ComplaintsforNorrod Builders, Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  09/12/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  *****This complaint is towards Jerry N***** of Norrod Builders and the multiple encounters I experienced doing business with him related my new home that ended in frustration, damages, and monetary loss while watching his crew fail at attempting to repair my home. The latest issue (i.e., problem #2 in the narrative below), which Jerry and I were not able to reach a resolution on, involves damages to my new driveway by Jerry’s crew driving a skid steer, excavator, forklift, and a dump truck with 5 tons of rock during a March repair to install an exterior French drain around 3 sides of my home. After multiple attempts of raising this issue to Jerry through text message, emails, and stopping by his office, I was unable to get Jerry to offer any type of resolution for my problem or even apologize for the issue. It was Jerry’s lack of accountability for this issue, his attempts to debate me on where the cracks in my concrete driveway came from, and his belief there wasn’t quote, “much you can do” to resolve this matter is what prompted me to file this complaint. The damages resulted in me having to spend $1,579.71 to buy concrete sealer, supplies to apply the sealer, and to use vacation days from work to apply the sealer myself. To me, it is very simple that when you run and operate a business and you damage someone else’s property, you are liable to fixing it. I understand mistakes can happen, and I strongly believe it is how you respond to those mistakes with your attempt to make the homeowner’s property whole again; if not better. Jerry did not do that, but instead left me with having to chase him for updates and when he did attempt repairs, it was often as cheap as possible. I would not recommend anyone experience what I’ve had to go through with Jerry N***** and I will avoid doing business with him again. I would appreciate an apology and a $750 payment for the damages to my driveway. For the full list of details, please see the attached file.

  Customer response

  09/13/2023

  Uploaded. -Matt

  Business response

  09/20/2023

  Concrete issue:  We damaged a corner on the part of the driveway the client put in after he bought the home.  We repaired this corner he had put in but it settled due to the fact the dirt had not had time to settle.  We returned and repaired it a second time pinning the concrete with rebar.  The client had water in the crawl space and we put a french drain around three sides of the house to keep the water out of the crawl space.  We had to remove the shrubs and landscaping rock to do the french drain.  He did not want to reuse the rock because he had two colors in it.  We bought new rock at our expense and was installing this rock.  This is the reason we was on the driveway.  At clients request, we took the old rock fifteen miles away to his father which he did not pay us for.  We installed new rock and the shrubs he already had.  We sowed his yard back and moved some of the dirt to the places he wanted it.  He still had some water problems, at which time three bids were acquired from licensed companies to encapsulate the crawl space.  He demanded the company with the highest bid do the job.  This resulted in $2500.00 additional cost for this work.  Our company paid $18,000.00 directly to the client for this work to be done.  In the process of doing the repair work we done, the client billed us for water and electricity he felt like we had used.  Concerning the issue of gravels on the driveway, all our equipment used had rubber tires and track.  The rock did not hurt the driveway.  There was some hairline cracks in both the part we poured and the part he poured which often happens when pouring a driveway.  We had the concrete company look at it and they said they could not see anything they could do.  The client's neighbor was putting sealer on his driveway and client wanted sealer put on his and us to pay for it.  The sealer he ended up putting on the driveway was a clear sealer which would not cover in of the defects he says he has.  In the forty seven years we have been in the building business, we have never had a client like this one.  When he confronted us about sealing the driveway, he stated if we did not do the sealing, he would contact the Better Business Bureau.  The client poured and addition to the driveway after he moved into the home at which time he had a concrete truck and equipment on it which could have done some of the damage if damage was done.  He used the same concrete company that was used to pour the original driveway.  He said he had pictures of our spilling rock on the driveway.  I would like to see pictures of the driveway before the rocks were spilled.  We do not feel like we hurt the driveway beyond what was done in the year that client has lived there.

  Business response

  10/08/2023

  I do not feel that we did damage to client's driveway as we stated in our previous response.  He stated that it was the weight of our equipment that damaged his driveway but failed to mention that when he poured the addition to his driveway, their was a thirty to forty thousand pound loaded concrete truck on his driveway.  

  Thank you,

  Jerry N*****

  Customer response

  10/09/2023

   
  Complaint: 20588700
  
  I am rejecting this response because: The cracks and chipped concrete did not appear in the driveway until after Norrod builders did the French drain repair on my home as previously stated. Not to mention, the multiple areas of chipped concrete as previously mentioned and photos shared. If ********* Concrete truck had left cracks in my driveway, I would have reported it to them and worked with them to resolve them as I’ve attempted to do with Norrod builders. That didn’t happen. B******** poured their concrete in Sept. of 2022 and no cracks were identified in the 6 months following. 
  

  It’s clear the builder is attempting to shed blame to anyone or anything other then his business for the damages done to my driveway. The builder accepted responsibility for driving heavy equipment which broke off a corner of my driveway (as previously stated and pictured), but they’re denying such weight could cause cracks in the driveway. I feel confident an independent arbiter would find that if there is enough weight to break off part of the driveway, it is obvious it would have enough weight and force to leave cracks. 
  
  Sincerely,
  
  Matt P*****

  Business response

  10/17/2023

  As for the driveway damage that client has blamed us for, we feel that due to the fact the client has been living in the house for a year, has had a loaded concrete truck on it and also he was watching our workers when we were using the equipment that he says did all the damage and didn't say anything at that time but waited about speaking up.  If we damaged the driveway as he says why did he wait to mention it.  We do not agree with his accusations of blaming us and making demands that we pay for it.  God's Word tells us that we are to go the extra mile to try to get along and leave the rest to the Lord.  Client can come by our office tomorrow (October 18th) and pick up a check for $750.00.  The Lord knows all about this situation and he will take care of it.  We feel that we have done our part and we are leaving the rest up to Him.  We consider this matter closed.

  Thank you

  Jerry N*****

  Customer response

  10/23/2023

   
  Complaint: 20588700
  
  To address the situation at hand, I requested both an apology and a $750 refund to offset the expenses I incurred from damages to my driveway. While I have received the refund check, regrettably, no apology has been extended. Instead, the business has persisted with unfounded accusations, insinuating that I remained silent about these issues until recently or that my interest to seal my driveway was motivated by my neighbor's driveway being sealed. I take issue with these claims as I hold myself to a standard of integrity and honesty.

  Throughout the week of the french drain repair, I discussed the damages to my driveway with W******, L****, and W****. Their response was consistently that "I would need to talk to Jerry." I promptly followed their advice and brought this up to Jerry in March; in addition, to a site visit where I clearly marked the areas of my driveway that were damaged using red chalk for Jerry to inspect. I'm unsure if Norrod Builders fails to remember these events or chooses not to remember. In either case, I've attached screenshots from March as evidence, clearly demonstrating that I sought resolution less than a month after the french drain repair was completed. I hope this serves as a reminder and refutes any unfounded claims.

  I want to emphasize that I hold no ill-will toward Norrod Builders. However, I do have a reasonable expectation of accountability for the mistakes that have occurred and fair treatment as a customer. The numerous phone calls, text messages, trips to Norrod Builders, and now this BBB complaint have exacted a toll on my time, family life, work, finances, and overall well-being. I mean it when I say I genuinely hope that no one else has to endure the same challenges I have faced with Norrod Builders.

  Exodus 20:16 instructs us not to bear false witness against our neighbors. I implore the business to cease making false claims and excuses, take ownership of the mistake, and offer a sincere apology. In the end, I think you'll find it astonishing with how many conflicts and relationship strains can be avoided through such a simple act of accountability and contrition.
  
  Respectfully,
  Matt P*****

*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. ↩