Salmon Bay Landscaping

Brad is a nice buy, but his business practices leave a lot to be desired. We engaged with him recently to landscape our yard and he literally refused to provide a design or any sort of plan. Of course, when the day came to start the work, there was confusion about what was included, the size of plants, drainage, sprinklers. He seems to think that everyone should just trust him. And, the price kept going up and up (like a 50% increase). I don’t suggest that you trust him and you should consider looking elsewhere. Even though he did work for us previously, we will never use him again.

End of 2015 we had Salmon Bay come out and do a paver patio and driveway for us. He really worked with us on design and what the best options for our backyard would be. The crew came out and worked in some of the nastiest, rainiest weather we had this winter. I was shocked that they would work in those conditions.
A couple months ago we noticed some of the pavers were loose and contacted Brad. He said most likely the ground had settled and they would come out to fix. It took them awhile and me following up multiple times, but he came out and finished the job.
We are happy with the results and would use them again if the need arises.

I cannot recommend Brad and his crew highly enough! 4 years ago he transformed our large swath of weedy lawn to a gorgeous, natural, ever-​blossoming backyard oasis. The only guidance I gave him was that I wanted plants that attract «bees, birds & butterflies». Now there is a gorgeous stone patio, natural steps that lead up to different sections, plants that bloom throughout the season, and an irrigation system that is efficient and easy to use. His crew is terrific! My neighbors say that they are friendly and quiet, and quick. Brad is the plant guy-​he really knows his stuff. He has a great eye, and a knack for natural, unfussy design. His crew do amazing stone and landscape work. I have them come back each spring to prune, clean up the bark and ready our grounds for the summer. Finding Brad was truly one of the best investments we’ve made in our home.

Brad and his crew had to help us turn around a quick landscape job with new sod and mulch, so we could list our house. His crew was prompt, professional and finished in record time. It was pouring down rain, but they all had smiles on their face. Very pleased with Brad’s company and crew and will certainly use them again.

Brad and his crew helped transform our small townhome patio space into an amazing extra living area. He demolished the existing concrete slab, and installed beautiful pavers. He also designed areas for our vegetable «farm», using large tubs at hip height that are great space savers. He also had a great eye for plantings, designing a lovely landscaped area in front that will provide color year round. Brad listened to our requests and offered helpful and practical suggestions to achieve our goal within our budget. His crew are very responsive and polite. I would recommend them for any landscaping and patio changes.

Do not trust Salmon Bay Landscaping, especially for structural work!
In the summer of 2013 we retained Brad Curry, principal of Salmon Bay Landscaping, for the removal and replacement of a 100-​year-​old concrete retaining wall that was leaning due to the pressure of the soil behind it. He proposed a two-​tiered interlocking block wall, and advised us that the new wall did not require a permit because it would rise no higher than four feet in any section. Unfortunately, the wall Salmon Bay Landscaping built was not formally designed and did not involve a city permit as we learned later it should have. It was taller than he indicated, and proved inadequate to retain the soil despite his assurance that it would.
The night that Salmon Bay completed the wall, a heavy rainstorm dropped about two inches of rain overnight. This caused the inadequately tamped soil next to the house to subside by about six inches, breaking the gas line to the house and causing the wall to bulge outward. We were lucky to avoid a gas explosion, but the wall required repair, which Salmon Bay also performed inadequately.
In February 2015 we listed our house for sale, and within four days we had a full-​price offer. However, after a house inspection and an inspection of the retaining wall by a structural engineer, this offer was rescinded because of the wall, which had again visibly bowed outward due to the pressure of the soil behind it. Brad argued that nothing structural was wrong with the wall, and insisted that the potential buyer’s engineering report was wrong. He also insisted that the wall at most might require a «cosmetic» repair. We declined his advice and pursued independent expertise.
We pulled the house off the market and engaged a geotechnical engineer of our own. We learned that the two-​tiered wall exceeded the four-​foot height limit in most parts, and did not adequately retain the soil. The expert assessed the existing interlocking block wall as having failed due to soil movement. We arranged a meeting on April 20^th with Brad Curry, a geotechnical engineer, and a structural engineer. The two engineers questioned Brad about his building process and then met separately with us. Brad told the two engineers that the wall was three years old, although it was less than two years old at that time. He told them that his warranty was for five years, though his invoice specifies 20 years. Brad told us that the engineers’ assessment of his wall was «bullshit,» but that he would be willing to make «cosmetic repairs,» if necessary, in May. We never heard from Brad Curry again, despite efforts to contact him via certified letter and process server.
In order to make our house saleable we must remove and replace the retaining wall built by Salmon Bay Landscaping. This new project will involve an enormous additional expense. Brad Curry’s self-​interested advice and inadequate workmanship has kept our home off the market, and the money we spent on his replacement wall is a dead loss.
Anyone considering Salmon Bay Landscaping for anything other than cosmetic landscaping work should think twice. Brad and his crew were in over their heads on our job, but took it on anyway, and their wall has been a disaster for us. His so-​called «Warranty» is useless, as it covers only repairs that he personally deems necessary, no matter what engineering professionals may say. Even for cosmetic work by Salmon Bay, potential customers should be on their guard, based on our unfortunate experience. They may find that this company’s expertise, and integrity, are less than they hoped for.

