Creative Design Landscapes

Chris and Creative Design Landscapes did a beautiful job on the "finishing" of our pool.  The pool company itself has little to do with the way a lot of pools look in the end; it's really the landscaper you hire that makes the finished product what you envision.  Chis and his team were ready to start right when the pool builder turned it over to them.  They followed the plan, they worked fast (which is what you want at the end of your pool build), they worked hard, and they had a large team that completed the patio, walls, drainage, and landscaping in under 2 weeks.  I've never heard of anyone's finishing portion going so quickly.  Everyone who sees our patio and pool gushes over how gorgeous it is - but most importantly, we love it!

I called at our one year mark to get a few warranty items fixed and Chris responded right away with a team who came out and fixed it all, even asking me, "Are you sure that's all?"
I just called Chris again today (after another year) because after the storm last week several of our drain pipes appeared to be clogged and backed up on the pool deck, causing a lake effect on our pool patio. We are expecting another bad storm tonight. I was considering renting a commercial snake or calling a plumber for a costly repair, but decided to call Chris first to see if he might be able to find the problem.  

I left a VM and an email for Chris, and within an hour, he had called back and was on his way with the team to fix my problem. They spent 45 minutes  and found that one drain had been totally covered by thick, fully rooted grass!  When he unclogged this one, water flowed freely again!  They found that another drain was also clogged with pine needles, mulch, and other debris and when he pulled it out, water ran freely again here, too. He ran water through the downspouts to test all the drains and found that all are now free and clear.  I will rest easy tonight with another heavy rainfall.  

If you've ever done a landscaping project, you know that getting and keeping water draining away is not only crucial, but difficult and stressful.  That Chris and his team came immediately today, 2 years after completing the project, is testimony to his strong desire to do it the right way and to take care of his customers. You rarely find that in any contractor.  

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It was a pleasure working with Chris Bergen and his entire crew. The overall design concept was ours, but Chris's attention to details made our design flawlessly come to life. We started with grass and a long stone retaining wall. We integrated the wall into the design, and wanted large entertaining area with a kitchen on one side and a garden on the other. There was enough room to accommodate another patio linked by a walkway for a pergola on the opposite end of the garden. 

During the design process, he listened to our ideas and desires, and saw some opportunities that allowed us to be creative.  Our original idea was to use manufactured stone, but we decided to go with flagstone over concrete slab. It is slightly more expensive, but is more natural looking and made to last a lifetime. Chris was able to integrate a slight elevation change into the patio, which reduced the short flight of steps down from the house by one riser. This was important to us, as the retaining wall compresses the space and we wanted to leave enough room for a cutout between the patio and the wall for a specimen tree. He also provided great ideas on the counter/bar materials and dimensions.

Within two weeks of his first visit, we had a site survey, detailed architectural plan and planting planting, and based on final decisions, provided us with a final proposal within another week. And this was during the busiest time of year. His start date was moved back a couple weeks due to another job that was very demanding, but we were okay with that. Once he did start, he gave us his full attention until it was completed, about three weeks after they broke ground.

The quality of his work is outstanding. The cost was fair, we obtained two other bids and Chris's price was in the middle. His proposal was the most detailed and he promised no upcharges unless we made changes. He kept his word. The crews arrived on time every day, were friendly and polite, and cleaned up daily. He walked around with us at completion and asked if there were any details that needed correction. We noted a few minor issues, like a loose railing cap, electrical outlet mounting, and they were fixed the next day. On his own accord, he noticed that new sod was not taking, and that sod was also replaced the next day.

We met with Chris Bergan, the owner, to go over the planned patio. Chris answered all of our questions and gave us his professional opinion and ideas. He promptly sent us a contract and scheduled our installation for approximately a month out. He was right on schedule. First, a concrete slab was poured to provide a sturdy base for the flagstone, which had to dry for one day. The flagstone and bluestone were hand cut and installed the 2nd day in a nice pattern with a variety of sizes. We are extremely happy with our patio and also with the entire company. Everyone was helpful and courteous. They were precise in measuring and cutting the materials. They completely cleaned up the work area and also the parking lot where some materials were temporarily located. The quality of work is excellent and we will enjoy our patio for many years.

