CUTTING EDGE HARDSCAPES

We were investigating several companies that did backyard landscaping, but settled on Cutting Edge after we met with Jake, their hardscape designer. Jake listened to us and came back with a fist draft that was very nearly what we wanted. One more draft and we had agreed upon the final design. On top of that, Cutting Edge gives discounts for Angie's List members and for allowing them to advertise in your yard during the project. Price was comparable to other providers, though they didn't do the landscaping (bushes, trees) since they only do hardscaping. Kevin, the owner, sent out a very nice welcome to the family type of letter and told us what to expect in terms of how the process would work, what type of yard damage would happen, protection for the A/C unit, etc. He then followed up with an email to let us know when they would start. On Tuesday, the workers showed up and began digging out the patio for the base layer, all by hand, thus minimizing the damage to the rest of the yard with heavier equipment. The slope to the yard was deceptive, and required more gravel to reach the 9" base that Kevin requires. I had questions during this phase and couldn't be off work to ask Kevin during the day, so he agreed to meet with me at 7AM to respond to my concerns. I was very comfortable with Kevin's explanation of the base-building process, and he spent 25 minutes answering all of my questions. The workers completed the yard within 5 working days, and the gas contractor they used for the fire pit and natural gas grill took a couple of extra days to complete his work. When it was completed, it was by far the best looking patio on the block, and it added a great space for outdoor living and entertaining. We are already looking forward to the phase two that will include expansion and some additional entertainment space!

The project went great. We asked that the work be completed by October 2, and Cutting Edge honored this schedule. The work was done quickly and the clean-up was excellent. The step and walkways look brand, new even though they are about 8 years old. We're very pleased with all facets of our experience with Cutting Edge. We would definitely recommend Cutting Edge for any hardscape project.

I had a brick retaining wall that was crumbling. Cutting Edge torn down the old wall and replaced it with landscaping stone. Kevin (the owner) and Jake (the designer) exceeded my expectations on the project. Other contractors look at the project and wanted to duplicate the wall with brick in the same position. Jake had a very creative design that improved drainage in the area and opened up my walk out basement. The new wall dramatically changed the area. The crew was prompt and cleaned up everything when they were finished. Kevin returned all of my calls immediately and addressed all of my concerns. I highly recommend this company. I plan on using them in the future for a new deck.

Great experience from end to end! Wanted to substantially upgrade our backyard; had a builder installed 12x12 Trex deck we removed ourselves. Kevin (owner) and crew leveled the area and the crew worked tirelessly for weeks to install a large stone patio. Never intrusive to our family, crew was polite and efficient. Not much gravel (sub-layer) left over in lawn. No damage to lawn or fencing nearby. You can see pics of our build on his website - dusk w/ fire in the fireplace, cedar stained pergola. Great work, competitive price with the competition. Responsive to our wants and needs. Highly recommended!