We have had Brad and crew do 2 jobs for us on the recommendation of a friend who used them and was pleased. Likewise, we have been very pleased with the outcome of both our jobs. Last Fall was a large paver installation for our driveway and a continuation of a back patio. The driveway is now 7 months old and looks beautiful. So we had Brad’s crew come back to give our irrigation system an upgrade and to give our garden beds a big facelift. We are thrilled with the job. The crew is very hard working, nice and try hard to please. Brad started and ended both our jobs on time and on budget. They even power washed our grimy patio on the last day. We will use them again.

I’m very pleased with the work Brad and his crew did in our front yard: from tree/​shrub removal to plant selection/​installation to concrete stairs/​walkway removal and remodel. The good: high engagement from Brad (text/​call every day with updates/​questions), an accommodating crew, flexibility with changes mid-​course, and a very competitive price compared to other offers. We had a couple bumps along the way (i.e. how I wanted the pavers placed for the walkway) that resulted in required changes and therefore more hours for his crew, but Brad didn’t sweat/​fight it, quickly acknowledged ‘hey, I just want to make sure you’re happy”, and made the immediate changes. What also has been great: Brad made himself and his team available to do follow-​up weeding at little/​no charge, which I’ve utilized twice (since the project was finished in the early summer), and he’s acted on almost immediately after I’ve made the request. I’ve recommended Brad & his crew to others. I’ll use him again for sure.

Preface: this is not a review of the service. Rather it is a comment on the absolute disrespectful, reckless and dangerous behavior of two of their employees/​truck drivers. At 430pm on July 24^th, going North on 15^th approaching the Ballard bridge I witnessed a Salmon Bay Landscaping truck cutting off multiple cars, almost hitting a few in the process. The traffic had backed up due to the bridge raising and general rush hour traffic, and during this time people generally use the zipper method to allow merging traffic in and over to different lanes as it bottlenecks. Not these guys. I witnessed them cut off no less than 5 cars, two of which they almost hit, including mine. When I got into my lane legally (with blinkers and regard for the law and human life) they tailgated me and flipped me off and shouted obscenities at me (and my children whom I had to explain what M-​Fer meant. Thanks for that.) When safe I called the number on the side of the truck and got a voicemail which I very loudly complained to. As the traffic cleared and sped up the truck purposely pulled up beside us and swore at us some more. So I took their picture with my phone and then showed them my tire iron, at which point they sped off and made a very fast and aggressive right turn with no blinker.
If THESE are the type of people that Salmon Bay are going to employ, I will absolutely make sure they never get any of my, or anyone I know’s business. It sounds like some of the same aggressive behavior that has been reviewed before.

I’ve had Brad & the Salmon Bay crew out to clean & resod my lawn + install a paver patio at my Seattle home back in 2008. The experience then was SO GREAT that the first person I called was Brad, but this time… to quickly turn around an estimate to repair the same lawn that was left with huge holes in it (our Tenants moved out).
As expected, Brad was super responsive, terrific to work with and was able to turn around the quote within 2 days!!! Even though the work hasn’t been performed yet, I have to say that this company is top notch! Give clear requirements & they ALWAYS come through with precise results. Thanks Brad!

I have been very pleased with Brad’s professionalism. He has shown up to estimate my backyard project on time or called saying he would be ten minutes late. He texts and communicates very well with his clients. He gets his bids to you when he says he will. I needed a plan drawn out for the City to submit for approval on my sloped yard and he referred me to a very reasonably priced designer, who was also excellent. Salmon Bay’s pricing is very competitive and Brad is a very pleasant person to deal with.
Quite frankly, I find it hard to believe the one bad review here… there has to be much more to that one sided story. This is NOT the company I dealt with because they were always professional and Brad is a very mild mannered individual. I would highly recommend him and his company to anyone!

