PLEHAL BLACKTOPPING LLC

Poor quality work. Owner agreed there were issues but was argumentative and refused to make any repairs. He said we shouldn’t turn or park on a driveway— seriously?!? Don’t hire these clowns!

Fast and easy, very responsive to any questions or concerns.

We didn't hire (another quote was a bit lower), but we were impressed at how responsive they were (they were the first to take a look at our driveway and give us a quote). They were also very professional and I think they probably would have done a very nice job. We would consider hiring them in the future.

They were timely with no issues and had good communication.

Great communications, timely service, high quality work at a reasonable price. I would recommend them to anyone needing driveway work.

A wonderful experience. Erik came out early in April and looked at the current driveway and explained the three options for replacement (top replacement of the asphalt, removal of the rock below and complete redesign). The estimate came back in a day with his recommendation that the least expensive would be the best given that the rock below seemed to be in good shape. The crew cam on the first day late in April to remove the old surface, cut off a bit of sidewalk that we needed removed and roll and patch the rock. A couple of weeks later they came to do the asphalt paving and were done in about 2 hours. The crew was wonderful and answered the few questions that we had. They gave us the cautions about how long to stay off with everything from foot traffic to driving on the driveway to parking on it. An excellent experience and a really great price. My neighbor loved the job and hired them to do the job for them.

They always did what they said. The crew was diligent and very friendly yet professional

Plehal gave me an estimate and I accepted it. I contacted them on 2 different occasions, after the acceptance letter was signed and delivered, to try to determine timing. They did respond. However, I NEVER heard from them again. You would think, by now, somebody would figure out a fool-proof scheduling and communication process/methodology.

Plehal did an exceptional job. They performed the work in a timely and professional manner. The results are terrific!

Plehal did a fantastic job! We got several estimates that were all very close, but I had heard of Plehal before and they were very friendly, helpful, and didn't try to over-sell us or pressure us. The tear out, removal and base were done about a week after I sent in the contract, and the blacktop installed about a week later. It is beautiful! They didn't tear up the yard and cleaned up after installing perfectly. We couldn't be more pleased with our new driveway!

I didn't use them I had a favorable impression on them. The price seem to be fair. I wish I had used them.