We started this process in April of 2015. We interviewed four companies. Cutting Edge was number 2 of 4 in the interview pecking order. I contacted them online and found that there was an issue with the browser I was using or their website Contact Us form. Regardless, I alerted them of the issue and they were quick to respond. We met with Jake not more than 36 hours later. He came out and discussed options, showed us previous work and gave suggestions. We told him our budget, what we'd love to have and without putting a nickel down he said he'd spec out the job through their design system within a week. It should also be noted that access to our backyard is limited because of our fence. We were told that was no big deal because they wouldn't be bringing back heavy equipment. This floored us and gave them another leg up on the competition. Many companies want to bring bobcats back there and will just tear your yard to shreds. Also important to know a lot of other companies not only take longer to get to you, but some charge for drawing out your plans (up to $1500) and can then take several weeks to setup a meeting to start revisions after you have paid?!? Doesn't seem like good practice and we were glad Cutting Edge didn't take that approach. So within that week timeframe (which was more like 5 days) Jake came and met with us again. He really did a pretty good first run on the plans, but we had revisions we wanted. It is at this point that you choose to either work with their company for a timely response on the revisions, or you get in line when they can get to you. In other words you give them a 10% deposit, commit to being a customer and they will keep you priority. That's not a bad thing. We could have elected to not give a down payment and they still would have made revisions, but it would have taken several weeks to get done. This is a project we wanted completed by mid July, so we put down a $5,000 deposit and signed on for them to do the work. So at that point we had determined of the four companies we were talking with, it was Cutting Edge that stood out. Factors that had us decide against other companies were as follows: slow to respond, completely unresponsive and/or rude, quality of work, charged fees for plans, customer complaints Back to Cutting Edge; we setup another meeting, and it's hard to recall but I think he had our revisions done within 3 days. Jake basically nailed it. Probably 98% of everything we wanted to see and we worked out the kinks then and there. I haven't started talking about price, so let me expand, expect price to fluctuate for these type of jobs. What I mean by that is, they have to calculate square footage on your pavers, so it's near impossible for them to look at you and say "it's going to cost X amount of dollars", until you're plans are finalized. What does this mean to you? For example, I told Jake I wanted to stay within $48,000, but at the same time I said I wanted W, X, Y & Z for the project. Well from the beginning, we were told that building W, X, Y & Z was going to be closer to $60,000. This is the wife and I not having the knowledge of costs for these kind of projects. So we decided W could wait and agreed to move forward with X, Y & Z. Jake tried very hard to stay within our budget, but in the end we couldn't live without certain upgrades and agreed to go over. It's always hard (for me at least) to accept something is going to cost more than you had envisioned, but you have to account for what you are paying. What I mean by that is, quality work can and probably should cost more. I am the type that early in life took many shortcuts and sacrificed quality for the cheaper price. In most situations that ends up costing you more. Cutting Edge was very generous to try and get us some deals after the fact, so you feel like you're getting something. Because of the size of our job, we were able to negotiate several thousand dollars off and get a couple other credits. That said, make no mistake that you're going to get sticker shock on what these jobs cost no matter who you choose. So at this point we have finalized plans, have a rough start date of about 4 weeks (depending on weather) and an appointment to go over finishes with Jake. We were told going forward that we'll now start meeting with the project manager (also the owner) on our job, Kevin. Before we meet Kevin we select our finishes with Jake, just a couple days later. It also should be noted that Jake came to our home 4 or 5 times and my office a couple. They never expect you to travel to them, which is nice. I'll take a quick moment to talk about selections. They have access to (which I'm sure all companies doing this do) just about anything you can think of. Keep in mind you'll pay for your tastes. It's important to ask about costs of materials you're choosing and what are all options. So I'll give you an example: Our fireplace was the focal point of our job and it was extremely important that it blew away people as they walked out the back door. We saw a really cool one in a supplier magazine and it was what they referred to as a kit. Some companies will buy the kit, and place it on your patio. My neighbors signed with another company I interviewed and elected to get a similar kit (at the same time we were getting quotes). They were charged around the same price for their fireplace, it came in 4 pieces and was up in one day. Some may like that, but not me. I don't even think Cutting Edge will give you the option to buy the kit, for two reasons... 1. They can build it to look just like it, which is much better and 2. To get those kits into your backyards they are going to need heavy equipment. We started toying with what could be done on the fireplace and elected to have them build out a custom stone look (on a friends recommendation). I have to tell you, it's simply AMAZING! It stands over 13ft tall and is just beautiful. I'll get more to that later. We met with Kevin and he outlined the stages of our job and when they hoped to be completed. So the first part of our job had to be the fireplace, and the masons complete that. The dirt crew started earlier than expected. They hand dug a massive hole in the back where the fireplace would go and then the masons came out two days later. The masons were good guys, but they had odd working hours and small crews. Most of that part of the project was done by one, yes one person (his name is Nestor). I'll say most days there were two guys onsite, but a lot of time the second half of the day it was good old Nestor staying late and working hard to the end. I'm not an expert on how these jobs need to be done, but I could say time management on this portion of the job could have been better. An example would be rain delays, take them for instance. If it rains on a Wednesday and Thursday, then you get a sunny Friday, one would expect work to start early (8am) and finish close to sundown. That didn't happen as expected and I would assume because these jobs are very labor intensive. I can't fault them for that, but what I can say is it took nearly four weeks to get that fireplace done. In fairness, we had an extremely rainy June and first 10 days of July. We experienced a lot of delays throughout this project because of rain. I'm okay with that, because I'd rather it be done correctly. We were fortunate enough to be on a two week vacation for much of this build. We thought we'd come home to the job completed, miss all the mess and work being done, but because of rain that didn't happen. We got home and we had to park at a neighbors for about a week because there were a couple dozen skids of material that needed to sit in our driveway. Through the entire process Kevin kept me updated. While on vacation he would call (as needed). He was at the job site in the evenings. He would walk the job with me when I was home, and make sure we were all on the same page. Because of the rain delays I got to see the entire patio put together from start to finish (keep in mind the fireplace was done at this point). The dirt/paver crew are some really hard workers. I don't know if they move like that because they were behind or if that is normal pace? What I do know though is they not only know how to grind, but the quality of their work is superb. They are going to be loud at times, they would sometimes sing or playfully tease my bulldog through the glass, but they are really nice guys. I made sure to buy them lunch once and keep them hydrated because I am of the thought that you take care of the people who take care of you (did the same for the masons). They missed a small detail on the plan and the electrical outlets weren't placed where we originally thought. Jake had also calculated an area of the patio incorrectly and as a result we had to pay roughly $500 more (to buy additional material) to even out the patio to our liking. I didn't make a big deal about it because they took care of us in other areas that we had not agreed to pay for. In the end, the quality cannot be ignored. I'm almost out of characters on this review, so please let me give my final thoughts overall... I would highly recommend Cutting Edge Hardscapes. Kevin, Jake and crew are great guys. They are detailed and experienced. This is not a company that is looking to take advantage of you. I own a company and I know a thing or two about business. I do my due diligence and these guys passed my tests with flying colors. I think a project like this, you're always going to have a few hiccups (and we did) but the pros outweigh the cons by a mile. Overall we ADORE the patio! Friends and family just rave about it. If you're deciding on this company, want to

