How We Work

Not always, and that saves you time. A lot of the time we can give you a quote over the phone, by text or by email from a description, a few photos and rough measurements. When the job needs a look at the slope, the base, the drainage or the access, we come out. Either way the quote is written and free.

The quote lists each item of work on its own line, the materials at cost, and anything not included, in writing. The price holds for the work it describes. It only changes if you ask for something extra, or if we find something under the ground that changes the job, and nothing extra is done until you have agreed to it in writing.

A first payment when the agreement is signed, then payments as stages finish, the last on completion. Every amount is in the written agreement before we start, so you always know what is due and when. We take cash, e-transfer and cheque.

You pay what the pavers, stone, lumber, soil, sod and plants cost us, with no markup. The contractor discount we get at the supplier is passed straight to you. Our price is for the labour and the craftsmanship, and the quote shows it that way.

There is no minimum. A few sunken pavers re-levelled, a single bed cleaned up, a hedge trimmed or a short run of fence all get the same written quote and the same care as a whole backyard. Tell us what you need and we will tell you when we can fit it in.

No. We fix what can be fixed. Sunken pavers can usually be lifted, re-based and relaid, tired interlock can be cleaned and re-sanded, and an overgrown bed can be reset around the plants you like. When something has truly failed, we show you why. See sinking interlock patio for an example.

We tell you. We try to give a heads-up on any delays and let you know when we are coming, with as much notice as possible. After heavy rain, waiting a day for the ground to drain can protect a base or a new lawn, so a short delay is sometimes the better call.

We stop and show you. Old concrete, buried debris, a wet pocket or big roots can change the plan. We explain the options and what each one means for the job, put any extra work and its price in writing, and carry on only once you have agreed. Nothing is added to the bill without your yes.

Yes. Every job carries a 1-year craftsmanship warranty unless the agreement says otherwise. If something we built moves or fails within a year because of how we built it, call us and we come back to make it right. Material warranties belong to the manufacturer and are separate.

Yes. Lumen Landscaping is fully insured, with liability coverage on every job, so your home, your property and the people walking past are protected while we work. You are welcome to ask to see the certificate before you sign anything.

We do the checking. Buried lines are marked through Ontario Dig Authority, formerly Ontario One Call, before any digging, and the service is free. Most landscaping needs no building permit in Hamilton, but decks attached to the house, larger sheds and tall retaining walls can, and we tell you before we quote whether your project does.