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About
We connect life and land through sustainable, high‑quality outdoor solutions. With over 30 years of experience—and more than 15 years serving the Raleigh/Durham area—we specialize in landscape architecture, grading, clearing, reclaimed and sustainable timber, and custom hardscape and landscape design.
As a family‑owned business, we combine the expertise of designers, architects, engineers, contractors, and owners to deliver durable, aesthetically driven results for both residential and commercial clients. Our support includes samples, specifications, construction details, and budgeting—resources rarely matched in our industry.
Whether you’re a homeowner, a DIY enthusiast, or a Realtor preparing a property for market, we tailor every project to your needs. From custom outdoor kitchens built with locally sourced timber to reclaiming overgrown natural areas, we maximize your outdoor living space with minimal ground impact and a focus on complete customer satisfaction.
Overview
Hired 53 times
Background checked
4 employees
19 years in business
Business hours
Sun8:00 am - 7:00 pmMon8:00 am - 7:00 pm
Payment methods
This pro accepts payments via Cash, Check, Credit card, and Zelle.
Customers rated this pro highly for professionalism, responsiveness, and work quality.
Good 4.1
27 reviews
5
66%
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15%
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4%
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Read reviews that mention:
Trever R.
Sep 15, 2025
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Hired on Thumbtack
John was great to work with and made sure we had a game plan that suited all of our needs prior to committing to the job. He was flexible and accommodating to ensure we stayed within our budget while exceeding expectations. I would highly recommend John for any landscaping, grading, or residential/commercial construction projects.
Details: Less than 1 • Landscaping • Flat • Flat • Yes, I will need the professional to haul any excess soil or debris • Residential
Destra First -Solutions in Earth Management's reply
Thank you so much for your kind words! It was a pleasure working with you as well. I'm glad we could develop a game plan that met all your needs and stayed within your budget while exceeding your expectations. Your recommendation means a lot to me, and I look forward to the opportunity to work on any future landscaping, grading, or construction projects you may have.
Best regards,
John
Land Leveling and Grading
Caroline C.
Apr 24, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
I reached out to Destra for a painting project, but I found that painting is not something that their company does (that was my fault!). However, John from Destra called almost immediately and was so kind when he explained that their company couldn't take on this project, and then he gave me the best suggestions and helped me find someone to work on my house! I plan to use him in the future for a landscaping project for my house because of how responsive, helpful and amiable he clearly is--it's obvious that customer service is an integral part of his company. Looking forward to working with Destra soon--clearly the most professional company in the area.
Details: Less than 1 • New construction • Flat • Flat • No obstructions • No, I will dispose of this myself • Residential
Land Leveling and Grading
Michael N.
Nov 14, 2025
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Hired on Thumbtack
Our goal on this project was 2 fold , to provide extra parking and to provide better drainage and run off during hard rains. We have better parking but it hasn’t rained enough to see if the rain run off will work. It may take a couple of months for the project to begin so you have to be patient, the weather, the marking of utilities and the back log of projects ahead of you. I was surprised that John had only a bobcat and a dump trailer which could be a challenge on a big project. But John has vision and great ideas for your project. We did notice a broken piece of our concrete driveway after the project was finished overall I’m satisfied with his work. John leveled out our yard with the extra dirt removed from the area for extra parking which will help with the mowing of my front yard. I would recommend John for smaller projects because he’s a one man show and his limited equipment.
Details: Less than 1 • Slightly sloped • Slightly sloped • No obstructions • Residential
Destra First -Solutions in Earth Management's reply
Michael,
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts. I always appreciate the opportunity to clarify details so future clients can understand the full context of a project.
As an owner‑operator, I personally handle every part of each job — from the initial consultation to the work itself and the final walkthrough and collection. Because of that, any concerns that come up during a project are always addressed directly with clients before final payment, which helps ensure we’re on the same page before wrapping up.
Regarding the delivery challenges, your community’s gate restrictions made it difficult for several of my vendors to enter within the required time windows. Only a small amount of gravel was delivered by me directly, and deliveries were a very limited part of the overall process. The site also had access to a backhoe, loader, root grapple, grading bucket, and stump planer, though most of that equipment wasn’t needed for the work performed.
As for the concrete driveway crack shown in your photo, this was never mentioned to me during or after the project, and I do not see any such damage in my own photos. The tire tracks visible in your picture appear similar to those left by a dually truck, which was not part of my equipment or deliveries.
I take a lot of pride in being hands‑on with every project and doing everything I can to ensure clients feel confident in the final result. I’m always open to discussing concerns directly and working toward a positive resolution whenever possible.
As always, thank you for being a part of the Destra Team! Your project was a pleasure being a part of and I am glad we were able to get the project done to your liking.