Design phase - Jake was very easy to work with, listened to what we wanted in the patio, asked lots of questions and thoroughly took measurements. He came back with a gorgeous design! He was even excited because our project offered a unique space. It was evident that he had heard what we wanted and was able to design our vision. Once we decided to move forward, Jake very thoroughly explained the process that would be used to build our new patio. He was very patient, answered questions and reexplained things as needed. He walked through cost to ensure that we were comfortable with the features we were receiving and the cost of each feature. Demo phase - demolition of our existing patio went quickly but then weather got in the way. The hole that had been dug for the foundation of the fireplace flooded. Cutting Edge was very responsive in coming out and pumping out the standing water as well as exploring options to ensure that it did not keep flooding. Construction phase - construction did take longer than initially estimated. The main reason was due to weather, dealing with Spring in Indiana and lots of rain. The construction happened in phases and for the most part we were kept well informed of when each step would be complete.The workers were professional and responsive to any questions that we had. Kevin visited the site frequently on days the workers were able to be working. Although the whole process took longer than anticipated we could tell it was because they wanted to do the job right and not rush just to get the job done. End Result - we now have a patio that our neighbors admit is the envy of the neighborhood. We contracted out separately to put in a gas log, and the installer commented several times on the quality construction of the fireplace. This is reassuring to know not only is it beautiful but also incredibly well built. Cutting Edge Hardscapes likely will not be the least expensive estimate someone would get, but what they deliver is worth the cost! If someone is looking for quality design, craftsmanship, and dedication to getting the job right, I would highly recommend using this company for your project!

Cutting Edge was very professional. Gave me an accurate realistic estimate. Explained the entire procedure in detail. Showed me detailed drawings. They were willing to work with me to make the changes that I requested. The work was done from beginning to end in less than one week. They tore out my old existing deck and hauled it away. This was no little job. They then excavated and installed a stone patio with a fire pit and a curved, lighted half wall. It has added value to my home and once I have it landscaped it will be the place our family spends a great deal of time. They cleaned up the area, hauled away all the excess and seeded the yard for areas that the existing turf was disturbed. I was very pleased with the results and have shown it to several of my friends and family.

