Complaints

• Initial Complaint

  11/19/2024

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On 10/24 arrangements were started on ,side walk and driveway. was delayed due to his equipment was broken down original estimate was 10,000 added on footage on estimate which brought the amount to 14,000 first the side walk was cleared and forms laid poured ,on that the form was too low on the corner by the steps ,causing water to pool up there ,agreed it was wrong and needed repaired. phase two I did hear the worker say we are going to need the bob cat ,wasn't used on any of the excavation .when formed up alteration was made on my part ,poured Saturday 11/2 the forms were set for sides ,10 yards were ordered ,towards the end of the pour from the cement truck no form was pre set for the end of pour , then they pushed the board up to the cement and spread it out concrete not being compacted ,which leads to current problem the finished product at that end of the Saturday that portion has ripples in it , I have spoke to other contractors different replies from them , I would be upset also ,don't pay another amount until corrected phase two *** said that's normal ,only when the light hits it at night ,a bright sunny day that's when I said it was wavy too him he dismissed it ,pictures show the issues on his return visit to fix the area by the steps as seen in pictures its flaking a couple spots you can tap on it and hear the pillow sound like a bubble ,On the driveway where the concrete wasn't flat and ripples show up what happens when a truck drives on it , *** says he will not fix the issue with the driveway he said I am avoiding paying the bill money is there for him I said certified check cash or even I would buy gold coins if that is what it takes ,just fix the mistake *** said he would place a assessment on my house not bragging house was a investment due to the neighborhood 300k plus but that shouldn't matter the fault is there one attempt was made ,which was a bad example *** said he would get back with me on 11/18 on 11/19 no word from him still

  Business response

  11/27/2024

  Our reply 

  
  

  We poured mr ****** driveway to spec. There was an issue around the step where water was holding in the corner that we are fixing. This issue may or may not been our fault as Mr ***** installed conduit under the forms which may have caused it to drop or move prior to pouring or it may have Been installed wrong. So we are not blaming him or saying its our fault because we are not totally sure but agreed with ** ***** to fix the section. As for equipment needing a bobcat is irrelevant to the install as we used a smaller machine for excavation. The 10 yard pour we poured out of the truck, once truck was empty we set what in the industry is called a bulk head form to section the pours separately and install the required expansion joints. This is common and is a normal procedure.  Mr ***** states the concrete was not compacted ( this shows his in adequate knowledge of concrete procedures) concrete does not get compacted. Mr ***** holds a light to the concrete in the middle of the night and sends us pictures of lines in the concrete. We stated to him that this is normal under a light seeing a shadow as concrete is a molded material and you will see this under a light i in any concrete slab and in most building materials. In the daylight we have went out and cannot see an issue as our pictures show no issue. As for Mr ***** having others out saying its wrong we welcome them to provide there experience against our. We have also statements from 3 long reputable concrete companies come out and agree with us this is normal and common under a light but cant be seen in daylight. Any issues can be from ** ***** as he stated in his complaint he adjusted things prior to pouring. His own words. These claims was not brought up to our company attention until it was the day we was supposed to collect payment. At that time ** ***** tried to complain about puddles which where areas that drained slowly. After he figured that  would not do it then he gets a light out in the middle of the night looking for anything and everything he can to justify not paying the balance of $4 grand. We have also asked many times and have records asking him to mark these issues with chalk so we can see them. He stated its not sunny enough  to see them.We are still in talks with Mr ***** to solve this without court litigation or liens being placed on his propertys as we would like to come to an agreement with him before taking next steps of litigation . He is being charged daily late fees as he refused to pay based on what he things is wrong which is actually normal. Mr ***** has no experience in concrete. We take every complaint seriously which we never get and have a long record of quality craftsmanship and honest work. We hope to have this closed out within the next week with Mr ***** but will keep bbb posted on if this goes to litigation.
  pictures of the driveway areas he is talking about and the driveway in general as follows 

  
  

  *** ******* ******* ******** * ******* 

  Customer response

  12/04/2024

  Dear Better Business Bureau,

  I appreciate the opportunity to address the issues I have experienced with ***. I entered into this agreement expecting a skilled contractor to provide high-quality work for my driveway. Unfortunately, the results have fallen far short of those expectations. I feel compelled to respond to clarify several inaccuracies in the contractors statement and express my growing frustration with this situation.

