URBAN ESCAPES

I hired Urban Escapes to do a deck, paver path, and timber stairs up my front hill in 2016. I’m only posting a review now because it’s been less than four years since the install was complete, and already my front steps are rotting. In fact, I just spent over a thousand dollars to replace less than a third of the 6x6s, and it’s only a matter of time before I have to replace the rest. The carpenter who did this initial replacement pointed out that Urban Escapes did not use treated lumber. The split/rotting boards clearly indicated this. To be fair to Urban Escapes, it did not say anywhere on my contract that they would used treated 6x6s. However, that felt like a fair assumption given that these were steps that touch the ground and have exposure to moisture year-round. I think it’s fair to say that no one would spend $4k+ on exterior steps with the understanding they would only last 4-5 years. To be fair to Urban Escapes, I did not reach out to them first to fix this issue. But the reason I did not was because back when this project was in its finishing stages, the crew was clearly cutting corners. I had to call them back out multiple times to fix obvious errors on my deck. And it often took more than two weeks of emails and voicemails before Courtney would respond. I ultimately fixed the last piece myself because I was just so tired of waiting. It wasn’t worth the stress. Given that they obviously cut more corners than I initially knew, I didn’t trust them to come out and fix the front steps. I did, however, send images of the damaged steps and the invoice in order to give Urban Escapes the opportunity to make it right. I have not yet heard back from them. If I do, and they do reimburse me for what I spent on replacement and proactively help me with the inevitable additional 6x6 replacements, I will add this to my review. With the exception of my deck railings (which required the multiple fixes), I was happy with the look of the work. But I ultimately spent more than $20K on this project, and am incredibly disappointed that four years later I’m already spending a lot of money to make repairs that relate to craftsmanship. I relied on professionals to ensure this job was done right. I put my trust in Urban Escapes. I’m paying for that misplaced trust now.

I hired Urban Escapes to do a deck, paver path, and timber stairs up my front hill in 2016. I’m only posting a review now because it’s been less than four years since the install was complete, and already my front steps are rotting. In fact, I just spent over a thousand dollars to replace less than a third of the 6x6s, and it’s only a matter of time before I have to replace the rest. The carpenter who did this initial replacement pointed out that Urban Escapes did not use treated lumber. The split/rotting boards clearly indicated this. To be fair to Urban Escapes, it did not say anywhere on my contract that they would used treated 6x6s. However, that felt like a fair assumption given that these were steps that touch the ground and have exposure to moisture year-round. I think it’s fair to say that no one would spend $4k+ on exterior steps with the understanding they would only last 4-5 years. To be fair to Urban Escapes, I did not reach out to them first to fix this issue. But the reason I did not was because back when this project was in its finishing stages, the crew was clearly cutting corners. I had to call them back out multiple times to fix obvious errors on my deck. And it often took more than two weeks of emails and voicemails before Courtney would respond. I ultimately fixed the last piece myself because I was just so tired of waiting. It wasn’t worth the stress. Given that they obviously cut more corners than I initially knew, I didn’t trust them to come out and fix the front steps. I did, however, send images of the damaged steps and the invoice in order to give Urban Escapes the opportunity to make it right. I have not yet heard back from them. If I do, and they do reimburse me for what I spent on replacement and proactively help me with the inevitable additional 6x6 replacements, I will add this to my review. With the exception of my deck railings (which required the multiple fixes), I was happy with the look of the work. But I ultimately spent more than $20K on this project, and am incredibly disappointed that four years later I’m already spending a lot of money to make repairs that relate to craftsmanship. I relied on professionals to ensure this job was done right. I put my trust in Urban Escapes. I’m paying for that misplaced trust now.

Courtney came out for a consultation on backyard landscaping and deck work. Initially he was excited to draw up plans and get started. We needed an under deck installed before a party in mid August. He told us that would be no problem and that he would send an estimate. After several messages left from my wife and myself, we never heard from him. No response or returned calls or texts. We didn't have time for a plan B, so the under deck wasn't finished for our party. We had planned for a pretty large project. Their loss. Surprisingly, they came highly recommended, but we would not recommend them to anyone.