Working with this group was a dream - especially compared to others I've worked with in the past! Everyone I dealt with was professional and knowledgeable. All of those involved also showed up when they said they would, and were very easy to deal with. The design process was a breeze and it was easy to try out different ideas digitally with their designer before construction started. The final design also gave the guys who did the installation a blueprint to work from so that things went smoothly and it looked exactly like I expected. The installers were fast - so fast that it hardly seemed like there'd been any construction - again, unlike other experiences we've had! The job only took two days and when the crew left, the whole area was clean. There was no mess, no leftover bits and pieces that we'd have to deal with. It was almost like the new walkways, retaining walls and planter appeared like magic. This was truly the easiest, most pain-free project we've ever done - and we've done many since our home is 100 years old! I would definitely recommend Cutting Edge Hardscapes to anyone who needs a patio, retaining walls, walkways, etc. They are great to work with.

The staff was great, and they left the area perfect. They were professional, on time, on budget, and the job was quality. I highly recommend them.

Kevin was extremely professional , right from when we initiated contact via Angies list to the time we got a detailed proposal. We decided to go with another company due to price. Kevin spends a lot of time and money in educating and training his team so that they are up to date with the latest industry best practices. We would have loved to work with Kevin but the estimates were well above what we had budgeted for.

Jake worked with us to design the shape and size patio we wanted. He was willing to change the plans to meet our needs. The start of the project was delayed due to the rainy spring/summer weather we had. However, Cutting Edge was very professional and kept us updated on their schedule. After the work was finished, they returned to make sure we were satisfied. The patio looks great and the entire project was a good experience.

They were on time for a sales pitch I asked him to do for the owners of the building. The fire pit was installed a few days after the contract was given to them. The fire pit looks great.

We had an old ugly deck in our backyard so my wife and I decided to have a paver stone patio installed. We called 5 different companies and Cutting Edge Hardscapes professionalism was unmatched. The other companies gave us rough drawings on what our design would be like but Jake laid it out using a program on his computer. This allowed us to see all the measurements and overall square footage which really helped keep us in our budget. We found a design online and Jake was able to help us modify that design to fit our backyard. We were originally told install would be the last week of October or first week of November. They completed the patio by October 22nd so a good week early at least. Two days later Kevin came out and went over a warranty information and how best to take care of the pavers and what to do if we have any questions. We are planning on some additions to the patio in the future and will definitely be using Cutting Edge for those additions. ***IMPORTANT*** $8,000 is a lot of money to my family and we could not afford to pick a company that didn't take it as serious as us so if you are a family with a budget and a little uneasy about spending this kind of money rest easy. Cutting Edge Hardscapes is a company that you can trust and will give you the best bang for your buck.

Overall quite well. They really worked with us on the design which took several iterations. They were delayed due to rain (not their fault) but once the installation was started it went like clockwork. They did a great job of lawn repair and cleanup after installation was complete. They co-ordinated with other contractors and the end result was spectacular. Two learning points for anyone having a large patio installed: 1) there will be a LOT of noise and dust 2) if you have an outdoor lighting system or sprinkler, ask to have a plumbing or wiring chase installed. We were able to work around not getting that detail point, but in other situations I could see it could really be a problem that is not easily solved after patio installation.

This is phase two of my outside makeover. Again Cutting Edge was superb. Their craftsmanship and professionalism is the best I have ever experienced. The team of workers are polite, courteous, and EXPERTS in their field. My house is now the rave of the neighborhood because of the new porch (courtyard) and sidewalk.

It was a great experience from start to finish. Jake was extremely helpful throughout the sales process. He listened to what we were looking for and constructed a color illustration to scale using his computer program. Additionally, the crew was always on time and the work was completed ahead of schedule. The crew was on time every day and were very professional. We are very glad we chose to use Cutting Edge Hardscapes!

Cutting Edge Hardscapes did a great job. First contact was with Jake, who worked with me to design the new patio. He was very patient and responsive as I evolved my thinking on the design. I think we had 3 at-home meetings over 2 weeks until the design was where I wanted it. Less than a month after that the installation occurred. What a hardworking and professional crew. Showed up early in the morning and worked about 11 hrs the first day (and boy was it hot). Finished up in about 4 hrs on the second day. Very happy with finished product. Also, they took good care of my yard--filling in around the new patio with good topsoil and spreading grass seed. Of course there was unavoidable trampling of the grass with heavy wheelbarrow traffic, but I figure in a week I won't be able to tell they were here. There was no littering or unprofessional behavior by the crew during the work. The company owner, Kevin, showed up at the start and conclusion of the project to ensure I was happy. This is their core business and they do it well.

