Jl Landscape

Our experience with Freedom Pools and JL Landscape and Design has been terrible and similar to other reviews. Engaged in May of 2023 and only a fraction of the work has been done even though they received most of the installments. Constant excuses as to why they are delayed, not showing up to work and most work done is of poor quality in our opinion. It is now winter 2023 and they have essentially left us no choice but to involve a lawyer and report the owner and his companies to the authorities as they refuse to provide a partial refund even though they did not finish the work...... The experience has been very stressful and unprofessional. WE DO NOT RECOMMEND.

The owner John, who later we discovered did not even give u his real name, came to us with an estimate to do the pool in the summer of 2021. After paying everything he asked for, delays and stories, calls and messages, we found ourselves at mid November of 2022 and the pool was far from completed. They have been delaying us for months to the point where we now need to pay a lawyer and go to court. Every time they bother to contact us they say "The equipment is on the truck" or "We are coming tomorrow" and NEVER SHOW UP. We keep hearing stories about people being sick or that the secretary lost a family member (twice in one year?!) so that's why they didn't answer for a month... unacceptable nonsense!!! This is suppose to be a company - Personal life events do not affect an entire business and ignore us for months on end! The employees are the ones working not the secretary!! The worst is that they emailed us we shouldn't complain it has taken over a year because we are getting better value of what we have paid for.. EXCUSE ME?? They gave the estimate and we agreed! We have lost sleep over this pool company - Don't believe a word of what they are telling you. We have had other companies come to look at the work; not only did he take the money and disappear, now the vermiculite that was done needs to be ripped out and replaced so there are also damages now. I will be wasting time and energy on lawyer fees because of this "company" which is a complete joke. If you ever see them walking up your driveway - SHUT THE FRONT DOOR! Can't wait to see the reply they give here which will be useless and slimy as always about how it's not their fault and there are shortages... Strange as he has told us over 5 times that the truck is on the way and stuck in traffic.. Sure the GTA has busy roads... but for 6 months? We have been hearing that the equipment is coming "tomorrow" forever; Thanks for nothing! If anyone here has used them and as disappointed please call me and discuss - 6479492705

I was sub contracted do by this company to complete an exterior iron railings project. This is the first time we worked together. They were quite prepared, provided the measurements, we met on site to confirm details. He paid the deposit on time, we communicated. I completed and installed the job and he paid the balance on time as well. I would work with them again!

Stay away from this company. John the owner seemed ok but constantly delays start dates by months!
Starts the job, about 10 % complete leaves your property a mess then disappears with your down payment.

THIS COMPANY WILL TAKE YOUR MONEY, START THE JOB AND MOVE ON TO THE NEXT JOB WITHOUT FINISHING YOURS. THIS IS HOW THEY OPERATE.
PLEASE DO NOT HIRE THIS COMPANY!! THIS COMPANY HAS LAWYERS AND COLLECTIONS CHASING IT FOR YEARS. SAVE YOUR SELF ALL LOT TIME, ENERGY AND HEART ACHE. TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.