I have been a homeowner for 23 years and have met many, many contractors. Most have been wonderful and I haven't hesitated to sing their praises to friends and family and neighbors, and on Angie's List. This entry is my one exception. My asphalt driveway was 25+ years old and had more patches than my favorite jeans. I decided it was time to replace the entire thing so researched my options (blacktop, concrete, permeable pavers). I decided on blacktop and checked out a few companies. I decided on Plehal Blacktopping. I signed a contract for removal and replacement of the driveway. Nothing more. Seemed pretty straightforward and simple. What I got was a new driveway with a very noticeable grade SIDEWAYS. The driveway slants so obviously that when cars are parked there it looks like they have flat tires on one side. When people walk on it they comment on how they feel they are losing their balance. The appearance from the road is ridiculous. It was raised a few inches on one side and lowered a few inches on the other side (as evidenced by the drain spouts that now needed to be built up and dirt that needed to be added to build up the lawn on the other side). I commented to the foreman when they were finishing up the work (just as I got home from my work that day). He just shrugged. I also called the company and informed them that the workers had torn up a fourth of my large arborvitae tree and destroyed half of another 5 foot shrub. I was told someone would have to get back to me on that. No one ever did. I called the company right away and was told someone would come out and look at the finished work, which I'm told they did but I wasn't home. Then I was told they created the slant to keep the water away from the neighbor's house. While I completely understand the need for keeping water away from their home, and my neighbors appreciated the thought, they never had problems with my driveway before and now agree that the new one does not look right. Not to mention that the new driveway was placed over a foot onto their property. So I discussed with Plehal that the driveway would need to be cut off their property immediately. Eventually that got done. However, then I started having water in my basement for the first time in the 23 years I've lived there. A LOT of water. So I called Plehal again and said that I felt the driveway was placed TOO much at a slant. While I agree it should not slant into the neighbors, it also shouldn't slant so much as to run all the water right into the foundation of my house. It's an old City of Mpls house with a narrow driveway and not much land between the driveway and the house. And it shouldn't slant so much as to be obvious to the untrained eye. So I had someone come out again (the owner, I'm told). He immediately commented that the water in my house was certainly from the heavy rain we had had the week prior. I countered with the fact that we've had heavy rain many times in the past 23 years and it was never a problem. He measured the slant with his leveler and agreed it was very slanted. He said that it still could settle a little (especially after a full cycle of seasons and through winter) so we could try placing a asphalt curb to catch the water, or we could replace the half of the driveway that was most affected. I am all for preservation of resources, and really hate to waste. And, it really isn't fun to have the driveway dug up (I had already lived through it the first time). So I agreed to try the curb, but with the understanding that we would revisit this again if it continued to slant to badly and or if the water situation did not improve. I was given a verbal assurance that they wanted me to be happy. I also told this owner about the damage to my tree and shrub. He responded that it "sometimes happens." No apology or reimbursement for replacement. I was even going to withhold the remaining payment until I was satisfied, but was worried they might consider me delinquent and send my account to collections, so I paid it over the phone and asked the receptionist to document my reservations. She said she made a note on the payment. The curb was then placed. It was crooked and of uneven height. I just kept feeling amazed at the quality of their work and how it was so obviously sub-par and yet acceptable to them. But by this time I was feeling like a nag and decided to see how the winter went. It didn't go well. I had a large (side to side on the driveway) skating rink in one area the entire winter, with one edge of the ice going right up to the top of the curb on the other side. When I tried to use my snow blower, I literally slid sideways across the rest of the driveway removing the snow. Fortunately I haven't had any more water in my basement, but it's been pretty dry since the curb was placed last year so we'll see how this spring goes. I called Plehal again last month because it was obvious that the slant hadn't settled at all and wanted to share the ice problems that I hadn't had before. If anything, the slant was more obvious. After 3 calls and over a month of waiting, the owner (now retired, but I'm told kept the open cases even in his retirement) finally contacted me and we set a date for this past week. He brought with him a colleague to reassess the driveway. It started civil and disintegrated from there. From the start, I, or the driveway itself, was blamed for any and all problems: 1. The ice rink in the driveway wasn't from the slant or poor drainage. It was because I must've not cleared the snow and ice well enough and it caused a dam and the water couldn't drain. 2. The driveway is too narrow so they couldn't create a "V" drainage. 3. The driveway had no retaining walls so they couldn't increase the pitch. 4. They were doing me a favor by creating the slant so that water could drain and not pool more in the driveway. 5. My driveway was flat as a tennis court and they cannot be responsible for water that doesn't drain because I didn't pay for a regarding, only a "remove and replace." I was also presented with the owner's presumptions: that the old driveway was porous and the water drained through (therefore didn't pool), and that if the new driveway was flat the water would pool worse than it is with the current driveway. It is possible that these two statements are true, but as I said, they are presumptions. I discussed with the two gentlemen that I'm only working in fact right now: that I'm having water and ice problems I didn't have before, and I did not get what I paid for. I was then asked what I would like to do at this point. I stated that I felt the driveway (at least the part most affected by the large sideways slant) should be replaced. The response I got was so volatile and unprofessional that not only was I startled but my neighbors, who were in their home and had their windows open, almost came out to offer witness and support to me. The retired owner (the same one that assessed my concerns last fall) literally shouted "well that's not going to happen!" He shook my contract in my face and reiterated that they can't be responsible for drainage on such a flat driveway and that I only paid for a removal and replacement, not a regrading. He also accused me of being contradictory, stating that they did me a favor by creating the grade, and the extra curb (for "free"), but now I'm complaining about the water pooling. I tried to be as calm as possible, despite feeling quite shaken, and reminded him that all I was asking for, and thought I paid for, was a replacement of my flat driveway. Nothing more! Just like the contract says! I didn't want, nor did I approve, the grade/slant they installed. It's been nothing but problems - problems I didn't have before. The retired owner stormed off, biting "we're done here" and grabbed the measuring supplies and left. More than ever, I am certain my driveway was installed in error, and no one will admit it. I will comment here that the other gentleman who was at the house this week, with the retired owner, was much more pleasant and was very apologetic when he left shortly after the rude departure of the owner. And everyone on the phone that I have spoken with has been genuinely kind in their attempts to be helpful. That is one bright spot of this company. But any company that does not stand behind their work, or admit to their mistakes, is worthless in my book. Especially one represented by such an inappropriate owner,