Love working with these guys. I had contacted Brad to help design and install the perfect backyard for our new home in Seattle and were not dissapointed in the least bit. Brad came up with the perfect mix of hardscape and landscape to provide an intimate setting while creating an atmosphere that was idea for enjoying and enterainting year round — from the custom deck, wrap around pavers, to the beautiful foilage and trees that adorned the propery. Could not be happier with the results as well as the service. Brad is always on time, right on estimate and has a kick-​ass crew that gets the job done right. Highly recommend Salmon Bay Landscaping!

First rate paver install. Brad showed up and gave me a decent estimate and let me know he could start late the following week. His crew was awesome. They worked their butts off and got a big job done quick. I would recommend them. Reasonable price and the job was done quick!

Brad came over to give us an estimate to redo our back yard. He had some really great ideas, with a paver patio, a fire pit, redo the concrete back porch. I gave him a time frame, where it had to be done, because we were having a party!
They came on time, it was a LOT OF WORK, leveled the back yard, adjusted and set the sprinkler system, and hauled away the excess wood. I would like him to do the front this summer. He did everything he said they would do.
Bill P

I give this establishment one star because Brad’s crew is great, and they work their a*ses off. However, this was one of the weirdest experiences I have had. I hired them some time ago, and frankly, have been scared to place a review. The work started out great, but everything took longer and cost more than expected. It was nearly impossible to get any kind of realistic invoice from them. Still, we proceeded, but it was clear that Brad did not have the money to complete the project until we paid him. He started and stopped working several times, demanding more money, and eventually stopped showing up. He was to install a retaining wall in addition to some other work, and the quality of the wall was horrible. It was curved when it should have been straight, it had weird jags in it, and they completely failed to coordinate with the fence installer that had been contracted to install the fence on top of the wall. Ultimately, they ignored the type of fitting and locations that the fence installer told them to do, and just went to Dunn’s and purchased fittings that were not strong enough for the fence. On top of that, they placed them in the wrong locations, and in the wrong configuration. When we refused to pay until corrections were made, which Brad agreed to do, he just stopped work again. But that was not the strangest part. One night Brad and one of his crew showed up on the doorstep and rang the doorbell for at least 30 minutes. I was terrified and did not answer. He then started removing the large boulders that his crew had installed, and throwing them around the front yard. He destroyed some of the paving his crew had installed, then started throwing rocks and dirt at the front door. He removed an iron decoration from the face of the house and threw it at my car, nearly missing it. By this time, the police were there, and for some reason they did not arrest him. Go figure, I guess he had not actually hurt the house or me, that’s all I can figure. But they did escort him off the property and instructed him not to return. This was a terrifying experience, and he runs a shoestring operation. That is my opinion… I love the pavement his crew installed, managed to fix the wall (to the tune of several more thousand dollars), but Brad, in my opinion, was unstable. Period. And as I say this, I fully expect him to return to attack me again. How scary is that??? Scary enough to install security video at the house.

AMAZING! Brad took 1 day to come out and bid, 2 days later laid perfect sod (looks so good I watched a neighbor come over to feel it — he thought it must be artificial!) and all for LESS THAN HALF of the other 3 bids I got. These guys were so meticulous and the sod is so green and gorgeous, I couldn’t have asked for more. They have all my future business and I highly recommend them to everyone.

Contacted Brad about putting in a paver driveway with Indian summer colored pavers. Finished product looks beautiful and definitely gives the house a unique look. They also came up with the idea of painting the concrete wall next to my driveway a similar color and everyone thought it was a new wall. Ended up adding a final finish to give it the «wet look,» which I would highly recommend doing.

I contacted Salmon Bay Landscaping in late December to get pricing information for pavers or some type of «durable» landscaping in my backyard – something that would withstand the wear and tear of two labradors. Brad came out and met with me, took a look at the yard, listened to what I thought I wanted and gave me options that were respectful of the aesthetics of the yard, as well as my budget. I appreciate that he didn’t try to upsell me or talk me into something that I didn’t want. We agreed on a plan, the contract was written up and his crew showed up when he said they would. During the work – which took all of 4 days – he checked in nearly daily via phone and/​or email. After 75% of the work was done, I realized I needed a bit more and was prepared to do a formal «change of scope.» He handled the change easily, via phone, and we agreed on an incremental amount verbally. When all was said and done, the work was great – and I paid exactly what had been estimated. Brad is trustworthy and reliable and I’d definitely use Salmon Bay Landscaping again, if I ever need additional work… and knowing my two dogs, I probably will.