ComplaintsforNuno and Jorge Inc.

• Initial Complaint

  02/16/2023

  Complaint Type:

  Service or Repair Issues

  Status:

  Answered

  More info

  GI concrete was hired by our builder to poor the driveway. The driveway was part of the purchase of the house and the driveway was installed in June 2021. I had done some of my own research on this company and they did not get great reviews. I had asked the builder if we could use someone elses and they said that they had already contracted with them. The driveway job initially seemed fine. About 6 months ago we stated to see some flaking happening in just one square on the driveway, We were going to see if we could do a repair after the winter as this was October when we started noticing flaking. As the winter progressed, we started seeing that the driveway was flaking, scaling, and crumbiling on 75% of the driveway. After the snow melted we were able to see it better and it was awful. I contacted a concrete company to take a look at the issue as I had recalled I was not impressed by their reviews when we first were told by builder who was doing our driveway. Two separate concrete businesses came out to do an assessment and BOTH of them said it was bad product and bad application. It appeared that they used too much water in the concrete along with adding more water when they were finishing because it was drying too fast. Indications of this is the Flaking, scaling, patches of differnt color in the concrete. Defects like these don't normally show up right away, it can take 1-2 years for you to see the issues. We have NEVER put salt on the driveway and the concrete people we had come said that even if we did the issue that is happening is not a salt issue. especially to the degree it is at. I had contacted our Builder (Mastercraft) on January 30th and told them of the issue. ***** reached out to GI Concrete and asked them to give me a call. Someone from GI Concrete contacted me on February 6th. The first thing that came out of the person mouth was, "I see this work was done in 2021, so the warranty is over as it is a 1 year warranty, any work that needs to be done will be at your expense." I stated, "you mean to tell me you are going to start off that way without even looking at the driveway to make sure it is not a product issue or a application issue which is what I was told by two different concrete people?" The gentleman said, "yes, i can have Jorge come out and look at it but we will not cover any additional work that needs to be done." I said that's fine, then you are asking me to get an attorney involved and would like me to take this through small claims court? He said, "you do what you want, we aren't going to cover it." I asked that Jorge come out and at least take a look at it so I can go over everything with him and have him tell me why it is doing what it is doing and he said that Jorge would be out within the week. Jorge never showed up, I call on February 10th and asked when he would be out and was told they would get back to me and never did. I contacted *********** and they have asked me to supply them with written documentation from the concrete people. They are both writing something up and I will have it by Monday. They also asked for Video and Pictures to show the issues. I have all of those to provide when I send in the Reports. The fact that this business didn't even come out to look at the issue tells me that they are very well aware of the issue and do not want to take responsibility for a poor job. A driveway should last more than 1.5 years. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

  Business response

  02/22/2023

  Our builder contacted our office to have us look into a driveway that the homeowner reported having flacking/peeling. Our office reached out to the homeowner and asked about the problems they are having. The homeowner reported that the first year and half with the concrete was fine, but then started having flaking problems when winter 2023 came around. The homeowner stated that they've never used salt during the winter time, but its possible that some salt could have fallen on the driveway from the vehicles that are parked. After listening to the report that the homeowner made our office then informed the homeowner that because the job was done in 2021 it was out of warranty and any repairs needed would have to be invoiced. The homeowner wasn't happy and stated that 2 concrete companies came out and told her our mix had too much water and that's the cause of the flaking. She then asked for ***** to stop and look at her driveway issues, and asked if this needs to be resolved through the small claims court. The office told the homeowner that they can file a small claims report if they want to, and ***** will stop by to look at the driveway to make a report to give to our builder when he had time available that week. No date or time was established for when ***** was going to stop by. The homeowner then called back and asked when ***** planned on stopping by to look at their driveway, stating that they wanted an invoice for the repairs because the builder will be covering the damage. Our office said they will contact ***** to get a time for him to stop by Friday Feb 10th. The office called back and left a voicemail stating that ***** will stop by around 2:30-3pm that same day. After ***** stopped by we then sent our reports to the builder explaining what we found to be the issue and mentioned that the homeowner had spoken with them and made an agreement that the builder will cover the repairs. They stated that no one in their office agreed to paying for the repairs, like the homeowner had mentioned. We then told our builder that we would like them to contact the homeowner and resolve the issue with them since we weren't directly contracted by the homeowner. We have attached a report made by our material company that provided the concrete for that driveway. If any more information is needed please email ***************************************** or give us a call *************. 