Summer 2014: Though intended for Plehal Blacktopping, this recommendation applies; to three companies that did excellent work for us but, especially with each other, in coordinating competing projects: Andy Pietig Concrete, Plehal Blacktop and Rain-Man Irrigation. The job was very complex for Plehal Blacktop: to install an asphalt driveway to match paver-borders where each project needed to be done ?before the other because ? it also needed a ?Gap? cut into the new asphalt for a paver-sidewalk that separated the replaced driveway and a new asphalt section called a ?Patio?, where matching 'before and after' elevations, between pavers and compacted asphalt, was no small trick. We are on a circle, which makes driveway edges, curves or bends meet other sections at odd angles that must both do the job and look like it was 'done on purpose'.. I?d planned to personally instal 1000 pavers but then, I was struck ill and limited to ?doing nothing? for about 3 weeks and had to call in Andy Pietig Concrete, that had done excellent concrete and paver work for us about 2 years ago, installing a paver patio + concrete pad. Andy (who was extremely busy at the time) worked us into his schedule and coordinated with Plehal Blacktop regarding the interlocking sequences for installing pavers and blacktop and then later cutting a ?paver? gap into the new asphalt extension. Plehall did the excavation and Class V fill, which Andy?s guys then shaved to 'paver-height' for sand-fill plus snap-edge on inner and outer faces. They VERY CAREFULLY LAID CORNERS WERE CUT EXACTLY AS PLANNED. We have received numerous compliments from neighbors and even passersby, stopping on our circle to ask who?d done the work. I?ll take credit for layout and paver-pattern designs but not for the excellent execution by Pietig and Plehal. Plehal's asphalt work was PERFECTLY ROLLED to meet the paver-heights -- and pitched for good drainage in three directions. Andy?s team was expert at matching block patterns around bends and corners and at meeting points with a garage sidewalk and the ?Gap?, a 15? ?sidewalk? separating a new extension from the replaced driveway. Without our mention, they replaced a handful of damaged or imperfectly cut blocks, even returning more than once to clean up details that only they had noticed. Special mention goes to Andrew, Andy?s Team Leader, an extremely conscientious expert, whose detail work, experience and artistic eye showed everywhere. He returned more that once to finish or touch up details. So, in a difficult period, when we really needed help, to get a long-planned job finally done, Plehal was extremely patient with our plans and delays and Pietig stepped up politely and frequently to get everything accomplished. Their final product looks excellent. As it turned out, one of my neighbors had used Plehal, commercially, many times and was quite pleased with our choice. Merged into all of this was a previously planned IRRIGATION PROJECT that impacted every edge, which required burying PVC pipe deep under the fill base, to carry irrigation tube, phone and cable lines. Again, the layout was mine and their execution was better. Irrigation work (including a clever and complex design) was accomplished by Luke, Shane, et.al. from Mr. Rain Irrigation. They worked smoothly around the congested ?work area? and came back several times, to adjust sprinkler locations and head-heights after the pavers and sod were installed. Again, they were at least as responsive, thorough and cooperative as Plehal and Pietig and their quite varied layout and design had to solve a dozen, problematic, narrow, triangular or sloping-wedge areas. We have long considered, planned and designed this year?s work and, to finally get this all done, with this high level of service and finished quality, we could not have chosen three companies better equipped, skilled and managed! Bill D.

After my initial call I waited three weeks just to get an estimate. .I finally called again and was told it would be put in the mail yet I waited another week to get it. When the job was completed, I called to say that I was concerned the cracks had not been filled. The excuse was that it hadn't been specified. I asked how I would know to specify that when "filling the cracks" wasn't one of the listed items to choose from in the estimate. I assumed that i the term "seaalcoating included filling a somewhat large crack and several small ones. The person answering the phone said "Paul" would call me regarding the cracks but I never heard from him or anyone else. The driveway looks okay - just too bad that it still has the old cracks. All in all, poor timeliness, poor follow-up and very poor communication. Would not hire them again.

the crews were great from the two guys that torn out the old and leveled everything to the crew that laid the asphalt also the salesman answered any questions and was patient with all the questions I had as it was a big and difficult job with boulder retaining walls on both side

They gentleman that came out and did the bid, was pleasant and straightforward. His bid was competitive. They did a very good job and I was happy with the way that it turned out.

