Response from Accurate Basement Repair
Accurate Basement Repair (“contractor”) installed a patio at this member’s home in Milwaukee, WI, between the garage and house. This patio was poured in August of 2012. The owner contacted us stating that she was displeased with the patio. We immediately had our concrete foreman inspect the concerns. Contractor found minor bird bathing (pooling) in two spots and a drainage issue at the East end of the patio. Contractor immediately attempted to relieve the East drainage by cutting the existing expansion joints on that end. The owner was still not pleased with this outcome. At that point, I visited her to find out what would satisfy her concerns. The owner stated that she wanted us to eliminate the bird bathing and improve the drainage on the East end. I gave her an option to replace the East end of the patio which would improve the drainage and/or take monetary compensation to reach her satisfaction. I explained to the owner that I could satisfy the drainage on the East end but may not be able to eliminate the bird bathing (pooling). I can now more aggressively pitch the East end of the patio for drainage because she had recently removed soil and grass at the East end of her yard. This was an issue which we discussed with her prior to originally replacing the patio. I also explained to the owner that the minor bird bathing (pooling) may occur on a complete patio re-pour/replace: “Eliminating bird baths would require zero tolerances. Expecting or requiring no bird baths on level or sloped slab is not compatible with ACI 117 tolerances.”, per American Society of Concrete Contractors Position Statement #7. Accurate Basement Repair wants our customers to be satisfied; we want this homeowner to be satisfied. Accurate Basement Repair would rather refund her money than try to re-pour/replace an entire patio, which may, in the end, turn out with similar results. Accurate would be happy to put this money into an escrow account which she may use to have a different contractor replace her patio.