TOUGH OAKS LANDSCAPING

I couldn't be happier with the incredible transformation Ralph and Cynthia at Tough Oaks Landscaping created for my front entrance. They took my dated, tired-looking entrance and completely transformed it into a beautiful, welcoming space that has exceeded all of my expectations. What really sets them apart, though, is the kind of people they are. Ralph and Cynthia are genuinely kind, honest, and caring. They made the entire experience enjoyable and stress-free, and I truly looked forward to our conversations throughout the project. It felt like working with friends who genuinely cared about making sure everything was perfect. I've received so many compliments from neighbours and friends, and I couldn't be more grateful for their hard work. If you're looking for a landscaping company that delivers outstanding quality while treating you with warmth, respect, and professionalism, I wholeheartedly recommend Tough Oaks Landscaping. Thank you, Ralph and Cynthia, for creating a front entrance that I'll enjoy for years to come!

Tough Oaks Landscaping is reasonably priced and they are very knowledgeable and good at communication. Ralph and Cynthia were a pleasure to work with. They were good at communication and had creative ideas. I highly recommend them.

If you are looking for competent professional stone landscaping services, Ralph and Cynthia at Tough Oaks is your choice. I wanted to replace a chipped stone step and re-seal our walkway. They provided me with great options and went above and beyond my expectations. They even threw in some mulch to make things look even better! Save yourself time, hassle, and money. You won't be sorry choosing Tough Oaks. Carl Nowlin

About three years ago, I hired Tough Oaks to replace the basic builder block and path at the front of my house with a custom stone porch, steps, garden, and walkway (a picture of this is posted on this review forum). From the start, they impressed me with their detailed quote and the care they put into every aspect of the project. They went above and beyond my expectations and delivered a front porch and steps I love so much that I wrote then I wouldn’t trust anyone else with hard landscaping. This year, true to my word, I called Tough Oaks again when it was time to replace my small, broken wooden backyard deck with a patio. Once again, they exceeded my expectations in every way. They tore down the old deck, removed all debris and concrete footings, and excavated nearly 12 inches down for the 15 x 16-foot patio—then added an extra foot to accommodate a gazebo I only casually mentioned wanting. They wheeled in tons of crushed rock aggregate and built the foundation layer by layer, tamping each one until it was rock solid. To save me space, they suggested raising the patio height to eliminate the need for a step, improving both function and appearance. They laid high-performance bedding for proper drainage and precise grading and even corrected an old grading issue near the house, carefully measuring to create a very subtle slope that directs water away from the foundation and off the patio. Their craftsmanship continued with the installation of interlocking pavers, which they double sealed to maintain their durability, and they upgraded the patio with beautiful decorative stone. Every piece was painstakingly set so the surface remains even and safe—despite the stones’ natural variation—making it practical for shoveling in winter and safe for foot traffic. They even went so far as to remove a useless old vent, bricking over the hole left behind so well that you’d never know it was ever there, except that their work was neater than the original bricklaying! And they did all of this within the original contract—never cutting corners, always doing what’s best for the client and the project. Tough Oaks never subcontracts their work. They handle every detail themselves because they care deeply about their reputation and the quality of what they build. They are true artisans—refusing shortcuts, even when I offered them to do what was easiest for them. Their integrity, skill, and commitment to customer satisfaction are remarkable, and for the level of craftsmanship they deliver, their pricing is very reasonable. Tough Oaks builds landscapes to last. Whatever you hire them to do, you’ll enjoy it for years and likely see a return on your investment when it comes time to sell. And best of all, they’re genuinely wonderful people. I can’t recommend Tough Oaks highly enough. If you want the job done right the first time, this is the company you want to hire.

Thanks so much to Ralph and Cynthia for the great work you did in repairing the stonework at the front of our house including removing, cleaning and reinstalling as much of the stone as possible, reinforcing the structure as needed, and adjusting the slope of the walkway to ensure better drainage and less erosion due to buildup of water and ice. Ralph also installed a better draining system from the downspout at the side of the house and did an excellent job installing new stone between the walkway and our paved driveway. We’re so pleased with the maintenance work that it makes us wish that we had known them in 2006 because we’re sure that if they had done the original work, none of the subsequent maintenance and adjustments would have been necessary. We highly recommend them to anyone looking for landscaping work to be done.

Thank you Ralph and Cynthia! This dynamic duo did an amazing job on my front porch. They listened well and understood my vision and even enhanced it with some well thought out suggestions. They work hard and great together! (I could never work with my husband!) Everyone just loves the stonework and steps and I truly enjoy sitting and having my early morning coffee on it. My 1960's backsplit has been transformed beautifully. Thank you!

Tough Oaks Landscaping transformed the front steps and walkway of my home. Ralph and Cynthia are meticulous and their attention to detail was incredible. They collaborated with me so they understood what the look I wanted and offered valuable suggestions and design options. I can't say enough positive about them and their work. Absolutely amazing.

We hired Ralph and Cynthia to replace our wooden back stairs with stone steps and an enlarged patio. We were more than satisfied with the results. Their design was artistic and well conceived, they worked long hours with meticulous attention to detail, consulting with us frequently to ensure that they were in accord with our intention for the project. We have no hesitation in recommending Tough Oaks, they have integrity, vision, and a deep commitment to their craft. Michael Peterson and Joy Packham, Barrie, ON

Fantastic experience with Ralph and Cynthia. They were diligent, informative, knowledgeable, and kept us apprised of everything throughout the entire project. They were fair and honest with costs and given the final result, we are incredibly happy we chose them to take on this project for us. The curb appeal of our home has undoubtedly increased thanks to Tough Oaks. Would absolutely recommend them for any landscaping project.

Ralph and his team were awesome! From the initial meeting through to subsequent meetings, Ralph listened to what I wanted in design and on budget. Although he recommended certain things, they were not insisted on, only suggested. The entire Tough Oaks team was courteous, transparent, honest and friendly. The job site was tidied up every night and during construction, the material was contained and piled neatly. Ralph took extra care when I had questions and always took the time to communicate with me and make sure that I was comfortable. as a result of this job, I have asked Ralph to quote on my backyard next ;) I would highly recommend Tough Oaks.

Tough Oaks did a job for us in our backyard. From out of the gate, Ralph was professional, explained things in a way I could understand, and did first class work. My wife and I were super happy with them, and we'll definitely call on them for our next project.

Ralph from Tough Oaks Landscaping oozed professionalism from our very first meeting. As soon as we contacted him, he quickly came for a no pressure quote. We knew right away that Ralph was someone we could trust to get the job done. He fulfilled all his promises in terms of quality of work, time lines and budgets. Ralph worked hard; we felt the price he charged was very reasonable. We would hire Ralph again in a heartbeat.