Land Leveling and Grading
Dale B.
Jan 6, 2026
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Hired on Thumbtack
John is a personable and friendly contractor who clearly wants to do good work. He was easy to talk to and generally receptive to feedback throughout the project. Some delays were understandable due to periods of bad weather, which I appreciate are outside anyone's control.
That said, the overall timeline stretched longer than expected. On several days when weather wasn't an issue, work didn't begin until mid-to late afternoon (around 2-3 pm), which contributed to the extended completion time. The final turnover of the project occurred at night, which made it difficult to properly evaluate the work together, as it was simply too dark to see all the details.
There were also a few quality issues that needed follow-up. The patio installation ended up with a noticeable bow in the middle and was not fully level. Filling in the gaps completely in the pavers was completed by the owner. After the job completed, some mulch around the trees needed to be redistributed, and I also had to finish leveling dirt around a septic access port. While John was always courteous, he sometimes communicated in a way that felt like he was working through the order of operations out loud with the customer, rather then presenting a clear plan upfront. Overall, The job required more homeowner involvement and touch up work than I expected, but John's pleasant demeanor and willingness to engage are positives. With stronger planning, more consistent start times, clearer communication, and closer attention to finishing details, his work could be much improved. I included a picture of the bow in the patio and a before and after picture of the gaps in the pavers.
Details: Less than 1 • Landscaping • Flat • Flat • No, I will dispose of this myself • Residential
Destra First -Solutions in Earth Management's reply
Dale,
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback. I truly value every client’s perspective, and I appreciate the opportunity to clarify a few details so others can understand the full picture.
You mentioned a “hump” in the patio, and I want to note that the photos taken throughout the project — including the final images I use for advertising and have uploaded here — show a smooth, even surface with no visible irregularities. We also walked the patio together in full daylight the day it was completed, and no concerns were brought up at that time.
As the owner and operator, I personally handle every step of each project — from the initial consultation to performing the work and reviewing the final result. Because of that, I take a lot of pride in the quality and consistency of the finished product.
When we met the following evening around 4:45 pm, it was already getting dark, but the project itself had been fully completed the day before in clear daylight. That earlier walkthrough is when we both stood on the patio and confirmed everything looked good.
I’m always open to talking through any concerns directly and working toward a positive outcome. My goal is for every client to feel confident in both the process and the final result.
Again, thank you for being part of the Destra Family!
Land Leveling and Grading
Geoff R.
Jan 3, 2019
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Hired on Thumbtack
I had a smaller grading job in my backyard with a tight window for completion due to access issues. John came out to assess the project and provided some very helpful input. He was able to fit my job in to ensure it was completed on time. Super friendly guy and very professional, would definitely use him again.
Details: Less than 1 • Drainage • Slightly sloped • Slightly sloped • Trees • 1-5 • Yes, I will need the professional to haul any excess soil or debris • Residential
Land Leveling and Grading
Credentials
Background Check
John Bartucca
FAQs
What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
As we are all individuals with our unique characteristics that define us from one another, our pricing is site specific and costs are entirely dependent on a site visit and your unique situation. This allows us to provide an effective and budget friendly bid while extending a personal touch to an ever so fast paced industry we share with other contractors.
What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
We work one on one with every customer to make sure their needs are fully satisfied allowing for a genuinely effective and productive encounter and meeting. More often than not, details acquired through emails or online formats are great background and a good starting point, they lack to give us a true scope of the project and a site visit is almost always necessary. We encourage every potential client to visit our website, facebook page or Instagram and view a short display of prior work and see how we can best suit you, your needs and project at hand.
What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
As an owner operator, I have over 30 years of hands on experience in the industry. My beginnings in the field began over 30 years ago in a family owned and operated third generation business, so there is very little that I have not seen and can not handle. With early teachings from my grandfather, famed horticulturalist/agriculturalist to an apprenticeship with my father in our business to grabbing the reigns of the family business with my siblings, we were able to create a multi-region multi-million dollar business where I was responsible for every aspect of the business from sales, employees, accounts payable and beyond. Having a workforce of over 50 employees, and knowledge gained and experience earned, I moved to the Raleigh/Durham area over 10 years ago to write a new chapter. I began my company Destra Solutions in Earth Management to employ the tools and productivity that life and experience has awarded me and created a very effective business dealing with homeowners with a precision that is only attained through experience. I have single handedly created 100's of property beautifications from outdoor kitchens with rustic reclaimed timber accents to extreme yard makeovers that have turned desolate patches of yard to inviting outdoor spaces for the entire family to enjoy. We may focus on landscape design, but we never lose focus on our customers needs and desires.
