Isbir Construction & Landscape Corp. | Pittsburgh French Drains

I am very pleased with the way the whole project was handled from beginning to end. Every question was answered with care, work was completed within time frame discussed, everyone was respectful of my property, my animals and my neighbors. Best of all it solved the issues I needed solved. I definitely recommend Isbr Construction and will use them again should new needs arise.

We have used Isbir for a couple of large projects at our house. The work was an investment in the infrastructure of our house, and they did a very professional job. Appreciate the clear communication at every step.

Excellent experience - construction can be incredibly painful and unpredictable, but Isbir and his crew (especially Mark, Shawn, and TJ), were phenomenal to work with, and were consummate professionals. We had a fairly large project: 2 driveways, 2 sidewalks, re-routing downspouts, etc, and we always knew what time the crew would arrive, what the next steps were, and we were provided with suggestions and guidance along the way.

Highly, highly recommend!

Be wary of this company. They will not work with home buyers. Based on my experience, they will only work with you if you currently own the property, meaning they shouldn't be considered as a part of your property inspection or purchase planning.

My wife and I are under contract to purchase a home with significant drainage issues impacting its value and we contacted Isbir to evaluate what would be required to resolve them. Their webform understandably requires significant effort to start the process - I appreciate their due diligence, this attracted me to them. They subsequently contacted me for additional photos, for a total of ~20. Only after investing over an hour providing them info did they tell me they won't work with me. Total waste of time. I certainly won't be going to them after we close.

ISBIR dug me a sump pit to meet Mt Lebanon ordinance in a backyard with tight access and left the place in better shape than it started.

Professional from start to finish. Mike was extremely knowledgable and unlike other companies I spoke to, put a premium on making improvements to my yard during required ordinance work that I was less than happy to have to have done. Rather than just making it as if nothing ever happened, Mike proposed to create a side access to my backyard and use the fill to level as much as possible. Also cutting as little concrete as possible to trench.

The onsite crew were punctual, professional and clean. They did their work efficiently, checking in with me on progess regularly and created minimal disruption to my life and my neighbors.

As professional landscapers they left the place in much better shape than they found it and I couldn't be happier. They weren't the cheapest quote but I'm certain they were the best value in terms of going the extra mile.

We live in a forty year old Ryan home. A few years after moving in we added a deck which added to our roof drainage. Over the course of time, complicated by a large pinoak in the back yard with all the resultant leaves, our drainage pit was no longer able to accommodate all the rainwater drainage with the result of soggy ground on the side of the house and leakage into a covered carport under the deck.

I had another company attempt to hydrojet the original line, but the head jammed underground. A few days later a four foot dig extricated it, but largely at my expense. They proposed a new system but it but at this point I was afraid this might not go well.

Seeing an ad for Isbir Construction, I immediately contacted them. There was a multi-step interview process and in about a week, Mr. Mike Isbir came out to discuss the solution. I was extremely impressed with his confidence and depth of knowledge, and even though his quote was higher I felt good having his company affect a solution.

He navigated the permitting process which for our municipality can be daunting. About a week after approval we were ready to go. I expected maybe a couple of days to complete the job. A flotilla of about six trucks with earth moving equipment arrived promptly at 0700. After about a thirty minute explanation and instructions to the crew, ground was broken. Tie-ins of three downspouts to a large line back to a 12’ x 12’ pit was completed. (Let me add here that all his crew, under supervisor Mark Miller, were extremely nice and worked together well, to me another important plus.)

I left them alone and by no later than three o'clock, the job was done, the ground filled in, and new grass seed was planted. We never got a real test for a while and then the heavens opened for many consecutive days. I am happy to report the ground was expectedly solid and the pavement under the deck was bone dry. A bonus is that the grass has filled in nicely, even in late Fall.

I would most highly recommend Isbir Construction to do any job you need. Sure, they were a bit more than the other guy, but from the initial survey of the project to completion it was more than worth it. Talk to them. You'll see what I'm saying.

