck instead of ordering a longer length

• -Quality of work was amateurish and sloppy
• -Deck not ?finished?.   It was left with raw wood and raw edges (which were cut crooked) (see photos)
• -Deck stairs rails were not crooked (left side was built on the step; right side was built on the side) (see photos)

-Stairs not made according to plan.  We specifically told the project manager that the stairs should come down straight and NOT end on the patio (as per the plan).  We arrived home the next day to find the stairs built (with a landing) and turning to end on the patio. (see photo)

-Repeatedly told by Seth Lewis that TL lost money on this job and it was under-priced
-Contract does not meet Pennsylvania Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act regulations.
-Job failed inspection three times
-Original plans were rejected multiple times before permit was issued
- Repeatedly told by Seth Lewis that ?most of their jobs don?t go this badly? and he hopes that we appreciate that he is sticking by to get the job done -- although Mr. Lewis did not get involved until the complaint was made to the Attorney General?s office.

Jess (our contact)  was great to work with!  The landscape team is great.  They are very prompt and attentive to the work they are doing.  We have worked with them for a couple years now for our business.  Jess lets us know when to plan on things being done, like when spring clean-up can be expected and when mowing will start.  If I have a problem or question, they respond very quickly and resolve it as soon as they can.  Sometimes the same day!  The lawn looks great! - Best in the neighborhood I have to say!  The landscape beds are kept looking nice at all times!

We are going into our 3rd year of service with Team Lewis.  They have been wonderful to work with.  They are very responsive to our needs.  With previous companies, we would have to call repeatedly to get things done and still didn't always get them done.  Now, I simply contact our rep, Jess, and everything is taken care of quickly.  The lawn always looks great as does the rest of the property.  Jess checks in every quarter to make sure everything is going well and let's me know approximately when to expect things to start happening such as spring clean up.  Looking forward to a further relationship with the company!

We are entering into our 3rd year with Team Lewis Landscaping.  They have exceeded my expectations, not as there were no mishaps or misunderstandings, but throughout every season there was excellent communication to ensure that everything was addressed that needed to be addressed.  The key staff are passionate and professional about what they do, and it shows in the appearance of our property. 
They negotiated a fair fixed monthly rate to make our bookkeeping more consistent, and if I wish to make any upgrades to the landscaping they provide me a timely and quality proposal.
I have had two account managers since starting with Team Lewis, and both of them have shown a level of commitment that I would expect from my own employees. This is a relationship I appreciate, and hope to continue.

We contracted with Team Lewis in September, 2013. While our project took much longer than anticipated (there are still a few final details to be completed in the Spring, 2014) we found the team to be professional and the quality of the work exceptional. We are looking forward to enjoying our outdoor space this summer!

Very courteous. Nice Work. Very Pleased. Came back immediately to fix any problems or changes I wanted to be made.

The two employees TeamLewis sent - Justin and Ashley - were wonderful. They worked very hard and kept at it until the job was done. Both were pleasant and asked for my approval of the finished job before leaving. I was impressed with how efficiently and hard they worked as well as their pleasant demeanor. I plan to use TeamLewis for edging, mulching and maintenance all around my house next year.

Their service has been good. They have a good level of communication and a good business structure. I usually deal with an account manager who is on top of things.