Almac Landscapes Ltd

We live in an older area and had some overgrown spruce trees that were far too big for the space. We had these removed last fall then had Almac come in and do a compete revamp of our front yard. Alan was great from the start - gave us lots of ideas and was mindful of our budget and our plans to do more landscaping in the backyard in the future. His plans were clear and in phases that we can manage over time. From start to finish, Alan's team was organized, hard working, clean & tidy, and they did a great job - really high quality work. Almac regraded the yard, laid new sod, did a fantastic job with the stone path and flower beds. Our favourite part is the beautiful new cedar fence, giving us a lot more privacy and space in our backyard. Our yard has gone from drab and tired to by far the nicest on the block! Looking forward to having Alan and his team back over the next few summers to get the backyard to the same standard.

Work included extensive grading, hardscaping (retaining walls and brick edging), weeping tile installation and topsoil application. From day one all seven members of the team arrived on time and prepared to work. They were professional, reliable, hardworking and very pleasant to work with. Work proceeded efficiently but with great attention to detail and quality and demonstrated the many years the core group have been working together. Junior members were constantly guided and this resulted in team work that was a pleasure to observe not to mention a high quality finished product. Courtesy was extended to neighbors in that music was not too loud, care was taken to park the several vehicles so as not to interfere with the neighbor's comings and goings and the job site was kept tidy at all times with a final clean-up at the end of the day. The project was finished in a timely manner as all workers were assigned to the job until it was completed. I would not hesitate to recommend this company to anyone looking for a top quality landscaping company.

Due to renovations to our home, our outside landscaping was impacted - primarily our paving stones around the house. Our project consisted of removing a door landing (made out of paving stone) and tying this all in to our existing paving stone sidewalk, fixing a dry river bed, "fixing" our raised rundlestone beds, improving an unsightly area where we had two large white pipes coming out of our house from the sump pump and tiling over our old front cement steps. Alan from Almac came in, assessed the situation and about a month later was back with a full crew to complete the project within a few days. Everything ties in to our current landscape, so there is no "patchy" effect. Both Alan and his crew were professional at all times. It looks like great quality work and the front entrance tiles look fantastic. Alan had lots of suggestions and returned all my phone calls (to me, this is critical to having a good trusting relationship) and kept me up to date. Thank you Alan and Almac for an excellent job!! We can now enjoy the beauty of our yard for the rest of the summer and years to come. Cheers!

This is the second major project done by Almac at our house. We get raves from every one who sees it. One thing we liked was that everyone at our site were the same people that worked on our back yard out door room several years ago (not a sunk brick or out of place stone from that project after all this time either). The group works well together, joke and enjoy themselves well working at a steady progressive pace and mesh together seamlessly. On time, on budget, some great ideas from them, made it painless for us. Extras are well documented and explained and fairly costed so no surprises.

I first heard about Almac Landscapes from Homestars. They had a good rating so thought I would give them a try. It turns out it was a good decision.

Pros (in no particular order):
1) Landscapers were very respectful of our neighbors who told us afterwards how happy they were with the quality of Almac's work (some of the work was on shared property so it was important that they also be happy).
2) Onsite crew went above and beyond to ensure we were happy with their work. They left extra sand and explained how to maintain our new brick border.
3) Onsite crew left the work area very neat and tidy when the job was finished.
4) The quality of their work was very high. We got plenty of compliments last summer and we haven't even completed Phase III yet.
5) When I requested extra bark chips in the newly installed beds, they accommodated my request.
6) Alan oversaw the entire project from start to finish which prevented potential miscommunication issues. It was nice to work with the same person for the life of the project. Looking forward to working with him again this coming summer (Phase III).
7) Alan was able to arrange meetings around our schedule which I appreciated. We have two children under the age of 3 so free time can be hard to come by in our house.
8) Very happy with the practicality of some of the suggestions during the design phase of the project (e.g. sidewalk blocks under the recycling/garbage/compost bins and at the shed entrance, etc.).
9) Grateful for suggestion that we build a platform over the gutter that extends along the back property line. It was a great suggestion which we took and are very happy with the result.
10) Alan purchased our aspens at Costco to save us money instead of purchasing them at the greenhouse as originally planned.
11) I could go on and on...

Cons:
1) Don't take credit cards which would be a plus for expenditures of this size (it would be nice to get those extra points!!). An inconvenience but not a show stopper.

This is the second project Almac has completed for us and they have continued their outstanding work. Their crews are very thorough, friendly, and helpful in answering questions. They completed the work on time and did a thorough clean up at the end. I would recommend them for any exterior landscape projects.ALAN rankin at alanrankin@shaw.ca

From the first time we first contacted Almac, we had excellent contact with the business. We wanted to tear out planks and old features of a back yard we hadn't been using, as it wasn't suited to our needs when we originally bought the house. Alan personally oversaw all aspects of the job, from estimates, to planning and drawings, starting on time and finishing on target. Whenever adjustments were needed or when my wife and I thought of small changes or additions to make to the original plans, the whole crew was always helpful and courteous and accomodating, and the job looks great, inside and out. The workmanship was of excellent quality, and the business has excellent contacts when service outside of landscaping was required, so things got done fast (just as an example, a plumber and electrician were on site within a day to lay the wiring and piping needed for the base of a future hot tub). Alan phoned us regularly to make sure we were satisfied with the progression of the work, and we intend to work with him again for a re-do of our front yard in the spring.

Almac was incredibly friendly, and helpful with the suggestions and recommendations they provided - we wouldn't have been as happy with the outcome of our yard without them. Their fantastic work was completed in a very timely manner. We will definately use them for any landscaping we may do in the future.

I wanted to create an oasis in the suburbs and Alan and his team of true professionals didn't disappoint. He has a very methodical approach to design and everything from quoting honestly to the time frame was discussed prior so we knew exactly what was going to happen. George, the head forman, used his incredible woodworking skills to create a unique deck and pergola combination that is nothing short of stunning! His team also transformed a boring outdoor space into beautiful patios and walkways. His flair for design complemented my existing garden, bringing to two together in perfect harmony. What sets this company apart is their professional happy nature, always willing to adapt to nature's little surprises, and their respect for our personal space. They were non invasive, attentive to small detail and a true delight to have in the garden. I have great confidence in Alan and his team, and would recommend them to anyone who wants to have their landscaping done right the first time. We could not be more pleased, they made my dream come true.

I wanted to better optimize my backyard and create a more private and comfortable setting; ALMAC worked with me over a period of several months, as we got it right, including the saving of a major tree; the final outcome, was superb, and the process was very interactive with me as we moved forward; ALMAC has a great team;