Randy H.

First class company with excellent attention to detail and quality service and communication. I had no issues in paying for the premium work that Mike Isbir and his crew performed on my drainage project. I appreciated their professionalism and would definitely use again.

Mr. Isbir was forthcoming in a way I usually don't encounter dealing with contractors: he advised that my needs would best be handled by another service not provided by his company. While I didn't use their services, I feel this is an exceedingly positive mark of an honest, competent business, and would strongly recommend if given the opportunity.

I had a French drain installed in my boggy lower yard. From the initial estimate to the end of the project, this company listened to me, they were respectful of me and my property. They were efficient and explained everything. So far, the drain has solved my problem. I would highly recommend.

Mike, TJ, Mark, and the entire crew were were all great! All of them were very respectful of my wishes and worked really hard to provide a totally gorgeous final product. I could not be more pleased with the way my property looks now!

After several less successful attempts to keep water out of my basement, I called Isbir. Mike came out, made an assessment, and a solution. His crew arrived and had only nine feet between my house and my neighbor's to excavate down to the bottom of the foundation. Crack found, sealed with hydraulic cement, covered in tar and plastic, and filled back in. After they were done you couldn't tell they were even there. My neighbor was none the wiser, not even loose dirt on their side of the boundary. Isbir is a pro, and the results are fantastic. They even shared their project photos with me. Forget the "guy" who "knows" how to fix things, and just use a pro who really knows how to do it and provides follow on service, if necessary. Thank you, Isbir.

After having experienced flooding in my split level home following 2 days of heavy rain in April 2024, as a result of ground water infiltration, and the failure of two interior sump pumps, I decided to bite the bullet and have an exterior French drain system, foundation waterproofing, and a gravity drain to replace a garage sump pump, installed. I did extensive research into local Pittsburgh-area vendors and selected Isbir Construction and Landscape. Mike Isbir spent considerable time during his site visit listening to me discuss the history of the situation, and suggesting alternatives for correcting it. The company has a soup-to-nuts approach which included agreed-upon restoration of my yard.

The topography at my almost 70 year old, very hilly, home is challenging. In addtion, below the ground surface is compacted clay interspersed with large sections of shale. There was shrubbery along the walls of the house, a fence around the back yard, and a concrete rear sidewalk and small retaining wall. Even finding space along the curvy residential street for the vehicles was not simple. Despite all of these challenges, not to mention a week's worth of extremely hot and humid weather in June, the Isbir crew completed the work on time and in a professional manner. The crew chief, Mark, arrived about 6:15 every morning. We would discuss the day's tasks, and he and the crew, working as a team, completed them in an expert, customer-friendly manner. Unlike with other work that I've had performed at my house, I never saw crew members texting or talking on their phones, or wasting time in any way. At the end of each day, we would review the status, and Mark was receptive to all questions and comments.

I'm waiting for the next heavy 24+ hour rain storm to confirm that I made the right decision. But I have every expectation that I did. Many thanks to Mike, Mark and the whole crew, including TJ, who kept me apprised of schedules, among many other things.

I cannot thank everyone at Isbir Construction enough! I had multiple water and drainage issues on my property. Out of several companies, Mike Isbir was the only person who was able to look at the whole picture, accurately diagnose the issues, consult as needed with other professionals to confirm issues contributing to the multi faceted water problems and he developed an effective plan of action to remediate the poor drainage and flooding. The staff at Isbir Construction have all been wonderful to work with. I recommend these people and this company highly!

The professionalism, skill, care and thoroughness of the Isbir team were top notch! The project was completed carefully and on time! I would highly recommend the Isbir company.

