FROM THE GROUND UP

Will post more details after the court case but avoid this contractor at all costs.

Please listen to the reviews posted, I can also testify to the unfortunate hiring of this "so-called" handyman business. We hired this company to JUST install decking and the posts/rails with a set of stairs. They left us with a set of stairs that would not pass code, top riser step, literally 2", so a tripping hazard either way up or down, uneven cuts to the decking as you look down the sides, etc.. never showed when scheduled, promises promises, and nothing.. We ended up taking this company to COURT, yep.. got back a fraction of paid, wasted time that shouldn't have to be done when hiring a contractor and still hasn't finished paying what is owed. Careful with your hard earned money And who you hire!! If I could give a O or less I would BE CAREFUL

We hired From the Ground Up LLC (Jacob LaBrack) to build a new deck and paid a $9,000 deposit on April 29. We were told the project would be completed by July 9, but work did not begin until mid-June. We believed the permit was being handled, but after contacting the town ourselves, we learned no application had been filed until after our inquiry, causing delays. We were promised a crew of 4?5 workers and a 1½?2 week timeline, but only four days of work occurred. The owner returned only three times for about two hours each and brought a young child who appeared to assist with demolition using power tools. Communication was poor, promised workdays were repeatedly missed, debris remains in our yard, and despite requesting proof that decking materials had been ordered before making another payment, we received no response or documentation. Absolutely do not recommend this company.

We hired From the Ground Up LLC (Jacob LaBrack) to build a new deck and paid a $9,000 deposit on April 29. We were told the project would be completed by July 9, but work did not begin until the middle of June. Based on our conversations with the owner, we believed the permit process (the initial step) was being handled. After several weeks without any progress, we contacted the town directly and learned that no permit application had been filed. The permit was not submitted until after we made that inquiry, which resulted in delays before work could begin. This experience left us with serious concerns about how the permitting process was managed and communicated to us. Before work began, the owner told us that once the project started, he would have a crew of four to five workers on site and that the deck would take approximately 1½ to 2 weeks to complete. Instead, only four days of work were performed, beginning on 15Jun. After the initial demolition, the owner returned on only three occasions for approximately two hours each evening, and the project made very little progress. During each of the three visits when the owner showed up, he brought his young son, who appeared to be around six years old. I personally observed the child participating in demolition work using power tools, which I found to be extremely unsafe. On multiple occasions, we were told the crew would be arriving, but no one showed up. When this happened, the owner attributed the missed workdays to problems with his coworkers and various other reasons. Communication was also very poor throughout the project. Text messages and emails frequently went unanswered, leaving us with little information about the status of our project. After demolishing the deck, all of the debris was left piled in our front yard, where it still remains several weeks later. Meanwhile, although we struggled to get updates about our own project, we regularly saw social media posts showing the owner completing work at other job sites, including posts about our demolition. The owner then requested the next scheduled payment, stating it was needed to purchase the decking materials. At that point, the demolition was not fully complete because the old deck materials were still piled in our yard. We asked for documentation confirming that the decking materials had been ordered or purchased before making an additional payment. We never received a response to that request or any documentation. Overall, our experience was extremely disappointing. We paid a substantial deposit based on promised timelines that were not met, experienced repeated no-shows, poor communication, minimal progress, and were left with an unusable yard and an unfinished project, which made the entire process stressful. Based on our experience, I would not recommend From the Ground Up LLC.

I’ve had the opportunity to work with From the Ground Up Construction on multiple occasions—both for my own projects and for my clients—and they’ve consistently been reliable, hardworking, and great to work with. They pay attention to the details, do things the right way, and never cut corners. Just as important, they’re fair and honest with their pricing, which is something that really stands out. There have been a few situations where timing was tight—especially when repairs were needed quickly to satisfy lender requirements—and they’ve stepped in and delivered without hesitation. They’ve come through for both me and my clients more than once. It’s not always easy to find a team you can trust across the board, but this is one I feel confident recommending.