Contractor recommendation for back yard renovation
Hi, I recently worked with Eco Brooklyn on my back yard renovation, and highly recommend them to anyone looking for a contractor for a similar project. Here is the review that I wrote for Gennaro, Eco Brooklyn’s founder: ***** I feel fortunate to have worked with Eco Brooklyn on our back garden renovation. My neighbor and I hired Gennaro simultaneously to renovate our shared backyards, so that our respective gardens would function as a single, unified space, but also work just as two separate spaces. For our side of the yard, the project included extending an existing bluestone patio, creating an invisible drain in the bluestone, and building a curvilinear brick planter along two contiguous walls, with bluestone capping that doubles as a bench. The finished garden surpasses my expectations, and Gennaro and his crew were truly a pleasure to work with. Gennaro’s expertise on construction issues such as proper drainage, materials selection, etc. were immediately apparent when he assessed our garden. What also became quickly apparent is his excellent sense of design. Being a designer myself, I had anticipated doing most of the design of the garden, but i ended up seeking and using many of Gennaro’s design ideas and opinions. He truly cares about aesthetic quality and worked closely with me throughout the project to ensure that I was happy with its progress. Another skill that sets Gennaro apart is his knowledge and experience with safe lead removal. During the planning phase of the renovation we discovered that our soil was contaminated with lead. Since we have two young children, dealing with the lead safely and effectively became the number one priority . Gennaro thoroughly outlined and implemented safe lead removal practices throughout the project. Our children were at home much of the time that his crew was working, and we had peace of mind of knowing that they were not in danger of lead exposure. Eco Brooklyn is unique in its commitment to using reclaimed materials. In addition to its environmental benefits, the antique bluestone and bricks that were used are beautiful, with a patina of age that new materials could not replicate. Gennaro is a thoughtful, soft-spoken person who consistently met our schedule and deadlines. His crew is friendly and courteous. They were such a pleasure to have around that both my husband and I were a bit sad when the work was finished! Gennaro was also kind enough to take us to the nursery to help us pick out local plants for the garden. He even built a tree fort for our children, using scraps left over from the project. Thanks to Gennaro, what was formerly a marginally used outdoor space has been transformed into a lovely Brooklyn garden, that has, in turn, transformed my family’s experience of living in Brooklyn.
spear71
in Garden 11 years and 10 months ago
3
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3 replies
NeoGrec | 11 years and 10 months ago
What a neat space for your family. Love the tree house!
tjbk | 11 years and 10 months ago
I agree with deanbh, before and after along with costs would be great. spear 71, was the impending winter a factor in your overall design? I have a wide open back yard in need of design and landscaping but I am concerned with doing any major work before spring.
deanbh | 11 years and 10 months ago
looks great, though is it possible for you to post a before and how much it cost. these are probably the two most important components of a referral.