In July of 2023 there was an all day rain with heavy downpours. For the first time in the 47 years we have been living in our house we had major water damage which ruined the carpet in our finished family room. We thought this was an anomaly and had no further water damage from subsequent rains until mid-January 2024 when there was a similar rain event producing major water entry into our house again. We began researching drainage and foundation repair companies and ended up calling Isbir Construction & Landscape Corp. Mike Isbir was very thorough and nice to work with. After agreeing on a contract his crew started on a Monday. Mark Miller was the supervisor and he had a crew of four able bodied and hard working young men. Mike Isbir showed up every morning before the work began and detailed for us all that the crew would be working on that day. We needed re-grading of the land in the front and back of our house and on the left side, a new porch and stepped walkway and a new back patio with a Versa-Lock wall on one side. Work proceeded Monday and Tuesday and the crew tarped all the unfinished work areas Tuesday before leaving because rain was forecast for Wednesday. The rain did come Wednesday and it was all day with at least two periods of heavy downpours, and the water found its way around and under the tarps and we had water entry again. When Mike and the crew arrived Thursday morning we explained what happened and Mike was very apologetic and immediately got to work trying to recreate the water entry using a garden hose. He and Mark found the main points of entry which allowed Mark and the crew to know exactly where the most remediation was needed. They worked all day Thursday and Friday, finishing their work on Friday. We had an all day rain event that Sunday and I am happy to say we were dry. Thank you Mike, Mark and crew. We hope we never need drainage work again, but if we do, you will be the company we call.
Joanie and John Kearns
Monroeville, PA.

Thank you for all your help. Everything looks great!! I highly recommend Isbir Construction & Landscape Corp. for their expertise. They have done 2 huge drainage and retaining wall jobs for me and they are definitely experts in their field. Mike and crew are the best at what they do!!!!!!

Isbir Construction from beginning to end was very informative about what my project entailed and what I could expect during the entire process. Workers were prompt and kept working each day until the job was completed and the owner of the company himself was here to advise his crew as of what had to be done. No pressure was given to me and they were able to schedule my project without any delays. What impressed me the most was how the company handled getting all the history of my problems and checking existing measures I had taken before devising a plan to suit the needs of my problems.

We were very pleased by the work performed for us by Isbir Construction and Landscape Corp. We had been experiencing water issues in our basement for some time, but other issues had taken precedence. When we were finally able to concentrate on the problem, we were fortunate to see an ad for Mike Isbir's company. Mike came to our house and was able to quickly and correctly diagnose what was happening that was causing the water to enter our basement. After we received his estimate, we concurred in his assessment and set a date that was mutually convenient. His crew arrived on time and after Mike went over exactly what they would do, they began our three day project. Everyone did an outstanding job and when now have a dry basement and, new gutters and downspouts, a lawn that slopes away from the house, and a new patio. We are extremely pleased with the outcome of the work of Mike's company and crew, including his office staff and project coordinator. Thank you Isbir Construction and Landscape Corp.

Greg McCullough
Monroeville, PA

Isbir Construction is fantastic. They have done 2 projects for us so far. One involved laying a new sewer pipe on a steep hill. The second involved building a poured concrete retaining wall and a patio. Mike Isbir is excellent--very organized and professional. Mike met me nearly every morning to go over progress. Mark Miller, the Construction Supervisor, is very skilled and conscientious. The construction crew is also excellent. It is a real pleasure to be a customer of Isbir Construction. They deliver what they promise.

A great big thank you to Mike and the whole Isbir team. Everyone showed such efficiency and good work ethics. We couldn't be happier with how our landscaping project turned out. Everything was done in a timely manner from the first phone call to the completion of the project. You will come highly recommended by us.

Excellent service and professionalism by Mike and his team when they rerouted a drainage pipe without damage to our plants. We had some concerns about this really solving our problems and Mike was patient while we investigated. He has a pa license and uses a contract to spell out what is being done.

We had surface water issues at our home, and had put off taking care of them. When we finally decided to address the issue, I looked around at several companies that do such work, but ultimately chose Isbir. I'm happy I did.

The work was done professionally - inside of three days the largish French Drain, downspout re-routing, a rock sump for a rear downspout, various small details pertaining to our lot and house and the clean-up and re-seeding were all accomplished.

