Altered Earth LLC

unknown

Final product
The main reason Altered Earth isn't getting a D is the final product.  It's gorgeous.  The carpenters who did the product made practical recommendations about how to implement the design that resulted in a product that exceeded our expectations.
The other reason they aren't given a fail is that the owner ate the cost of addressing some site issues that his project estimator missed.  The owner did this to ensure that the final fence was going to be sturdy and fit the site.  Once he realized that the project was going sideways he did his best to remedy it.  Kudos for that.
Communication
Communication with the business owner was incredibly stressful.  He over-shared his stress and personal circumstances, and he brought a very highly charged intensity to every communication.  This made the overall project very very stressful for us to the point where my spouse and I were fighting about whether to kill the project rather than continue. The communication was so bad that I will deal with some gate issues we are having by paying someone else to come fix it rather than have to deal with the business owner again.
Timeliness
There were timing issues from start to finish.  The lag time in getting the bid should have been a red flag, but we were sold on the quality that was promised so I overrode my better judgement.  
The fence took over 6 weeks to finish due to delays at  every stage.  Workers would say they were going to show up and then wouldn't.  The owner said things would happen and they didn't.  Many times the workday consisted of 11 - 3.  So our entire front yard was a job site for the majority of the summer.
Work site/process
The staining took over our garage for over a month.  The cutting and staging of the wood took over the entire front yard.  Bags of garbage were left after the work was completed.  At one point we had a fire when some stain-soaked rags caught fire.  Need I say more?
Would I recommend Altered Earth
If you want a beautiful product and are willing to suffer to get it, then by all means choose this provider.

It was a pleasure working with Mark. He was very responsive when I first reached out for a quote and helped define my landscaping needs. He respected the ideas I had to fix an old concrete patio and finish a retaining wall project a different contractor had abandoned. He was thoughtful with his solutions, fixed mistakes the previous contractor made, he was creative with the challenges my property presented, and took initiative to repair other issues that were revealed during demolition (e.g. rotted wood).
Throughout the project, Mark kept me well informed about the process and issues as they came up. His team was professional, skilled, and friendly and he took the time to talk through the challenges some parts of the project presented. His creative solutions also helped keep costs low.
It has been a year and a half since the work was completed and everything has held up well. I get so many compliments on the landscaping and patio work and love looking out at it every day. Very happy and would recommend Altered Earth to anyone.
 

On time, on budget, superb workmanship, great to deal with...can't think of anything but good things to say.

They got the job done quickly and did a great job. All of them, including the office staff, were so great.

Altered Earth is simply the best contractor we have ever worked with - and we've worked with many as we resuscitate our century-old Victorian kit home. AE runs like a clock - on time, on budget, and (most importantly) on goal. Beyond that Mark and the crew at AE can work with vague ideas and turn them into spectacular ones. To find a contractor with both strong creative and project management skills is such a gift. We couldn't recommend him more enthusiastically!
Specifically Mark worked to remodel 1200sf of outdoor space. We have very modern tastes and have struggled, for years, with landscapers who just don't grasp our aesthetic. From our first meeting it was clear Mark was different; he was very enthusiastic and we wound up brainstorming the basic layout in thirty minutes. And it was a collaboration. Mark would bounce ideas off of us, and we to him. Some stuck and others didn't. But it was a real partnership and that was a big win for Altered Earth.
The plan called for around 300 feet of custom fencing, a hardscaped front living space including a large propane fire pit and sleek concrete planters. Mark also shared our passion for lighting and we collaborated on a setup that was both functional and dramatic. Mark also brought some truly innovative ideas to the table, like our built-in shed that is part of the fence line, leveraging an open space between to trees (hard to describe but - trust me - it's brilliant). Or running a propane feed line that terminates inside the shed, elegantly hiding unsightly propane tanks. Basically, at every turn, Mark delivered the most elegant and functional implementation possible.
We did the work in late winter and early spring so there were unavoidable weather delays. Mark kept us informed and dynamically updated expectations based on the latest information. The project was initially planned to end in April but it ran into early May due to inclement weather; hardly something AE can be dinged for! Besides, we'd rather have it done right than hurriedly.
AE has a talented cast of sub-contractors, notably their cement guys who were laboring for about two weeks to ensure the forms were clean, smooth, and level. Getting modern concrete right isn't easy; that smooth finish doesn't just happen. And Mark made sure it all kept to plan.
Billing was awesome. Mark quoted a fixed-budget contract which meant that -- unexpected work or change orders aside -- I didn't have to worry about overruns. And there were NO surprises. Mark cast a budget and stuck to it. I can't begin to describe how much stress that takes out of these things. We've worked with some highly skilled contractors who did amazing work -- but they couldn't control budget so each job was like playing Russian roulette with my finances. Since Mark was heavily involved in the planning he was able to accurately predict cost and the only increases were due to minor but late changes we asked for.
In the end we got the outdoor space we've wanted forever. We spend as much time in it as we can, even when it's cold. Since the space abuts the sidewalk we occasionally hear passersby compliment the fence and lighting; it's a real showcase. And, of course, it's been a singular space for entertaining. We've hosted many wonderful gatherings and our friends and family simply love spending time there. So, thanks, Mark! We're very grateful for your amazing work and hope many others leverage your many skills to bring their dream spaces to life.

