Outdoor Innovations by Patrick Richie

Outdoor Innovations did a great job building a retaining wall, expanding our sprinkler system, and updating our backyard landscaping. Rodrigo and his team were professional and responsive to all our requests, ensuring the project was completed on time. Our backyard is now the perfect place to relax.
R. and J. Berry

In early December 2018, I, Thomas Popken and My wife entered into a contract with Outdoor Innovations and its owner Patrick Richie to build a fire pit in our backyard. On 12/20/18 the project was permitted with Douglas County and they started by digging the gas line.

The contract for the project was for approximately $31,350 and was estimated to be completed in 11-15 working days (Weather permitting). The payment schedule was listed with the final 10% ($3135.00) being paid at the completion of the project.

Mr. Richie had been very responsive and very engaging initially making us feel very comfortable with his work and his character. I checked on-line reviews and was confident in the type of person that was doing our project.

The first several weeks went pretty well. We had almost constant communication with Mr. Richie about the project. Almost all the communication took place by text. Due to weather there was a few delays but nothing unusual. In a text dated 1/17/19 Mr. Richie stated the project should be 100% complete by Tuesday, which would have been 1/22/19.

On 2/4/19 Mr. Richie asked that he be paid in full. I told him that the project was not completed, and I was not comfortable paying the full amount. He promised it was not an issue and the project would be completed and cleaned up soon. I made a payment of $2635.00, holding out $500.00 until the project was complete. The backyard was a mess at this point with trash, extra block, tarps and all kinds of tools littering the backyard. The fire pit was completely unusable.

On 2/5/19 I sent a text to Mr. Richie asking to discuss the grass that we had talked about for the project and some trees that we had discussed adding to the project.

On 2/13/19 I sent Mr. Richie a text and asked that the Porta Potty be picked up because the main part of the firepit was complete however the mess of equipment and extra block and trash was horrible. (I have pictures) On 2/15/2019 I texted Mr. Richie and told him the Port Potty had been picked up and asked if he had time to chat? He never responded!

I never heard from Mr. Richie again until I contacted him on 4/6/19. I told him the weather was better and asked if they had ANY plans to come back. He replied that we were on the board.

On 4/25/19 I messaged Mr. Richie and said I haven’t heard from you in 20 days. I told him I have a $30,000 mess in my yard. On 4/25/19 he responded if not tomorrow early next week.

On 4/29,19 I messaged Mr. Richie because I had not seen him or heard from him. I told him I wanted to be on his mind for completion. He messaged back that we were up in the rotation.

On 5/1/19 he messaged that his partner had a bad virus and he is doing his best to complete his duties.

On Saturday 5/4/19 I messaged and told Mr. Richie this would have been a great day to finish up. I told him I was not happy and this was why I didn’t want to make final payment. He responded back that he normally doesn’t message on weekends because of kids and sports. He stated in that text he would change his schedule and come out on Monday, 5/6/19. I messaged back and asked him to call, and then told him that we have been VERY reasonable about the project and the timeline. I told him my family has not been able to use the paid in full fire pit for over 3 months.

On May 6, 2019 a crew came out and did some clean up of all the trash and left over material. I sent Mr. Richie a message and thanked him for that but told him there is still work to be done. I did not hear from Mr. Richie and on 5/8/19 I sent him a message asking if he had received my message on 5/6/19 about what else needed to be done. He messaged back that he got it but that rain was in the forecast.

On 5/13/19 I had not heard from Mr. Richie and sent a messaged that the weather looked good. He did not respond, on 5/14/19 I messaged Mr. Richie and asked if he received my message. He responded he is doing the best he can.

I didn’t hear from Mr. Richie again. On 5/16/19 I messaged Mr. Richie and said I needed our project completed by June 1,19 to my satisfaction. He messaged back that he has consistently messaged back and that he would have the new edging and stone brought up to finish tomorrow which would be 5/17/19. I responded that that would be fine lets get it done. I also told him I thought that we should meet to be sure everything was completed and finished. I told him that if a crew came out I was sure they would not know what needed to be done so we should discuss it. He asked that we meet the next day.

On 5/17/19 Mr. Richie and his partner (Ross) came out and met with my wife. It was clear they were ready for a fight. My wife tried to show them what needed to be done and the timeline of how long we have been waiting. Mr. Richie was clearly agitated and I do not appreciate the attitude he showed with my wife, and a paid in full customer.