My wife and I couldn't be more pleased with not only the finished product but also the process in its entirety - from first meeting, to design, review, construction preparation, last minute changes (not related to quality of the design, but aesthetic changes that we decided on late in the process), installation, and final walkthrough. Before starting our project with Cutting Edge, we considered the project for several years and, over that time, met with six different firms. While we often regretted not doing it sooner, we are pleased that we waited until we found Cutting Edge for the project. Having the benefit of previously evaluating six different designs, and having a functional understanding of the range of prices and approaches to the project, after meeting with Jake (design) and Kevin (owner) it was clear that none of the other firms (highly rated Angie's List contractors themselves) came near Cutting Edge in terms of quality of workmanship and products used, professionalism, thoroughness of design, and genuine dedication to getting the project right. Once work began, Cutting Edge brought a four person team to the project who remained dedicated to our project (no cutting out half way through the day to service another client, or alternating days between sites) and were able to complete the work in four days, just as estimated. Moreover, Kevin himself was here to orchestrate the delivery of materials and oversee the initial marking and layout of the site, and he then performed a walkthrough each night once work wrapped up. Several weeks post-installation, we remain just as thrilled about the experience and the end result as we did the day it was completed.

Quality work. Very professional crew. Owner incredibly responsive to questions.

Kevin and his crew are simply topnotch. I can't imagine there being a higher quality, more responsive group of professionals with whom to work. This significant project went so smoothly without delay and exceeded our expectations. The guys always came prepared and ready to put in a very HARD day's work, each and every day. Despite having our backyard torn apart for the new paver patio, the guys made it as seamless as possible. An added bonus was that it was actually a lot of FUN to work with Kevin and his crew, with a few laughs along the way! He has done a lot of work in our neighborhood for good reason....the word has spread that Kevin is the best hardscape company, period.

Cutting Edge removed my dilapidated deck and replaced it with an additional outdoor living space. I had done my research on Angie's List after I realized I wanted to replace my deck instead of repairing it again following are worse winter ever in Indy. I contacted Cutting Edge and heard back from Jake. He came to my house and took all of my ideas and created a 3D image of what he had in mind. After several change requests I signed the contract. Unfortunately we had a very wet spring and could not get started with the new patio as soon as I would have liked. It was definitely worth the wait. Kevin and Jake are awesome to work with. The crew was professional and the hardest workers I have ever seen. My neighbors were amazed at how professional and hard working the crew was. I now have the patio of my dreams and it did not cost me my life savings. Secondly my house is now the envy of my neighborhood. I am so pleased I have scheduled Cutting Edge Hardscapes to create a new updated look for my front entry. You will not be disappointed with Cutting Edge Hardscapes!!

Overall, it was great. We were really happy with Kevin. He is the owner of Cutting Edge. We were really happy with his work. They were extremely professional. We had no qualms whatsoever.

The prep work takes the most time to finish, making sure the fill is packed down and at the correct height. That part took around 5 days to complete, but when they started lying the stones they were completed in just a couple more days. The patio is 30ft by 25ft and it took one installer 1 day to lay all the patio stones once he could start placing them down. The rest of the crew would stack the 6 different size stones and the installer would just take which stone he needed and would just keep on moving until he was finished.

Working with Cutting Edge was fantastic. For the investment that homeowners make in an outdoor living space, this is too important of a project for it not to be done right. Cutting Edge did not just meet our expectations, they exceeded them. Their professionalism, design, and quality of work were outstanding. We recommended them to our neighbors, who also chose Cutting Edge for their patio, and they are just as happy with their work. For anyone considering a hardscape project, we give Cutting Edge the highest recommendation to complete your job. The owner has a terrific team he's put together, and it shows. We absolutely love our patio! It's our favorite "room" of our house. If you need a hardscape area, know that this company is the best in the business.

Cutting Edge was the most responsive and professional of the companies we contacted. They were excellent to work with, brought up some very creative ideas and the CAD program they use allows for easy visualization of what the project would look like. The ONLY reason we didn't select them for the project was they were a solid 8% pricier. Hopefully we didn't trade off too much quality for dollar savings. Time will tell.