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I will say the time I took to research contractors payed off. Chris Bergen was the most pleasant contractor I have had the experience to work with. We wanted to install a patio and include an outdoor kitchen as I love to cook and we like to entertain family and friends. The kitchen includes a built in grill, sink, refrigerator along with cabinets, drawers and granite counter tops. The crown jewel was the installation of a wood burning pizza oven. We decided to cover this area under an A-frame pavilion which helps provide plenty of lighting in the evening. The pavilion was hard wired for sound and cable. Chris' skilled masons created a beautiful fire pit with a retaining sitting wall and an area just to the side to house a hot tub. We had the entire patio covered with Pennsylvania Flagstone. Our existing deck was very weathered and needed to be replaced. We chose to use a Brazilian hardwood and added stairs to access the patio, something our previous deck did not have. We love our new back yard and feel that Chris created a place where we can relax or kick up our heels with friends! Chris was very accessible and was prompt at returning phone messages and e mails. He was at the job site daily and often several times a day. His team of workers were courteous, hardworking and cleaned up at the end of each day. He was very close to his estimation of the length of time for our project. As with any outdoor construction there is always a bit of weather to contend with. Chris' knowledge of construction codes along with his creative eye for the latest designs helped guide our decisions. I would not hesitate to recommend Chris Bergen and his team at Creative Design Landscapes to design and build your outdoor oasis.

After interviewing a number of landscaping companies and individuals that presented poorly thought out ideas (if they bothered to respond at all) it was refreshing to talk with Creative Design Landscapes.

The owner - Chris Bergen - showed up on time for our appointment and listened to what our problems were. He asked pertinent questions - How did we use the area? What were we looking for? What kinds of plants did we like? What was our approximate budget? It was obvious that he had two goals - to solve our problems and install an attractive landscape that we would be able to enjoy for years to come.

Chris came back to us a few days after our initial meeting with his proposal - a professional looking drawing with itemized plant lists for each area. His plant recommendations were based on his experience for the region as well as the site, but, he explained, flexible. He offered to meet us at the nursery and evaluate other selections with us. Chris was very helpful in working with us to put the price exactly where we wanted it by modifying the scope of work or planting as necessary. He was very willing to and quot;tweakand quot; his design to incorporate our ideas and stay within our budget.

We signed the contract that day, were put onto the construction calender and were given a projected start date about three weeks out. The beautiful rain-free spring we'd been enjoying until then ended and, of course, delayed the start. You cannot fault any contractor for weather delays - they happen. We understand this (as should you) and patiently waited for work to begin. Chris stayed in touch on a regular basis, letting us know when he thought he might be able to start.

Once work began, it moved very fast. Creative's crew were total professionals - they worked hard from the moment they arrived in the morning until the end of the day. Prior to quitting for the day (and they were here for a number of days) everything was neat and orderly. Tools were removed, trash discarded, sidewalks and drives swept. It was obvious that work was going on, but it wasn't obtrusive.

Chris stopped in daily to check on his crew and chat with us about the project. We did request a few minor changes and he immediately directed the crew to implement them. We did take advantage of Chris' offer to meet him at the nursery and select alternates for a few of the plants although the plants that he selected would have been just fine (the wife had certain plants and colors in mind). The project was finished within the time period he spelled out in the contract (even though we had yet another rain day!).

At this point, it's probably needless to say, but we are extremely happy with the work that Creative Design Landscapes did for us. Every one of our friends and family that have seen and quot;beforeand quot; and and quot;afterand quot; are amazed at the transformation. We have a relatively small yard in town and may not get to use their services much in the future, but we highly recommend Creative Design Landscapes for your needs.

Chris responded quickly to the request for proposal, arrived precisely at the agreed time, discussed our requirements, made suggestions and left us with a quote that we later found to be acceptable and competitive.