ComplaintsforBrent DeYoung Builder, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  11/22/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  In 2019 we hired Brent **** to build us a custom home. In 2020 we moved into the home and the very first winter we had issues with the cement on our porch. I contacted Brent and he had his cement contractor come out and look at the issue and said that they would come back in the spring and grind down the porch and put a sealer on it. in the spring, Brent contractor for this man came in ground down the cement to remove the pits and sealed the entire surface. The sealer was supposed to be see-through, but tinted slightly black. The tint was wrong, and was solid black and you could not see the aggregate through it. later in the year with the first snowfall, we realized that the fixed Brent had done to the porch was a safety hazard. When the sealer gets wet or a dust of snow on it, it becomes very slippery, and we had several people almost slip and fall, including my pregnant daughter at the time. so for the winter, we did not use the front porch. I have been going back-and-forth with Brent about this for months now and he refuses to fix the issue. I would like either the cement removed and re-poured properly or some type of tile placed over top of it that is robust and does not need any annual coating applied. From what Ive researched if the cement is not properly trowel to get all the water out of the top surface this type of pitting can happen. The person that did the final troweling was a young kid that was unsupervised. I feel this is Brents issue because it was his subcontractor that did the cement work not mine.

  Business response

  01/16/2023

  In ***************************************************************************************************** the location. He took pictures. In his estimation and experience, the

  Salt caused the concrete to pop. While he did not feel it was his responsibility in order to keep my customer happy, he ground the top off the porch and resurfaced it at my request.

  The color that was put on the porch was specifically picked out by the homeowners wife because it had to be special ordered.

  In addition, the concrete that was poured in the back of the house came from the same batch of concrete. It has had no issues.

   

  When I was contacted again this summer by the homeowner, it was recommended to have the ************ go and take a look. He examined the porch and his opinion was the porch once again had salt damage.

   

  At this time, I offered to cover the porch with a cement compound. The cost of this would have bee $900. The homeowner refused.

   

  While the homeowner wants to make it seem like nothing has been done, I have done my part to fix an issue that was caused by the homeowner.

   

  Regards,

  Brent DeYoung, Builder

  Customer response

  01/16/2023

   
  Complaint: 18452371
  
  I am rejecting this response because: I never used salt on the porch, this was stated on the initial visit by the cement contractor, that Brent doesnt even use anymore due to poor workmanship.   
  I had an expert come look at the porch and he told me that the incorrect cement was used for this application.  Cement with aggregate was used and it should have been cement with limestone.  Limestone doesnt absorb moisture like aggregate.  Aggravate will absorb moisture and then crack when it freezes.  You can see by the pictures more pops have formed this year without even any snow.  My driveway is also popping all over due to the incorrect material used.  Even on the face of the porch that is a vertical wall is popping.  This is a sign that the incorrect material was used. 
  If you look close at the pictures you can see the aggregate (rocks in the cement) are broke in half.  This is evidence that the incorrect material was used. 
  To rectify the mistake that Brent DeYoungs sub-contractor made, I would like the porch and driveway cement replaced.  From what I am told by the expert, this will continue to deteriorate for years and at some point all of the cement will need to be replaced prematurely.
  
  Sincerely,
  
  *****************************

  Business response

  01/19/2023

  The warranty on this house is long passed. The concrete that was poured on his front porch was also poured on a neighboring front porch and there has been no issues with the other porch. We already went beyond the necessary measures when we ground the porch and stained it, per his request. 

  It was a neighboring front porch not his back patio that was poured from the same load. This was my error in the first reply.

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