Before You Hire Anyone,
Read This First.
You're comparing bids. That's smart. Here's an honest, feature-by-feature breakdown of how P&L Outdoor Solutions compares to Core Outdoor, Deckscapes, Battlefield, and LDN — on the things that actually matter when you're spending $20K–$80K on your backyard.
3 Questions to Ask Every Contractor
Before You Sign Anything
Most homeowners compare price and portfolio. Those matter — but they're not what separates a great experience from a nightmare. Ask these three questions first.
"Will you put a late penalty in writing?"
Any contractor who is confident in their scheduling will say yes. If they won't commit to a written deadline penalty, they're telling you something about how seriously they take your timeline.
P&L Outdoor Solutions
Yes. $250/day, written into every contract before work begins.
The competition
None of the major NoVA competitors offer a written on-time penalty.
"Will the owner be on my job site every day?"
The difference between an owner on site and a crew lead on site is enormous. Owners make decisions. Owners catch problems before they become expensive. Owners care about their reputation in a way employees don't.
P&L Outdoor Solutions
Yes. Victor or Grover is personally on every job site, every day.
The competition
Core Outdoor, Deckscapes, Battlefield, and LDN all use project managers or crew leads — not owners.
"Is this a fixed price — or can it change?"
Many contractors use "allowances" or "estimated" line items that can balloon mid-project. A fixed-price contract means what you sign is what you pay — period. If they missed something in the estimate, that's their problem.
P&L Outdoor Solutions
Fixed price. What we quote is what you pay. Our mistakes are our cost.
The competition
Most contractors include change order provisions that allow price increases after signing.
P&L Outdoor Solutions vs. Your Other Bids
Select a competitor to compare side-by-side.
$250/day on-time guarantee — written into every contract
In writing. Every contract. No exceptions.
2-year workmanship warranty on all hardscape
Covers settling, cracking, drainage failures caused by our work.
Fixed price — no change orders for contractor mistakes
What we quote is what you pay. If we miss something, that's on us.
Owner personally on site every day of the build
Victor or Grover — not a foreman, not a crew lead. An owner.
Owner personally reviews every estimate
Victor reads every inquiry and responds within 2 hours.
Same team from estimate through final walkthrough
No handoffs. No rotating crews. One team, start to finish.
Free 3D design rendering before you commit ($500 value)
See your backyard in full 3D before a single stone moves.
Free on-site property assessment ($200 value)
Victor walks your entire property — grades, drainage, sun, soil.
Itemized written proposal — every line priced separately
No lump-sum bids. You see exactly what you're paying for.
No obligation after free estimate
Bundle savings — patio + fire pit + irrigation in one contract
Clients who bundle save 15–25% vs. hiring separate contractors.
Permit fees included in written proposal — no surprise add-ons
We research and include permit costs before you sign anything.
Owner answers your calls — not a call center
Victor's personal number is on every contract.
Se habla español
WhatsApp available for project updates
Competitor information based on publicly available data, website content, and standard industry practices. We encourage you to verify directly with each contractor.
We'll Be Straight With You
About the Competition
We're not going to trash our competitors. They're real companies doing real work. Here's an honest assessment of each — including where they might be a better fit than us.
Core Outdoor
Premium competitorTheir strengths
Strong portfolio, polished website, established brand in NoVA.
Where we beat them
- We put the $250/day on-time guarantee in writing — they don't.
- Victor is on your job site every day. Core sends project managers.
- Our fixed-price guarantee means no surprise change orders. Core's contracts allow cost adjustments.
- We offer free 3D design with no obligation. Core typically charges for design or requires a deposit.
Where they might win
Larger portfolio of completed projects and longer track record. If you want the most established name in the market, Core is a credible choice.
Our verdict
If you're comparing bids, ask Core to put a $250/day late penalty in writing. If they won't, that tells you something.
Deckscapes
Premium competitorTheir strengths
Deck-focused specialist with strong craftsmanship reputation.
Where we beat them
- We build decks AND the full outdoor living package — patio, fire pit, irrigation, lighting — under one contract.
- $250/day on-time guarantee in writing. Deckscapes doesn't offer this.
- Owner on site daily. Deckscapes uses project managers and crew leads.
- Fixed price — no change orders for our mistakes. Deckscapes' contracts include standard change order provisions.
Where they might win
If your project is purely a deck with no patio or outdoor living integration, Deckscapes' specialization may be an advantage.
Our verdict
If you're building a deck AND want a patio, fire pit, or outdoor kitchen, we do it all under one contract. Deckscapes will refer you out for the rest.
