Sam the Concrete Man

My review I would not recommend this company, (Sam the Concrete Man). The concrete in my driveway started flaking off after the fourth year. Their warrantee of one year is a joke. I spent $6200 for a driveway and steps that must now be replace after just four years. The owner responded with this statement: “We are very sorry that you are having issues after four years. Issues of this nature do not arise after a driveway has been installed for four years unless something such as road salts or ice melt has been applied to the driveway and proper maintenance such as annual sealing has not been done. We cannot possible control what has happened to a four year old project but are happy to assist in finding and implementing a remedy. We will reach out to schedule a visit this week. We have been in business for 31 years for a reason. We are more than happy to help if possible”. This is was my response to the owner: I have only have one car. The side I never use shows the most crumbling. Some of the steps to my front door are also crumbing. So, it hardly can be from road salts. I never use ice melt, so it can’t be from that. The driveway was poured in November and I believe you did not use adequate blankets to guard against freezing. The first step to my front door was damaged before the concrete was cured. After arguing with your representative for several months it was finally replaced. That first step is still perfect. This is further proof that something went wrong with the original concrete. The step has never shown any crumbing or cracking. The concrete for my sidewalks and gutters is older than my house, at least fifty years - no cracking or crumbling. There are drive ways in my neighborhood that are dated: “installed in 1962” and they are still in great shape. Concretes in various forms have been used in construction since it was invented by the Romans in the 3rd century BC. All forms and types of concrete are in use today and if properly mixed and applied will last for many years. I spent over thirty years as an engineer for a major civil engineering firm building dams, power plants, and pumping plants. So I do know something about concrete. However, flat work concrete such as driveways and sidewalks must be protected from freezing when constructed in freezing temperatures. And it has now been over a year (March 2020) since you told me said you would contact me regarding “….assist in finding and implementing a remedy”.