Owner Ben Barnes introduced himself as a licensed contractor. His employees insist he is a licensed contractor, however no information can be found by the state, city or county to verify that.
We paid up front to take advantage of the discount. Once Lawn and Beyond has your money, you have to stay on them to do any work. We would go 4 or 5 weekdays at a time with no one working on our yard. When confronted, Mr. Barnes always has an excuse which could never be verified. When various day labor workers did show up, they were here for 3 or 4 hours and left.
Mr Barnes insisted we did not need a permit for a fence replacement or for a retaining wall that is 3 ft tall or under. Mr. Barnes was wrong. We were fined for his beginning work without a permit. He insists he is right, but he cannot verify that. he called our city "retarted". Our fence is of less than poor quality. It moves, it is uneven, panels are already coming off. Pickets are cracking, wood is untreated, the gate will not close and drags on the ground. Mr. Barnes ignores all questions regarding the issues with the fence. Mr. Barns insists we have a 15 year manufacturer warranty, however when we contacted the manufacturer, we were informed only 10 of the 30 fence panels were purchased, the rest were hand built by Mr. Barnes which voids the warranty. This explains the terrible craftsmanship, mismatched wood, and other issues. The manufacturer also verified they have never been out of these panels which is a claim that Mr. Barnes made for one of his delays.
Mr. Barnes was to build a retaining wall of 68ftx3ft. Mr. Barnes claims he ran out of materials not even half way through and could not explain why. What was built of the wall is not anchored and is bowing out. Mr. Barns could also not explain why he installed a fence and then put up a retaining wall when the job was to build a wall, raise the ground level and put in a fence.
We paid for 1 1/2 inch rock and received mainly 1/4-1/2 inch rock. Mr. Barnes was informed that is the incorrect rock and it needs to be removed and replaced with what we paid for. Mr. Barnes also ignored that request. Mr. Barnes also used the rock company running out of rock as one of his many delays. We verified with the rock company that they have never been out of what we ordered. And there is a drastic price difference from what we ordered and what we received.
With concerns of the workmanship on the project, the untimely manor, being ripped off, as well as the integrity and standards of the company and Mr. Barnes in mind, we requested several times to meet with Mr. Barnes in attempt to settle these issues through friendly negations. He was very rude and refused to say when he could meet. He very rudely told us to speak to his employees. They knew nothing. They did verify that other people have had issues with him and his company. They also did respond that he is a licensed contractor. 10 minutes later, they left and we have never seen any workers here or heard from Lawn and Beyond or Ben Barnes since.
Start Date: May 29 2017 Last Date worked: August 2 2017 XXXXX over 10 weeks!!! XXXXX
Mr. Barnes "somewhat agreed" after many requests and having to remind him that he is the contractor and he has unhappy clients, to be at our house after 5pm on August 2nd after his "very important business meetings in Tampa." He never showed up, never called and we have not heard from him since. Our attempts to settle this through friendly negotiations has been unsuccessful. We have been in contact with several customers who have had this same experience with Mr. Barnes and Lawn and Beyond Landscaping and also have been unable to resolve their issues through friendly negotiations.
I found Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions on Angie’s List and thought they would be safe to hire. Boy, was I wrong! This was and still is a disaster. I may as well have gone to the bank, taken out $8,000.00, stood in the area I wanted landscaped and burned the money because what I have left is pretty much the same either way – a big mess and $8,000 less in the bank.
I wanted to hire a landscape architect and hired this firm because their website said they had a staff of Landscape Architects. When the owner, Ben Barnes, came to my home to give me an estimate I specifically asked him if he was a licensed Landscape Architect, and he said yes. He apparently told Angie’s List the same thing. As it turns out he, nor anyone else at his firm, is a licensed landscape architect. In fact, he has no licenses or state certification (according to the State of Florida Dept of Business and Professional Regulations) for any of the work he performed here and so was in violation of Florida law.
He installed drainage work that doesn't work and will have to be redone (drainage work requires a licensed landscape architect in certain situations and the work at my home falls into this category); he did low voltage electric work without an electrician's license; and he spread chemicals on my yard without certification from the state that allows him to do so.