I would recommend Mark and his team any day.  I met with several contractors per our plans and Mark was the only one that was super enthusiastic and offered new ideas to our thoughts.  We wanted someone to help us with our vision and do a superb job and we got that and more.  Mark, on more than one occasion, would stay late into the evening in our backyard brainstorming with us and we greatly appreciated his time to listen and offer great ideas.  He was the only contractor that realized we needed to add an additional step to our existing basement steps due to some slope issues in our yard.  The team worked fast and efficient and listened to any concerns we had and adjusted something if we felt it needed to change.  Mark is talented and has an excellent eye for detail.  He would recommend a product but also be realistic with our budget in mind.  You get what you paid for and Mark is the real deal.

Mark was great to work with and very professional. Before the project, we had a good conversation about project ideas, and Mark was very clear on what he planned to do based on our goals. His crew(s) were quick, polite, and performed quality work.
The retaining wall installation went very quick and was fairly standard wall work, and it looked great and was exactly what we needed. The fence was more involved as it required installation on top of the new wall, but also to integrate with the neighbor's fences as they were on different levels or in poor condition. In addition, part of the fence was doubled up with boards and mitred to reduce gaps in the boards for sound reduction/privacy. We also had a sound proofing material installed between the boards as the fence lines a busy road. You can't even tell the sound proofing material is even there. I've had fences installed in prior houses but this was one of the best looking installations I've had done.
The project went smoothly with no significant issues and it was quality work. I would use Mark and team again.

Marks crew was always there on time. They kept the tidy, Making a few changes didn't seem to be a big deal,

That was the best paving job we ever had done. It was well-set. It looks beautiful. It's phenomenal for insuring things were leveled. He was very creative around the problems that developed with our yard leveling. The workers were friendly and communicative. They were willing to work with us on the design and come up with their own ideas and recommendations and work with ours. They were punctual. They're one of the few contractors that I've seen that actually came to a dedicated time in the job and finished it. They didn't go away, come back and go away and come back.  I would highly recommend them!  It all looks great!

I was moving into a house and needed Mark's help in sealing off the backyard for our dog. I showed him a number of photos of fences that I liked (including, as it turns out, several that he had designed), and asked the he design and build a fence and pair of gates that fit well within the neighborhood. 
My timeline was quick ... I had just purchased the house and needed the fence done before we moved in. Mark designed a very nice cedar fence and gate system for us, and came out with a co-worker and did the work exactly as promised. It's pretty much the nicest 6" tall cedar fence I've ever seen.
Mark does great work. I would be pleased to have him come out do more work for us in the future.
Thanks!

