ComplaintsforNext Level Concrete Ltd

• Initial Complaint

  30/05/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  I hired next Level Concrete to build a concrete extension and a concrete walk alongside the attached garage at my property. The Contractor arrived on site on May 21 and removed my existing landscaping rock. They also spread about 1 m3 of the granular base building the subgrade 1 -3 in thick out of min. 6 in. On May 22 the worker arrived on-site and delivered the rebar. At that time it turned out we had a disagreement on the slope of the proposed concrete path. Because the concrete was to be placed on the existing common drainage swale I wanted to maintain the existing cross slope as per the neighborhood drainage plan, while the Contractor insisted on flattening the walk to 2% leaving 15 cm of setback from the property line. The Contractor accused me of violating specifications however he failed to provide any reference to the latter. He also could not back up his opinion on why I must build my concrete swale at a maximum 2-3%. My separated husband criticized the Contractor's work and the argument started. I requested husband to leave my property and apologized. The Contractor refused to continue work and hauled away the rebars and granular material delivered to complete the sub-base. The site has been abandoned since. After the incident, I researched the City of Edmonton Design&Construction Standards as well as the Residential Lot Grading Guideline. Based on this research I come up to the conclusion that both - my and the Contractor's opinions on design might be correct. On May 24th the Contractor emailed me advising me they won't return on-site even if I agree with their design because my husband was criticizing their work on May 23rd. The Contractor sent me an Invoice claiming that 1/3 of the total contract was complete, therefore he withheld my deposit of an equal amount. I disagreed with the evaluation of 1/3 because less than 10% of work has been complete and the site is abandoned. The contractor refused to return any money or complete the work.

  

  Business response

  12/06/2022

  The customer and her husband insisted on 5 inches of cross slope on a sidewalk that was 4 feet wide. This is equal to over 10% cross slope which in winter especially would be dangerous. We refuse to slope concrete more than 3% unless there are special circumstances that the client is willing to acknowledge and sign off on. In this case the customers had no reason to justify us building a dangerous walkway so we had to walk away from the job and bill them for the work we had done.

   

  We took a video of the incident and are ready to defend ourselves in court if necessary.

   

  The husband loudly berated our team and we do not tolerate abuse so we refused to consider going back to the worksite.

   

  We billed 1/3 of the job value and lost a day of work after we walked away.

   

  The whole thing was unfortunate.

   

   

   

   

  Customer response

  13/06/2022

  
  ********** ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:

   

  - The Contractor was unreasonable in his demands to build 3% slope. I provided to NextLevel concrete justification of my design referencing City of Edmonton Design&Construction standards and CoE Lot Grading Guideline. The Contractor however could not provide any proof of his requirements to the design. Please refer to the attached "Negotiation with NextLevelConcrete" gmail.

  - The Contractor tried to bully me on worksite and later on in email communications, threatening to sue me for my design or "sending the video to the City of Edmonton, so they would educate me". I sent an inquiry to the City of Edmonton asking their opinion on the slope and they confirmed, that maximum slope for the common drainage swale is not defined. The gmail from the Lot Grading Inspector is attached. At the same time the Contractor still could not provide any proof of 2-3% slope mandate.

  - Regardless of previous miscommunication, ss an owner of the project I was open to the variance to the design. The design proposed by the Contractor would be considered should the Contractor continue negotiation. In the notice of dispute I offered to the Contractor return on site and finish the work. The notice of dicpute is attached. The Contractor ignored the notice of dispute.
  

  - The Contractor overcharged me for the work performed up-to-site abandonment. There was no breakdown in the invoice or provided any other proof of 30% completion. Then invoice was based on the blank statement by the Contractor. The actual amount of work was 10% of the total scope. The Contractor keeps ignoring my attempts to settlement.

  Regards,

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

   

   

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ******** ******

  

  Business response

  21/10/2022

  I have responded adequately to this complaint. I have no interest in working for her again due to her dangerous and disruptive partner that threatened and intimidated my employees. Furthermore we will not build concrete sidewalks that are dangerous. This woman has an outstanding invoice that has not been paid yet but I doubt I will ever see that money. 

• Initial Complaint

  13/09/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  Background information: - April 15, 2020 Next Level Concrete removed and replaced our driveway and walkway. Total cost $17,359.65. -they poured the concrete for the walkway, then a week later the driveway was started. Reason for complaint: -walkway and driveway are two different shades (walkway is visibly darker) -cracks in driveway started in November 2020, now currently it is the entire width of the driveway. This is 16 feet wide and there are multiple cracks. -crack in front of walkway steps (towards front door) starts from first step to end of concrete

  

  Business response

  16/09/2021

  Hi *****

  When we built your new driveway we noticed that your land was very swampy. Your sump pump was constantly shooting out water into the space between the two driveways. We explained this this kind of land would be subject to heaving during the freeze thaw cycles in our climate. You were advised that unless you were prepared to spend more money on concrete piles, extra rebar and thicker concrete your concrete would move and crack. it would be unavoidable. You were not prepared to spend that kind of money on your concrete job. 

  The second problem was that you wanted to concrete the space between your neighbor's driveway and your driveway. We explained that would be a very bad idea since this would destroy the grading plan of the yard and water would have no where to go but under the concrete which would cause heaving and cracking during the freeze thaw cycles. You said you would accept that risk and to fill in the areas between the driveways so you would have more parking.

  Now that you have the cracks that we warned you about you would like us to rip out and replace the job? We are definitely not interested in working for you again as you do not choose to follow our advice on concrete construction standards. 

   

  We would suggest once again that you fix your grading plan so that water flows away from the concrete not under it.

   

  Readers should note we did meet with the client already in the Spring and explained to him the problem and possible remedies.

   

  Thank-you

   

  Customer response

  17/09/2021

  Complaint: ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  The owner is blaming the customer (us) as the reason of the poor workmanship.  He gave us a verbal reason that the cracks are as expected as there is no guarantee for smooth concrete due to "settling of driveway".  I do expect cracking, however the cracks started within 4 months of completion and then worsened by the next year.   If the grading was not up to par, he certainly did not mention it to us or suggest it to change.  He poured the concrete then states it's our fault-he is the expert and should offer at lease a small refund for us to get another business to fix his error.  Or we will get another business to cover the driveway with another product.

   

  p.s:  the concrete color difference is completely within his control.
  

   

  
  
  Sincerely,
  
  ***** ********

  

  Business response

  22/10/2021

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

   

  The customer was told by the owner and the foreman that filling the space between his driveway and his neighbours driveway was a bad idea since the water coming from the backyard and his sump hose could get underneath the concrete and cause heaving and cracking during the freeze/thaw cycle of the winter. He explained to us he wanted more parking space so he was willing to take that risk. Sure enough the concrete cracked. That was something we predicted and warned him about. Building a new driveway would also crack. The solution is to keep the original grading plan of the house and make sure the sump water does not flow underneath the concrete but rather away from it. 

   

  The client was there for every step of the process and it was built to spec as per contract. The failure is not in the concrete or workmanship but rather in the grading plan of his yard, the swampy land where his sump is constantly spouting out water and the client's expectation of reinforced concrete being able to withstand heave without cracking when water goes underneath it.

   

  We will not pay the client any compensation in this case.

   

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