Project Manager Mark Miller was always patient with my rookie questions. Each day Mark and Mike Isbir himself met with me first thing on-site to review the previous work, outline the coming day's work, and update all progress.

The crew was friendly - they were very busy but always let me know if they had any issue that needed my attention or an answer.

The very next day after work was completed (April 27th) we started several days of rain; a perfect way to "test" their work. So far, systems are operating as designed and described.

I can recommend Isbir without reservation. Isbir is not a "lowball" contractor, so expect to pay for quality work. However, if and when we need other related work done, I know who I'm going to contact. Thank you Mike, Mark and crew for a very nicely handled project.

Isbir Construction & Landscape installed a 37’x16’ patio in our backyard and we cannot be happier with the entire project and company. From the beginning to the end of the project, the owner, Mike, provided clear communication on the process and always checked in with status updates. Not only was Mike professional and easy to work with, the workers were also professional and very nice. The project was completed in a timely manner and we now have a beautiful patio space to entertain on.

I would highly recommend using Isbir Construction & Landscape for your home projects. We look forward to using them in the future again!

I work with Mike and the Isbir team on projects all over the Pittsburgh area. Mike is very punctual, the team is very professional and has an excellent work ethic. I never have to worry about communication being a problem. I know Mike or TJ will inform me of what I need to know for that specific project. if you have a drainage problem or have a unique landscape construction project in mind, contact Isbir Construction and Landscape.

We are so thrilled with the work Isbir Construction did for us. Mike and his crew were professional and great with their communication. They finished the job quickly. And, most importantly, the work was top notch. Highly, highly recommend Isbir Construction!

Isbir installed a French drain around the rear and side of my house. This work also required them removing and then replacing a concrete patio in the rear. I can honestly say that they are by far the most professional contractor I have ever dealt with. The entire process from pre-bid to completion was incredibly well organized with excellent communication throughout. I really appreciated that they do a daily meeting before they start work to go over what has been done, what they will be doing next, and cover any questions or concerns I had. The work was completed efficiently and I'm very pleased with the result: no more water in my basement. I'm happy to pay a premium for good work and I am incredibly pleased with their work on my project.

We just completed our third project using Isbir Construction. The first project was done 7 years ago. It entailed about 80 feet of French drain connected to 180 feet of conventional drain. Works as well now as when installed. The second was a big concrete job with 100 foot of French drain installed, been 3 years now. Works as well today as it when installed. This last project was to rebuild a large rock wall to correct the poor design and work of a township contractor. Looks beautiful now.
Can't say enough good about Isbir Construction. Nothing but professionalism for the first phone call to the end of the job. The job site will always look better when they have completed a project. Good hard working folk who want to please the customer.
Thank you Mike Isbir and Company, we have at least one more project to do. We'll be in touch

Mike and Mark were great to work with. They had to come back to correct some things. Our only complaints are the grading in one area, that was done the second time, was just as bad as the first time and the grass seed that they planted, Penn State Mix, has many unwanted weeds and different grass types. 3 months later there are still many bare spots

Mike and TJ were really great and answered all my questions. Crew arrived and started working immediately. Everything was clean when they left. Neighbor commented they were hard workers.

Truly remarkable experience and exceptional results. Most impressed by the team's professionalism, respect for owner's property and neighbors, attention to detail and overall execution from start to finish. Excellent customer service & work ethic, quality of work, and commitment to project management timelines. Extremely pleased and highly recommended.

Isbir's team provided a new industrial style retaining wall in order to manage an ever changing landscape in our backyard, provide long-term stability, and a level yard. I couldn't be happier with the service. It was a tricky job with steep hills but the team got it done! I 60' steel beam and lag system that will hold up the test of time. One of the unique things I like about Isbir is that they bring the whole crew in and get the job done quickly. With the amount of work that needed to be done, I was sure we would be 2-3 weeks but it was complete in 5 days! How is that possible. The crew is also extremely friendly and respectful and Mike is there to check in and check up regularly. Love this company and would use them again if needed!