Mark came to our house on time, spent a long time listening to our needs and wishes, and made great suggestions. My husband had already made a detailed blueprint of the fence, and he was enthusiastic about the prospect of building a creative design. We had a limited budget, but Mark was amazing at helping us get the fence we wanted within our budget constraints. The team was very good and easy to work with, and when mistakes were made Mark took upon himself to personally correct them or to instruct his team on how to fix a problem. Mark is easygoing, fun to work with, a great communicator, very detailed oriented, and made great suggestions along the way. Our design included custom tiered arbors and gates, and reveal  "windows" in several sections of the fence to break up the uniformity. It looks beautiful! We still have people stopping to ask who built this gorgeous fence. During the construction we modified a couple of details, and Mark was always flexible and willing to please, and the budget adjustments were very reasonable.  It was a busy time of the year for Altered Earth and they were managing several projects simultaneously, and on a few occasions the construction on our project slowed. However, they always picked up the pace as soon as workers were available. We will definitely hire them again when ready to replace our old pathway with new stonework.

Everything went well. The teams showed up when expected and Mark kept us informed an in the loop at all times. The final sidewalk looks great.
On the first day, the crew came in and removed the old sidewalk as well as trim back some encroaching roots. On the second day, the forms were laid out and filled with cement. Care was given to the appearance with 2'x2' squares etched and defined with a center brushed motif - subtle, but very nice. Two days later, the crew came by to remove the forms and touch up a few areas as well as perform minor repair on a stacked stone retaining wall.
Through it all, Mark and the crew were friendly and knowledgeable. Mark kept us up-to-date as to when the work would start and finish.
The end results are spectacular.

Like most home construction projects, landscaping is often overlooked and in some cases an afterthought. We reached out to Mark and his team at Altered Earth for our hardscaping and landscaping for a house we were building and pushing to complete. Mark came to the house a couple of times during the bid process to understand our priorities and objectives. Although we didn't have a detailed plan in place, Mark was able to take the input we provided and offered many creative ideas to accomplishing our goals within a fixed budget. Mark's persistence and follow up through the bid process assured us he was the right person for the job. Once his team engaged, they showed up when they said they would and did everything they promised and more. Mark and team were flexible and adapted well to working with our contractor and various subs who were at the site everyday.  On top of that chaos, Mark and team managed the entire permit process with the city giving us one less item to worry about. With the project complete, we have received many compliments on the finished look. Mark and team were a pleasure to work with throughout the 2.5 week project. When we are ready to tackle phase 2, we will definitely consider Mark and his team at Altered Earth.

They came earlier than expected, within 24 hours of my saying I would hire them.  I came home late from work the next day so it was already dark.  As I was getting out of my car, I noticed that everything had already been done, I couldn't believe it.  It was like magic pixies had visited my house while I was at work, it was such a nice surprise.

Getting a hold of Mark was difficult at times, probably due to the busy summer schedule.  But, when the work got started, his workers showed up on time and ready to work.  Th work was completed exactly as planned.

After researching and getting estimates from other contractors, I was impressed by Mark Villano's subject knowledge and his down-to-earth, honest friendliness. He seemed like he'd be great to work with and he was! In fact, each person who worked on the job with him was fabulous and fun to work with. His company transformed an ugly, dangerous yard into lovely, high-quality landscape. Mark was unusually responsive to any question I had, by text, phone or email; his customer service was great. He was friendly and pleasant to work with and never made me feel like I was bothering him with all my questions. Though Mark was very conscious of quality, details and final appearance, he came up with several creative ways to save me money throughout the project. I was impressed from start to finish. The final product turned out beautifully and I highly recommend Mark Villano and his company, Altered Earth.

We had a landscape design made to completely redo our front yard. Mark reviewed our plan and made some additional suggestions that improved the design. He provided a bid for the hardscaping portion and started work with in the week. Mark and his crew were very professional and nice to work with. He was able to respond promptly to all of our questions and requests, and offer creative solutions to issues that came up. The total amount of time it took them to finish was about two weeks. After all the work on our yard was completed we decided to have an additional gate installed by the front door. Mark was glad to help with that, he worked with us on the design and had it built with in a day. Marks work is detail oriented and clean. Our new front yard/patio looks amazing.

Mark and Altered Earth did a fantastic job on our project.  Mark has an eye for detail and one of his strengths is communicating effectively as the project goes along.  Our yard and fencing look terrific.  His bid was very competitive with other contractors in our area.  Would highly recommend him.