Battlefield Landscape
Mid-market competitorTheir strengths
Established local presence, broad service offering, competitive pricing.
Where we beat them
- $250/day on-time guarantee in writing — Battlefield doesn't offer this.
- Owner on site every day. Battlefield uses crew leads and rotating teams.
- Free 3D design before you commit. Battlefield doesn't offer 3D design.
- Fixed price — no change orders for our mistakes.
- We specialize in premium outdoor living. Battlefield does everything from mowing to hardscape.
Where they might win
If you want a single company for lawn maintenance AND hardscape AND general landscaping, Battlefield's broader service menu may appeal.
Our verdict
Battlefield is a solid general landscaper. We are an outdoor living specialist. If you're spending $20K+ on a patio or fire pit, you want a specialist.
LDN Landscaping
Mid-market competitorTheir strengths
Competitive pricing, responsive, handles a wide range of landscape work.
Where we beat them
- $250/day on-time guarantee in writing — LDN doesn't offer this.
- Owner on site every day. LDN uses crew leads.
- Free 3D design before you commit.
- Fixed price — no change orders for our mistakes.
- Class A licensed (highest VA contractor classification). Verify LDN's license class before signing.
Where they might win
LDN may offer lower entry-level pricing on smaller projects.
Our verdict
On a $30K+ outdoor living project, the difference between a Class A licensed specialist with a written guarantee and a general landscaper is significant. Ask to see their license class.
Ask Every Contractor This One Question.
Watch What Happens.
“Will you put a $250/day late penalty in writing, in the contract, before work begins?”
What most contractors say
"We always finish on time — we don't need to put that in writing."
"Our contracts don't work that way."
"We've never had a problem with timelines."
"That's not standard in the industry."
Translation: they won't commit because they can't guarantee it.
What P&L Outdoor Solutions says
“Yes. We put $250/day in writing, in your contract, before we start. If we miss your agreed completion date for any reason within our control, we pay you $250 for every calendar day we're late. No cap. No fine print. We've never had to pay it — because we plan carefully and only commit to timelines we can hit.”
— Victor Pastor, Owner & Founder
This is in every contract. No exceptions.
$250/day
If we're late — in writing
2 Years
Workmanship warranty
Fixed
Price — no surprises
What to Look for in Any Contractor Bid
Use this checklist on every proposal you receive — including ours.
Is the price itemized?
Every line item should be priced separately — materials, labor, permits, disposal. Lump-sum bids hide where the money goes and make it impossible to compare apples to apples.
P&L: Fully itemized, every line.
Red flag: "All-in price" with no breakdown.
Is there a written completion date?
A vague "approximately 2–3 weeks" is not a commitment. A written completion date with a penalty clause is. If they won't write it down, they're not committing to it.
P&L: Written date + $250/day penalty in contract.
Red flag: "We'll get to it when we can."
What's the warranty — exactly?
"We stand behind our work" is not a warranty. Ask for the specific duration, what's covered, what's excluded, and how to make a claim. Get it in writing.
P&L: 2-year workmanship warranty, in writing.
Red flag: Verbal assurances only.
Who will actually be on your property?
Ask specifically: "Will the owner be on site every day, or will it be a crew lead?" The answer tells you a lot about accountability and quality control.
P&L: Victor or Grover on site every day.
Red flag: "Our project manager will handle it."
Can you see the design before committing?
A 3D rendering before you sign lets you catch design problems before they're built. If a contractor won't show you what they're building, that's a problem.
P&L: Free 3D design, no obligation.
Red flag: "We'll figure it out as we go."
What's their license class?
In Virginia, Class A is the highest contractor classification. Class B and C have lower requirements. For a $30K+ project, you want Class A. Ask to see the license number and verify at DPOR.virginia.gov.
Our team: Level Up Quality Construction LLC holds a Class A RBC & CBC license (VA DPOR) — the highest classification in Virginia. P&L Outdoor Solutions LLC handles client services & coordination.
Red flag: Can't produce a license number.
Bring Your Other Bids.
We Welcome the Comparison.
If you're comparing bids, we want to be in that conversation. Tell us what you've been quoted, what you're building, and who else you're talking to. Victor will review it personally and give you a straight answer.
“We got three bids. P&L wasn't the cheapest but they were the only ones who actually listened to what we wanted — and the only ones who put the deadline guarantee in writing. Best decision we made on this house.”
Michael & Sarah R.
Leesburg, VA · $54K full package