ISBIR is a very professional, competent and reliable company. We had an outdoor drain that kept overflowing causing some water in our basement. Mike scoped out the solution and his highly efficient team did a great job of executing his plan. Of course we haven't had one of those huge rains since the job was completed, but I am highly confident their solution will work.

The Isbir construction crew did an amazing job creating our outdoor living space that we absolutely love! Mike as well as his entire crew were very professional! From our first phone call with Isbir until the very last day completing the project we were included in every single step, whether it was morning pre-construction meetings, emails, phone calls, or real time approval of their work! We highly recommend Isbir construction and wouldn’t hesitate to hire them for future projects!

This is my third large project with Mike and his team. Prior jobs involved exterior french drains and decorative landscaping. This time they replaced my patio and sidewalks. The team is always professional and they do quality work. Mike and his foreman Mark are very experienced and really care that the job is done well. I never hesitate to recommend them.

These guys are very thorough and professional. I appreciated the management of the project and extensive communication throughout the bidding process. They had to come back twice and the same team leader came back the second time, and knew exactly the situation. I highly recommend this firm.

Mike runs a professional outfit and his attention to detail is second to none. He is able to do what other contractors are not willing or not able to do. I was impressed with the speed of the project and the no-nonsense approach he took.

Isbir Construction was the most professional organization we have ever did a project with. The job they did was fantastic and organized beyond belief. Communication by Isbir team members was outstanding and nothing was ever in doubt. We would gladly hire them for any projects in the future

I am sorry to have missed you as well, but we were very happy to work with Mike.I have sent a note to him. The project was done VERY professionally and efficiently and people have already told us how good it looks. Thank you, Isbir!

Installed French drain around the front of my house and front porch, regraded yard away from house towards driveway retaining wall, rerouted underground drain to driveway downspout. Really enjoyed working with Mike Isbir and his team. Professional, friendly from answering my first call, phone consultation with Mike, on-site evaluation, through the crew that did the work. Prompt, organized, thorough clean-up. Highly recommend.

Mike Isbir did a great job explaining what to expect once the job began. He & his team did a great job of answering my questions as well as communicating any issues that arose. The crew did a wonderful job on my retaining wall, new steps, sidewalk & driveway extension. It looks wonderful. I would definitely recommend Isbir Construction.

Isbir construction came and built us a new walkway and drain at the back entrance to our house. Before, when there was heavy rain the water would pour down the basement stairs like Niagara Falls! I took a short video to show I am not exaggerating!
Their men came and measured, excavated, removed all the buried slate pavement stones they uncovered, installed a new drain, sloped the beautiful aggregate paving to the new drain, even fixed the low retaining wall along the border of my garden.
We are delighted! I even point out the new walkway to visitors to be sure they notice. We have not had any more rain in the basement.
here are some before and after pictures.

If you live at the bottom a combination of slopes and hills, or maybe in a bowl, in Western PA like we do, then you might know the fear that comes with wondering “will this be the time our house floods?” We talked to landscapers and we talked to plumbers (multiple)- and they all had different suggestions for dealing with our problem- and none of them felt right until we talked to Isber Construction and Landscape.

Mike approached our estimate (and then project) from a holistic perspective that allowed us to see how a number of bad decisions by previous owners, along with our geography, lead to our issues. As an aside- if you aren’t familiar with the difference between ground and surface water, and the limitations of the French drain, check out their video on the subject.

Isber brands themselves as “drainage specialists” and that is a spot on description and what separates them from the others we talked to about our problems. Everything they did was designed to move water away from our house via an existing drain in the yard and a new drain in our driveway- and we see the results every time it rains.

Part of our project was a concrete driveway that replaced asphalt. The concrete allowed the crew (Sean is the lead, he’s great) to manipulate the surface to push all the water to the new drain in the driveway. As a backup for a catastrophic weather event, the back of the driveway is an inch lower to make sure any overflow drains to the yard, not back to the house. This is called a “weir”, which I had never heard of before.