A lot of the work done by Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions will need to be redone because it wasn't done right. The pavers were laid incorrectly and will have to be redone because of the drainage issue that was created and pooling water. Leveling sand was specifically included in our cost for the paver work, but was not used as a base. We questioned on more than one occasion why sand wasn't being used and were assured by the Lawn and Beyond Landscape Solutions that everything would be fine. Well, it’s not. We paid for sand, which is expensive, but got cement, which is cheap. It was a bait-and-switch. Now, I have to hire another landscaping firm – only this time, one that is qualified, licensed and certified, to undo the CRAP work done by Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions and redo the work the way it should have been done in the first place.
Less than half the plants, mulch and soil I paid for were delivered and installed. Of the plants that arrived, only about 40% are the type plants that we requested and were promised. We needed plants that would stand up to large dogs. We made that perfectly clear, but the majority of the plants put in the ground were succulent, not woody, and so easily trampled by my 75 pound dogs. As a result, many of the plants are already dead.
I contacted Angie’s List about Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions credentials which had supposedly been verified by Angie’s List Trade Licensing Department. They looked into it and found Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions does not have the licenses required to provide the services they are soliciting on Angie’s List. Angie’s List has subsequently removed this firm from their searchable database and given them an F rating.
Only about 40% of the work I paid for was completed before he (Ben Barnes) quit showing up or sending his crew. He told me it would take On top of not finishing, not providing appropriate type and number of plants, not bringing dirt to make raised beds, not providing enough mulch (all things we paid for), messing up the pavers and drainage, the layout of the space that was landscaped is best described as common in the ordinary sense, not creative or artistic in any way. Plain, blah, h*o hum are other words that come to mind. If you want a visual, think of the landscaped islands in Walmart parking lots or the entrance to Shady Pines Trailer Park. three weeks to landscape a 7,500 SF area and lay pavers in a 12’ X 25’ area before he had money. It has now been 10 weeks and I have given up hope that I will see this firm again. I believe it was his intent all along to steal my money and never complete the work I paid $8,000.00 for, in advance.
I have filed complaints with the State of Florida Attorney General’s Office and the State of Florida Office of Business and Professional Regulations, providing evidence that theft and fraud was committed against me. I have opened a case with the Orange County Sheriff’s fraud unit and plan to open a case with the Seminole County Sheriff’s office. I have also logdged a complaint with the BBB.
Lawn & Beyond Landscape Solutions Reviews
Owner Ben Barnes introduced himself as a licensed contractor. His employees insist he is a licensed contractor, however no information can be found by the state, city or county to verify that.
We paid up front to take advantage of the discount. Once Lawn and Beyond has your money, you have to stay on them to do any work. We would go 4 or 5 weekdays at a time with no one working on our yard. When confronted, Mr. Barnes always has an excuse which could never be verified. When various day labor workers did show up, they were here for 3 or 4 hours and left.
Mr Barnes insisted we did not need a permit for a fence replacement or for a retaining wall that is 3 ft tall or under. Mr. Barnes was wrong. We were fined for his beginning work without a permit. He insists he is right, but he cannot verify that. he called our city "retarted". Our fence is of less than poor quality. It moves, it is uneven, panels are already coming off. Pickets are cracking, wood is untreated, the gate will not close and drags on the ground. Mr. Barnes ignores all questions regarding the issues with the fence. Mr. Barns insists we have a 15 year manufacturer warranty, however when we contacted the manufacturer, we were informed only 10 of the 30 fence panels were purchased, the rest were hand built by Mr. Barnes which voids the warranty. This explains the terrible craftsmanship, mismatched wood, and other issues. The manufacturer also verified they have never been out of these panels which is a claim that Mr. Barnes made for one of his delays.
Mr. Barnes was to build a retaining wall of 68ftx3ft. Mr. Barnes claims he ran out of materials not even half way through and could not explain why. What was built of the wall is not anchored and is bowing out. Mr. Barns could also not explain why he installed a fence and then put up a retaining wall when the job was to build a wall, raise the ground level and put in a fence.
We paid for 1 1/2 inch rock and received mainly 1/4-1/2 inch rock. Mr. Barnes was informed that is the incorrect rock and it needs to be removed and replaced with what we paid for. Mr. Barnes also ignored that request. Mr. Barnes also used the rock company running out of rock as one of his many delays. We verified with the rock company that they have never been out of what we ordered. And there is a drastic price difference from what we ordered and what we received.