Found his name on social media, asked him to come and give a quote, he ensured that he knows everything and talked non stop... After few days we signed contract.
He suppose to start Oct. 10, 2017. Claimed everyday he will be with his 4-5 workers from 7:30 to 5:00pm. That NEVER happened. On October 10 I called him at 10:30 am to ask why you still not there, he claimed today we will not work just gonna bring machines.
Next day he came again late around 10 am. alone, worked for 2 hours and said that cant get bin, because bin renting company dont work when it rained day before, which we found out later that is not true.
Third day he came 9:00am worked again for 2 hours claimed his machine getting muddy, giving an excuse just not to work.
Fourth day came 9:00 am worked again for 2 hours. And got another excuse, that our neighbours complained about the bin on the road (neighbours didnt complain)- we checked cameras and he was not stopped by anybody in front of his truck, and didnt fit his description when we asked how he looked, of our neighbours at all. Another story he gave us that Town of Aurora inspector showed up and gave warning not to place bin on the road- it didnt happen- we called our town there was no complain nor inspection, nor warning.
He told us our pool is piped on site and crane booked for Friday- we called pool distributor and owner told us pool is not piped nor crane was booked.
Only then we figured out that he is avoiding and delaying work.
In 4 days of two weeks that he was working he excavated 1 foot deep, half of estimated area.
After talking to our town bylaw representative we found out that he cant place bin on the road without permit, which he said is fine- he has done it 100 times.
He didnt call to locate pipes in our backyard- we have an email from him, that he called and had a green light, but when we called Locate company, they said they didnt get any request, so he was excavating
against the law.
His address on website and our contract is non existing. He operates without permits, excavates against the law, delays work, doesnt answer calls- put us in lots of stress since he left a mess in backyard, ruined front lawn, damaged drain pipe.
After we found out that he had no permits we texted him, that we dont need his services anymore. Next day he came took his equipment- DIDNT REFUND OUR DEPOSIT.
Our lawyer contacted him right away, and was given a week to return it, today was his last day to do so, money wasnt returned.
Stay away from John E. - its an honest advice. We had never met a person with so many untrue promises.
We contacted another pool company the owner said, he had to kick John out for pour workmanship and delays.
We filing a lawsuit against him.
He will probably respond to this review with another excuse or accusation, dont believe him anything he says, read previous reviews!

Johnny E. was recommended to me by a mutual friend. Seemed like a reliable likable person although he was too talkative with promises. He does love to talk and spin great stories about his many jobs.

I had a laundry list of items and he committed to completing everything from building flower beds and providing top soil to removing unwanted trees. The project began with great promise in early May but then a week of no activity or communication. His commitment to me and my wife was completion within time frame that appeared to me as unreasonable. He was adamant that the time line would work. It didn't work and when he sort of competed the job in June, the work was not bad but the flower bed was missing top soil, the sod was not replaced and the trees remained because he didn't want to rent the necessary equipment.
r but, as the saying goes, the proof is in the pudding.

Johnny E. is a smooth talker who provides you with many promises such as having insurance (ask for a copy of the certificate), the workers will damage downspouts and he doesn't acknowledge the damage and has the nerve to suggest he provides a ten year warranty but the icing is the unreasonable time lines when he doesn't have the necessary manpower. He comes off as a buffoon.

He is a great magician because he disappears when the money is paid and the job is incomplete and the calls go unanswered, texts are not acknowledged and the voicemail is full.

You need to consider this point. He will tell you that he has many jobs on the go but there are few reviews of the work. In today's age of online presence, he is non existent. Why?

If you want to work Johnny E., I recommend you document every aspect of work you want done with time lines for completion and then you maintain at least 15% back if there is still work to complete.

Thanks for reading.

I made a deal with John E. in May 2015 to be started right away. He started the job in July, he had most of my money so I couldn't stop or say anything. He barely finished the job in November 2015 6 months later. I asked for a contract from day 1 but just got game playing from him. Worst job I have ever seen. The whole process was a nightmare of chasing and problems. If I had a contract I would have taken him to court. I'm a real customer giving a real review and being extremely kind in this review. STAY AWAY FROM HIM is the best advise I can give. He is a fly by night company that prays on nice people. Never has a referral. I'm not saying this anonymously and would be happy to answer any more questions. See my photo's, wish I could explain them further. That's how the job was left after paying full 35,000. He will not give receipts, no such thing as a warrantee. The pictures show a puddle that always forms, grout missing and flagstone sunk, stone cut off on front steps, grassy area all dead and I had to clean all his garbage, Pic of one of the many loose interlock stones, side of the driveway curb stones not finished and not the curb stones I wanted as you can see they don't belong- they look like leftovers from another job, 9 lights installed in the driveway all rusted after the first rainfall as you see in the pic, worse now, second last pic shows interlock side of driveway with no edging to hold it.

I contacted John and asked for an estimate for my interest in interlock and landscape stoning. I was particularity impressed with how fast he responded to my inquiry. Afterwards he made sure that everything was to my satisfaction and that I was happy with the work. I was very happy! It looks beautiful!