They also installed a new, and re-slopped patio under our deck that also pushes the water away from the house. They put in a beautiful new retaining wall along the patio They also re-slopped the entire yard, replacing the lawn, away from the house and created a swale to move the water to the yard drain.

Mike and his entire team (Mark- the crew lead was tremendous) were incredibly professional and efficient. Throughout the whole process we felt that we were in good, capable hands. This was a massive project for us and if you are looking to do it on the cheap, Isber might not be for you (I believe they are very up front about this!). But if a project is important enough to the life of your home as what we did was, I would suggest putting quality above price and go with Isber.

I used Isbir Construction & Landscape for the installation of a new concrete driveway. My home sits up on a pretty substantial hill and the job required considerable skill and expertise. Mike, Mark and the crew did an amazing job. The crew was on time each and every day; Mike was out daily to touch base; and the job site was always left clean and tidy. Isbir Construction may be a little pricier than others, but in this case you really do get what you pay for. I wouldn't hesitate to use them again as they were true professionals in all aspects.

We've now done two projects with ISBIR at two different houses. First was repairing an underground drainage pipe damaged during a tree removal. Second was a long (~100 feet) drain from our driveway with a french drain as well. Process was quite professional each time. Mike explained the process realistically, with designs drawn for each. He knew the local codes and what could and could not be done (though we did have an issue with our driveway drain, as we avoided directly piping into an underground pipeline that he thought was municipal that turned out to be owned by us. That's more on us for not knowing, but would have made the project a complete success as we had to redesign the water flow into the drain ourselves afterwards). Workers were professional and courteous, projects were completed on time or ahead of schedule, even having to be rescheduled due to snow a couple times. Overall, would recommend Isbir without hesitation.

If we could post more stars for Isbir Construction, we would!
We had a consistent problem with water running down from the big hill in our backyard.
We also had a consistent problem in finding responsive contractors. We called many. Very few would provide an estimate, arrive on time, or return calls.
Isbir was the shining knight who kept appointment, provided written estimates, and delivered what he promised.
Truly, we could not be happier.
The owner, Mike Isbir, met with us a few times, and explained what he could do. He provided us with different options and provided us with the benefits, risks, and alternatives for each option. Once we agreed to what we wanted, we signed a very detailed and fair contract setting forth the work, costs and time frame.
The workmen arrived exactly at the designated time with their considerable digging/grading equipment, etc. All the workmen were very considerate, hardworking and obviously skilled. They created a long swale (channel) directing water away from the backyard.
After the work, they cleaned up the entire area and reseeded areas that needed it.
Isbir provided us with detailed instructions on how to take care of the reseeded areas.
The final result has been fantastic. The water diversion has been a great success (even with the record- breaking rain we experienced), and our lawn is looking better than ever.
If the need arises for any future work, Isbir will be our first (and probably only) call!

Can't say enough positive things. This company truly stands out in the crowd for their professionalism. Mike was respectful of our time when we spoke. Mark was awesome on three job daily and TJ ensured we always knew what came next. We truly appreciated their workmanship and would definitly recommend!

Incredibly professional and knowledgable owner - took a large amount of time to look into an issue at a home I was potentially going to purchase, knowing full well that if we didn't buy the home, he wouldn't get the job. Mike ended up helping us avoid making a terrible decision on a home purchase with his detailed and thorough investigation into the problems and quote/solutions provided. If we had purchased this home, we would have hired Isbir immediatley.

I usually don't give reviews but Mike and his team were very professional and did an amazing job. As someone who is working overseas, I was looking for someone I can trust to do the job without me being physically present. Isbir Construction came through and did a much better job than I had expected. They cleaned up the outside of the property and fixed a heavily deteriorated retaining wall . The work was fast, professional and very well done. The staff is very friendly and I would highly recommend this company.