CARL'S PAVING INC

Very well and very quick

Carl's Paving did a two building apartment complex in Champion, OH for me, paving the driveway and parking lot. Anthony demonstrated much pride in workmanship. The parking lot was in terrible shape, and he informed me the right thing to do was rip it out completely, put down a new base, and then start over. Unfortunately, that was well out of my price range. He then quoted me to patch the HUGE holes, then put a base coat and topcoat down. Although he was worried about getting it pool table flat, I thought he did a great job. Best of all he did it while I was out of town so it was weeks later when I first saw it. Looked very professional, minimal puddling, and good drainage. With it striped the place looked like a new apartment complex!!! If I could make one suggestion, it would be that communication BEFORE the work was sometimes frustrating, as they were so busy. Eventually he gave me the office manager's number and things improved greatly. Up until then I was uncertain if the work would get completed before winter.

I spent about $9000 on the job. They removed the existing driveway and put in the blacktop asphalt driveway. I would not recommend them. I have had major problems with the driveway. When I got back from work one day, I saw a major crack on the driveway. One side of the driveway had completely collapsed. The crack was almost six feet long. Since that happened, the other side collapsed. My husband called them next morning. The guy got smart with him. He told my husband that since it was winter, he had asked him to get dirt in on the driveway. However, he had not told my husband any such thing. He was not even around when his crew did the work. The day they finished he sent someone from crew to collect the check. When I looked at the work at that time, it looked fine. He had never told me about the dirt. My husband has a company truck. He had asked the guy if he should quit bringing it home, while the work was being done. He told that it was fine. However, there are big lumps where the truck had been on the driveway. He asked me to call him back in the spring. My husband was very upset that the job worth $9000 had broken up within six months. Before this, when it had rained, the driveway resembled a swimming pool. So, I called them repeatedly. They never came out as they were busy. Finally, they came out and put in a drain. He had the nerve to tell my husband that he was not going to charge me for the drain. I am not sure what will happen in the coming months. I am not sure if the driveway can be repaired. So, I am very unhappy with this company. I would like a new driveway installed by them. I think they ignore the small jobs, so that they can make money off of the big jobs. If they don?t repair the driveway in spring, I will definitely take legal action. They were punctual while they did the work. I will not use them again in the future.

I signed the contract and paid 25% down on July 13, 2009, with a scheduled start date of August 10. We discussed the "big job" they were starting August 1, and the possibility our start date might be delayed, and I was OK with that. What I was not OK with was the total lack of communication after my deposit check was cashed on 7/15. On 8/17 and 8/24, I called the office number where the message was that it would be forwarded to a cell phone. I left a message asking for a timing update, with no response. On 9/7, I called the cell phone number directly and got a message that the voice mail box was full. So I faxed a message requesting scheduling info on 9/7, with no response. On 9/8, I faxed a message, and finally visited the office. The clerk said they were still on the big job, but that they were going to break off and work on driveways. He called me at home later and said they could start Thursday, or Monday at the latest. On Tuesday, 9/15, I visited the office again. I was told that mine was the next driveway they would start, no later than Monday. On Wednesday, 9/23, Carl's called, said they intended to call on Tuesday but forgot, and asked "Is today OK to start?" I said yes, they came and worked from ~ 10 AM to dark, finishing demolition and prepping the garage. They said the concrete finisher had called off, so they came on Friday to do the concrete. Friday 9/25 was the last of about 8 weeks of exceptionally dry weather this year. On Tuesday, 9/29, they came applied the base layer of asphalt in a chilly rain, broke for lunch, and finished the asphalt in a light rain after lunch. On Thursday, 10/1, with no word where they were Wednesday, they came and sealed the concrete garage floor, listened to my complaints about lack of communication and professionalism, took my check and left. The job site was not cleaned up, the trucks left a rut in my lawn next to the driveway, and they were done.

The work we contracted for was satisfactory. However, while carrying it out, the owner carelessly backed the paving machine he was driving into our front steps, doing serious structural damage. Not only did he crack two of the huge stone-slab steps, dating from 1917, but he did severe damage to the ceramic tiles on the facade of the house that touches the steps. He said he would repair the damage, but we have chasing this guy for 2 years (!), and the damage is still there. He doesn't return our numerous phone calls. When he finally answered the phone one time, he sent his handyman over to look at the damage and do some partial grouting to the tiles. They are still not properly fixed, and meanwhile, the steps have been untouched, creating a potential hazard. Use this company's services at your own risk. They may know how to pave, but they don't know a thing about customer satisfaction.