We had a large retaining wall, railroad ties, 30 years old or more - and it was constructed of used railroad ties, so the actual ties might have been many years older. Many were soft, rotting, so it was time to replace the structure. Railroad ties are difficult to dispose of, only one or two dumpsites take them, and they charge a lot. Many landscapers won't take the jobs. Plus, our site is very difficult. There is no direct or machine access. Our house is buried into a steep hill, the patio and retaining wall are up a flight of stairs. Every tie needed to be carried down by hand. Every new timber needed to be carried up, by hand. Urban Escapes gave us a very good price. Other contractors bid much higher, or didn't return calls. Courtney obviously knew his stuff, both construction and landscaping. So did his men. They got the job done quickly, engineered the large wall on clay soil well. They were very pleasant men, easy to deal with, attentive to our questions and concerns. If I have a complaint it is that they stomped a few hostas, but I understood this: It is hard to navigate when one is carrying an 8' length of railroad tie, and the heavy ungainly things can get away from you and drop onto the ground...and the plants. I not only would use them again, I will, in the Spring, when I need to replace two other landscape boxes.

Initially Courtney was responsive and interested in helping me choose materials/colors. They were able to start the project very quickly and work progressed well on the first day. There was a slow-down in work for the rest of the week. I was told that the patio would take 2 days to install and it took 6. That wasn't a big issue - what was frustrating was that Courtney rarely answered phone calls/emails when I had things that needed to be fixed. A stone came loose on the steps less than 1 month after the project was completed - it was difficult to get in contact with him. The timer on our newly installed lighting never has worked and no replacement was given to us. Finally, he said he would help us blend the stone in with our new fence (which came a week after the patio - since he started so quickly). That was never done. The patio itself is beautiful, but Courtney was far too difficult to get in contact with.

initially the owner was good about meeting with me and was willing to help in choosing the stone. the communication was pretty much over after the check was received. Courtney rarely returned my calls and would say he would stop by giving me a time and date, but then did not show up. The crew he sent to my home was one of the least professional crew I have ever worked with. I was made to feel that I was bothering them when I would check up to see how things were coming along. They placed a thin piece of plywood for the form which was insufficient and caused bowing in the cement. They never consulted with me with the layout of the forms for the steps (the steps are not centered with the door-there is approx 8-10 inches more space on the hinge side of the door of the finished product). they did attempt to rectify the poorly placed steps by adding an additional row of brick to the riser portion of the steps (brick for the riser and stone on the tread). My steps are two sided- straight out and to the right with a miter cut where the two pieces of stone meet. The detail is poor as the miters do not align up from step to step. The sod they put in was full of weeds and is sunk in making it difficult to mow. They did come out and replace the sod, but did nothing to alleviate the height difference with the pre existing yard. again, very poor quality. The following summer I noticed that the mortar was cracking and that the stone was loose. Apparently they do not glue the stone and count on the mortar holding it in place. I spent the majority of the summer trying to get them to come out and fix this problem as I felt this was now a safety issue. Courtney eventually came out and we had an agreement that they would grind down all joints as they were sunk in and collecting water. When the crew came out to fix all the issues, he wanted to only fix the loose joints, when attempting to talk to the man, he informed me that I didn't know what I was talking about and that he was the professional (I'm not sure why a professional would have to fix his work less than a year later) and refused to listen to me, instead he started his (noisy) grinder and ignored me. I contacted the owner and he called the crewman. The mortar was fixed to my satisfaction, but was dissatisfied with the customer service. I never want to have that man in my yard again. He has no professionalism and has no sense of pride in work well done as is evidenced by his lack of detail

They were very thoughtful and responsive. They listened to what my concerns were and what I wanted. They were willing to do additional work along the way. They presented ideas to compliment the work we had planned. They were courteous and they advised me about how to maintain the yard when it was done.