I have not heard from Mr. Richie since that date 5/17/19. On 5/28/19 I sent Mr. Riche a text and told him it was a gorgeous day and I expected the projected to be completed by 6/1/19. He has not responded.

Finally he responded and said he would get a crew out to finish the job. I responded that was great but I thought we should talk also so he didn’t have to make another trip. On May 17, he showed up with his partner but no crew. He met with my wife and was less than professional when she laid out the time of starting and then correspondence over the next several months.

On May 30, 2019, a crew came out and finished the job.

On June 1, 2019 Mr. Richie called me on a SATURDAY but did not leave a message. On June 3, I messaged him and told him I was with family and didn’t respond on weekends. He said that we owed him $500. He said if it wasn’t paid the warranty was null and void. I reminded Mr. Richie that he and his crew broke 4 of my existing yard lights and well as cutting the Invisible Fence in two places. I had to replace lights and have the Invisible Fence repaired. I also told him that the contract said the job would be completed in about 17 days. It took over 5 months for them to finish leaving the backyard and fire pit unusable for months. The only way I got him to come back and finish was by saying that on June 1, 2019 I would be taking other action. I also told Mr. Richie he was a “Class act for threatening the warranty".

In my view Mr. Richie and Outdoor Innovations is a fraud. He is very good at selling his product and services and getting you to pay draws even outside the draw schedule. However, Mr. Richie cannot and will not communicate as a normal business person would with a paying customer. It took him almost 6 months to complete a job from start to finish. Then he gets upset with the customer that wants the job done. He damaged numerous items at our home and then wants to get the final payment of $500. He made NO offer to deduct the lights or Invisible Fence repairs. Instead he threatens not so stand by the warranty.
Based on the time frame and the damage done Mr Richie should not be paid the final $500 and the warranty should be left in place as specified in the contract.

Outdoor Innovations installed a front and rear patio using Baselite pavers during March, 2016. The patios were completed and payment was made in full on March 30, 2016. The patios appeared to be in good condition at the time of completion. Outdoor Innovations provided a lifetime warranty on both the hardscape material (pavers) and workmanship.

Within the next month or so after completion, I contacted Outdoor Innovations to repair a few pavers that became loose. Outdoor Innovations returned twice to make repairs to the loose pavers. The same pavers came loose again and I repaired the loose pavers myself. These pavers after my repairs have not come loose since. These pavers still require to have a joint compound installed for completion.

In April, 2017, I repaired two pavers that had come loose. These loose pavers were in a different location from the original loose pavers.

After a phone conversation with Outdoor Innovations’ *** concerning the second set of loose pavers and manyl other pavers that required repair, I send *** a text on June 12, 2017 with pictures and description of the loose pavers I had found.

I had not been given a call back regarding any repairs for a few days, so on Friday, June 16, 2017 I sent a text to *** asking when the repairs would be made. *** sent me a text later that same day saying that they were working on a large project and it was to be completed the following Thursday, June 22, 2017.

I did not receive a call or text, so on Wednesday, June 28, 2017. I sent a text to *** asking when the repairs would be made. On June 19, 2107, I received a text from *** that Outdoor Innovations is vary busy and he will get back to me.

No communication from Outdoor Innovations for several weeks, so on Wednesday, July 12, 2017 I sent another text asking when the repairs would be made. *** responded that he would be at my home on Friday, July 14, 2017.

On Monday, July 17, 2017, I texted *** what he thought after his promised visit. *** responded via text that he got tied up Friday.

On Tuesday, July 18, 2017, I texted *** that I identified all the areas on the patio requiring repairs in blue tape and left notes detailing the problems. He finally came by our home on Saturday, July 22, 2017 and looked at the problems. He said he would make the repairs himself, eben if he had to come out on a weekend.

On Thursday, August 17, 2017, I texted *** when he would be able to make the repairs to the patio (since had come out during the past 4 weeks).

On Thursday, August 24, 2017, *** responded via text that he was away taking care of his sick mother and that he would contact me when he returned.

On Monday, September 11, 2017, I texted *** if their was someone else I could contact at Outdoor Innovations to discuss the needed repairs. Later that day, *** texted that he would get to the repairs that week or next.

It is now Sunday, September 24, 2017, 2 weeks since ***’s latest broken promise.

In additions to the texts exchanged with *** during the past 3+ months, their were several phone conversations as well. Several of my calls went staright to voice mail and were never returned.

All I ask is that Outdoor Innovations honor their warranty and make the repairs to my patio that *** has seen and promised to repair. I believe that 3 months and the amount of conversations and texts to this point are excessive.