ComplaintsforAAA Concrete Raising Co.

• Initial Complaint

  08/24/2021

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  On August 3rd we paid AAA Concrete Raising $440 to lift our concrete stoop and walkway. When they were done, the stoop and walkway were very slanted. The workers said they did the best they could but could come back if we were not satisfied. I contacted the salesman and he came out the next morning to inspect. He said that it needed some pitch to direct water away from the house. I agreed, but not that much pitch. I asked that they come back out and try to match the pitch of the porch. On Aug 12th the crew came out again. They over-corrected and removed all the pitch of the stoop. When they raised the walkway to match, it ended up making the walkway pitch towards the house. This also raised the walkway well above the level of the driveway leaving a massive trip hazard of 4" in one area. When I contacted the salesman, I was told that they were done with the job. They said they can't do anything. I asked for a refund and they stopped responding to me.

  Business response

  08/25/2021

  Home owner is correct about the step having to much pitch when we were done the first time. The reason there was more pitch then he would like is because the attached walk would have no pitch if we went higher. So I stop back out to explain all that at that time he said that didnt matter because hes having driveway replaced. I said ok we will come back out  I asked that he would be there he said yes. We came back out he was not there his wife was my guys raised the step higher showed it to his wife she said to raise it higher my guys explained that that would make the walk part of it back pitch to the house she said she was fine with that. Both time the wife said she was fine with it. There is nothing else we can do to improve it. I think he should of been there when he said he would be. Keep in mind this is a repair we are not pouring new concrete where we can get it perfect. He wasnt happy with his wifes first decision that it was fine why would he trust his wife the second time to make that decision. 

  Customer response

  08/26/2021

   
  Complaint: 15793828
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  Their response is filled with untruths and this can be shown by quoting their response.
  
  In their response they state: "Home owner is correct about the step having too much pitch when we were done the first time."  Saying "too much pitch" implies that you need SOME pitch. A simple ****** search tells you that the standard pitch for concrete is 1/4 inch of drop over every foot of length.  This meant that the end of our 3 foot stoop should be 3/4" lower on the side furthest from the house to make sure water flowed away from the house.  Not the 2 plus inches of drop the stoop had the first time they came out.  And not the ZERO inches of drop the stoop had the second time they came out.
  
  In their response (relating to the first time they came out) they state: "The reason there was more pitch then he would like is because the attached walk would have no pitch if we went higher."  This is physically impossible.  The stoop and the first portion of the walkway are ONE PIECE and PARALLEL to each other.  If the stoop had correct pitch, then the walkway would also have correct pitch.  It would be impossible for them to have different pitch seeing as they are ONE PIECE.  See attached pictures that show it is one piece and both the stoop and that portion of the walkway are level and parallel to each other and obviously not pitched properly.

  
  In their response they stated: "I asked that he would be there he said yes."  Again, this simply not true.  I was told that they would come back when they were in the area... but they had no idea when.  See attached screen shot of texts between them and I when I was trying to figure out when they were coming out.  How could I possibly agree to be somewhere at an unknown time?  Realistically, why should anyone have to be around anyway?  Why should a customer have to tell supposed "professionals" how to do their job.  This is really a moot point.
  
  In their response they state: "Both time the wife said she was fine with it."  Again, not true.  Despite her pointing out issues the first time they were out, they kept telling my wife that it was the best they could do.  If it was the best they could do, how could they have possibly come back and taken any pitch out of it the second time?  They obviously over-corrected and went right past "proper pitch".  Because they over-corrected the stoop and the portion of the walkway attached to it, they had to over-correct the second piece of the walkway to line up with their mistake.  This ended up leaving a massive mismatch / trip hazard at the driveway end which was much larger than it should have been had everything been pitched properly.  ********** they were out she was on the phone with me and was sending pictures of how bad of a job they did and what she didn't like.  Despite her objections to the crew, they kept insisting "this is the best we can do" and left it at that.
  
  Ultimately, Somewhere between "too much pitch" that they left us with the first time and "perfectly level" that they left us with the second time is "proper pitch".  Had they not over-corrected their first mistake, the stoop and the entire walkway would have proper pitch and we wouldn't be in this situation.  This job was not done properly (either time) and, as they stated, cannot be fixed.  Because of that, I would like a refund of my money.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

  Business response

  09/12/2021

  Everything I stated was the truth. When I stop out to talk to him I told him I would call before coming out. He sent me a text a few day later asking when Im coming. I told him possibly Thursday of that week. Then he sent a second message the next day. I **** him I would be there about 11:00 Thursday. So he new when we were coming.my workers did a nice job of raising his sidewalk. The side walk is not perfect to begin with it has a big crack going  through it witch was a challenge to keep even. I explain to him that it was going to be uneven at the driveway if we raised it anymore. He said thats fine Im having my driveway redone they will match it to the walk. We provide a repair service and we do the best that we could with what we have to work with. Both time his wife ok the work and paid my guys. We did a very nice job for this man. Hes try to get something for nothing. He wasnt happy the first time I understand. I showed up when he asked me to come back. I asked him to be there when I sent my guys back the second time. He chose to leave it up to his wife to ok it and she did. 

  Customer response

  09/15/2021

   
  Complaint: 15793828
  
  I am rejecting this response because:  The business representative is not being truthful.  He agreed that they did not do the job right the first time.  When he came out to inspect the job after first time they messed up, the excuse he gave for why the stoop and walkway were more like a ramp  was "it needs pitch to shed water".  He can't possibly argue that they did the job properly the second time as the stoop and walkway now have NO PITCH.  In one area, it actually pitches BACKWARDS towards the house.  As a business that boasts "20+ years experience raising concrete" they know as well as anyone they did not do the job correctly either time.
  

  We would like our $440 refunded as the job was never done properly and we were told that there is nothing they can do now that they have over-raised the stoop and walkway.  To correct the issue, it will need to be ripped out and a new stoop and walkway poured.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *********************

*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. ↩