In November 2009, after five estimates I went with Don Thompson Concrete. On December 14, 2009, in the back of my home, work began on replacing a large patio (27’ x 13’) and small area to the West of the patio (10’ x 11’) with Colo Quarry Red concrete. Another area to the East of the patio (7’ x 15’) was replaced with grey concrete; although once they started in that area, they replaced more. The front of my home, a driveway was replaced and enlarged to include a grassy area and the existing driveway (13’ x 32’). A front center walk was replaced (4’ x 32’’). A final walk way was included next to the house that is approximately 4’ x 12’). Work was completed in three days and a check for $8,000 was given to Don on December 16, 2009.
Before work began, I told Don about the patio East-end wall. It was a 3’ x 12’ brick wall. The wall was fine, but weak if someone leaned upon it. Don’s men pushed the wall over where it would not lean straight. This issue is not resolved.
The quarry red concrete started turning white. In February, Don said he’d spray the red concrete to block the lime coming through. The area West of the patio had cracks within one-two months. Drainage was not ignored as the original concrete allowed. Water and snow would puddle there. Several times I had to call Don and he would promise to come and complete his work. I changed plans to be at home at least 5 times and Don did not show nor did he call. Don was not dependable.
Don agreed to move three sprinkler heads next to the driveway into the daylily bed that is next to the new driveway. I had to ask him to come several times for this. The weather was getting warmer and I needed to turn my sprinkler system on. He finally came and the work was done. When I had my sprinkler system turned on, the sprinkler company discovered the line that was under the driveway was damaged and a new one would need to be installed. There were also two sprinkler heads in the back yard right next to the concrete that was damaged. I told Don of the problems and even arranged for him to be at my home with the sprinkler company was there to do the repairs. The damage Don did to my sprinkler system cost $455. The check has been promised twice, but Don has never paid me.
Again, after many calls and some emails, Don finally came and tried to patch the area West of the patio. At that time, he also fixed the bricks that they had damaged when they did the original concrete. The patch did not work. Once he discovered the patch would not work, Don did come again and jack hammered that area out and poured it again. The bricks were damaged again and never fixed.
Every time Don or his men came, they may have fixed something, but they damaged something else. It has been an ongoing saga. It has been a very long nine-month ordeal. I have not gone into everything that they did wrong nor what they did right.
Don had told me he would be back to spray the area West of the patio so it would look like the patio. This has not happened.
There’s a spot on the patio where some kind of chemical mark was left. When this was repaired, they either used dirty hands or tools, now I have a dirty spot on the new patio, right outside the door. The area just outside the door was left an ugly grey so when Don tried to color it like the patio, it is now orange, where the patio is rose.
I have pictures, emails, letters, their proposal, etc. I would not recommend Don Thompson Concrete to anyone and would discourage anyone considering their services. I’d be happy to discuss what has happened with anyone.
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