ComplaintsforAmerican Concrete Services, LLC

• Initial Complaint

  04/17/2022

  Complaint Type:

  Order Issues

  Status:

  Unresolved

  More info

  On 4 OCT 2021, American Concrete removed and replaced my driveway from the garage to the road. I spoke directly with the workers before any concrete was poured, expressing previously having water getting under the driveway slab and caused it to heave in freezing weather. I asked them to make sure everything drained away from the house and garage. Upon completion, I could visibly see a portion of the west slab butted against the garage was sloping toward the garage. At the time I was unable to see how this would affect rainwater. I reached out about this while away on military duty for three weeks, and the owner came over and had a look while I was out. He came over again upon my return and mentioned French drains, which would have no effect for rain received directly on the driveway. He added caulk on some locations of the fiber board where large gaps existed. It was also brought up the portion of the sidewalk replaced also ran toward the side of the structure, where water would pool. He mentioned something about grinding a channel in the concrete to get it to drain, but this appears to be a band-aid for not properly sloping away from the house. During winter weather, it also became apparent the driveway was installed higher than the garage floor, therefore trapping any water from snow melting on cars instead of being able to drain out. Additionally, the portion sloped toward the garage door caused melting snow and ice to flow into the garage. I have recently sent emails (to addresses they had ********** ********* ** *** ***** *************************** *** ***** ******* ******* ********************* on 7 APR 2022, and received no response. Another email was sent to the same addresses and one listed on American Concrete's website *************************** on 13 APR 2022, and still no response received. Pictures shown clearly illustrate concrete sloping toward the structure. Properly installed concrete sloping toward a structure would have a drain.

  Business response

  05/19/2022

  We have received the complaint and we are investigating the situation.

  Customer response

  06/24/2022

  Summary: Concrete was installed that drains toward my garage, and is higher than the garage floor, preventing water from snow/rain coming off vehicles to properly drain. The installers were personable and professional, and seemingly knowledgeable. It took three days to remove, form up, and pour the new driveway. Initially, the rebar wasn't installed in accordance with the bid, but a quick message to the owner/admin had it rectified quickly. They left and I began keeping a sprinkler on it during the curing process for ~2 weeks. After the install, I was out of town for a bit, and then it didn't rain for a while so the problems didn't immediately surface. However, upon a good rain it was apparent the sidewalk slab and one of the slabs in front of the driveway angled TOWARD the house, draining water against the garage exterior and running into the garage. Initially, ***** ******* showed up at the house twice to check out the issue, and ultimately did nothing to fix or offer any solutions. Once winter snows arrived, it became apparent that not only was water draining toward the house, but the driveway is higher than the garage floor. Now, when a car has snow and ice melt, it pools at the door with nowhere else to go. At this point, I reached out again to ***** ******* and *** (admin) twice, and have heard nothing back whatsoever.

  Business response

  07/14/2022

  I went and spoke to the consumer.  He was concerned about the water traveling over the expansion joint.  I put black silicone in there.  He seemed he was satisfied with it.  I also cut a part of the control joint.  There were tablespoons of water sitting on the concrete and he was concerned it would get in his basement.  I assured him he wouldn't have to worry about it. 

  Customer response

  07/14/2022

  ********** ********
  
  I am rejecting this response because: Mr. ******* did not cut part of a control joint, the only joints that exist were placed in the concrete while wet (see pictures).  If it had been removed via mechanical means, it would be obvious, and as the pictures show, that's not the case.  Additionally, Mr. ******* failed to address water running into the garage, as well as water not being able to drain out due to the driveway being higher than the garage floor.  The concern was never that water would get into the basement, as there's no basement under the garage.  There was concern it would get underneath the driveway slabs and cause them to heave during freezing weather. 
  
  It would be great if Mr. ******* would address whether or not properly installed concrete slopes toward a structure without having proper drainage channel installed, and why one of the slabs drains well (as evidenced in the original pictures), while another drains toward the garage. 
  
  Mr. ******* was responsive until he was paid the final half, then completely failed to respond to or address any concerns.  Re-reading the original *** complaint more thoroughly would help, as the original issues mentioned didn't include the problems presented when snow became part of the equation.  Claiming it's mere 'tablespoons' of water is pure hyperbole in an attempt to minimize the defective work.
  
  
  
  
  
  ********** **** *******

  Customer response

  07/26/2022

  07/26/2022: Mediator sent an email to the consumer requesting a current status update.

  Customer response

  07/27/2022

  07/27/2022: Thank you for reaching out for a response.  Mr. ******** nor anyone else at American Concrete has reached out to me in an attempt to reach a resolution to this complaint.  Since the business has made no attempt to contact me, much less resolve this issue, I would like to work through the mediation process.

  
  

  Customer response

  08/02/2022

  08/02/2022: We have 2 separate issues going on with the driveway we paid this company to install October of 2021. The slope of the garage directs water toward my home with no drain. The second issue is the driveway is now slightly higher than the garage floor that is not allowing any water in the garage area to properly drain out into the driveway. The owner came out one time and made some poor attempts to repair, but that visit did not offer any resolution to the issues. He is now not responding to me at all. 

  Business response

  08/03/2022

  08/03/2022: Mediator left a detailed voicemail for the business.

  08/12/2022: Mediator sent an email to the business requesting an update on how they would like to proceed.

  08/167/2022: Mediator left a detailed voicemail for the business.
  

   

   

  Customer response

  11/22/2022

  No. The contractor has made zero effort to even contact me, much less actually make it right.

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