  Customer response

  02/27/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

  Thank you for your response.  I reviewed the response from ** ******** and do not agree with many of the statements made.  There are inaccuracies in the information provided.  I understand that the initial warranty on concrete from ** ********** is 1 year.  That is like saying that I bought a brand new car and I have one year to find something wrong and then after that 1 year all this stuff starts to happen.  I would expect a car to last more than 1 year just like I would expect concrete to last more than one year.  

  When having a conversation with GI, they accused me of using salt on the driveway, this was not done, and I stated that. They then asked if salt would ever get on the driveway and I said the only salt that would be on my driveway is by my cars being parked on it from salt on the roadway that *** have dripped off, this would NOT cause this kind of damage.  I had asked to have someone come out and look at the driveway to review and explain to me what is happening. I had called twice.  To say that a call was returned and voicemail left, is completely inaccurate, I never received a voicemail and would have returned the call.  When I asked them to get me a quote for the repair, when they came out (which they never came out) i did say to also forward to *********** ******** as they are the ones that hired them for the services.  I do agree that ********* Realty is the one that was the middle person in this, however, I never said that they agreed to cover the cost, I said that since the service was contracted by them, they should also be made aware of the issue as I have involved them in this situation as well.  I have been in conversations with ********* ****** and they no longer use ** ******** due to very similar situations that they experienced and ** ******** would not stand behind their product resulting in customer dissatisfaction.  

  The fact that ** ******** has made no attempt to come and go over the issues with me and tell me why my driveway is in the shape it is in suggests to me that they are avoiding questions they can't answer.  I have attached for your review a document of what is stated as the issue and that salt is not the cause of this damage and the increasing damage that is happening with this driveway.  I can also supply pictures that were later detailed to me that in the last few squares on my driveway you can clearly see there aren't any brush marks as this is an indication that the concrete was drying too fast and it "got away" from them resulting in over watering of the material.  I will be pursuing this via Legal means as ** ******** has not responded or tried to rectify the situation.  Also their response to you is not accurate and is trying to place blame on others without every reviewing the issue and being a decent business owner is very disappointing. 

  Thank you for your time and attention to this matter, I would not expect them to do anything further at this point as this is the kind of business they are. 

   

   

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

  Business response

  03/09/2023

  As stated in our material companies letter the batch of concrete used in the address meets the *** and building code standers. I have reattached the letter to this response for reference. Our contract was with the Builder of this home (********************). Warranties for this home will be under ********************, since the contract was with our company and ********************. Can an analysis of how **************** tested and determined that the concrete had to much water be submitted? In the analysis can they please also include an explanation as to why only one section of the driveway is experiencing this issue. As stated in our previous email our warranty is for one year, and it is with the contractor of the project ********************. This project was completed in April of 2021, and the warranty expired in April of 2022.  

  Customer response

  03/10/2023

  Better Business Bureau:
  
  I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID ********, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint.  For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below.

  They first stated that this was with *********, then they said it was ***********.  I have requested a copy of the invoice and agreement between *********** and ** ******** and *********** is stating they don't have one.  I have called ** ******** on 3/6/2023 at 3:45 PM requesting a copy of the invoice and a copy of the Warranty and received nothing in return.  

  This is not just happening in one part of my driveway this is happening on 3/4 or more of my driveway.  I also spoke with another neighbor that used ** ******** last year and they are experiencing the same thing.  He has reached out to them and Jorge refuses to come out as well.  She will be filing with the BBB as well. 

  This company is skirting everything.  Jorge will not come out and see it.  The concrete ratio he sent me may be fine, but then they poured it took fast and too much which then caused the concrete to dry to quickly.  This is just bad business. 

  WHY WON"T HE COME OUT AND EXPLAIN TO ME WHY MY DRIVEWAY IS DOING WHAT IT IS DOING?  why are they hiding behind the builder who no longer uses them?

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

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