He was very responsive to my distress calls after my 2 dogs chewed through our rotting picket fence. These are large dogs that need to be contained. He and his crew removed the old fence and disposed of it properly then replaced with a framed wire fence, a task that needed extreme attention to detail as our lot is unevenly graded and large. He made sure the new fence was aesthetically pleasing next to my garden, requiring edging and gravel.

Mark and his workers did an excellent job.  They custom built a fence and gate so that the 12 inch reveal at the top matched our existing deck railing.  When I initially asked for a quote, Mark came over to look at the existing fence and gave me a number of options to choose from.  He and his workers paid attention to detail.  They were prompt, communicated clearly, cleaned everything up after the job and took away the old fence.  I would definitely use the company again.

They were very I plan to use them again. They showed up on time and seemed to be very knowledgeable.

Wow. I don't know what I would do without Mark. Customer satisfaction is definitely his #1 priority. He takes great pride in the quality of his work, and it shows. He is extremely trustworthy, a great communicator, and extremely easy to work with. Half of my South Seattle property was unusable due to a steep slope overgrown with ivy / blackberries, etc. I dreamed of turning this valuable land into usable space, but was overwhelmed over where to start. When my land survey came back, I found out that one of my neighbors had inadvertently built a retaining wall and put up a cyclone fence that looped onto my property and encroched on my land up to 10 feet, which was significant. Lovely... I knew I wanted a fence around my property, so I went to Angie's list and had a few fence people come and give quotes. All but Altered Earth basically walked away from the project since they could not even access one side of the future fence line due to all the brush. Plus, it was steep, there was abolutely no decent access from the street, etc. Then my hero Mark, owner of Altered Earth, arrived. Instead of walking away, he enthusiastically welcomed the challenge. We agreed that, due to the nature of the project, it was best bid and completed in phases. Phase 1 involved cleaning out all of the brush, etc. to see what the land even looked like. Mark and his crew arrived the next day and started getting to work. Every day when I got home I was astounded by how much the had accomplished, and after a week or so my steep slope was now bare. The next phase involved a series of 3 retaining walls to get the land level enough to put up a fence. Mark and I talked to my neighbors and helped us come with a plan for how to best remove and rebuild their retaining wall so that it would be on their property. Over the course of the next month or so, Mark and his crew built a total of 3 retaining walls and moved yards and yards and yards of soil around. By hand. Since there is no access to be able to get any equipment back there, they had to hand carry buckets and buckets and buckets of gravel, dirt, and 75 pound retaining wall units. Once all of the retaining walls were up, Mark and his crew built a Cedar fence around 2 sides of my property. They also built two gates. The fence turned out beautifully, and Mark's suggestion of adding a reveal to break up the solid privacy fence in what I hope will one day become a patio made a HUGE improvement. I now have basically doubled the usable land in my back yard and have a beautiful fence to keep my dogs in. In a few months I will have Mark come back and start building the patio, put in landscaping, and replace the fence on the final side of my property to match that of the existing new fence.

We love our fence! The project took approximately 4 days. Mark was very careful of every detail and measured carefully. He also took the time to walk me through several spacing options, fence cap choices, and how to address things like grade and our neighbor's property line. It turned out exactly & better than expected. We would definitely use them again for other landscape related projects.

It went well overall. Mark came out and went over the entire property with me as I explained what all I wanted done. He asked good questions and then wrote up an estimate for me. His estimate was mid-range, price-wise, of other estimates I received but he seemed to have good experience and understand pretty clearly what I wanted. They forgot a couple of the tasks I'd mentioned but, when I pointed it out, they came back and did those bits quickly. I had to go out of town unexpectedly in the middle of this so I'm not certain but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they found there was more work than originally estimated. However, at no point did Mark mention raising the price and they did do what I asked. I wish I had asked them to put the yard waste bags up by the street. They put them by the yard waste bin which makes total and complete sense but meant I had to carry them up to the street myself on yard waste day which was a lot of work! :P Now that they've done the initial cleanup, I've also contracted them to do our regular maintenance. We communicate via phone and email regularly to ensure we're on the same page. And they carry the yard waste to the street when it's the week for pickup. :)