Ashphalt Driveway Installation
I hired this company to re-do a driveway that was original to the house which was built in 1960. Once the driveway was seen by their salesman Ron, he called me up to discuss price and said I had 3 options. I chose the 10 year option rather than the cheapest or one that would last 25 years.
The first time they were there they removed the old asphalt and left me with a gravel drive for almost 3 months. Fine with me. I knew it would be well packed. I was here when they showed up and met the project manager. I told him flat out. "This is an old driveway that's been done in sections over 40 years. Some of it has no base. If you get in here and find you need to do something that's not covered on the original quote, here's my number. Call me, tell me what the problem is and we'll fix it now and I'll pay the extra rather than have a problem later on." I didn't get a phone call ...
The 2nd trip in early Fall was to grade away from the house and pave.
SIX WEEKS later, there was a huge y-shaped crack running from one of the corners to the centre and then further up. It's at least 1/3 or more the length of the driveway. The team that did the repair were surprised the driveway was only SIX WEEKS old.
The following spring, the crack appeared again. That fall, the crack was repaired for a 2nd time only this time, the repair team commented under their breath that "the base was "screwed" (I edited that word) and the driveway would never be right."
The following spring the crack appeared for the third time. I contacted Regional and told them the crack was back and that I'd spoken with a lawyer. This time the sales rep. Ron and one of the owners showed up (who happened to be the project manager and thought I didn't recognize him) and PROMISED me that since it was too late in the season (Fall 2012) to do the repair then they'd be back first thing in the Spring 2013 to do the repair and that they had a new way of fixing these cracks and were positive it would be the final repair. They also promised me they'd seal the driveway because the ugly gash down the centre of the drive is dark black and the rest of the asphalt has aged.
Well here we are. Crack is still in the driveway. I've since learned that this company is in court on a regular basis on these matters and it doesn't matter AT ALL to them. They just hope people will get tired of being ignored and go away.
DO NOT use this company. It's that simple. If there's a way to post a picture, I will.
- Approximate cost of services:
- $2,100.00
- Company Response
Dear Sir Ron is no longer with us and hasn't been with us since 2013 and there is no ten yr option or 25 your option. If you wanted a grade and pave and rely on your own base there is no warranty, and he probably told you you, you might get 10 years out of it, A 25 year driveway according to our standards requires a full 12" excavation regardless if it had a good base in 1960. So you chose the cheaper of the two and unfortunately the base was NOT adequate. The company still came at their own expense to remedy the problem. Had you budgeted for a full excavation it would be under full warranty and the crack would never reappear. I wasn't there but please see the terms and conditions and you will see we cannot warrant someone else's sub base or workmanship but we still come back and try to satisfy our customers even though we really don't have to, it's clear and it's in black-and-white on our terms and conditions. Anyone reading this please see as it will be attached in the picture profiles our terms and conditions they are very standard in our industry. We do try to please and satisfy all our customers whether the job is a parking lot or driveway you are all our valued customers.
Best regards,
Giovanni
Ps. Why did you wait till 2014 to file a grievance against the company when you did the driveway in 2012. Also FYi we are not in and out of court, we have been in business 41 years and if you don't listen to the professionals and insist your base is good since 1960, I'm sorry but sometimes this happens that's why we recommend a full excavation on a driveway especially so old. I often tell my clients after I test dig in their driveways with my pickax what they're dealing with I'm sorry this happened to you but perhaps you should have taken a full excavation. It's a little more money but with it.
Sorry I hope our remedy worked for you.