Sumerduck Tree Experts

Dec 2024

⚠️BUYER BEWARE⚠️

Someone from Summerduck Tree Service just came soliciting in our neighborhood (that clearly has a “NO SOLICITING” sign at the front) in HAMPTON ROADS, VA.. which is 2.5+ HOURS AWAY from their headquarters.

When asked if I can give them a call back, the ill-prepared, but understandably nice, lady hemmed and hawed about, “Well we’re not from this area.. we’re just in town for today..” blah, blah. She stuttered over her words and couldn’t really give me a reason why I couldn’t call back later and that I really needed to call back later today.

Based on previous reviews, it seems they do partial jobs, get paid,...read full review

Sep 2024

Bottom line: Good price, terrible experience. Sumerdeck was a subcontractor that did a large tree project in my yard in 2020. The contractor that gave them the job was Unlimited Tree Service. The project involved trimming 4 trees, cutting down 1 large twin-stem poplar, and installing a support brace on 1 large twin-stem poplar. Rick (owner of Unlimited Tree Service) charged $4,500, a good price. Rich was a good salesman ("You're getting the A team for this one!" he said.) He promised I would not have to pay him until the job was completed to my satisfaction. What Rick didn't tell me was that he relies on other companies, especially for larger projects like mine. For my job, he hired Sumerduck Tree & Landscaping. The supervisor and crew leader (brothers) of Sumerdeck showed up only briefly when the crew arrived (mid-day) and then soon left to attend to other jobs, leaving the crew to work without supervision from roughly 2:30 pm until about 8:30 pm when one of them picked them up (I wouldn't think it is safe to do tree work at dusk, but that's another discussion). During that time, one guy on the crew (I assume not very experienced) began cutting many branches off one tree that was only supposed to have one low-hanging branch cut off (see photo). I saw what they were doing and stopped them before they took off more branches. There was no one available on the crew to whom I could explain what needed to be done because their English was poor. So I basically spent the next hour and a half making sure they trimmed the right branches. The big problems I had: a) the supervisors were not on hand for me to speak with or monitor their work for most of the day, and b) I had already done walk-throughs and explained exactly what I wanted FIVE times before (twice with Rick, once with the crew supervisor, and twice with the crew leader). And it still didn't filter down to the crew itself. It still got botched. I called Rick that evening to express my displeasure. Rick said I should be more grateful about what he was doing for me and even told me, "You have no idea how hard this work is. I run a successful business and that's why I can live in a mansion." To which I replied that, I too run my own business, but I judge my success on customer satisfaction, not the size or value of my house. The second day, the crew supervisor (again, Sumerduck Tree & Landscaping) informed me they were not going to finish the job (install the support brace on one twin-stem poplar and grind and remove the tree stump of the poplar they cut down) unless I paid him $3500 to pay his crew for what they already did. It turns out (I didn't learn this until later) that his crew had tried and failed to cut the stump low enough to be grinded, so they were going to give up on it. Only because I said I would not pay until the job was completed (again, as Rick had originally promised) did the crew supervisor have his crew try again to cut the stump and they succeeded. The crew supervisor called Rick on the phone about this and Rick said he prayed for a resolution, but he did not step in to settle the disagreement. I could go on .....

Oct 2023

I had two pine trees removed from my back yard. each almost 100 feet high. they climbed both trees and ropes down each section to protect a shed and fence close to the trees. they did a great job and cleaned up according to our agreement. I would recommend them.