They came on time and the day that was agreed upon. The sealcoat was of high quality and they did a quick and neat job. They strung tape across the driveway and left instructions for us about when we could drive on it and how to take care of and maintain it the best and when it should be seal coated again for best maintenance and care. And also left information to get a hold of them for any questions or concerns.

Job went well. Nice result!

Service was not performed. We received a timely response to our request for an estimate. We responded the same day. We have not heard back from this vendor (going on 6 days with no response), so decided to use another vendor.

We got an estimate from Plehal to remove and replace our driveway, and to widen it to the full 3 car width at the street. We accepted their estimate and hired them to do the job. They did accept the Angie's List coupon without hesitation. They do the job in two parts with two different crews. The first crew came on the day they scheduled and they quickly removed the old driveway, and did the prep work for the new one (put down the base materials and the like). This took only a few hours on one day. Then you wait for the second crew to do the new blacktop installation. It took over a week before they came but they did come and do it later the next week. This part did not go as well, and the city sidewalk that runs through our driveway got damaged in a few places by the heavy equipment that gets used to put down the blacktop. Plehal did not notify us of this, but we noticed it right away after they left. They came back out and took and look, and the City also came and took a look, and it was decided by the City that they needed to replace a few of the sidewalk panels. So then we had to deal with the cement contractor Plehal uses, and they were not good to deal with. They are the type that treat ladies as 'dumb women' and were not very courteous. On the day they were supposed to come they did not show up and did not call. We called and they said it was too hot that day, which is fine but it would be nice had they called to let us know. They eventually did come and do the cement work, and that looks Ok, but they left cement dust tracks all over the blacktop that will not come off even after scrubbing. As for the blacktop itself, it looks Ok overall, but the final roller job was done in a way that left some arcs in the blacktop Vs straight lines. So overall the job did get done, but we were not overly impressed with this company. Thanks for reading.

Once we finally got the crew here, it went very well, they knew what their job was and did it beautifully. The problem was we waited so long after they removed the old driveway; plus they didn't show up on the first date they gave us, didn't call to cancel and I had to call them to find out their boss had overbooked . They said they would get back to us with a new date, but they didn't call and, once again, I had to call them . I was not pleased because I wanted Piehal and though our neighbor got bids from numerous other blacktopping companies, I feel I talked them into picking Piehal. Of course, they are also happy with the end result , but they sure weren't happy with the no show and the additional wait, with no phone calls to either of us.

The job took longer than expected; it lasted for almost a month from the time the old asphalt was removed to the day the final retouch was completed. Because the driveway was flat it was very difficult to maintain the right slope from the edge of the drive way to the street pavement which caused some drainage problem. The retouch to allow water to drain properly was not completely successful, however, I appreciated their effort, especially Jack, the owner who came to my house couple times to see what can be done.

I received an estimate within 1 week of contacting them. Removed old driveway on a Friday and were back out within 1 week to lay down the new driveway. Cleaned up everything and the new driveway looks great.

The project went very well. Plehal was behind in projects due to the wet spring. However, a last minute cancellation ocurred and they called to ask if they could start the project in 2 hours. We jumped at the opportunity. I spoke with one of the workers when I returned home from work. He was very nice and explained how they would match the driveway level to the adjoining sidewalk. When they left on the first day all old asphalt drivway and class 5 base removed down to 7 1/2" inches. Then new class 5 added rolled to compact. They left the site very clean. A few days later the had another opening to add the asphalt. I was very impressed with the quality of work. Again they left the site clean. They provided clear instructions not to drive on driveway for 3 days, etc. The nice thing is Plehal has 4 levels of driveway packages. From the very basic to gold package. So, you can make the best decision depending your budget and how long you plan to stay in your home. We decided on the premium package (3rd highest package) which comes with a 5 year guarantee. We plan this will be the last driveway replacement while in our current home. Our new driveway looks great and I highly recommend them to anyone!

Very good service and honest bid. We postponed the project until 2014