With concerns of the workmanship on the project, the untimely manor, being ripped off, as well as the integrity and standards of the company and Mr. Barnes in mind, we requested several times to meet with Mr. Barnes in attempt to settle these issues through friendly negations. He was very rude and refused to say when he could meet. He very rudely told us to speak to his employees. They knew nothing. They did verify that other people have had issues with him and his company. They also did respond that he is a licensed contractor. 10 minutes later, they left and we have never seen any workers here or heard from Lawn and Beyond or Ben Barnes since.
Start Date: May 29 2017 Last Date worked: August 2 2017 XXXXX over 10 weeks!!! XXXXX
Mr. Barnes "somewhat agreed" after many requests and having to remind him that he is the contractor and he has unhappy clients, to be at our house after 5pm on August 2nd after his "very important business meetings in Tampa." He never showed up, never called and we have not heard from him since. Our attempts to settle this through friendly negotiations has been unsuccessful. We have been in contact with several customers who have had this same experience with Mr. Barnes and Lawn and Beyond Landscaping and also have been unable to resolve their issues through friendly negotiations.
I found Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions on Angie’s List and thought they would be safe to hire. Boy, was I wrong! This was and still is a disaster. I may as well have gone to the bank, taken out $8,000.00, stood in the area I wanted landscaped and burned the money because what I have left is pretty much the same either way – a big mess and $8,000 less in the bank.
I wanted to hire a landscape architect and hired this firm because their website said they had a staff of Landscape Architects. When the owner, Ben Barnes, came to my home to give me an estimate I specifically asked him if he was a licensed Landscape Architect, and he said yes. He apparently told Angie’s List the same thing. As it turns out he, nor anyone else at his firm, is a licensed landscape architect. In fact, he has no licenses or state certification (according to the State of Florida Dept of Business and Professional Regulations) for any of the work he performed here and so was in violation of Florida law.
He installed drainage work that doesn't work and will have to be redone (drainage work requires a licensed landscape architect in certain situations and the work at my home falls into this category); he did low voltage electric work without an electrician's license; and he spread chemicals on my yard without certification from the state that allows him to do so.
A lot of the work done by Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions will need to be redone because it wasn't done right. The pavers were laid incorrectly and will have to be redone because of the drainage issue that was created and pooling water. Leveling sand was specifically included in our cost for the paver work, but was not used as a base. We questioned on more than one occasion why sand wasn't being used and were assured by the Lawn and Beyond Landscape Solutions that everything would be fine. Well, it’s not. We paid for sand, which is expensive, but got cement, which is cheap. It was a bait-and-switch. Now, I have to hire another landscaping firm – only this time, one that is qualified, licensed and certified, to undo the CRAP work done by Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions and redo the work the way it should have been done in the first place.
Less than half the plants, mulch and soil I paid for were delivered and installed. Of the plants that arrived, only about 40% are the type plants that we requested and were promised. We needed plants that would stand up to large dogs. We made that perfectly clear, but the majority of the plants put in the ground were succulent, not woody, and so easily trampled by my 75 pound dogs. As a result, many of the plants are already dead.
I contacted Angie’s List about Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions credentials which had supposedly been verified by Angie’s List Trade Licensing Department. They looked into it and found Lawn and Beyond Landscaping Solutions does not have the licenses required to provide the services they are soliciting on Angie’s List. Angie’s List has subsequently removed this firm from their searchable database and given them an F rating.
Only about 40% of the work I paid for was completed before he (Ben Barnes) quit showing up or sending his crew. He told me it would take On top of not finishing, not providing appropriate type and number of plants, not bringing dirt to make raised beds, not providing enough mulch (all things we paid for), messing up the pavers and drainage, the layout of the space that was landscaped is best described as common in the ordinary sense, not creative or artistic in any way. Plain, blah, h*o hum are other words that come to mind. If you want a visual, think of the landscaped islands in Walmart parking lots or the entrance to Shady Pines Trailer Park. three weeks to landscape a 7,500 SF area and lay pavers in a 12’ X 25’ area before he had money. It has now been 10 weeks and I have given up hope that I will see this firm again. I believe it was his intent all along to steal my money and never complete the work I paid $8,000.00 for, in advance.
I have filed complaints with the State of Florida Attorney General’s Office and the State of Florida Office of Business and Professional Regulations, providing evidence that theft and fraud was committed against me. I have opened a case with the Orange County Sheriff’s fraud unit and plan to open a case with the Seminole County Sheriff’s office. I have also logdged a complaint with the BBB.