  1. Step Area Water Retention

  The contractor has claimed that the water pooling issue near the steps may have been caused by a conduit I installed. This is inaccurate. The conduit was installed after the contractors initial repair attempt, in an effort to mitigate water pooling in problematic areas. It is troubling that the contractor would shift blame onto work that occurred after their own repair efforts had already failed. Proper preparation and workmanship during the original pour should have prevented these issues altogether, and their repair attempt did not resolve the problem. This ongoing water pooling raises serious concerns about the contractors ability to deliver professional, lasting results.

  2. Concrete Depth and Reinforcement

  I was explicitly told that the driveway would be poured to a depth of 4 inches, as is standard for residential applications. Upon further inspection, I discovered that the concrete is only 3.5 inches thick and lacks any reinforcement, such as rebar or wire mesh. This is unacceptable and raises serious concerns about the structural integrity and durability of the driveway. I hired this contractor based on their assurances of professional, skilled workmanship, and this failure is a clear breach of those assurances.

  3. Quality of Repair Work

  The contractors attempts to address the water pooling issue near the steps have only exacerbated my concerns. The repaired area appears hollow and is already flaking. This is not the work of a skilled professional. It is clear that the contractor either lacks the expertise or is unwilling to dedicate the time and effort necessary to perform quality repairs. Given the state of this initial repair, I am now hesitant to allow the contractor to perform any additional work without guarantees that it will meet a higher standard.

  4. Mention of Photos to the BBB Representative

  The contractor referred to the photos I submitted to the BBB, implying that my concerns are exaggerated or invalid. Let me be clear: these photos accurately depict the visible flaws in the driveway. They were taken to document my concerns and serve as evidence of the substandard work performed. I encourage the BBB to review them carefully, as they clearly show issues that any experienced contractor should address, not dismiss.

  5. Concrete Lines Observed at Night

  The contractors response to the visible lines in the concrete is dismissive and unhelpful. While they claim this is a normal occurrence, I consulted other professionals who disagree. These imperfections raise questions about the finishing process and whether the proper techniques were followed. Dismissing my concerns as ignorance only adds to my frustration as a homeowner seeking skilled work.

  6. Delayed Complaints

  The contractors claim that I only raised these issues after payment was due is false and misleading. I voiced concerns as soon as they became evident, but they were brushed aside. The suggestion that the timing of my concerns undermines their validity is disingenuous and unacceptable.

  7. Requests to Mark Issues with Chalk

  The contractor repeatedly requested that I mark the problem areas with chalk. I have explained that many of these issues are only visible under specific conditions, making chalk marking impractical. Expecting me to jump through hoops to prove what is already clear from photos and expert opinions feels like an attempt to shift responsibility away from the contractor.

  8. Resolution Efforts

  While the contractor insists they have taken steps to address my concerns, the results tell a different story. I hired them with the expectation of receiving professional, skilled workmanship. Instead, I have been left with subpar work and excuses. My patience is wearing thin, and I cannot justify final payment until these issues are resolved to an acceptable standard.

   

  Next Steps

  To move forward, I request the following:

  A written plan from the contractor detailing how they will address the issues with the step, water retention, visible imperfections, concrete depth, and repair work.

  Written confirmation that the driveway will meet the promised specifications, including a 4-inch depth and proper reinforcement.

  A timeline for completing these corrections.

  A waiver of any late fees or penalties while this dispute remains unresolved.

   

  I hired this contractor expecting quality, professional work. It is disappointing and frustrating to have to go to these lengths to ensure those expectations are met. I trust the BBB will help hold this contractor accountable and facilitate a resolution.

   

  Sincerely,

  ****** *****

  ************

  Business response

  01/06/2025

  Good afternoon. This matter is now closed. We settled on a deduction of $2000 from the original balance. After speaking with attorney the time to fight this issue with me price is not worth the time and amount it would require. We stand by our products and service and we still say as well as other concrete professionals that have seen his job that this is a quality job. Mr. ***** has a reputation of complaining about things he calls defects and tries to hustle down a discount on other projects from other contractors such as his homes siding he told us about. We have sent pictures of the project prior. 
  
  Thanks 
  
  
  *** *******
  Samczuk concrete & masonry 

  Customer response

  01/17/2025

  1.17.2025, BBB contacted consumer via phone, he confirmed a settlement agreement has been reached.

*Some consumers may elect to not publish the details of their complaints, some complaints may not meet BBB's standards for publication, or BBB may display a portion of complaints when a high volume is received for a particular business. ↩